I am not currently using an iPhone 15 Pro Max case, despite the fact I would recommend one to any other phone buyer so it can help keep their new handset safe from bumps and scrapes. The problem is I don't always want the additional bulk that even slim cases offer, which can make an already large phone even more difficult to handle or type on. However, I've been trying something a little more unusual that is perhaps the best compromise between having and not having a case.
The Nomad Magnetic Leather Back, freshly launched for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, is like if you got a regular case but trimmed the sides off to leave only the rear panel. And it has proved surprisingly practical and enjoyable to use.
If you're not familiar with Nomad, it's the maker of some of the most luxurious phone accessories around, especially for iPhones and other Apple devices. It sells regular cases of course, but this new $40 back cover (available in either Rustic Brown or Black) is something new, that it claims has taken two years of development to get right.
The cover attaches to your iPhone via MagSafe and micro-suction sticky pads. That makes aligning it simple and secure, while also being easy enough to remove when you want to swap to a different case. All without leaving any sticky residue. There's no sticky pad by the camera block, which helps with removal but also means there's a distracting loose corner.
Once in place, you can admire the Horween leather back. Previous leather Nomad cases I've used have developed unique, attractive patinas over time, giving your device an aged look that they'd never gain by themselves without being catastrophically damaged.
That said, I appreciate not everyone wants leather on their phone for various reasons. So I do hope Nomad will convert its other cases, like its PET Sport case, to this style.
Since the Magnetic Leather Back is indeed only a back panel, the sides and front of the phone are left unprotected, similar to using a vinyl skin. However, the Nomad cover offers one extra protection advantage with a TPU lip around the camera, hopefully keeping your lenses from getting scratched and ruining your photos.
Most importantly of all, the cover's still thin enough to let your iPhone charge wirelessly. I've been using it alongside my usual MagSafe charger stand, and the iPhone still powers up as it should.
I'd assumed up to a few days ago that the phone case was something of a solved problem, with no real innovations left to make. However, Nomad's attempt at blending case and skin together with the Magnetic Leather Back has proved both novel and effective. I think it'll be staying on my iPhone for some time to come.
