NOMAD RUGGED Case iPhone 11 Pro Max REVIEW | Mac Sources
RUGGED Case
10
Protect your new iPhone 11 Pro Max with quality leather and masterful craftsmanship.
Every September, Apple fans patiently await the release of the latest and greatest Apple devices. This year Apple released the iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max. With the ability to trade up, I chose to expand into the iPhone 11 Pro Max and wanted the new midnight green color. Afraid of drops, dings, scratches, scuffs and losing the mint status of my shiny new toy, I wanted a case. Luckily Nomad was ready to help me “Get Out There & Create Your Adventure.”
The Nomad Rugged Case arrived in a 4 3/8 inches wide by 7 1/8 inches tall by 15/16 inches wide retail case. The cover displayed a 2 1/4 inches wide by 5 1/2 inches tall brown Horween leather case upon an attractive silver/grey panel. The slightly raised, glossy image of the iPhone 11 Pro Max case provided a clear visual representation of the case. The NOMAD title was boldly displayed along the top left, the “Rugged Case 6.5 New IPhone” along the top right and three features of the case along the lower left: Quality Leather Since 1905, Extra Tough Frame, Mil Spec 6 ft. Drop Tested. Each of the side panels displayed NOMAD in black, bold, raised font. The top panel housed a clear/smokey plastic hang tab upon a brown base and the bottom panel displayed many of the product manufacturing labels and customer support emails. The reverse panel displayed a 2 3/8 inches wide by 4 11/16 inches image of the case on day 1 and day 100. The goal of the image was to detail the development of the patina over time. Like a good scotch, the beauty and depth of the case become enhanced with the effects of time.
If you lift the magnetic flap and examine the inner surface, you will notice a quaint description of the Horween Leather patina process. The company, located in Chicago, Illinois, has been in perpetual operation since 1905. Renowned for their attention to detail, the Horween Leather name is synonymous with world-class, quality leather. The company has combined historical tanning methods with modern science to turn rawhide into their high-quality finished product. Nomad could have chosen any number of inferior leather manufacturers. However, with a focus on quality craftsmanship, Nomad utilized the same company that has been the exclusive suppliers of leather for NFL football since 1941. The 1.4 ounce leather case was directly accessible within a form-fit cardboard cutout. Resting face down, I was able to appreciate the tactile and visual appeal of the Nomad case. The dark brown leather surface contrasted brilliantly with the black plastic lining. The case had precision cutouts for the recessed 1 1/4 inches square camera cutout, dual 7/8 inches long by 3/16 inches wide speaker cutouts, 9/16 inches long by 1/4 inches wide lightning port, and the 7/16 inches long by 3/16 inches wide volume toggle cutout. The inner surface of the case was lined with a grey microfiber-felt lining and stamped with the NOMAD name. This lining was designed to protect the phone from scratches, while the leather and polycarbonate shell protected the back, corners, sides and screen edge, with full wrap construction. I loved that they chose to let the case speak for itself and chose not to stamp their logo onto the outer surface of the leather.
I snapped my new green-colored iPhone 11 Pro Max into the case and was pleased with the look and feel of the 9.3-ounce combo. The front edge and screen were protected by a slightly raised lip and the camera was protected by a slightly raised edge as well. I could not find any complaints with the design or with the build of this case. I was able to insert/remove every lightning cable that I tried and wireless charging was a breeze. When I placed my phone onto my Ventev charging stand, it immediately began to charge as if the case was not even there. Functionally, I could not have asked for a more useful, minimalistic design in a sub $50 case.
With the recent release of the new phones, I have not had the luxury of owning this case that long. As such, I have not been able to appreciate the patina changes promised on the packaging. Despite all of the positive vibes from the case/review, I was a little disappointed that I could neither enjoy nor share the novelty of the new midnight green color. Despite the small amount of green that was visible around the three camera lenses, it really would not matter what color phone you purchased, as the experience would be the same. The rubberized edges of the 6-foot drop protected case enhanced the friction between the phone and my hand and the grippy texture further added to the drop prevention. The plastic buttons were responsive and provided a reassuring click when accessing the features of the phone. Many bumper style cases suffer from soft, squishy, unresponsive rubberized/silicone buttons. Luckily, the Nomad Rugged case did not. Nomad clearly lived up to their philosophy of creating a minimalistic, practical tool to protect one of the most expensive devices that I own. Do not simply choose a random case to protect your asset. With such an expensive device on the line, why not choose a case that was built from the ground up with excellence as a compass. Enjoy quality leather craftsmanship, precision cutouts, a fully accessible lighting port, screen protection, recessed camera port, and a case that grows richer with time.
Learn more about the NOMAD RUGGED CASE. Preorders are available.
Follow NOMAD on Facebook and Twitter.
Originally published at https://macsources.com on September 25, 2019.
