I don’t put a case on most Android phones I test, but I do so with the current-gen iPhone. While I switch out between Android phones weekly, that isn’t the case with the iPhone, and I intend to use my iPhone 17 Pro until the next one comes along, so a case just makes sense.
I’ve always preferred leather cases, and two brands stand out in this area: Nomad and Bellroy. I’m looking at Nomad’s cases this time around, and the brand sent over eight options to use with my iPhone 17 Pro, including the Modern Leather Case, Traditional Leather Case, Rugged Leather Case, Modern Case, and the Rugged Case. I’ll get to the cases in a bit, but seeing as we’re in the middle of deals season, it’s worth pointing out that Nomad has a 20% sale right now, making this the ideal time to get a case, smartwatch band, or any other accessory.
The Modern Leather Case is the one I used the most, and it is fantastic; it fits without any issues, and it provides much-needed protection to the iPhone 17 Pro without adding too much heft or bulk. The inside of the case has a lining to protect the rear of the iPhone 17 Pro while it’s housed within, and all Nomad cases have neodymium magnets as standard, ensuring full MagSafe usability.
This variant of the case has a polycarbonate frame at the sides with a glass Camera Control button, and the power and volume buttons are made out of aluminum and have good tactility. I like the feel of the leather, and my cases came with Horween leather, which is exquisite. I also have a regular vegetable-tanned leather case, and while it also is great in-hand, the Horween models just feel better.
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The case has raised edges and does a good job protecting the camera island, and it does just as good a job at the front, with the raised sides ensuring the panel doesn’t take much damage should the phone take a tumble. If you want a full-leather design, the Traditional Leather Case extends the leather to the sides as well, and you can get this model with Horween leather as well.
The Rugged Leather Case kicks things up a notch, providing all-around protection that comes with a decent amount of bulk. Honestly, I don’t think you need this case unless you want to be absolutely sure; the regular leather cases get 8ft tumble protection, while the rugged model pushes that to 15ft.
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If you don’t want leather, the Modern Case is my go-to choice; it has the same design as the other models, but you get a polycarbonate shell in vibrant colors — the Volt model looks bright. The only point of annoyance is that Nomad doesn’t have an orange color variant to match my orange iPhone 17 Pro, but that’s about the only issue I have with its cases.
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All cases have enough clearance that I was able to plug in my usual USB-C cables (with a built-in panel) without any issues, and while they’re on the costlier side, you get excellent protection and durability. I used the leather cases for just over a month now, and I didn’t see any problems whatsoever, and the leather is picking up a patina, which is what I want to see.
If you have an iPhone 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, Air, or the standard model and want a high-quality leather case, you should just get Nomad’s cases while they’re still on sale.
