This is the English edition of a review from my Japanese YouTube channel, iestaLife. I review gadgets from my home studio in Japan, so product links go to Amazon Japan.
Quick take
I ended up with four genuine-leather cases for my iPhone 17 Pro Max, all around ¥4,000: SHIELDON in black and navy blue, a SHIELDON detachable folio in wine, and an iCarer case in red. The iCarer feels smoother and more premium and covers the Camera Control button with leather. SHIELDON feels more casual, comes in far more colors and seems tougher against scratches. Either is a safe choice.
What I tested
- iCarer genuine-leather case (red), MagSafe compatible
- SHIELDON genuine-leather basic case (black and navy blue)
- SHIELDON 2-in-1 detachable leather folio (wine)
- A NIMASO PU (faux) leather case for reference
- All on an orange iPhone 17 Pro Max, with a MagSafe ring, weighed on a kitchen scale; the iCarer was revisited after a month of daily use
What I found
| Photo | Case | Weight (measured) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 | iCarer leather case (red) | 39.3 g | Smooth, glossier leather; Camera Control is covered |
  | SHIELDON basic case (navy blue, black) | 36.3 g | Slightly textured, scratch-resistant leather; Camera Control is an open cutout on the Pro Max version |
 | SHIELDON 2-in-1 folio (wine) | Over 60 g | The inner case detaches; the sides are not leather |
| NIMASO PU leather case | 37.8 g | Nice on its own, but side by side the real leather looks richer |
At the time of recording, the iCarer was listed at ¥5,599 with a 30% coupon (a little over ¥3,900), and the SHIELDON basic case was ¥3,799, sometimes dropping to around ¥3,000 on sale. A month later, the iCarer was ¥3,695.
The iCarer has a thicker, wallet-like feel, and magnets held a MagSafe ring about as strongly as any case I have tried. The covered Camera Control button is easier to press than SHIELDON's recessed cutout. SHIELDON's textured leather barely showed ring marks after two weeks, and its navy blue makes the big Pro Max look softer than black does.
After one month, the iCarer had darkened a little and picked up ring marks and light scuffs in the middle, which I consider character. I also found a thin crack along the bottom edge; I am not sure when it appeared, and the case is still fine to use.
Who it's for
Pick the iCarer if you want the smoothest, most premium-feeling leather and a covered Camera Control button; it only comes in red, black and brown. Pick SHIELDON if you want lots of color options (black, khaki, several browns, navy blue, green, retro red, royal blue and more) or a case that hides scratches better. If you want your case to look new forever, leather probably is not for you.
The video is in Japanese. The four cases are lined up at around 4:20, and the weigh-in is at around 12:40. The one-month follow-up is here:
Limitations
I used the SHIELDON navy case for about a week and the iCarer for about a month, so the scratch comparison is not equal. I have not dropped either case. Weights were measured on my kitchen scale with a single sample of each.
Products
iCarer genuine-leather case for iPhone 17 Pro Max: on Amazon Japan
SHIELDON genuine-leather basic case for iPhone 17 Pro Max: on Amazon Japan
SHIELDON 2-in-1 detachable leather case for iPhone 17 Pro Max: on Amazon Japan
The Amazon Japan links above are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Check the listing for the exact model, current price and shipping availability in your region.
More reviews in English
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This review is also available in Japanese.