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 bought NOMAD’s Traditional Leather Case for my iPhone 18 Pro Max and compared it with a SHIELDON genuine leather case that costs about ¥4,300. The NOMAD costs well over ¥10,000, which is a lot for a phone case. In the hand, though, the leather, the smell and the button details are clearly a step up. The catch: the leather is very soft and dents and scratches easily. Buy it if you want to break in and age a piece of leather, not if you want it to stay looking new.
What I tested
- NOMAD Traditional Leather Case for iPhone 18 Pro Max, burgundy: leather wraps around the sides too. I bought mine from NOMAD’s own website; on Amazon Japan it is sold in black and other colours. Well over ¥10,000 at the time of recording
- SHIELDON genuine leather case for iPhone 18 Pro Max, a case I already used: about ¥4,299 at the time of recording, also genuine leather with MagSafe
- Both fitted to my burgundy iPhone 18 Pro Max, then weighed and checked for buttons, USB-C cables, MagSafe, NOMAD’s strap parts and how easily they mark
- I also mention NOMAD’s Modern Leather Case, which combines leather with a different side material. I did not test it in the video
What I found
- The leather feels different from the first touch. The SHIELDON is good leather for the price, but side by side the NOMAD is softer, has a stronger leather smell and feels more premium on the surface.
- Burgundy case on a burgundy iPhone works really well. It is a calm, unified dark red, and the leather gives it a very different feel from a plastic case.
- The details are better made. The buttons on the NOMAD feel nicer to press, and the whole thing feels like it was made as a leather good rather than just a phone case. To be fair, the SHIELDON is solid for under ¥5,000.
- Weight on my scale: NOMAD 44.4 g, SHIELDON 36.9 g. About 7.5 g heavier, which you may notice on an already large phone.
- The fit on the iPhone 18 Pro Max is good. Buttons and the USB-C port work fine, and the UGREEN and CIO USB-C cables I had on hand plugged in without trouble.
- MagSafe works, but the SHIELDON felt noticeably stronger magnetically in my comparison. The NOMAD is fine for everyday use.
- There is a recess at the bottom of the case for NOMAD’s strap parts. With them attached, they sit flush and look like part of the design.
- The biggest surprise was how soft the leather is. That is great to touch, but it also dents and scratches very easily. During filming, a dent appeared just from the phone’s weight resting on one point of the case.
- So if you treat every scratch as damage, this case will probably bother you. If you enjoy watching leather pick up marks, darken, gain a sheen and shape itself to your hand, that is exactly the appeal. I think of it less as “an expensive case I must keep perfect” and more as “an expensive case I get to break in.”
| NOMAD Traditional Leather Case | SHIELDON leather case | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (at the time of recording) | Well over ¥10,000 | About ¥4,299 |
| Weight (my scale) | 44.4 g | 36.9 g |
| Leather feel and smell | Softer, stronger smell, more premium | Good for the price |
| Buttons, finishing | Better made | Fine |
| MagSafe strength | Works, felt weaker | Felt stronger |
Who it’s for
The NOMAD is for people who love leather goods, want to enjoy the feel and smell, like the idea of the case ageing over time, can see dents and scratches as character, and put feel ahead of price. It also suits anyone who wants to match a burgundy iPhone.
If you do not want to spend over ¥10,000 on a case, hate scratches, want the lightest option, or care most about MagSafe strength or value for money, the SHIELDON is a strong alternative and may be all you need to try a genuine leather case.
The video is in Japanese.
Limitations
This is one unit of each case over a short test, so I cannot say how either ages over months. MagSafe strength was judged by feel, not measured. Leather varies from piece to piece in colour, creases and grain. Colours, compatible models and prices on Amazon Japan may differ from the burgundy case I bought from NOMAD directly.
Products
NOMAD Traditional Leather Case for iPhone 18 Pro Max (full leather, MagSafe): on Amazon Japan
NOMAD Modern Leather Case for iPhone 18 Pro (leather with a different side material, MagSafe): on Amazon Japan
SHIELDON genuine leather case for iPhone 18 Pro Max / 17 Pro Max (MagSafe): 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.