I've been using the black leather iPhone cases sold by Apple since 2014. When Apple started selling the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro on October 23, 2020, it did not yet have a leather case available, but they are available now and you can get one on Amazon for $59. The new leather case is similar to the ones I've been using for years in that is slim and the leather feels good. I fully suspect that, like Apple's prior models, this year's version will get even softer over time as you use it. The model that I purchased works with either the iPhone 12 or iPhone 12 Pro. Apple also sells a smaller model for the iPhone 12 mini and a larger model for the iPhone 12 Pro Max.
The reason I started to use an Apple leather case six years ago with my iPhone 6 was that, unlike the iPhone 4, 4s, 5, and 5s, the iPhone 6 had a curved side, making it more slippery. I needed a case to make the iPhone less likely to fall and to give it some protection if it did fall. The iPhone 12 family brings back flat sides to the iPhone, which I find makes the new iPhone easier to hold securely in a hand. Thus, I don't plan to use a case with my iPhone 12 Pro nearly as much as I did in the past. But I still think it makes sense to have a good case for those times when you will need a little more protection, such as when traveling ... whenever we all feel comfortable doing that again.
My guess is that if you are thinking of getting an Apple leather case for your new iPhone, you have used an Apple leather case for a prior model. With that in mind, I'll focus on what is different about this year's model.
Colors
This year, the cases come in red, saddle brown, black, baltic blue, and California poppy. The red one is (PRODUCT)RED.
I always prefer the back model, and this year's black leather looks the same as the prior models.
Flat sides
The flat edge on the iPhone 12 leather case definitely gives it a different feel from the prior models, and I like it. Between the flat edge and the friction that leather provides, an iPhone seems very secure in my hand when it is in this case.
The leather case rises up just a little bit higher than the screen. Thus, if you place your iPhone face down on a flat table when it is in this case, the screen will not touch the surface of the table, providing some protection. When I first started to use this case, I was immediately convinced that the edge on this year's model must rise up higher than prior years because of how it felt. But when I compared it to the edge of the leather case on my iPhone 11, it looks the same. In the following picture that shows how much the lip goes up above the screen of the iPhone, the iPhone 11 in an Apple leather case is on the left and the iPhone 12 Pro in an Apple leather case is on the right:
Perhaps it just feels higher because this is a brand new case and the leather hasn't been broken in yet.
Camera cutout
In prior years, the camera area of the Apple leather case was simply a cut-out. This year, Apple has added a very tiny plastic frame around the edges:
I presume that the purpose is to provide a little additional protection for the camera lenses. Even with this slight frame around that square, when an iPhone is in this case, it lays perfectly flat on a table. Thus, like prior models, this year's leather case prevents the camera on the back of the iPhone from making the iPhone teeter when it is on a flat surface.
MagSafe
If you want to use a MagSafe device with an iPhone 12, such as a charger or Apple's wallet accessory, a normal case between an iPhone and the MagSafe device could reduce the magnetic attraction. Apple solves that in its cases by adding a magnet in the case itself. It is a rather weak magnet — I could get a paperclip to stick to the magnet on the inside of the new leather case but nothing heavier — but I presume that it is strong enough to ensure that MagSafe devices work with it. (I don't currently own any MagSafe devices, so I couldn't try it out.)
You can see the circle of the MagSafe magnet on the inside of the case:
Note that because this case is itself a MagSafe device, when you first put your iPhone in the case, you see a short graphic on the screen alerting you that you attached a MagSafe device (along with a ring corresponding to the color of your case) with a short beep. If you don't want to make a noise when you put your iPhone in the case, flip the silent switch before attaching the case.
I thought that the MagSafe magnet might make the case stick to the iPhone even more than prior models. But I haven't noticed a difference. Apple's leather cases have always provided a nice, tight fit that wasn't going to come off unless you pulled it off. This year's model is no different.
One more note about using MagSafe with this case. Because leather is not a hard surface, if you frequently use a MagSafe device with this case, you might start to see the an outline over time. As Apple explains on its website: "Leather is a natural material and like a fine leather belt, it may show creases, marks, or a patina over time. Interaction with MagSafe accessories will leave slight imprints (as shown in the last image of the gallery). If you are concerned about this, we suggest you use an iPhone 12 | 12 Pro Silicone or Clear Case." In the pictures I included above to show the different colors, I used that last image for each of the iPhones, and that is why you see a slight circle around the Apple logo. I actually think that the circle looks sort of interesting, but if you don't like it, either don't use a MagSafe device when your iPhone is in this case or choose a different case.
Protection on all four sides
Ever since 2014, the Apple leather case has covered three sides of the iPhone, but the bottom was somewhat open. For example, here is the leather case on an iPhone 6:
But this year, the leather case covers all four sides, including the bottom:
This change has pros and cons. I'm sure that it provides more protection, which is the purpose of a case, so that's good. But without the bottom covered, it is easier to swipe up from the bottom of an iPhone to show the Control Center or to unlock the iPhone. With this new case, the lip provides a very minor speed bump. I'm sure I'll get used to it over time, but right now I miss the older design that I've been using for years.
As for the buttons on the sides of the new leather case, they work the same as the buttons on Apple's prior leather cases: they work well.
Conclusion
Although the iPhone 12 version of the Apple leather case is different from the prior models in many ways, it is similar enough that if you have used and liked an Apple leather case in the past, you will like this one too. It feels great, it provides protection, and it is a great match for the iPhone 12. I don't plan to use a case with my iPhone 12 Pro as much as I did with prior models, but whenever I do want to use a case, I'm glad that I have this one.
Click here to get Apple's iPhone 12 leather case from Amazon ($59.00)
