Mujjo leather wallet case review: A premium iPhone companion

Apple’s iPhones aren’t cheap. The phones come at premium prices and are not easily affordable by many. Those who are fans of the brand try their level best to save enough to make sure they get one of these babies as their prized possession. However, these ‘prized possessions’ need to be maintained well so that they don’t become a pricey affair in case of damage. Yes, the iPhones are pretty slippery and if you have buttery fingers, then God help you.

Come 2017/2018 and Apple has made these devices even more expensive. Take for example the iPhone X, which is the most expensive handset in the entire range till date. Both the iPhone 8s and iPhone X now sport glass backs, which are known to shatter, should they be exposed to unfortunate accidental falls. Replacing the glass is not easy and not cheap either. Now head to the display, and if you crack that glass, you would be better off buying a new one as the display is one of the most expensive hardware on these babies.

Yes, the iPhone X and iPhone 8s look fantastic — these are ‘the’ handsets that are mainly used for ‘showing off your wealth’ in many countries. Damaging the phone is not a happy moment, and hence many opt for cases to slip in their expensive devices and make sure they don’t get a scratch.

There are a plethora of smartphone cases are available out there — from Rs 100 to a whopping Rs 10,000 and even more, depending on the quality and brand you opt for. But what you buy for your expensive iPhone spells out on how you afforded the handset in the first place.

Here come premium cases that do complete justice to both the handset and the user. Premium cases don’t come cheap either. Such is a leather case from a little-known case manufacturer Mujjo. While Mujjo has been in the industry of case manufacturing for a while, but is not known in India. The cases are available online on Amazon, and can be shipped into any country with ease.

Protecting your expensive smartphone is top priority and making it look good in the protective case rules with it. Opting for a case for your prized possession can sometimes be a tricky decision. While some come with dirt cheap prices, others are premium. Mujjo stands on the other end of the spectrum which spells both protection and style.

Mujjo’s cases are built with premium original leather and each case is handcrafted by experts in the field. The leather used in the cases are full-grain vegetable tanned leather. Each case is treated with aniline oil to enrich the colour tones. And though the individually crafted cases and colours stand out on their own, they done compromise on the iPhone’s immaculate appearance. Hence they demand a hefty price tag, but not as expensive as you think either. The cases are specifically built for Apple devices and not any other smartphone. They start at around 32.98 euros for an iPhone 7/8 case and can go all the way up to 99.09 euros for an Apple Macbook case. Mujjo also manufactures smartphone cases for Samsung’s flagship galaxy S9 and S9 Plus. Cases for Apple’s iPad as well as touchscreen gloves for smartphones are also their speciality. Every case from Mujjo has an attention to detail as their top priority offering.

We had our hands on a case for the iPhone X and iPhone 8 Plus each and used it for a while, and extensively, to know the durability.

The cases definitely spell out the word ‘premium’. Hand-crafted with leather, these are built to snugly encase your smartphone, making sure no part is left unshielded, except the bottom which reveals the speakers and the Lightning port. The rear has a pocket, which works like a mini wallet that takes a ride with your smartphone.

Being a cashless world today, all we need to carry around is a credit/debit card or two, driving license and your smartphone. The wallet or pocket can accommodate up to three debit/credit cards in total. When new, the wallet can only accommodate one card, and bring made from leather, this wallet slowly loosens up to accommodate two more cards after a few days. The cards can fit in very snug and won’t fall off.

The case is built using leather and a few materials within to make it strong and sturdy apart from being stiff — the case is molded around a strong and durable plastic. The exterior is coated with genuine leather and the insides, where the smartphone rests, is made from a soft leather to protect the surface of the smarpthone’s rear panel. You will see the company’s branding  embossed on both the exterior and interior of the case. 

The case grasps the smartphone with care, securing it from all corners. A cutout is provided for the physical iPhone button, while the power/Siri and volume buttons are protected too, with protruding points. The sides, as mentioned, protrude enough by a few mm, over the display, to protect the screen further. This is the area that keeps the surface of the display away from the table, if left flat on the face. The rear panel also gets the same treatment for the camera cutout to protect the camera’s lens glass.

The case looks straightforward simple, yet elegant and premium. The one we received was an Olive  (green) colour, which did not show signs of even the slightest wear and tear for almost a month in use. We did not notice any colour differences or tarnishing signs either.

Maintaining the case is no issues. Yes, we did see very little grime collecting around the stitches, but that completely depends on the user. India has a humid climate and with continuous handling by sweaty hands, we are bound to see such issues. Nevertheless, frequent care by wiping the case with an alcohol wipe helped keep it clean and fresh. Do note, the cases are not waterproof or washable, so make sure they are kept from any liquids. To keep the case running for long, make sure you take off the smartphone from the case and clean any lint, dust or alike from the insides to ensure your smartphone is not affected. Use a clean dry cotton cloth to simply wipe away any foreign particles.

Since the Apple iPhone 8 and iPhone X offer wireless charging support, the cases do not interfere with the charging efficiency. You can use iPhones with the case while resting it on a wireless charger. The leather provides additional grip on the charger’s surface too. Mujjo has also performed tests on their cases to see if the leather barrier and thickness of the case can affect the efficiency of wirelessly charging the phones. Their tests revealed that the case, with up to three debit/credit cards (with a magnetic strip/chip) did not show any difference in performance and resulted in similar charging times. Worried about the cards being affected by the wireless charger? Mujjo states that thought their tests revealed that the cards are not affected, they do not recommend using the cards while wirelessly charging entirely.

Mujjo states that different cards behave differently, depending on the quality and type of cards, and in time or over extensive periods. It is best recommended and advised to remove the cards from the wallet before using a wireless charger. The tests by Mujjo were conducted with Full Leather (wallet) cases, as well as our Moulded Edge (wallet) case, in combination with an iPhone 8 and wireless chargers by Belkin and Samsung. Mujjo also states that using wireless chargers other than those used in this test may produce different results.

The Mujjo cases are not available in India, but are available for purchase from their online store. The prices for the cases vary based on design e.g. Wallet/Non-Wallet and based on the model of phone. The Leather Wallet iPhone X Case is priced at 49.90 euros (Approx Rs 4,100), while the Leather Wallet iPhone 8 Plus Case is priced at 54.90 euros (Approx Rs 4,500).

Mujjo ships the cases worldwide via their website mujjo.com and offer free shipping on all orders equal to and above the value of 60 euros (Approx Rs 4,900). Orders below this amount will be subjected to shipping charges depending on the geographical location of the customer (including within India). This is calculated at checkout allowing the customer to see their shipping charges based on their Country, State, and Post Code. Lastly, every Mujjo product comes with a two-year warranty, effective from the date of delivery.

The Mujjo cases are a perfect companion for your iPhone. If protection and style are your requirements, Mujjo’s cases could be your answer. Yes, the price for the cases may seem a bit steep, but quality does demand a fair price. And as you know it all, accessories for Apple products do demand a premium price after all.

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