The moment I first saw the Dock Artisan Sport Leather Wallet Combo Case I knew it was going to be a hit. Sure, the leather looks fantastic and the craftsmanship looks great, but the design is what wins the day: Because your iPhone 6, 6 Plus, or 5s is secured by a slim case with magnets, you can easily remove it in an instant.

Why is this such a leap over most other wallet cases?

  • If you want to take a call, you don’t have to hold your wallet to your head.
  • If you want to take a photo, you don’t have to have your credit cards or driver’s license flapping in the breeze.
  • If you want to do some serious work on your iPhone — or even watch a movie or play a game — you don’t have to juggle the whole wallet.

It’s downright ingenious.

Of course, the overall quality is what seals the deal — the leather is supple but strong with just the right hint of distressed character. In fact, Dock Artisan hits all the right notes: Quality without being pretentious. Functionality that fits the new Apple Pay mobile payment service. An innovative, smile-inducing design.

As it turns out, I’m not the only one who appreciates this case. The first batch sold out in three days, and your next shot at getting one will arrive on Cyber Monday with new inventory. (At around $70, the quality-to-value ratio is insanely good.) If you think you want this case, I’ve got to recommend that you just pull the trigger and buy one as soon as you can. These wallet cases are not mass produced out of a polycarbonate mold, so if you’re giving one as a gift, better get one fast or you’ll miss your chance for the holidays. (Alternately, if you’re looking for a different kind of wallet case, be sure to check out “15 Best Wallet Cases for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.”)

Inside the Dock Artisan Sport Leather Wallet Combo Case

The Dock Artisan Sport Leather Wallet Combo Case has slots for three cards, but you can fit two cards in each if you’re willing to take the extra bulk they create. Under the three slots, there’s a much larger slot suitable for cash or an emergency old-school paper check or insurance card.

Over time, like every leather wallet, the card slots will stretch and wear in, which means the cards will loosen in their slots. To keep the Sport Leather Wallet Combo Case closed, there is an elastic band that holds it shut vertically, which would also make it hard for a card to ever slide out. Plus, the strap ensures that if you drop the case to the concrete, the edges of the leather wallet will help absorb shock and protect your iPhone.

The wallet case is offered in two core colors — brown or black.

How Strong is the Magnet?

The magnet is strong enough to hold your iPhone if you purposely let the wallet case flap open while holding the card slot cover. It will even stay in place with a solid, intentional drop-and-stop motion. If you flip the case and jerk it hard, the iPhone will fall out. But I had to do this intentionally. Under normal use, I doubt it would come off — unless you consider rapidly jerking your wallet iPhone case out of the hands of your girlfriend because she wants to make sure that the photo you just took of her drinking a margarita is worthy of sharing with friends. In that case, you should only make sudden movements with the case closed.

The polycarbonate shell portion of the case features a stitched leather back. And the polycarbonate itself? Better than average fit and finish. It all looks good.

This portion of the case, though, does not extend above the surface of the screen, so you won’t want to lay your iPhone face down on too many surfaces unless you have a screen protector — which Dock Artisan includes. Besides, you’ll want a screen protector because if you don’t have a screen protector, your screen will eventually rub directly onto the edges of your credit cards. Seems prudent to use a screen protector even though the glass on an iPhone should be — technically — much harder than a credit card.

All-in-all, the leather is excellent, the stitching fantastic, and the character right on the money. The magnet-based folio design is the most versatile, smartest solution I’ve seen yet for a iPhone wallet case, giving the you the best of all worlds — a wallet case as well as an easy-to-use iPhone.

I’m a fan.

Get the Gear:

 

By the Numbers
5.0

Pros

  • Excellent quality
  • Leather has character
  • Design works

Cons

  • None
Overall Design
Fit and Finish
Price-to-Value Ratio

About the author

Chris Maxcer

Twitter Website

I've been writing about the tech industry since the birth of the email newsletter, and I still remember the clacking Mac keyboards from high school -- Apple's seed-planting strategy at work. I'm a big fan of elegant gear and great tech, but there's something to be said for turning it all off -- or most of it -- to go outside. Online I like to call out cool stuff on Wicked Cool Bite and blog with my buddies at Man Makes Fire. To catch me, take a "firstnamelastname" guess at the url of this site.