A lot of manufacturers are trying to find new uses for the basic leather case design. Some are implementing stand features to make cases more versatile. Others make combination cases with wallet features, and yet others go for more protection by adding a front flap. Beyzacases has gone in a whole lot of directions with their MultiFlip, and some are really good.
The MultiFlip is basically a two-piece design with a basic leather case as the base. Leather covers the sides, area around the front facing camera and the home button. It goes around the screen, and can be a bit intrusive when using the virtual keyboard. The bottom part is only covered by two thin stripes of leather with cut-outs for the speakers. That means that the charge socket is available for use when the phone is inside the case. The top is covered by a central piece of leather that is buttoned to the back. This leaves both the headphones socket, and silent button open to use. Inserting the iPhone 4/4S into the case is only a matter of opening the top button, and sliding it in. The fit is really good, and there is no movement of the phone inside the case.
The second piece of the MultiFlip is the detachable flap that connects to the back of the case with two buttons. It goes around the bottom thus obscuring the charge socket. To charge the phone with the flap on you need to have the flap open. The flap covers the entire front of the phone with two layers of protective leather. Inside the flap there is also room for a credit card, or a couple of business cards. The flap is held securely in place by two magnets found beside the front facing camera cutout. It is still easy to open the flap when you need to use it. The leather wants to keep shut, and you can’t just lay the phone down expecting the flap to stay open. It immediately shuts again, and to keep it open you have to hold the flap down with something.
The MultiFlip is all about protection, and that is actually all that the added front flap is good for. Sure you can place a credit card inside the slot, but that isn’t enough to warrant any multi purpose name. Instead the strength is that you can have the flap on when you place the phone in a bag, or pocket and have full protection for both front and back glass. When you want to use the phone it is easy to remove the flap, and have almost perfect functionality of the screen. I say almost as all leather cases that have leather closely around the screen interfere with usage.
One thing that I have had problems with in designs covering the home button is that it gets pressed inadvertently. This is sadly true about the MultiFlip as well, and too often I hear the phone beeping inside my pocket when it starts Voice Control. This is really annoying, as the phone has managed to make one call from my pocket so far. This has also been an issue in a rather roomy messenger bag where the large front flap still managed to press down the home button. I plead to all case designers to be cautious when covering the home button that most of the time it doesn’t work out.
The workmanship, and quality of the leather is top notch for the MultiFlip. This is to be expected from leather experts like Beyzacases. I really like the contrast stitching that gives the case an edgy youthful flair. The base case has not branding, but the flap has both the brand name and logo.
The MultiFlip is perfect for protection, and looks really cool. The leather intrudes slightly on the screen, but not more than other cases with this design. The only real concern I have is the home button being pressed when in a pocket or bag. Other than that I also wonder how long it takes before the flap gets lost if you take it off every time you use the phone.
Final Rating
MultiFlip at Beyzacases.com €59.95
