Now that my phone has arrived and I put it in the case, here's what I think so far. As has always been the case with Nomad, this case has a degree of ruggedness to it that will certainly provide more drop protection than my beloved Apple leather cases that rode off into the sunset this year. Although it is more rugged than the Apple leather case (ruggedness usually means additional thickness), the amount of heft that it adds to the phone is extremely negligible, if even noticeable. This is my first time using the Pro Max, which I was hesitant to opt for previously due to its size, so you can imagine my apprehension with putting a bulky case on it. With this case, it's a non-issue.
I am not having any difficulty at all swiping from the sides of the screen; in fact, I am pleasantly surprised by the low profile of the lip that surrounds the front of the screen. You can tell that a lot of thought went into this case's design, as it checks all the boxes. The buttons are made of anodized aluminum and are super clicky and the case itself feels really good in hand (cue "that's what she said" jokes). Truthfully, it's everything I've been looking for in a case.
I didn't opt for the more expensive Horween leather variant ($70), choosing the regular leather ($50) instead. By the way, it actually smells like a quality leather product! I didn't really see the need to spend an additional $20 on something that I wouldn't notice in daily use. Below are a couple of pics I snapped of the phone in the case (natural titanium with Nomad's Whiskey colorway make a sexy, elegant combination), as well as a closeup of the lip around the screen.
In conclusion, I really like this case. If you're considering it, buy with confidence. You'll be in for a treat.
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