Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Smart Home
  3. Reviews

Hands-on with Speck FabShell Luxe case: Leather loving for your iPhone 4/4S

By
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Make sure to check out our picks for the best iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S cases.

So you’re looking for an iPhone that doesn’t necessarily look like a case but still offers the same protection others do? You may see a myriad of options for leather cases out there, but consider the Speck’s FabShell Luxe for iPhone 4/4S for quality durability. The leather design is disguised to look elegant yet provide maximum protection against scratches and drops. Can you truly have it all? Here’s our hands-on of the product.

Recommended Videos

Look and Feel

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Of the bat, the Speck FabShell Luxe case is a hardshell that snaps right onto your iPhone with a small wiggle. Speck offers four different colors under this line, and we received two in different type of leather — one (Burgundy) has a dotted texture while the other (Cognac) is smooth and soft. On either the white or black iPhone, both cases look great and perfect for those who care about style. The back also has a huge room for the camera, so there are no bounce-back lighting when you use flash.

Related

Compared to other Speck cases, the FabShell Luxe is pretty minimal. It’s thinner than the usual Speck hard case, which is a plus for those who do not prefer added bulkiness with their cases. The leather also goes all the way around the case, including the sides. There are no holes to fit the buttons, however, just rubber overlays that sit right on top. We actually prefer these side edges to be rubber rather than leather to help with anti-scratch and shock absorbency.

Though the case looks and feels great, deep inspections show a bit of imperfection here and there. You can tell the leather was glued onto the back of the hard case body, and some parts of the leather back can seem a bit uneven with small wrinkles of air bubbles. Though this is a minor detail that most people might not recognize, my curious eyes can’t seem to not notice the finer intricacies.

Utility

Since the FabShell Luxe case is supposed to be minimal, front coverage is a bit on the bare side. The raised bumper is also lower than other Speck cases we’ve seen. The case would work great if you already have a screen protector pasted on and used the FabShell Luxe as a fashionable add-on. If you aim to use the case with iPod docks, the thin design will also allow you to connect the device directly to your docks without removing the case. 

As with all Speck quality cases, the shell itself is great against accidental drops and scratches. The leather also adds a nice grip to the iPhone without the slippery touch other cases can be when they are topped with a glossy, plastic finish. Lastly, the case seems to add almost no noticeable weight to the phone at all. 

Our verdict

Is this Speck’s finest product yet? We have to admit we’ve seen nicer cases from Speck, and perhaps leather isn’t its best product from its generally very strong line of gadget cases. While the leather is nice and feels great, dropping $50 for the product might be better off on another Speck case, such as the CandyShell series which have proved to provide consistent protection while looking pretty great despite the lack of leather.

Still, if you must boast the quality of the brand, the lightweight and stylish is great for those who like a touch of elegance with their gadget protection. Since this is on the company’s Luxe line, you will have to drop a bigger investment than your average phone case; The Speck FabShell Luxe is $50, and comes in Black, Cognac, Burgundy, or Hunter Green.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Natt Garun
Natt Garun
Former Digital Trends Contributor
An avid gadgets and Internet culture enthusiast, Natt Garun spends her days bringing you the funniest, coolest, and strangest…
The 5 best office chairs for long hours in 2024
The Verve in an office.

When you spend half (or more) of your day in an office chair, a $50 budget-buy store brand isn’t the kind of purchase you should be making. Not only are these cheap items more likely to break down over time, but there’s a good chance this kind of chair isn’t going to have the elevated support features your body needs. That’s why we’ve put together this list of the five best office chairs for long hours in 2024.

Each of these models are tailor-made for those of us who need a comfortable chair that feels good all day. We’ve also made sure to include a couple of options for folks who experience back pain, shoulder strain, and other sore conditions.

Read more
Matter gains support for kitchen appliances, adds new energy-tracking features
The Matter logo on a colorful background.

Matter received its big 1.2 update in late 2023, and now the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) is ready to officially roll out Matter 1.3. The latest version of the interoperability standard is now available for use, offering added support for appliances like microwave ovens and lclothes dryers, while also introducing new features for water and energy management.

The full list of new device types supported by Matter 1.3 include microwave ovens, ovens, cooktops, extractor hoods (such as vent hoods), and laundry dryers. These aren't quite as exciting or mainstream as the nine device types introduced with Matter 1.2, but it's great to see the CSA continuing to broaden the reach of the Matter network.

Read more
Best Ring deals: Save on Ring doorbell and Ring alarm bundles
Ring Video Doorbell 3

Ring is probably one of the most well-known brands and one of the best video doorbell brands on the market, so it would make sense if you want to get yourself a Ring camera, especially if you're in the Amazon ecosystem. Luckily, there are a lot of options out there, whether you want a doorbell or a floodlight, and while not all of them have deals, you can always find something refurbished or in a bundle that should save you a bit of cash. That's why we've gone out and collected the best deals we could find for various Ring product and collected them below.
Ring Stick Up Cam Battery (refurbished) -- $58, was $90

The Ring Stick Up is a good security camera for indoors or outdoors. It can go almost anywhere, and allows you to hear and speak to people on camera from your phone or tablet. You can customize the motion sensors to focus on specific areas of your home, and it has a Live View that allows you to watch over your home in 1080p Full HD resolution at any time. It even works with Alexa, allowing you to hear audio announcements when motion is detected. The Ring Stick Up sets up in minutes and it charges easily with a removable battery pack. This is a great option if you’re looking for something capable but versatile.

Read more