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The iPhone is becoming more slippery year over year thanks to Apple’s increasing use of glass, front and back. Slapping a case on your iPhone to prevent it from flying out of your hand is a good idea and Apple knows there is money in that. The iPhone maker also makes a few types of their own iPhone cases.

This is our review and comparison of Apple’s silicone and leather cases from real-life use.

Silicone vs. Leather

Pricing

While you could get a perfectly good and adequate third-party case for as little as $3, cases made by Apple cost way more, which is no surprise.

Apple’s silicone and leather cases sell for $39 and $49 a pop, respectively.

Want a case with a battery in it? Apple sells that too. It’s a silicone case with a big hump on the back that people love to hate, and it’s $99 to $129 depending on the size of your device.

Basics

The silicone and leather cases look the same unless you can tell the material without touching them. Other than what they are made from, the only major difference is that the leather case comes with machined aluminum buttons that are easier to press.

Both types of cases are lined with microfiber on the inside to protect the glass on the back and around the iPhone.

Whichever you choose, you can keep the case on when you charge your device wirelessly. Weirdly, this is something Apple proudly points out in their product overview.

They also both come in a variety of colors.

Review and Comparison from Real-life Use

Over the years I’ve used a few Apple-made silicone cases and they generally feel grippier in the hand.

The silicone cases are prone to picking up stuff. If your desk needs dusting, your silicone iPhone case will definitely let you know.

I recently switched to a leather case. It did feel less grippy when I first tried it. However, getting used to the feel didn’t take long, and I wouldn’t worry about it slipping out of my hand.

I’ve also noticed the leather case does not pick up dust as much as the silicone case.

The silicone case is more difficult to scrape. Putting it in the same pocket as your keys won’t do anything to it.

The leather case, on the other hand, is much easier to scrape. Even taking your fingernails to it relatively gently would leave a mark, but hey it’s leather and that’s what it does. Have you looked at leather seats in old cars?

Durability Tips

If you don’t get them on and off your iPhone regularly, the silicone and the leather cases would easily last your iPhone’s life span.

From my experience, the weak points of the cases are the corners at the bottom where you bend to put in or take out your iPhone, so being gentle with those corners would help your case last.

Feel the need to clean your case from time to time? Apple says to use a clean cloth with warm water and mild hand soap to gently do it. You can also use a mild cleaner along with a dry clean cloth.