Review: Twelve South BookBook for iPhone 4/4S

Having been around the tech scene for a while, it is clear Twelve South has an excellent reputation for producing quality products for all Apple hardware, and the BookBook for iPhone 4/s is no exception.  The BookBook is a wallet/iPhone case combination with a bit of intrigue.

The BookBook is… well, it’s just cool!

The handcrafted BookBook is made of high quality genuine leather that is supple to the touch and equally pleasing to the nose – nothing like that new-leather-smell.  The smooth exterior is combined with a suede interior, which includes slots for credit cards (2, 3 if not carrying cash), a few bills (slot behind cards), and an area for a viewable ID card. The case allows the iPhone to slip snugly in place while keeping access to the necessaries, i.e. dock port, mute switch, headphone jack, etc.

Perfectly combining practicality and intrigue, while maintaining a progressive, yet-edgy fashionable design, the BookBook is the epitome of hipster lust.  Sitting casually on a coffee shop table, it really looks like a book; while eating dinner out the other night, a friend actually mistook mine for one!  The book spine, complete with gold leafing, is what gives BookBook its elegantly vintaged mask and the small red bookmark-like tab on the top adds to the guise.  The spine leather is already worn, but the front and back appear unblemished, which gives the user the opportunity to weather the leather as it breaks in during use.  Personally, I have enjoyed getting to use the BookBook and will continue to wow friends with its trendy appearance.

Rating: 4.5/5[rating:4.5]

The BookBook ($59.99, order)  for iPhone 4/s is a great case if you are looking for a cool way to combine your wallet and iPhone case.  However, if you have a George Castanza-like wallet, the BookBook is not going to have room for all of those old receipts, business cards, and change.  The streamlined wallet should should only hold a few cards at once or the case becomes too bulky to carry in your pants pocket.

Even without a bunch of cards, it about doubles the size of your phone.  However, keep in mind, it does combine iPhone case and wallet into one, and does so quite elegantly.  This allows you to grab and go on the way out the door – you have everything in one place.  I say go for this one if you are looking for a tasteful, unique way to carry your phone and most used wallet items.  It will make a great gift as well!

Pros

  • Grab and Go!
  • Handmade
  • Genuine leather
  • Simple, only holds what you need
  • Looks like a vintage book
  • Clear ID pocket
  • Dock port, headphone jack, mute switch, volume buttons accessible
  • Easy to insert and remove iPhone

Cons

  • Slightly bulky to carry in your front pants pocket
  • No camera hole

For more information on the BookBook, including FAQs and Tech Specs, jump over to the Twelve South site, or check out the below video to see it in action:

Jim Gresham

An avid Macintosh convert, Jim appreciates the fine, detailed, and progressive products Apple designs. He spent his younger years tinkering with computers, reading about technology, and watching Star Wars. Since 2008, he has worked on improving his Apple arsenal and spends his free time researching the latest gadget trends. A native of the Commonwealth of Virginia, he enjoys the stiff crease on a well-ironed dress shirt and dons a bow tie on a regular basis.