REVIEW – Like many other Gadgeteers out there, when we get a new phone, that means that it’s also time to get a new case for it. For me, my new phone is a Google Pixel Fold. Yes, after 3 years away from the platform I’ve switched from the iPhone back to Android. I really like the feel of leather and was very excited for the opportunity to review the Bellroy Google Pixel Fold leather case. Let’s check it out!
What is it?
The Bellroy Google Pixel Fold leather case is a 2 piece case that has been designed especially for the new Google Pixel Fold smartphone.
What’s in the box?
- Bellroy Google Pixel Fold leather case
- Install instructions
Design and features
The Bellroy Google Pixel Fold leather case has two parts. There’s a thin frame for the front of the phone and there’s a back cover that has a soft lining that’s made of recycled microfiber.
The exterior of the Bellroy Google Pixel Fold leather case is covered in eco-tanned leather. I have the Terracotta version (brown) shown here, but this case is also available in black and a blue grey leather called bluestone.
This case isn’t all leather. The frame or shell of the case is made of polymer that is color matched to the leather.
As you can see in the image above, the polymer case is thin-ish. I prefer a very thin case because I don’t want to bulk up my phone. The Bellroy Google Pixel Fold leather case isn’t super bulky, but I can’t help but wish it was a little thinner.
Installing the case on the Pixel Fold is simple and requires no use of special adhesive strips like some other cases use. You basically just snap the frame over the front display and the back cover on the back of the phone and you’re done.
The front frame is raised around the edges of the display to provide extra protection when you lay the phone face down. I didn’t have any issues interacting with the front display with this case in place.
The back of the Bellroy Google Pixel Fold leather case has a large cutout for the camera module with a slightly raised ridge around the edges. There’s also a very understated Bellroy logo stamped into the leather.
With the case in place, the spine of the Pixel Fold is open and unprotected. This doesn’t bother me because it needs to be uncovered in order to allow easy opening and closing of the phone.
The top edge of the phone has a cutout for the speaker and microphone.
The opposite edge has cutouts for the other microphone and speakers as well as the USB-C port.
The right edge allows full and uncovered access to the fingerprint scanner/power button and volume button. Does anyone else hate cases that have built-in buttons as much as I do?
You can see how the leather is attached to the polymer case around the edges. The weird thing is that the screen frame part of the case has leather that wraps around the edges but the back shell of the case doesn’t. See how the polymer around the USB-C port, speakers, and microphone is just plastic? Meh…
When opened, the case edges are completely flush with the edges of the inside display. This allows the phone to fully close with a satisfying thunk.
The phone opens just fine with this case installed. No issues here.
The only issue that I had with the Bellroy Google Pixel Fold leather case was that I could feel the left edge of the front frame flexing when I gripped the phone in my right hand and when I was unfolding the display.
What I like
- Easy to install
- Adds additional grip
What I’d change
- Wrap leather around the top and bottom edges of the back shell
- Fix the flexing of the front frame
Final thoughts
Since I love leather, I was hoping to love the Bellroy Google Pixel Fold leather case. Unfortunately, I don’t. I don’t hate this case, but the plastic feels just a little too thick and I think it makes the case look a little cheap. At the same time, the frame around the front display flexes too easily when I grip the phone in my right hand. I do think this case will protect the phone from everyday wear and tear and may even protect the phone from a short fall. If you don’t mind the plastic, and like leather, you might love this case, but I’m going to stick with the Pitaka MagEZ 3 Google Pixel Fold case that I reviewed (for now).
Price: $75.00
Where to buy: Bellroy and Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Bellroy.
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I just do not understand when people cover up a beautifully engineered device with a case.
It just becomes bulkier and less attractive.
Odds are probably 50-50 if it helps in a drop, and otherwise who are you protecting the phone for? The next user who buys it via Amazon refurb?
My only reason for a case is to add grip to an otherwise too slippery phone. Since I paid $1800 for this phone, I really don’t want to drop it! 🙂
Please do not listen to this article or anything about this thing. This case is the worst cheapest made case ever. I unfortunately made the mistake of buying one of these things. It was $75 of pure rip me off. On top of that I tried to contact the company to send the thing back no reply. This is the worst company on the face of the planet and they should be reported to the better business bureau which I have half of a mine to do now having voice that. I can’t believe that they even put out such a product. If you want to call it that because it’s pure garbage. It’s not leather at all. That’s misleading. It’s plastic and it’s very cheap plastic at that.
Brad, I think that you’re being extremely harsh here. I’ll agree that this particular case doesn’t live up to what I’ve come to expect from Bellroy and I pretty much said as much that it was too much plastic and that I was sticking with the Pitaka MagEZ 3 case that I also reviewed.
Never mind the case, I think you’re mad to revert back to Android, especially one of these troublesome folding devices!!!
As an aside, when the US has so much violent crime, why does The-Gadgeteer review so many knives? Just saying!
Maggi, I’m enjoying Android. iOS is great and I do miss some aspects of it, but it’s fun to try something new and I’m enjoying foldables. Are they perfect? Not at all. Will I still with them? Hard to say. But it’s just a nice change of pace for me right now. As for your comment about knives. People don’t use them just to stab people 😉 People use knives for all sorts of tasks. EDC gear reviews are very popular.
Skip this expensive case. I got the Foluu case on Amazon and have been using it for a month and love it. Similar polycarbonate snap-on no-adhesive case frame, synthetic leather on back only gives good grip and protects the camera bump. Best of all, it’s only $13!
Wow, for less than $13, that case looks amazing. I like the look a LOT better than the Bellroy! Here’s the link if others are interested:
https://amzn.to/3QJes0s