Join us as we TestDrive Spinn by Waterfeild

The iPhone 6 Plus created a real carrying problem. It was a big phone for its time, and if you were trying to keep it in a jeans pocket, there was not much room left for anything else.

That was the question behind this first look: is WaterField's Spinn case a better everyday way to carry a larger iPhone, especially if you want something more secure than a pocket?

Quick Answer

The WaterField Spinn case looks and feels like a well-made leather carry case for the iPhone 6 Plus. The fit is very snug out of the box, which WaterField warns about, but that is also part of what makes a good leather case work over time.

The belt clip is sturdy and easy to snap on, the stitching looks solid, and the built-in earbud wrap is a useful idea, though how well it works depends a lot on the earbuds and cable style you use.

Why This Case Exists

The iPhone 6 Plus was a big shift in phone size. For a lot of people, including me, it was just a little too large to comfortably live in a front jeans pocket all day.

There was also the extra concern at the time around bending larger phones. Whether you were worried about that specifically or not, the bigger issue was simple: larger smartphones needed a different carry solution.

WaterField's Spinn case is designed around that problem. Instead of forcing the phone into a pocket, it gives you a leather belt-carried option with a secure clip and a built-in way to manage earbud cables.

First Impressions

Out of the box, the Spinn looked a little larger than I expected. That is partly because this version was made for a naked iPhone 6 Plus, and the 6 Plus itself was already a large device.

The case is flat before the phone is inserted, so it should shape itself more naturally as the leather breaks in. WaterField also includes a note explaining that the full-grain leather may feel tight at first and will stretch with use.

That tightness is not really a flaw. With leather phone cases, a snug fit is usually what you want. It means the case is formed closely to the phone instead of feeling loose or sloppy.

Leather And Build

The leather was the first thing that stood out. It feels thick, strong, and genuinely nice in the hand. This version appears to be the Grizzly color, which has that worn leather look I personally like because it tends to age well.

WaterField recommends leaving the leather alone instead of using conditioner, since conditioners can darken the leather and change the look. That matches my experience with leather bags and cases. A good leather product usually develops more character just from being used.

The stitching also looked clean. I did not see fraying, and the top and bottom areas appeared reinforced where the stitching starts and ends. That is the kind of small detail WaterField has usually done well in my experience with their iPad cases and bags.

Fit With iPhone 6 Plus

Sliding the iPhone 6 Plus into the case took some effort because the fit was very snug. WaterField calls this out up front, and it should get easier as the leather breaks in.

Once the phone was inside, the bottom ports were still accessible. The headphone jack and other bottom openings were not blocked, which matters if you still want to plug in earbuds while the phone is in the case.

This particular model was made for a naked iPhone 6 Plus, so it is not something I would assume works with another case already on the phone. If you use a protective shell or bumper, you would need to make sure you are buying the correct size.

Belt Clip

The clip on the back is a snap-style belt clip. It felt secure and was easy to open and close, which is important because this case is really meant to move the phone out of your pocket and onto your belt.

The clip does create one small side effect: the case does not lay perfectly flat on a table. Because the button and clip hardware stick out on the back, the case rests at a slight angle.

That did not bother me much. I would rather have the phone sit at a slight angle on a desk than have a weaker or less secure clip on a belt-carried case.

Earbud Cord Wrap

One of the more interesting parts of the Spinn case is the small disc on the front. It is meant to work as a cord manager for earbuds, letting you plug into the bottom of the phone and wrap the cable around the case.

With the stock Apple earbuds, it worked better after taking a little time with the wrap. The direction you start from seems to matter, and it took a bit of experimenting to get the cable to sit more cleanly.

The inline remote on the earbuds can get in the way. I even triggered music playback while wrapping the cable, so that is something to watch for if your earbuds have controls.

I also tried a pair of Monster Miles Davis Tribute earbuds with a flat cable and a 90-degree connector. The 90-degree plug worked nicely along the bottom of the case, but the longer cable and larger Y-split made the wrap less tidy.

So the cord wrap is a good idea, but it is not universal. Your results will depend on cable length, cable thickness, plug shape, and where the inline controls or split points are located.

What Worked

The core carry concept makes sense. If a phone is too large for a pocket, a belt-carried leather case is a practical answer, especially for people who do not want to carry a bag everywhere.

The fit, leather quality, and stitching all gave a good first impression. This felt like a durable product, not a loose sleeve with a clip added as an afterthought.

I also liked that the phone ports remained accessible from the bottom. That makes the earbud wrap more practical because the phone can stay inside the case while headphones are connected.

What To Watch For

The snug fit may surprise you at first. If you are expecting the phone to slide in and out easily on day one, that is probably not how this case will feel.

The earbud wrap takes some experimenting. It worked better with the Apple earbuds after adjusting how I wrapped them, but bulkier cable designs may not sit as neatly.

The case is also still big, because the iPhone 6 Plus is big. The Spinn solves the pocket problem, but it does not make a large phone disappear.

Key Takeaways

The WaterField Spinn is built for people who find the iPhone 6 Plus too large for comfortable pocket carry.
The leather fit is very snug at first, but that is expected and should improve as the case breaks in.
The belt clip feels secure and makes the case more practical as an everyday carry option.
The bottom ports remain accessible while the phone is inside the case.
The earbud cord wrap is useful, but it depends heavily on the earbuds, cable length, and inline controls.
The case does not lay completely flat because of the clip hardware on the back.