The iPhone 6 Plus changed the way a lot of people carried their phone. It was big enough that putting it in a jeans pocket was not always comfortable, and with all the bending concerns around that time, it made sense to start looking for another way to carry it.
WaterField’s answer was the Spinn case, a leather iPhone case designed to move the phone out of your pocket and onto your belt, while also giving you a place to manage your earbud cable.
Quick Answer
The WaterField Spinn case feels like a well-made leather case with strong stitching, a snug fit, and a practical belt clip. It is clearly built around the size of the iPhone 6 Plus, so it is not a tiny accessory, but it does solve the basic problem of carrying a large phone without stuffing it into a pocket.
The built-in earbud wrap is a good idea, but how well it works depends on the earbuds you use. Apple’s stock earbuds fit better after a little experimenting with the wrap direction. Flat-cable earbuds worked, too, but longer cables and larger inline controls made the wrap less clean.
Why This Case Exists
The main problem here is simple: phones were getting bigger. The iPhone 6 Plus was large enough that carrying it in a jeans pocket could be awkward, especially if you wanted to carry anything else in that same pocket.
For me, the Spinn case is less about decoration and more about changing how the phone is carried. The belt clip gets the phone out of the pocket, and the leather sleeve gives it a more secure place to live during the day.
Fit And Break-In
WaterField includes a note explaining that the case may feel tight at first because the full-grain leather stretches as it breaks in. That lines up with my experience using other leather cases and bags. A tight fit at the beginning is usually part of what makes a leather case feel custom after some use.
On the first slide-in with the iPhone 6 Plus, the fit was very snug. It was not loose or sloppy at all. The bottom of the phone remained accessible, including the headphone jack and ports, which matters if you want to listen to music while the phone is still in the case.
Because this was a first look, I would still want to use it for a while before making a final call on day-to-day comfort. But right away, the fit felt secure.
Leather And Build Quality
The leather was the first thing that stood out. The Spinn uses full-grain leather, and it has the kind of feel I expect from WaterField products. I have used several of their bags and iPad cases before, and their consistency has always been one of the reasons I keep paying attention to them.
This review unit was the Grizzly color, which has that worn leather look that should age nicely over time. WaterField also mentioned black and chocolate as other color options.
The stitching looked solid, especially at the top and bottom where the stitching starts and ends. I did not see loose threads or fraying in the first inspection. The leather was thick, the snap felt strong, and the belt clip felt secure.
Belt Clip And Carry
The back of the case has a snap-style belt clip. It is meant to make the case easy to attach and remove from a belt, while still keeping the phone secure.
One small thing I noticed is that the case does not lay completely flat on a table because the button on the back sticks out. That is not really a problem for a belt case, but it is worth knowing if you tend to set your phone and case down on a desk.
The case itself looks a little large at first glance, but that is mostly because the iPhone 6 Plus is a large phone. Once the phone is inside and the leather starts shaping around it, the size makes more sense.
Earbud Cord Wrap
One of the more interesting parts of the Spinn case is the small disc on the front, which acts as a cord manager for wired earbuds. You plug the earbuds into the bottom of the phone, then wrap the cable around the front of the case.
With Apple’s stock earbuds, the cord wrap worked better after I took a little more time with it. Starting the wrap from a different side made the connector sit more cleanly across the bottom. It was not something I would call effortless on the first try, but it did work.
With my everyday Monster Miles Davis Tribute earbuds, the flat cable and 90-degree connector actually looked nice with the case. The 90-degree plug worked better along the bottom than a straight plug. The issue was the longer cable and larger inline controller, which made it harder to wrap tightly.
So the cord manager is useful, but it is not universal. Your results will depend on the length of your earbud cable, the size of the inline remote, and the connector style.
Early Impressions
As a first look, the WaterField Spinn case made a good impression. The materials feel right, the fit is tight in a good way, and the clip makes sense for anyone who does not want a large iPhone sitting in a pocket all day.
The earbud wrap is the one feature that needs more real-world use before I would call it a complete win. It is a clever idea, and with the right earbuds it can work well, but it takes some experimenting.
The bigger question is whether you like carrying your phone on your belt. If you do, the Spinn case gives the iPhone 6 Plus a durable, practical home. If you prefer pocket carry, this case is probably solving a problem you do not have.
Key Takeaways
- The WaterField Spinn case is designed to make the large iPhone 6 Plus easier to carry outside a pocket.
- The leather fit is very snug at first, which WaterField says should loosen as the full-grain leather breaks in.
- The belt clip feels secure and is the main reason this case makes sense for daily carry.
- The built-in earbud wrap works, but cable length, plug shape, and inline controls make a big difference.
- Build quality looked strong in the first inspection, with thick leather and clean stitching.
- The Grizzly leather finish should develop more character as it ages.
Watch the Video
The video above above for the full first-look walkthrough, including the unboxing, iPhone 6 Plus fit test, belt clip inspection, and earbud wrap examples with both Apple earbuds and flat-cable earbuds.
