Released in conjunction with social merchandising company The Hundreds, Hex’s The Hundreds x Hex Code Wallet for iPhone 4/4S ($55) is the most direct competitor to Twelve South’s BookBook that we’ve seen so far. The leather folio-style case is designed to be at least a partial wallet replacement, freeing up some space in your pockets. While we like the design as a whole, some issues with Code Wallet do limit its overall appeal.
The case’s exterior is embossed leather, available in green, blue, and red; we liked both the look and feel of the material.
Three card slots on the inside of the left flap are sufficient for credit cards or IDs. Opposite those is a soft touch plastic frame for holding the iPhone in place; the right edge is completely covered, while the top, bottom, and left sides are almost entirely exposed. We found insertion and removal of the iPhone to be very easy. An elastic band attached to the back keeps Code Wallet closed when its contents aren’t in use, and there’s an extra pocket on the outside for cash.
Like BookBook, there’s no hole for the rear camera, which is a particular problem with this case as it’s not as easy to remove the iPhone. This seems like an obvious omission, and is suprising considering how well everything else is executed.
Code Wallet is an example of a good case with a few issues that drag it down. We really did like the frame, the leather, and the elastic band that hold it all shut; it’s also thinner than BookBook, which is certainly appreciated. Hex’s collaboration with The Hundreds is cool too; while this is our first introduction to the latter company, we definitely see the value it has added relative to the standard edition of Code Wallet that Hex also offers.
