Today we are hands-on with the new Native Union iPhone 16 case collection, and more specifically the (RE) Classic 3.0. In my opinion, the brand has always found a way to stand out amongst the hundreds of case and accessory makers vying for your attention, but it’s now time to see how its latest iteration of the (RE) Classic holds up for iPhone 16 users in the latest entry to our Tested with gadgetnewsonline series.
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Hands-on with the eco leather Native Union (RE) Classic 3.0 iPhone 16 case
The new Native Union (RE) Classic 3.0 iPhone 16 case is available for all four of the new models and comes in four colorways: the Navy you see on display here, black, slate green, and a sort of soft orange Kraft option.
It retails for $59.99 shipped and joins a collection of matching accessories for the rest of your Apple kit, including desk gear, cables, sleeves, and more.
There’s a reason we keep coming back to (Re)Classic Case. An elegant design, eco-friendly materials, and a durable build Ð it’s everything we want a phone case to look and feel like. And every year, we raise the bar with enhancements to make (Re)Classic Case even more so the epitome of everyday protection. This year, we’re innovating with a new material which, after rigorous testing, proved to be durable to the max.
Features at a glance
- Precise cutout for easy access to the Camera Control button
- Crafted with a durable, recycled & animal-free leather alternative
- 100% recycled frame, fully wrapped in a smooth & cross-grained design for an elevated finish
- Protect your iPhone with highly resistant materials & drop protection up to 6ft / 1.8m
- Recycled microfiber lining, raised edges, and a closed-bottom structure for extra care
- Compatible with MagSafe charging & accessories
gadgetnewsonline’ Take
Native Union, as I have stated previously when covering its gear, delivers a unique design sensibility that makes it stand out from the crowd, and I feel as though this rings true with its iPhone 16 cases as well…especially the (RE) Classic 3.0 we are featuring here today.
Everyone knows how much I hate ugly logos and text plastered across my tech accessories at this point, but Native Union is one of roughly a handful of prominent brands that does it right. I actually feel as though its almost fashion brand-like aesthetics and use of minimalist text on its gear actually make the design shine even more. It’s one of the rare cases where I would rather the subtle “Native Union” and “Paris” text was exactly where it is now, exactly how it is now, than not at all.
Much of this sentiment, especially in the case of the (RE) Classic, carries through to the rest of the design approach here. Firstly, I am a big fan of the eco-leather alternative the brand uses – a wonderful way to leave the animals alone while still delivering something that feels at least to some degree like leather in the hand and to the eye. It’s clearly no leather, and feels a little bit more rubbery than I’m suggesting here, but I am a big fan of the result – it’s one of the best leather alternatives in the game if you ask me.
This leather is also wrapped around a 100% recycled PC frame too, effectively doubling down on the earth-friendly approach here. Nice.
That’s all good and well, but its really the diamond-etched cross-hatch pattern and break at the lower-third of the case that really makes the entire thing shine the most. I love the text, I particularly enjoy the vegan leather, but this pattern adds a touch of luxury and style to the case you just don’t see around all that often. I have had more than a couple people say things like, “what kind of case is that?” Or, “what brand is that case?”
Now I couldn’t really care less if folks notice my case or not, in fact I’d rather they didn’t at all, but it is a testament to how interesting the design is for some folks.
I’ll keep this bit quick – the MagSafe array built into the case works perfectly and has been more than strong enough to hang from all of the floating, tree-style MagSafe chargers I have in the office here. Elsewhere on the inside of the case, we have a sort of rougher canvas interior lining than I would like, but it is in no way going to scratch your iPhone – it’s just not quite the soft microfiber I’m used to, and, not than anyone cares, might look even better.
Buttons, Camera Control cutout, and more
Ok now let’s talk buttons. Clearly a hot topic for anyone buying a case this year is the Camera Control treatment, and we will get to that next, but first let’s talk about everything else. Native Union doesn’t state precisely what the covers for the Action Button, volume, and home button are made of, but it feels a lot like the machined metal approach we have seen from other brands in the price range. Either way, I like them – everything has a nice click, lines up perfectly with the buttons below, and comes in a slightly darker but complimentary color as the case you choose.
Okay, now Camera Control. Clearly Native Union has opted for a cutout as opposed to some kind of conductive cover. One thing that is becoming clear among the many cases I have here to test out is this; if the case is too thick and there isn’t a sloped edge leading the finger into the cutout, it can be, at least, mildly problematic.
The Native Union (RE) Classic isn’t perfect, but it’s certainly not the worst offender here. Some cases make it very difficult for me to dig my finger through the cutout an access the extremely low-throw Camera Control button on iPhone 16, but this one isn’t too bad. pressing, and double pressing the button is just fine, but when sliding left and right it does make me wish there was a touch more slope to the cutout sides. It certainly works, and shouldn’t be problem for anyone but those using the Camera Control button in a professional and constant manner, but it’s not perfect.
When it’s all said and done, the real draw of the Native Union (RE) Classic 3.0 for iPhone 16 is the animal-free leather material and the look of the case. There’s nothing overly remarkable here in terms of the feature set – it’s just a solid MagSafe case that gets the job done and happens to look super pretty and unique doing it.
Buy the Native Union (RE) Classic 3.0 iPhone 16 case
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