Nomad Super Slim Case for iPhone 14 Series Review: Perfect for People Who Don’t Like Cases (but Know They Need One)

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The Lowdown

The ideal customer for the Nomad Super Slim case is the person who has always carried their iPhone au natural but is starting to rethink their approach now that their iPhone 14 costs well over $1000. Maybe they aren’t ready for a fully protective case yet, but they know leaving their phone totally unprotected is unwise. The Nomad Super Slim lets them maintain much of the look and feel of their iPhone while adding a bit of scratch, camera, and lay-on-the-table screen protection.

Overall
3.5

Pros

  • Nomad’s most affordable case yet
  • Doesn’t hide the phone’s design
  • Offers some protection to screen and cameras
  • Adds minimal weight and bulk
  • Protects the phone from scratches

Cons

  • The case doesn’t offer significant drop protection
  • Lack of magnets in the case means the MagSafe grip is somewhat diminished

I’ve been using Nomad cases pretty exclusively for the past few iPhone models I’ve owned. Initially, I used their gorgeous Horween leather cases, but more recently, I have taken to the company’s synthetic Sport Case. Now they have introduced a new case line that is a huge departure for the brand. The Nomad Super Slim case for iPhone 14 is … super slim.

Nomad’s Horween leather cases are gorgeous. They look and feel great, and over time, they develop a lovely patina. They recently added a new model leather case that isn’t made from Horween leather. The cases look and feel fantastic and are significantly less expensive than those made from Horween leather. (Nomad currently sells cases made from both types of leather.)

I have been using the Nomad Sport Case for the last year. It has the same refined lines as Nomad’s leather cases but is made from a polycarbonate frame with TPE bumpers for added protection. The Nomad Sport Case is a bit more slippery than Nomad’s leather offerings, but they not only look and feel great, but they also do a superb job protecting Apple’s pricey pocket computers.

As I shared in my original review of the Nomad Sport Case, my iPhone flew from my eBike on two different occasions and hit the road while I was going 20 miles an hour. The case showed some impact, but the phone was fine!

In other words, whether you choose Nomad’s Horween leather case, their Modern leather case, or their synthetic Sport case, you can rest assured that your precious iPhone is safe and protected.

The new Nomad Super Slim case takes a different approach. Nomad’s thinnest case yet, the Super Slim case, is made from synthetic materials and contains at least 50% recycled materials. Available in your choice of Frost or Carbide, the cases have a matte finish with just enough texture to add a bit of “grippiness.”

The semi-transluscent Nomad Super Slim Case

Nomad says this new case “elevates the look and feel of your iPhone while maintaining its original form factor and offering scratch protection.” In other words, thanks to its incredibly thin design, the Super Slim is intended for people who don’t like cases but know they should use one.

The Nomad Super Slim case doesn’t hide the design of the phone, and the material is thin enough that it is semi-transparent; depending on the light, you can still see the Apple logo through the case.

The case snaps around the phone and offers 360º coverage.

Side view of the nearly cleear Nomad Super Slim Case

Chamfered cutouts for buttons and ports let you have complete access to the controls and charging.

A raised camera bump of .6mm offers added protection.

The new Nomad Super Slim cases are wireless charging compatible, but there are some differences between the wireless charging of this case and Nomad’s other offerings.

All of the other cases Nomad currently offer have magnets built into the case that works with Apple’s MagSafe technology to grab and hold the phone. The magnets offer excellent grip; even on rough roads, the phone stays put. For example, when I get in my car, I stick the phone on the vent charger, and it just sits there.

The Nomad Super Slim case doesn’t have the added magnets, so it relies on the iPhone’s built-in MagSafe connection. That means it will still charge wirelessly; it also means MagSafe chargers and accessories can grab and hold the phone. But, because there are no additional magnets and there is now the addition of material between the iPhone (thin as it may be) and the MagSafe device, the grip is a bit weaker than you might expect.

For that reason, Nomad offers this warning:

While Super Slim is thin enough to maintain MagSafe functionality, it offers slightly decreased magnetic attraction. Please note, we do not recommend using Super Slim with MagSafe car mounts.

The semi-translucent gray Nomad Super Slim Case

That’s reason enough for me to continue using my Nomad Sport Case. The other reason is found in Nomad’s own description of the Super Slim case. They write that the case is good for “maintaining its original form factor and offering scratch protection.”

In other words, while Nomad’s other cases offer superb drop protection, this case will help keep your iPhone free from scratches, but it won’t do much to protect the device if it goes flying from your eBike the way mine did. In fact, based on the thinness of the case, I doubt it offers much more protection than carrying your phone sans the case entirely.

So, who is the target market for the Nomad Super Slim?

That seems pretty clear to me. The ideal customer for the Nomad Super Slim case is the person who has always carried their iPhone au natural but is starting to rethink their approach now that their iPhone 14 costs well over $1000. Maybe they aren’t ready for a fully protective case yet, but they know leaving their phone totally unprotected is unwise. The Nomad Super Slim lets them maintain much of the look and feel of their iPhone while adding a bit of scratch, camera, and lay-on-the-table screen protection.

The Super Slim is a good addition to Nomad’s lineup of iPhone cases. Not only is it their least expensive case to date, but it also invites naked-phone-loving customers — who would never have considered one of their cases previously — to tip their toe into Nomad’s excellent and ever-growing portfolio of products.

The Nomad Super Slim Case for the iPhone 14 sells for $29.95; it is available directly from the manufacturer.

Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample

What I Like: Nomad’s most affordable case yet; Doesn’t hide the phone’s design; Offers some protection to screen and cameras; Adds minimal weight and bulk; Protects the phone from scratches

What Needs Improvement: The case doesn’t offer significant drop protection; Lack of magnets in the case means the MagSafe grip is somewhat diminished

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About the Author

Dan Cohen
Having a father who was heavily involved in early laser and fiber-optical research, Dan grew up surrounded by technology and gadgets. Dan’s father brought home one of the very first video games when he was young and Dan remembers seeing a “pre-release” touchtone phone. (When he asked his father what the “#” and “*” buttons were his dad said, “Some day, far in the future, we’ll have some use for them.”) Technology seemed to be in Dan’s blood but at some point he took a different path and ended up in the clergy. His passion for technology and gadgets never left him. Dan is married to Raina Goldberg who is also an avid user of Apple products. They live in New Jersey with their golden doodle Nava.

2 Comments on "Nomad Super Slim Case for iPhone 14 Series Review: Perfect for People Who Don’t Like Cases (but Know They Need One)"

  1. Liz Armstrong | January 29, 2023 at 10:51 am |

    This case doesn’t look like it would be enough protection if I dropped my Iphone.

  2. This is the type of case I could talk my son into. He doesn’t like bulky cases.

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