Nomad Is Having a Sitewide Summer Sale on Phone Gear
Love all things leather? Then you’ll want to check out Nomad’s Summer Vibes Sale, which runs through July 25. The accessory-maker is offering 30 percent off all full-priced Nomad products if you use the promotional code SUMMER30 at checkout. We’ve tested several of these accessories for personal technology devices, including phone cases, cables, wallets, and wireless chargers. These are our favorites.
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Nomad Cases
Nomad Rugged Case with MagSafe
Photograph: NomadMost of the leather Nomad uses comes from an esteemed Chicago-based tannery named Horween. I currently have a case crafted from this leather wrapped around my iPhone 12 Pro Max. The material feels soft and develops a nice patina over time. It offers decent protection too. The case’s polycarbonate body has a thermoplastic elastomer bumper around the sides, and the front edges are slightly raised to prevent your screen from touching your desk when you place your phone face down. The inside of the case is lined with protective microfiber, and the case is embedded with an array of magnets, so you can use it with any MagSafe accessories.
Don’t have an iPhone 12? Nomad still sells these cases for the iPhone 11, iPhone XS, iPhone XR, and the Google Pixel 4.
I’ve had this rugged case protecting my AirPods Pro for more than a year, and it’s still in excellent condition. The leather feels so much nicer than Apple’s glossy case. Don’t worry, wireless charging still works, and you can still press the button on the rear to reset the Bluetooth connectivity without needing to remove the case. There’s even a hole for the LED light to shine through.
Nomad also sells a similar case for the standard AirPods, and Google’s new Pixel Buds A-Series wireless earbuds, which we recently reviewed.
We liked this case enough to include it in our Best iPad Accessories guide. It has front and back leather protection for your slate, and it keeps the edges covered too. It doesn’t block the space for the Apple Pencil. Since it’s a folio, you can use it as a kickstand to prop up the iPad. It’s only available for the current-gen iPad Air, the 3rd- and 4th-gen 12.9-inch iPad Pro, and the 1st- and 2nd-gen 11-inch iPad Pro. (In short, it’s only compatible with the previous two iPad Pro devices, not 2021 models.)
If you don’t want a folio case but just rear protection, snag the Rugged Case instead.
Nomad Wireless Chargers and Cables
Nomad Base Station Pro
Photograph: NomadOf the many wireless chargers I’ve tested, Nomad’s Base Station Pro is the one that remains on my work desk. It uses relatively new technology from a company called Aira that allows you to wirelessly charge a device anywhere on the surface—you don’t need to put it down on a very specific spot, or worry that the slightest misalignment will stop your device from charging. True convenience! (You can read more about this tech here.) This pad can charge around three devices, such as two phones and a wireless earbuds case, and it looks very, very elegant with its leather top. Just a note: I’ve charged dozens of phones on this thing, but the only phones that seem to have trouble are Google Pixel devices. If you have one, snag something else, like the charger below.
I’ll be adding this small charger to our Best Wireless Chargers guide soon. It doesn’t use the same Aira tech as the charger above, but it doesn’t matter; it’s so compact, you won’t have a hard time finding the right placement. It’s attractive and includes a USB-C to USB-C cable.
Nomad has other wireless chargers on sale we haven’t tested, including a stand, a Base Station without the Aira tech but with extra USB ports, and ones with Apple Watch chargers built-in.