A MacBook and an iPad spend much of their lives going in and out of bags. The right leather case depends on what happens around that moment. Some cases protect the device only while it travels. Others stay on while you work.
This guide explains the four formats we make, then the leathers, sizing to your exact model, and what protection each gives.
A sleeve or envelope protects your MacBook or iPad while it travels; you take the device out to use it. A folio stays on while you work, so it protects the device on the table too. Choose a sleeve or envelope if the device goes inside another bag, a folio if you want it covered in use, and a zip folio if the case should close all round. Then size it by your exact model.
- Sleeves and envelopes are the slimmest way to carry a device. Folios protect it while you use it.
- Pull-Up, Oil-Wax and Crazy Horse (a finish on cowhide, not the animal) change with use. Vegan leather is synthetic and keeps its colour.
- Find your exact model before ordering. Several pages list models a case does not fit.
- These cases guard against scratches and scuffs. We do not sell them as drop protection.
What is the difference between a sleeve, an envelope, a folio and a zip folio?
The names are used loosely online. The question behind them is simple: does the device stay in the case while you use it?
| Format | How it works | Protects | Ours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleeve | The device slides in from the top | In transit | Ivrea, Spoleto (MacBook), Cortona (iPad) |
| Envelope | One fold of leather, held by tension or a flap and tab | In transit, slimmest | Pavia (MacBook), Solofra (iPad) |
| Folio | The device stays inside, open, while you work | In use and in transit | Fabriano (MacBook), Varese, Faenza (iPad) |
| Zip folio or padfolio | A zip closes the case around the device | In transit, fully closed | Tolentino (iPad), Macerata (MacBook) |
A sleeve is not a lesser folio; it does a different job. It adds the least bulk to a bag. A folio keeps the device covered when you work in cafés or on trains.
Which leather MacBook case suits the way you work?
- Ivrea sleeve: Pull-Up leather, 20mm slim, open top, no zip or flap. Take the MacBook out and the sleeve lies flat as a mouse pad.
- Pavia envelope: one folded piece of cowhide, stitched down two sides. It closes around the laptop by tension alone, with no zip, flap or magnet.
- Spoleto sleeve: a padded main compartment, plus two front zip compartments for the charger, cable and mouse. A detachable leather wrist strap, and no logo on the leather.
- Fabriano folio: the MacBook sits in leather corners and stays there while you work. Close it and the same leather becomes the cover. No hardware of any kind.
- Macerata padfolio: a 13-inch MacBook in the back pocket, an A4 notepad on one side, cards, phone and pen on the other. A zip all round and a top handle.
A common mistake is carrying the charger against the laptop, pressing into the lid all day. Spoleto keeps it on the outside.
Which leather iPad case should you choose?
If you read and type on a table, a folio with a stand makes sense. If the iPad rides in a work bag next to a laptop, a sleeve or envelope adds almost nothing.
- Cortona sleeve: one piece of Crazy Horse leather folded around the iPad, about 1cm thin. Choose a landscape opening, along the long edge, or a portrait one, along the short edge.
- Solofra envelope: for the 13-inch iPad. A flap and leather tab close it, with a loop for Apple Pencil underneath. 9mm slim.
- Tolentino zip folio: a zip along two sides opens it wide, a velvet lining keeps the screen off the leather, and a hand strap lets you carry it like a clutch.
- Varese card folio: vegan leather. The iPad clips into a soft shell with an Apple Pencil slot, there are card pockets outside and in, and the cover folds into a stand.
- Faenza folio: vegan leather with a pressed croc grain, not animal hide and not exotic skin. A soft shell and a cover that folds into a stand.
Which leather: Pull-Up, Oil-Wax, Crazy Horse, nubuck or vegan leather?
The format decides how you carry the device; the leather decides how it looks in a year. Our leather guide explains each finish in depth.
| Leather | Our pieces | How it ages |
|---|---|---|
| Pull-Up | Ivrea | Lightens where it stretches, darkens where it folds |
| Oil-Wax (oiled cowhide) | Macerata, Tolentino, Solofra | A scratch lightens, then fades back as the oil moves |
| Crazy Horse (waxed cowhide) | Spoleto, Cortona | A fold goes pale; a thumb brings the colour back |
| Cowhide, two finishes | Pavia | Brushed Cognac lightens; polished Espresso darkens |
| Nubuck | Fabriano | Soft and matte; marks with use, and the marks brush out |
| Vegan leather (synthetic) | Varese, Faenza | Keeps its colour and shape. No patina |
Two need a plain word. Crazy Horse is a finish, not the animal: the hide is cow, worked with a heavy wax. Vegan leather is synthetic, not hide; it does not darken with age and wipes clean with a slightly damp cloth.
Nubuck is full-grain leather sanded on the outside until it reads closer to suede. For more on grain, read full-grain vs top-grain vs genuine leather.
How do you choose the right size for your MacBook or iPad?
Screen size alone is not enough, because models with the same screen can differ in shape. Find your exact model first. On a Mac, open the Apple menu and choose About This Mac. On an iPad, go to Settings > General > About and look at Model Name. Then check the product page.
- Ivrea: 13.3, 14.2 and 16-inch MacBook.
- Pavia: 13 and 14-inch MacBook Air and Pro.
- Spoleto: thirteen fits from the 13-inch Air to the 15-inch, chosen by exact model.
- Fabriano: every 13-inch MacBook Air and Pro from 2016 on.
- Macerata: MacBook Air 13.6" (M2, M3, M4), Air 13.3" (2018 to 2020) and Pro 13.3" (2016 to 2022).
- Cortona: iPad mini to 11-inch. Not for 12.9 and 13-inch iPads, or iPad Pro 11" with M4 or M5.
- Solofra: 13-inch iPad Pro (M4, M5) and Air (M2, M3, M4), and iPad Pro 12.9" 3rd to 6th gen. Not the 1st and 2nd gen.
- Tolentino, Varese, Faenza: each lists its models by size. Varese and Faenza have a separate shell per size.
One edge case: a device that already lives in a cover. Tolentino is sized for the iPad on its own or in a slim cover. The other pages do not say, so assume they are cut for the bare device, and write to us if you want to keep a keyboard case on.
How much protection does a leather sleeve or folio give?
Honestly: these cases protect against scratches, scuffs and the keys at the bottom of a bag. We do not sell them as drop protection. Within that, details matter.
- Nothing hard near the aluminium. Ivrea, Pavia, Fabriano and Cortona have no zip, magnet or buckle.
- A soft layer inside. Tolentino has a velvet lining; Spoleto a padded compartment.
- Cover while in use. Fabriano keeps the MacBook off a café table. Varese and Faenza hold the iPad in a shell.
- A way to carry it alone. An open-top sleeve is meant to go inside a bag. To carry the case on its own, choose a handle or strap: Macerata, Spoleto or Tolentino.
Keep leather dry and out of direct sun, and buff light marks with a dry cloth. A neutral leather balm once or twice a year is enough. Our care guide covers more.
How to choose in four steps
- Where is the device used? Out of the case: sleeve or envelope. In it: folio.
- What else does the case carry? Charger and mouse: Spoleto. Papers and cards: Macerata or Varese. Nothing: Pavia, Ivrea, Cortona or Solofra.
- How should it age? Visibly: Pull-Up, Oil-Wax or Crazy Horse. Softly: nubuck. Not at all: vegan leather.
- Confirm your exact model against the product page.
Browse MacBook sleeves, iPad cases and desk accessories, or start on Build your set. For the wrist, see how to choose an Apple Watch strap.
Frequently asked questions
Is a sleeve or a folio better for a MacBook?
Neither in general. A sleeve is slimmer and suits a laptop that travels in a bag. A folio such as Fabriano stays on while you work.
Will a 13-inch sleeve fit my MacBook Air?
It depends on the model. Macerata, for example, lists the 13.6-inch and 13.3-inch Air separately. Check under Apple menu > About This Mac.
Are all your iPad cases leather?
No. Tolentino and Solofra are oiled full-grain cowhide and Cortona is Crazy Horse cowhide. Varese and Faenza are vegan leather, a synthetic material.
Will a leather sleeve protect my laptop if I drop it?
Do not rely on it. These cases protect against scratches and scuffs, not drops.
Why does my new case have pale marks?
On Pull-Up, Oil-Wax and Crazy Horse leather, folds and scratches turn pale, then settle back as the oil and wax move. That is the material, not a defect.
Why are your cases named after Italian towns?
The names are inspiration, not a place of manufacture. Fabriano has made paper since 1264, Olivetti built the Programma 101 in Ivrea, and Pavia has been a university town since 1361.
Written by the Capini Firenze team. We work with these leathers every day and update this guide when our materials change.
Lämna en kommentar
Denna webbplats är skyddad av hCaptcha och hCaptchas integritetspolicy . Användarvillkor gäller.