MUJJO Case Review: A Travel-Hacking Wallet for Your iPhone

Editor Shannon McMahon is always planning her next trip and often writing in her travel journal. Follow her on Twitter @shanmcmahon_ and on Instagram @shanmcmahon.

Shannon joined SmarterTravel in 2015. A former news reporter, she's lived in the south of Spain, spotted elephants in Sri Lanka, gone spelunking in the Caribbean, hiked Jordan's Petra Basin, interviewed Sao Paulo's Michelin-Star chefs, and explored China via bullet train. Travel trends, news oddities, and her visits to up-and-coming destinations are some of her favorite things to write about.

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When it comes to phone cases for travel, one that doubles as a wallet is your best friend for keeping your hotel keycard, transit card, and/or a credit card handy. But bi-fold options with multiple slots can be heavy, and they put all your eggs in one basket: If you lose your phone, you lose all your essentials. When I travel I use a contactless phone-payment method (Apple Pay) often, so I prefer a phone case that reliably holds just one or two cards in addition to truly protecting my phone—and it gets bonus points if it looks cool.

I found all that and more in MUJJO’s Full Leather Wallet Case for iPhone 11, which is available for both the Pro Max models and iPhone X, iPhone 8, and iPhone 7, as well as Samsung Galaxy S9 and S8 phones. Here’s why it’s a go-to phone case that can replace or supplement your wallet on the road.

Full-Leather Wallet MUJJO Case Review

Price and Where to Buy: MUJJO cases are available from about $40 on the MUJJO website, or from $50 via Amazon.

How the MUJJO Case Rates

I’ve tried just about every card-holding phone case: the plastic ones with tiny compartment doors (clunky and eventually shattered), stick-on rubber sleeves (flimsy, plus they stretched out and lost one of my cards), and a bi-fold wallet case (who wants to be carrying around anything that heavy?). They all failed me, and I’ve found something better in my MUJJO case.

Usefulness: 9/10. The full-leather wallet cases by Mujjo are ultra-useful because the subtle pocket is actually secure enough to securely hold your card(s) of choice. Made of premium-quality leather, the pocket will stretch to fit two cards if you need it to. And for most people, with the ability to use contactless payments via phone these days, one or two cards is all you need. The only drawback of the stylish premium leather: Once you stash more than one card in that pocket it’ll stretch, and it won’t go back to its original, tighter state—so be sure you want to add that extra card (or two) permanently. If you’re hoping to fit more cards into your phone case, MUJJO also makes phone sleeves that are more spacious.
Durability: 8/10. Made of durable leather, MUJJO bills itself as “the creator of world’s first leather wallet case” and provides a two-year warranty. But anyone who knows leather knows that it can be difficult to clean and will certainly darken over time; my MUJJO case has darkened at the corners from use over the past several months, which isn’t a problem for me but may bother others. Care instructions are the same as most leathers: Wipe the case with a damp cloth and shine with saddle soap if desired, which will give it a pick-me-up but of course not return it to its original color. Outside of the leather, the stitching on the case that attaches its sleeve has held up perfectly. And the wrap-around edges of the case protect my iPhone completely, so it hasn’t scratched or shattered even after many falls.
Value: 9/10. Flimsy plastic phone cases often cost as much as a premium leather MUJJO case, making this a worthy upgrade. The wrapped edges of the “full-leather” cases also provide a millimeter of space between your phone’s screen and any flat surface it’s put face-down on, so I’ve avoided buying a pricey screen protector (often $70+) and haven’t had any issues with screen scratches (probably also thanks in part to the iPhone 11’s improved glass).
Cool factor: 10/10. I’ve gotten many compliments on this phone case, even as the edges darken with wear. It’s available in an array of colors, from saddle brown to deep blue and green leathers that probably hide the wear better—but I still love my brown case and use it daily. If you’re looking to turn your smartphone into the streamlined wallet it can be, MUJJO cases are truly a travel hack.

Final Verdict: This is the wallet-case option that actually works for me: a MUJJO case that I can limit to two cards. It’s well worth its price tag for the combined style and utility.

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Shannon McMahon writes about all things travel. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

Editor’s Note: Reviews are based on usefulness, portability, durability, value, and “cool factor.” Some review products are sent to us free of charge and with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions, positive and negative, and will never accept compensation to review a product. If you have any questions or comments concerning our reviews or would like to suggest a product for review, please email us at editor@smartertravel.com.

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