There are many reasons to put a case on your phone, starting with the fact that a flagship phone will easily run you $1,000.
A case protects your phone, adds grip to an otherwise slick exterior, and adds a little bit of style. On the other hand, cases add bulk, they tend to get grimy, and I paid a small fortune for this phone. I don't know why I would cover it up.
When we want some of the benefits of a case but not all of the drawbacks, what should we do? Don't look anymore. If you cringe when you see a traditional case on your phone, then you will be happy to know there are a lot of alternative cases out there.
The utility of these grips, skins, kickstand, and wallet is that they are designed to stick to your phone. We are talking a lot more than PopSockets, which you know if you want or not. Some of the favorites for the phone case were tested by us.
If an accessory is going to live on the back of your phone for a long time, it should do more than one job. Moft has a phone stand and wallet that holds up to three cards, folds into a kickstand, and has a loop grip. Moft sells a magnetic version that works with MagSafe, but it doesn't work on non-MagSafe phones. The glue version is compatible with a lot of phones.
If you want to carry a lot of cards, the phone wallet isn't the best. It's a snug fit with three. Since it is fixed on the back of your phone, wireless charging is impossible. Moft's wallet is an easy choice if your phone doesn't support wireless charging or you don't want to give it up.
If you want to put the wallet on a phone with a glass back, you need to use the included film. Moft recommends letting the film set for 12 hours before putting the wallet on top of it because there is no guide.
Attaching it feels secure and the panel pops in and out of place with magnets for a satisfying snap. Even with some chip-enabled cards in the wallet, I was able to use Apple Pay at my local coffee shop.
It is able to deliver on its promise.
It feels a bit loose, which makes it easier to hold your phone in one hand, but it doesn't feel very secure. It is placed at a comfortable viewing angle. The wallet is positioned to one end of the device, which makes it wobble when I press the volume buttons.
It is compatible with all kinds of phones, it looks great, and it has three functions. The wallet leaves no trace when it is removed. 20 bucks is a good amount of money.
If you want to add a touch of style to your phone but don't like the wallet function, a Dbrand skin is a good choice. Some of the skins are designed to cover the sides of the phone, but the one I tested only covered the back plate.
The product is high quality, even though the marketing is a little loud. The leather in particular is a favorite, and it is the real deal, which is a good thing. It isn't hard to put the skin in place, but it takes a bit of time and concentration. Being patient with placement makes it look great.
The textured grip on the phone is a secondary feature that adds to the look. The skin will pull up when you want to take it off.
When you drop your phone, a wallet or skin won't protect you. The Arc pulse is a sleek bumper case that can be used if you don't want to commit to a full case. There are two pieces of aluminum that cover the top and bottom of your phone, and it costs $59. It only takes up a small amount of space on the back of the phone. The corners are where scuffs tend to accumulate when you drop your phone, so it seems like a good tradeoff, even though it's not as noticeable.
The aluminum pulse is very strong The polished aluminum pulse looks goofy to me, but the black version doesn't look bad. It isn't going anywhere once it's there, but you need to apply a lot of pressure. Since the back of the phone is exposed, it doesn't interfere with MagSafe charging, and you have plenty of space to add a MagSafe wallet or grip.
The aluminum is strong enough to fit on the top and bottom of your phone. It keeps the back of your device free of grip accessories.
It covers all four sides of your phone with a frame and interchangeable rim and you can mix and match colors. The buttons are indistinguishable from each other.
The frame is snug and the colors are appealing. It adds as much bulk to your phone as a traditional case, which might defeat the purpose if you are after something else. The back can be used for wireless charging, and the color options are a plus.
The Anker 610 grip is simple and easy to use. The MagSafe area on the back of an Apple device has a donut-shaped Magnet attached to it. There is a metal ring in the middle that can be used as a grip or kickstand. It's simple, but effective.
The strongest MagSafe grip accessory we tested was this one. Hanging onto the ring is the best way to hold your phone upside down. If you put the grip on the back of the phone, it will give you a solid hold, but it will also give you a strong grip.
It looks better than a loop.
Unlike kickstand that snap into a fixed position, the inner ring moves freely, so you can adjust it to get a better view. It requires a lot of force to move. You don't need to do most other grips if I pull the ring out with two hands.
The ring tucked against the phone adds very little thickness to the phone. I think it looks better than a loop because it doesn't catch on my pockets.
The MagSafe Lovehandle Pro is a good alternative if you want an elastic grip. It's a little pricey at $49.99, and the prominent "Lovehandle" branding on the back of the strap isn't my style, but at least on the black version, it's not all that obvious The handle is attached to a kickstand and mounted on a credit card-shaped backing. If you apply enough force, it will give, but it isn't as strong as the Anker's.
The kickstand has two different angles for portrait and landscape viewing, so you don't have to adjust the grip to switch between them. The elastic strip is very snug on my hand. The two-position kickstand is useful, but it isn't as minimalist as the Anker grip.
The SleekStrip is good if you want something slim and functional. It is a thin strip that sticks to the back of your phone and occupies less space than a PopSocket or Moft wallet pick. When you press the side of the strap, it pops out, giving you a rigid loop to hold your phone in landscape orientation. You can take it off and put it on another device with the extra film and 3M glue.
It's hidden to the side on the back of the device and out of the way. Even though it prevents the phone from sitting on a charging stand, the strap is thin enough and out of the way to allow wireless charging to work. It isn't the most secure since it's rigid, but it's good enough.
It is out of the way.
The SleekStrip is cheap. The mechanism where the strap pops up is made of metal and will likely accumulate scratches over time. There are some innocuous color options. It won't hold your phone in landscape orientation
Allison Johnson is a photographer.
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