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Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Shoulder bag showdown: PolarPro vs. Peak Design
This week, PolarPro announced the RoadRunner collection, a range of photography-focused bags with a lightweight yet rugged design. I recently bought a 7L Peak Design Outdoor Sling, because it promised many of the same things, so I've decided to put it head to head with PolarPro's 6L shoulder bag. We'll compare how the bags are built, what they can carry and who they're made for. One of the major differences between these two bags is clear right from the names: the Peak Design is a sling bag, where the strap goes around your body and the pouch rests against your front or back. The PolarPro bag, meanwhile, has a strap that goes around your shoulder and a bag that sits down against your hip or side. Both straps can be completely detached from the bag and have ample padding for carrying even relatively heavy loads. PolarPro's strap is made of adjustable webbing with clips on each end that attach to rings on the bag's body. The Peak Design bag's strap attaches with hooks but also has a clasp in the middle, making it easy to buckle and unbuckle. Perhaps too easy to unbuckle – I've heard several people say they've accidentally opened the clasp, leading to them dropping their bags. While it's never happened to me, it's not hard to imagine; instead of a traditional buckle that you have to press in on both sides, the Peak Design bag opens with a single push of a lever, which isn't really ideal for a bag meant to hold expensive gear. One last gripe about the Peak Design's strap: it's much easier to switch which shoulder you're carrying the PolarPro on since you won't have to adjust the strap at all. If you want to switch shoulders with the Peak Design, you'll have to detach both sides of the strap and flip it around. PolarPro's bag is made out of a 600D ripstop nylon that the company says "resists" water. The Peak Design, meanwhile, is made out of a 210D ripstop material that the company calls "weatherproof," a label it also applies to the zippers. Despite the clear weather sealing, the Peak Design's zippers are about as easy to open as the PolarPro's unsealed ones, which isn't always true for water-resistant zippers. PolarPro's bag has a beefy, rubberized handle on the top lid, which feels much better than the cord handle the Peak Design uses. However, if the lid for the PolarPro is unzipped, that handle essentially becomes useless, whereas you can use the Peak Design's handle to move it around even if it's open. Doing so is obviously a bit reckless, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. Empty, the 6L PolarPro bag weighs 579g (20.4 oz), while the Peak Design weighs 335g (11.8 oz). However, adding the X-small camera cube required to turn it into a proper protective camera bag on par with the PolarPro brings the weight up to 555g (19.6 oz). The Outdoor Sling and RoadRunner shoulder bags have a very similar layout – one main zippered compartment, then a smaller front zippered pocket. Both have a wide array of pouches designed to hold things like lens filters, batteries and SD cards, though I found the Peak Design's to be much easier to use. The ones on the PolarPro have a top flap, which keeps things from falling out when you open the lid but also makes it difficult to insert or remove larger items like camera batteries. Those main pouches are the second big difference between the bags. The interior of the Peak Design is the same ripstop as the face fabric, and the compartment doesn't feature any padding or dividers to speak of. To get those features, you'll have to add on Peak Design's X-Small camera cube, which fits neatly into the main pocket, taking up most – but not quite all – of the space. The cube comes with two dividers and can be used separately from the Outdoor Sling. The RoadRunner, however, comes with all of that from the get-go, as its body is essentially a camera cube with rigid, padded sides. The interior is lined with microfiber, which lets you re-arrange the two included dividers however you like. Like with many camera bags, the dividers attach to the side walls with hook-and-loop flaps. The RoadRunner has an additional zippered pocket on the front, which is quite slim – you could fit a passport or a notebook and pen in there, but not much else. The Peak Design has a pocket that is similarly sized but on the inside of the main compartment. If you're looking to fit the most camera gear possible, the PolarPro is the clear choice, despite the fact that it's marketed as a 6L bag while the Outdoor Sling is marketed as a 7L bag. The reason is that the RoadRunner's rating is for the padded compartment, while the Outdoor Sling's is for the bag overall – the padded X-small camera cube, meanwhile, only has a volume of 3.5L. What does that mean in real-world terms? Well, a Canon EOS R5 II with a 20mm F1.4 prime just barely fits into the Peak Design camera cube – you have to reverse the lens hood to make it work. Meanwhile, the PolarPro can carry that same camera/lens combo* and a Canon PowerShot V1. You could also fit a Lumix S1RII and a 24-70 F2.8 in the RoadRunner, with room to spare for a small battery bank. The Peak Design cube has no chance of carrying even just the camera – it'll technically fit in the main compartment of the sling with no cube but with very little space left to add your own padding, which you'll almost certainly want. Both bags are more comfortable with smaller systems. The Peak Design bag would easily accommodate my Fujifilm X-T3 and a pair of F2 primes or my Nikon F3 with a 50mm F2 and a digital point-and-shoot. However, the PolarPro can, too, with room left over for extra bits and bobs. The story flips if you're carrying stuff that isn't camera equipment. Without the camera cube, the Outdoor Sling can expand a lot more than the PolarPro can. I've carried a X-T5 with a 16-55mm F2.8 attached, two wireless mic packs, a 72mm ND filter with a hard case and two Cliff bars in it, with a fleece beanie to keep it all from banging together. The PolarPro could handle the same gear with no problem, but the beanie and snacks might be a tough squeeze. I've also carried an XL Patagonia R1 Air fleece and XL Arc'teryx Atom puffy jacket in the Peak Design, and it all just barely fit. The puffy alone fills the PolarPro, with pretty much no room left for gear – that's likely down to it being substantially more structured than the Outdoor Sling. * The EOS R5 II's large viewfinder hump does bow the bag out slightly – I wouldn't try to put too much in the other pockets while carrying it. Both bags have an option to attach a tripod to the bottom. The RoadRunner uses adjustable webbing, while the Outdoor Sling uses elastic straps. Both solutions have one end attached with a hook, letting you easily detach them to speed up the process of taking your tripod on and off. In my experience, both bags were relatively comfortable to carry with the aluminum Peak Design travel tripod attached to the bottom, though I probably wouldn't want to carry anything much bigger than that. Both bags also include a back pocket, which can be used to carry pretty much any size phone. Peak Design's has slightly more padding and a magnet to keep it shut but a narrower opening that can make it a little finicky to get your phone in and out, depending on how you're wearing it. Despite the PolarPro's pocket being completely open, it's deep enough that I have no concerns about my phone falling out of it. Neither bag has any real affordance for carrying a water bottle. Since I almost always want to have one with me, I just attach my bottle to the strap with a carabiner. This is slightly more convenient with the PolarPro since you're generally not going to have to unclip the strap to take the bag off your shoulder. With the Peak Design, you have to make sure the bottle's not going to fall off the strap when you unclip it to set the bag down. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so which bag you prefer will likely come down to your personal tastes. However, I do suspect most people will find the Peak Design bag to be more attractive – it's not just a utilitarian-styled box that hangs off your shoulder. The Outdoor Sling also comes in three colors, and I'll admit I had a hard time choosing between them. The RoadRunner sling, meanwhile, just comes in black, though it features some tasteful dusty gold accents. The inside of the bag's main compartment is also that color, making it easy to see your gear. The Peak Design bag also features a light gray interior. That strap brings up the Outdoor Sling's biggest selling point: versatility. You can wear it not only as a sling across your front and back but also as a lumbar pack or belly bag around your waist. This not only gives you a different way of carrying it but also lets you use it in addition to a smaller backpack. It's also made for a lot more than just carrying cameras. While you can remove the dividers from the PolarPro, you can't get rid of the padding, and its rigid sides and shape make it harder to really stuff it full. The Peak Design bag, meanwhile, is more freeform and can easily accommodate items you'd need when traveling or hiking. It also comes with a detachable stabilizer strap that wraps around your back and keeps the bag locked in place if you're doing something especially active while wearing it in sling mode. I've taken it with me down a mountain bike trail, and once I added the stabilizer strap, I had no worries about it creeping around to my front and messing with my peddling. While the 6L RoadRunner bag can't fill quite so many roles, the lineup is a bit more complete. Peak Design also sells a 2L sling, though there's no camera cube made for it to add padding. You also can't get a larger bag without stepping up to the much heavier 10L "Everyday" sling. PolarPro, meanwhile, offers a 1L case designed to protect compact cameras like the Fujifilm X100 series, or the Leica D-Lux. There's also a 12L shoulder bag designed for larger loads. The comapny says it can fit a full-frame mirrorless camera and a 70-200mm lens, along with an additional lens and powerbank or mini drone. The larger bag's back pocket can fit an 11" iPad. Both bags clearly have a lot of thought put into them, and that's made clear by their design flourishes. For example, both have a lanyard in their front pocket, so you can rest assured that you won't accidentally drop your keys while digging around for something else. PolarPro also includes not one, but two microfiber cloths attached to the inside of the bag, which can be used for cleaning off lenses, screens and viewfinders if they happen to get grungy on your adventures. Each bag has delightful design touches Peak Design's bag is bring-your-own-cloth, but it has little pockets on the back where you can tuck away any additional straps that would otherwise just be dangling around. And, if you're not carrying a tripod, the elastic straps on the bottom can be used as compression straps to give it a slimmer profile. The Peak Design can also be used as a chest pouch when paired with the company's Outdoor backpacks – you simply take the sling strap off and lash it to your pack's shoulder straps. If you can do something similar with the RoadRunner shoulder bag and backpacks, PolarPro doesn't mention it. The 6L RoadRunner retails for $99, which initially seems more expensive than the 7L Outdoor Sling, which is $89. However, the X-small camera cube is an additional $50, bringing the total up to $140, though you can bundle them at the time of purchase to knock $14 off the price. Even with that discount, the Outdoor sling is still the spendier option by a wide margin if you need the camera cube. I have used it to carry gear without the cube, though I wouldn't recommend doing so unless you're very careful and also have soft goods in there to add some padding and gear separation. If you've made it all the way through this article and are still unsure which bag is for you, this is my take: if you want a bag exclusively for photography gear, the RoadRunner is the way to go, especially if you want to access your gear quickly. It can just plain hold more, and I'd be comfortable leaving the lid unzipped if I'm actively taking my camera in and out of it since it's on the top; unless I'm doing a somersault, the camera's not going to fall out of it. I'm not as confident about that with the Outdoor Sling's zipper placement, though the one time I accidentally left it open, it managed to keep everything inside. However, if you want a versatile travel/adventure bag that can also carry camera gear, the Peak Design is definitely worth a look – assuming you have a relatively small setup. While the PolarPro can just manage a high-end full-frame mirrorless camera, I wouldn't want to carry one very often with the Outdoor sling. It's happiest with a crop sensor camera and maybe an extra lens, or with a small drone. To put it another way, I spent $140 of my own money on the Peak Design Outdoor Sling and camera cube, and I don't regret that now that I've tried the RoadRunner, which PolarPro provided as a review sample. However, that's only because I already have a massive camera bag for when I'm testing out the big cameras, and I was in the market for a small, light bag that I could wear while biking, hiking or traveling. If either of those things weren't true and I was shopping for a bag, I'd pick the PolarPro. Peak Design Outdoor Sling 7L: Buy at Amazon Buy at B&H Buy at Peak Design Buy at Amazon Buy at B&H Buy at Peak Design PolarPro RoadRunner shoulder bag 6L: Buy at B&H Buy at PolarPro Buy at B&H Buy at PolarPro
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Yahoo
Best iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro Cases for 2025
A durable phone case is a must-have to keep your device safe from accidental drops, scratches and other everyday damage. Whether you're rocking the Pro Max or the baseline model, you'll want a good screen to protect your iPhone 15 before you take it out into the world. After all, it just takes one slip at a bad angle for your $1,000 device to become a shattered paperweight. Even a relatively thin case can add grip, protection and some style to your phone. There are a lot of brands in the market that claim to offer the best cases, and picking the right one for yourself can feel overwhelming. You are not alone in this; a recent Reddit thread is filled with people asking the same question, with some even hunting for the most durable options for clumsy friends and family members who just can't seem to keep a phone intact. I've been testing cases since the iPhone 4, and while the "best case" will depend on your personal priorities and style preferences, I've tested and included a wide variety of worthwhile cases. I've found myself coming back to Casetify's Ripple case as well as the Otterbox Figura Series, taking the liquefied look in starkly different directions, but there are also great minimal and durable cases to be found here at every price point. Some iPhone 13/14 cases might technically fit the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, but the 15 Pro and Pro Max need model-specific cases because of the programmable action button. The entire iPhone 16 series is incompatible with iPhone 15 cases due to the new Camera Control slider, so you'd need to check out our selection of favorite iPhone 16 cases if you're upgrading to that model. Speck has brought many of its iPhone 14 case designs to the iPhone 15, including such popular transparent models as the Presidio Perfect-Clear and Perfect-Clear Grips, and the Presidio2 Pro. It's also developed a new ClickLock case system that's built on MagSafe: It's compatible with any MagSafe accessory but has an interlocking system that secures Speck's ClickLock accessories to your case. In addition to adhering to the case magnetically, the accessories -- which range in price from $30 to $40 -- click into a little slot. It's not so different from Peak Design's locking system, but Speck's cases are superior and are more MagSafe accessory-friendly. For people who own the larger and heavier iPhone 15 Plus or 15 Pro Max, it can be hard to depend on your phone staying on a MagSafe car mount, especially if you hit a bump. That's where Speck's ClickLock car vent mount helps. The wallet accessory stays stuck on the back of your phone; you don't have to worry about it slipping off when you put your phone in your pocket. All the new Speck models have good drop protection (13 to 16 feet, depending on the model) as well as Speck's Microban antimicrobial protection. No matter which model you choose, Speck often gives a discount for first-time buyers purchasing through its website. See at Speck Otterbox has brought its expansive line of cases to the iPhone 15. That includes everything from the tough Defender Series XT to the colorful Figura to the Symmetry Series Clear and OtterGrip Symmetry Series. Making its debut is the new Symmetry Series Soft Touch for MagSafe, which comes in yellow, pink and black at launch and has a nice, grippy soft-to-the-touch finish that's similar to what you get with the highly likable Core Series cases Otterbox made for the iPhone 14. The Figura Series has a similar soft touch finish with a more artsy design. See at Otterbox The ESR Kickstand case isn't your typical silicone case with an integrated kickstand. That's because the kickstand doesn't flip out of the backside of the case at the bottom. Instead, it serves as a protective ring around your camera lenses when it's retracted and not in use. Note that you can also get the case in a clear version, and ESR also sells a variety of MagSafe accessories for decent prices. See at Amazon MagSafe cases can get pretty pricey, but if you're looking for an inexpensive clear MagSafe case for your new iPhone 15 series phone, Spigen's Ultra Hybrid MagFit is a good value for $20. See at Amazon Torras makes several cases with integrated kickstands, but they each have their own style of stand. They include the Lstand (left) which has a retractable kickstand ring around the camera, the Pstand (right) which has a flip-out kickstand on the bottom of the case, and the Ostand (not pictured) which has a retractable ring around the MagSafe ring. Aside from the clear versions of the cases, which feature a hard plastic design, most of the other versions have a soft-touch finish that offers good grip. MagSafe accessories adhere securely to the cases and they also feature good drop protection. See at Amazon Caseology makes some decent budget cases, including the NanoPop, Parallax, Skyfall and Vault. Its new Capella Mag Kickstand is one of the cheaper transparent MagSafe cases we've seen -- and it's got a built-in kickstand that retracts into the case when not in use so you can attach MagSafe accessories. See at Amazon Cyrill is a sister brand to Spigen, and its cases are arguably slightly more stylish, although they cost a few bucks more too. I like the new UltraSheer Mag that comes in a few bright color options, including neon yellow, pink and blue. Don't forget to clip the on-page coupon for an additional 15% discount on this one. See at Amazon A few years back Zagg bought British case-maker Gear4 and continued selling Gear4 cases under the original brand name. With the introduction of the iPhone 15, Gear4 cases have officially become Zagg cases, but the quality hasn't changed -- they're right up there with OtterBox and Speck, all of them featuring beveled edges to protect your phone and now infused with graphene for extra durability. I like the new Milan Snap in iridescent (pictured left top) and Santa Cruz Snap with built-in kickstand (pictured center top in black), both of which are MagSafe-equipped and rated for 13-foot drop protection. Several other case styles are available, most of them with eye-catching designs. See at Zagg Inbeage cases are made out of plant-based materials and are 100% biodegradable (over 3 years). They're not going to look and feel exactly like your typical silicone or hard plastic case and they are fairly basic. They offer decent drop protection and come in a variety of eye-catching designs. Better yet, they're affordable, costing around $19 and sometimes less after you apply an instant coupon. Their one downside is they're not MagSafe-enabled (there's no built-in ring), but if you can live with that and are looking for an eco-friendly case, Inbeage is one of the best ones out there for the money. Note that the Stash Stand Series has a ring around the photo lens that converts into a kickstand, which is always a nice feature. See at Amazon Moft makes some nice MagSafe accessories, including wallets that convert into kickstands and its new Phone Tripod Stand. Its cases are also well-designed and attractive. It sells some more standard MagSafe clear cases, but I like its faux leather Movas cases, which list for $50 but sometimes sell for $40. (Vegan leather is designed to look and feel like real leather but is synthetic.) You can see the company's full suite of cases and accessories here. See at Amazon Urban Armor Gear, known for its highly protective cases, offers a variety of options for the iPhone 15 models in several color options. The toughest and most expensive case is the Monarch Pro with Kevlar, but I still like the Plasma (pictured middle right) and clear Plyo with MagSafe, which probably has the slimmest design. All of UAG's cases feature good corner protection and meet military drop-test standards. They start at $30 and go all the way up to $100, but most are in the $50 to $60 range. See at Amazon Casetify has a few different base models that you can customize with any of Casetify's eye-catching stock designs, many of which are geared toward teenagers, or something more personal (like your name). New to the line this year is the pricey Ultra Bounce case -- it lists for a ridiculous $112 -- which offers even more corner protection than the Bounce case (both of which are MagSafe-enabled). I like Casetify's Ripple cases, which come in five color options with subdued hues like the "oat" color shown here. See at Amazon Like Lifeproof, Catalyst made a name for itself with waterproof cases, but it now focuses on standard protective case options and currently offers one case for the iPhone 15: the Influence. It comes in MagSafe and non-MagSafe versions in a few color options. Rated for 10-foot drop protection, the Influence has perforations on the corners that allow you to attach various accessories (a lanyard is included, but Catalyst also sells other accessories). See at Amazon Apple has said it won't make leather cases for the iPhone 15, but others, including Nomad, still are. Nomad's line of leather cases for the iPhone 15 once again come in two grades of leather: the standard variety and a higher-end Horween that costs $15 more ($50 rather than $35). At least the Horween version is designed to develop a "rugged" patina as the oils from your skin interact with the leather over time. The Modern Leather Case is available in black, brown, English tan and a lighter natural color that I like. They're rated for 10-foot (3-meter) drop protection and are equipped with MagSafe. Meanwhile, the Modern Leather Folio is on sale for $48 in black or brown (the one drawback to the Folio case is that it doesn't convert into a kickstand like some wallet cases do). There's also a more affordable Sport version for $35 that's equipped with MagSafe as well. It's not a leather case, but it does look pretty slick (pictured on the right). Additionally, Nomad has a new Rugged Case with "fortified" bumpers and 15-foot drop protection that costs $60 with MagSafe. You might find it for around $30 during the sale period. See at Nomad Goods Rokform's been making tough iPhone cases for years, and aside from their durability, their key feature is the ability to use them with various mounts, including bike and motorcycle mounts, that are sold separately. The design of its new iPhone 15 cases has been "refined and updated" (I like the updates) and the cases feature arguably the strongest magnets for MagSafe accessories (the accessories really stick to the case). Rokform's iPhone 15 cases have removable magnets, and they're compatible with wireless charging if you remove the included center magnet. "With the lower magnet still intact, you can still wireless-charge while utilizing magnetic mounting and all of our mounts," Rokform says. See at Rokform Mujjo has been making attractive vegetable-tanned leather cases for the iPhone for a while and its cases for the iPhone 15 include its standard Leather Case with MagSafe, a Leather Wallet Case with MagSafe (pictured left) and its tougher Shield case with MagSafe (pictured right). They cost $50 to $60, although sometimes you can find them on sale for less on Amazon. Note that the Leather Wallet Case with MagSafe is convenient because it has a slim wallet integrated into the case (it fits up to three credit cards) and offers MagSafe compatibility. I was able to charge wirelessly with MagSafe and attach a magnetic battery to the back of the case (with no credit cards in the wallet), but I can't say magnetic accessories will stick to it as securely as some MagSafe cases on this list. It is one of the few cases with a built-in wallet and MagSafe compatibility. The Leather Wallet also comes in a version without MagSafe, so make sure you're buying the one with MagSafe if that's what you're looking for. See at Mujjo Much of Incipio's case lineup for the iPhone 14 returns for the iPhone 15. These include old favorites like the Grip with MagSafe, sturdy Duo with MagSafe (12-foot drop protection) and AeroGrip with MagSafe. I like the new Cru case in faux leather pictured left (it also comes in a canvas material but I prefer the faux leather). Another favorite is the Forme, which comes in some cool designs, two of which are pictured here (middle and right). Incipio cases start at $20 and go up to as much as $50 or more for cases with MagSafe. See at Amazon I haven't tried SwitchEasy cases for a few generations of iPhones but I got a chance to test a few of its new cases for the iPhone 15 that come with a crossbody strap, including the Roam + Strap (pictured: 16-foot drop protection) and Odyssey Ultra M + Strap. Both feature excellent drop protection, but the Odyssey Ultra has even more elevated corner protection. They're both available in a few color options. Note that you don't have to use the cases with the strap. The eyelets are removable. Just don't lose them if you want to use the strap in the future. See at Ozrobotics Smartish's affordable, simple, slim cases and wallet cases return for the iPhone 15. The Wallet Slayer Vol. 2 case (pictured) comes in a few different designs beyond the basic black shown here. It holds three credit cards plus cash, and you can use one of your credit cards as a kickstand. Its one downside is that it's not compatible with wireless and MagSafe chargers. Smartish also sells a MagSafe case called the Gripmunk. It's one of the most affordable MagSafe cases (around $20) and is easy to grip, as its name implies. See at Amazon Clckr makes some nifty MagSafe iPhone accessories, including the excellent Stand & Grip (shown in the photo but must be purchased separately for $25). The company has partnered with G-Form, known for its protective sports gear, to make some new iPhone 15 cases with good drop protection. The Onyx (13-foot drop protection) has the most eye-catching design but the Force case is the most protective, with 16-foot drop protection. Clckr MagSafe cases start at $40 for the clear Diamond case with MagSafe while the Onyx, Force and Carbon cost $60. See at Clckr Some people prefer not to have a case on their phone or just want something that's very thin and offers minimal protection. If you're that type of person, a Totallee case may just be what you're looking for. There are a couple of models to choose from, with the Minimal case (pictured left) billed as the world's thinnest iPhone case; it's almost paper-thin. It comes in multiple color options. The case costs $35, which seems like a lot considering how thin it is, but it is eco-friendly (it's compostable) and does have a raised "lip" around the camera that prevents damage to the camera lens, Totallee says. Totallee also makes a very slim clear TPU case, the "clear soft" (pictured right) that offers a little more protection for the same price. I like that one better, but it is slightly thicker. See at Amazon Peak Design's Everyday cases are MagSafe-compatible in that you can connect a MagSafe wireless charging puck and other magnetic MagSafe-compatible accessories to the case, including wireless charging batteries, wallets and more. They have Peak Design's own built-in magnetic locking system -- the company calls it SlimLink -- that connects to a wide assortment of Peak Design's mobile mounts and accessories. That includes bike mounts, charging stands, tripods, car mounts and more. Note: Peak Design has had an issue with its case design for the iPhone 15 Pro models where the cut-out for the new Action Button doesn't allow you to easily access the button (we initially tried the case with the standard iPhone 15, which does not have the new Action Button). It now must redesign its Pro cases, with the updated versions expected to be released in November. If you have already bought a case for the iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max, contact Peak Design, which has promised to make things right for its customers. See at Peak Design Pitaka cases are very thin yet offer a little more protection than some other very slim cases. That's because they're made from "selected 600D aramid fiber, which is widely used in aerospace and military applications," according to Pitaka. Unlike carbon fiber, "this fine-weaved case will not interfere with the signal and it is non-conductive, offering long-lasting protection for your phone, and preventing color fading and daily scratches." The Pro version of the case is slightly thicker. If you're looking for more serious protection from drops, this probably isn't the right case for you, particularly because it's rather expensive (between $60 and $70). If you're looking for a very slim, lightweight case, you should give it some consideration. It does come in a few different designs, some a little more eye-catching than others. All the cases are MagSafe-enabled using Pitaka's MagSafe SlimBoard technology. See at Amazon Read more: Best Phone to Buy You can save about $8 to $10 by getting a case that doesn't have MagSafe support (the metal ring built into the case). I generally encourage people to spend the extra money for a MagSafe-enabled case because of the number of MagSafe accessories on the market, some of them quite useful. Some people like minimal cases that add little to no bulk to their iPhones, but the majority of people are looking for a case that offers good protection -- or even maximum protection. I tell people to find a case that's not too thick and maybe even pretty slim and that offers at least 6-foot drop protection (and good corner protection). Clear cases are popular because they show off your phone (and its color). Clear cases, especially cheaper ones, can become less clear over time and slowly start to yellow. Many case makers now add UV protection to their clear cases to prevent yellowing. Several of the cases on this list were previously available for the iPhone 14 models and we added them to the list based on our previous testing with the iPhone 14. Typically, we try to use the case on the phone for at least a day and make sure the buttons on the phone work properly with the case on. With some phone cases, we use them for several days or even weeks to see how they wear over time. Design: We evaluate the more superficial and cosmetic aspects of cases and consider how aesthetically pleasing they are because people sometimes buy cases solely for their colors and artwork. Durability: We look at how durable a case is, paying particular attention to corner and camera protection (raised corners on a case can help your phone survive face-down falls). Grip factor: We review the material the case is made of so we can talk about such factors as how grippy the phone feels in your hand and how protective the material is. Extra features: Some iPhone cases have extra features such as MagSafe, an integrated kickstand or grips, and, in the case of folio models, slots for storing credit cards and cash. Long-term testing: Although we don't do long-term testing for most cases, we do use some of the most popular cases for longer periods to gauge how they wear over time and see how well our phone holds up during accidental drops with the case on it. We don't do formal drop tests. Waterproof cases: Only a few fully waterproof cases are available, but If the case is supposed to be fully waterproof, we test it by submerging it in water. Case-Mate Blox: Case-Mate makes several eye-catching cases for the various iPhone 15 models, but its squarish Blox case is the one I like the most. It comes in a variety of colors, is MagSafe-enabled, clearly has good corner protection and is reasonably priced. Bluebonnet cases: Based in Austin, Texas, Bluebonnet is named after the state flower and crafts leather-clad accessories for various Apple products, including iPhones, MacBooks, Watches and AirPods. It does make a standard full-grain leather iPhone case that's nice, but I thought its leather wallet cases were more unique and enticing. They're available in limited color options (black or tan) in a few different styles, including a folio case that has a magnetic clasp (shown above, at right). Tech21 cases: Tech21 has a range of iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro cases, including its popular Evo Check, which is equipped with MagSafe. There are also several other cases to choose from, including the ultra-protective Evo Max, which is rated for 20-foot drops and has a slide cover to protect the iPhone 15's back cameras, along with a holster you can clip to your belt. Wildflower cases During the past couple of years, Wildflower phone cases have risen in popularity. Collaborations with music festivals such as Coachella and influencers like Emma Chamberlin have helped the female-founded business gain visibility. Like Casetify, the company offers cases with a plethora of unique, eye-catching designs. Lupa Legacy Wallet Case: Lupa Legacy makes a couple of different wallet cases for the iPhone 15 models. I like the folio version that has a magnetic clasp and is made of faux leather in a variety of color options. It has three slots on the inside of the cover to store credit cards or cash, and it offers decent corner protection from drops. The faux leather looks decent (the case looks a little more expensive than it is, which is a good thing). Element Case Special Ops X5 MagSafe case: Element Case makes its high-end $250 Back Ops X5 case for the iPhone 15, but its more affordable Special Ops X5 MagSafe case is a very likable case with beefed-up corner protection and raised edges on the back and front to help prevent your screen and cameras from getting cracked. It also has good side grips. I kind of wish it came in some other color options, but that's my only gripe. It's a very good case. With most phone cases, the cutout for the USB-C port is wide enough to allow you to use most USB-C charging cables. Some USB-C charging cables with particularly large heads may not fit certain cases. The USB-C charging cable included with the new iPhones has a relatively compact head. I like cases that aren't too thick but offer decent drop protection, with a lip over the edge of the screen (sometimes referred to as a "screen bumper") and raised corners that help prevent your screen from cracking if your phone should fall face down. A folio case will more fully protect your screen. The good news is that you don't have to buy a super-protective iPhone 15 case like the OtterBox Defender XT to get good protection. Most cases are reasonably thin and still offer at least 6-foot drop protection. I did include one very thin case on this list for folks who prefer minimal protection. Before you go with a case like that, just remember how much your phone costs. It is better than having no case at all. Make sure you get a sound, tempered glass screen protector for your iPhone 15 model to prevent deep scratches and safeguard the screen. All the iPhone 15 models are equipped with Apple's MagSafe feature, which offers faster wireless charging with compatible chargers. It also supports optional accessories -- including the Magsafe wallet, mini wallets and various mounts -- that adhere magnetically to the back of your phone. Like the iPhone 14, the iPhone 15 has "an array of magnets" (Apple says they're recycled) embedded around a charging coil that can pull up to 15 watts of power. If you want to use those MagSafe accessories without taking your phone out of its case, you need a phone case that's equipped with MagSafe support. The MagSafe symbol is a circle with a short pipe below it. You can see it on clear cases, but it's embedded on the inside of the case so if it's nontransparent, you'll only see it from the inside. If you already have a MagSafe accessory -- or plan on buying MagSafe accessories in the future -- you'll want to get a MagSafe compatible case; it's a good option to have. With that in mind, the majority of the cases in this roundup are equipped with MagSafe. In general, yes -- about $10 more. Some more affordable MagSafe cases cost around $20, but most cost upward of $30. We see cases from certain companies that are essentially the same but one has MagSafe and the other doesn't, and the MagSafe version usually sells for $10 more. It may seem like a little too much to pay for something that doesn't seem like much of an upgrade, but in time MagSafe compatibility may command less of a "tax."
