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iPhone 17/Air/Pro/Pro Max Cases

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1 month in with the Lonli Edition and there is now patina around the edges as they turn a fairly dark blue. I'm not sure how but the ring around the camera button has a ding in it, too. It still feels pretty good though.

Tricky part for me with cases is aside from that, I'm not sure what else I'd want. I kinda dig the shape of the dbrand grip case, but the buttons are kinda ugly and I'm not sure I like the patterns. Also when it was $80 I thought it was too much lol. At $60 it's a little less ridiculous, but still more than I want to pay. I don't like the way shiny plastic cases feel. I don't want a case with a hard slippery plastic/metal ring around the camera plateau. And.,.. most of the colors the leather/leather-style cases come in are BORING. I don't want brown/taupe/black.

I also found that by installing a screen protector, using the phone without a case sucks. Now you've got that ridge and it looks really ugly too.

so if I run my phone without a case I'm going to ditch the screen protector too lol.
 
Zensō said:
View attachment 2576466

It’s been about two months since the new phones arrived and we all started this annual case buying insanity. So far, it seems like a typical year, with all sorts of issues: manufacturing defects, shipping delays, slow returns, and so forth. This year, I’d planned on limiting my collection to ~5 cases total (down from around 20 the past few years—yikes), but it’s taken quite a few more than five to arrive at a satisfactory set, and I’m not even done yet. Here’s where it’s at currently:

Apple Clear - Keeper
Beats - Keeper
Andar Aspen - Keeper
Mous Limitless - Keeper
Arc Pulse - Defective, returned
Pitaka Ultra-slim - Defective, returned
Tineeowl - Defective, returned
Nomad Trad Leather - Defective, returned
Süti PhoneBack - Defective, trashed
Otterbox Cactus - Arriving tomorrow

Going by that list, I have a less than 50% chance that the Otterbox will be defect-free… LOL. We’ll see. 😅

I have to relearn this every year, but buying direct is a PITA, with all sorts of shipping and returns BS. I always swear I’m only going to buy from Amazon, but my impatience always gets the best of me. Among those returns listed above, the only two that went smoothly were the Nomad and Amazon (Tineeowl). Nomad uses a third-party service called “Happy Returns” which actually works well. Caudabe, Arc, Pitaka, and Suti (among others, I’m sure) could learn something here.

How’s it been for you this year? Have you settled into a final rotation yet?
Click to expand...
Otterbox Cactus is legit for the Air. Then again it was my favorite case for the 15PM. Bought the case right before I left for a 3 week international trip and it’s the only case I’m using on this trip. Also it was pretty interesting to me to see Pitaka cases on store shelves in Taiwan. Anyway, I’ll stop interrupting the Caudabe returns and praise the new buttons thread now. 😉
 
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JoeG4 said:
1 month in with the Lonli Edition and there is now patina around the edges as they turn a fairly dark blue. I'm not sure how but the ring around the camera button has a ding in it, too. It still feels pretty good though.

Tricky part for me with cases is aside from that, I'm not sure what else I'd want. I kinda dig the shape of the dbrand grip case, but the buttons are kinda ugly and I'm not sure I like the patterns. Also when it was $80 I thought it was too much lol. At $60 it's a little less ridiculous, but still more than I want to pay. I don't like the way shiny plastic cases feel. I don't want a case with a hard slippery plastic/metal ring around the camera plateau. And.,.. most of the colors the leather/leather-style cases come in are BORING. I don't want brown/taupe/black.

I also found that by installing a screen protector, using the phone without a case sucks. Now you've got that ridge and it looks really ugly too.

so if I run my phone without a case I'm going to ditch the screen protector too lol.
Click to expand...
I was using the Torras OrigArmor with my phone caseless and it was very close to the edge and almost felt like I wasn’t using a screen protector. I tripped and fell last week and shattered it, so I’m currently using a ESR Corning, while waiting for a replacement Torras and this one does cut into the screen so it does have that gap, which sucks.
 
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Zensō said:
View attachment 2576466

It’s been about two months since the new phones arrived and we all started this annual case buying insanity. So far, it seems like a typical year, with all sorts of issues: manufacturing defects, shipping delays, slow returns, and so forth. This year, I’d planned on limiting my collection to ~5 cases total (down from around 20 the past few years—yikes), but it’s taken quite a few more than five to arrive at a satisfactory set, and I’m not even done yet. Here’s where it’s at currently:

Apple Clear - Keeper
Beats - Keeper
Andar Aspen - Keeper
Mous Limitless - Keeper
Arc Pulse - Defective, returned
Pitaka Ultra-slim - Defective, returned
Tineeowl - Defective, returned
Nomad Trad Leather - Defective, returned
Süti PhoneBack - Defective, trashed
Otterbox Cactus - Arriving tomorrow

Going by that list, I have a less than 50% chance that the Otterbox will be defect-free… LOL. We’ll see. 😅

I have to relearn this every year, but buying direct is a PITA, with all sorts of shipping and returns BS. I always swear I’m only going to buy from Amazon, but my impatience always gets the best of me. Among those returns listed above, the only two that went smoothly were the Nomad and Amazon (Tineeowl). Nomad uses a third-party service called “Happy Returns” which actually works well. Caudabe, Arc, Pitaka, and Suti (among others, I’m sure) could learn something here.

How’s it been for you this year? Have you settled into a final rotation yet?
Click to expand...
I have 2 bumpers I ordered to try out. I stopped using the Süti and Matter phone backs and am back caseless again. I’m currently waiting for my Caudabe Paragon Ember. The Süti was okay and the Matter moved at the bottom with my fingernail, and the replacement did the same as well, so I’m not even going to email Matter again on that issue.
 
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illmatic41 said:
Otterbox Cactus is legit for the Air. Then again it was my favorite case for the 15PM. Bought the case right before I left for a 3 week international trip and it’s the only case I’m using on this trip. Also it was pretty interesting to me to see Pitaka cases on store shelves in Taiwan. Anyway, I’ll stop interrupting the Caudabe returns and praise the new buttons thread now. 😉
Click to expand...
Can't wait for some pictures of the Cactus Air case ;)
 
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Momof2.1107 said:
I have 2 bumpers I ordered to try out. I stopped using the Süti and Matter phone backs and am back caseless again. I’m currently waiting for my Caudabe Paragon Ember. The Süti was okay and the Matter moved at the bottom with my fingernail, and the replacement did the same as well, so I’m not even going to email Matter again on that issue.
Click to expand...
My Süti was loose at the top above the plateau.

It’s crazy how long everyone has been waiting for the Paragons… 💀
 
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Con1750 said:
Any opinions on the Sheath vs Paragon? I can’t decide, anyone have both and which is thinner?
Click to expand...
I have them both. If you lay them both face down on a table they are the same thickness. However the Paragon feels thinner because the sides are lower than the top/bottom. I prefer the feel of the Paragon and am returning my Sheath. The Paragon is my wife’s; I ended up going with the Beats case.
 
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Momof2.1107 said:
I was using the Torras OrigArmor with my phone caseless and it was very close to the edge and almost felt like I wasn’t using a screen protector. I tripped and fell last week and shattered it, so I’m currently using a ESR Corning, while waiting for a replacement Torras and this one does cut into the screen so it does have that gap, which sucks.
Click to expand...
I bought my mom an ESR case for her new 16, because it was on sale ridiculously cheap ($4.50!!) and IT CAME WITH A GLASS SCREEN PROTECTOR! :eek::cool: and yes.. it has sharp-ish edges.

I might have to try the torras origarmor at some point :)
 
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masterxchief said:
I ended up opening the Apple Silicone after seeing this message and immediately went back to the Ghost 😅.

The pinky feel killed it for me immediately. I really want to move on from the ghost because I hate the camera control button getting pressed randomly from holding the phone.
Click to expand...
You know there’s a setting to prevent that, right? It requires hitting the camera control button twice, which solves that issue.

Settings > Camera > Camera Control > Double Click
 
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masterxchief said:
I ended up opening the Apple Silicone after seeing this message and immediately went back to the Ghost 😅.

The pinky feel killed it for me immediately. I really want to move on from the ghost because I hate the camera control button getting pressed randomly from holding the phone.
Click to expand...
Don’t understand? The pinky killed it for you which case?
 
Hooterville said:
Can't wait for some pictures of the Cactus Air case ;)
Click to expand...
Sorry to interrupt the “ordered in Sept, but not shipping til Nov, there’s a seam in my TPU case and they told me to use a file to fix, they replied but stopped when I cancelled” thread, but here’s the picture of the Cactus for the Air
 

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Zensō said:
View attachment 2576466

It’s been about two months since the new phones arrived and we all started this annual case buying insanity. So far, it seems like a typical year, with all sorts of issues: manufacturing defects, shipping delays, slow returns, and so forth. This year, I’d planned on limiting my collection to ~5 cases total (down from around 20 the past few years—yikes), but it’s taken quite a few more than five to arrive at a satisfactory set, and I’m not even done yet. Here’s where it’s at currently:

Apple Clear - Keeper
Beats - Keeper
Andar Aspen - Keeper
Mous Limitless - Keeper
Arc Pulse - Defective, returned
Pitaka Ultra-slim - Defective, returned
Tineeowl - Defective, returned
Nomad Trad Leather - Defective, returned
Süti PhoneBack - Defective, trashed
Otterbox Cactus - Arriving tomorrow

Going by that list, I have a less than 50% chance that the Otterbox will be defect-free… LOL. We’ll see. 😅

I have to relearn this every year, but buying direct is a PITA, with all sorts of shipping and returns BS. I always swear I’m only going to buy from Amazon, but my impatience always gets the best of me. Among those returns listed above, the only two that went smoothly were the Nomad and Amazon (Tineeowl). Nomad uses a third-party service called “Happy Returns” which actually works well. Caudabe, Arc, Pitaka, and Suti (among others, I’m sure) could learn something here.

How’s it been for you this year? Have you settled into a final rotation yet?
Click to expand...
Ho boy, where do I even start 😂 it’s been a journey, but so far nothing has topped the Beats Rugged for me when it comes to handling and feel of the case.
Here’s my list:

Cases I kept:
- Beats Rugged - favorite by far
- Apple Silicone - favorite form factor
- Beats regular - would be my favorite if I could get the phone out of it without help 😂
- Spigen Rugged Armor
- Mous Limitless - probably
- ESR Hybrid Clear Case - had to return a lilac version of it though because of alignment issues
- Apple Clear Case - out of rotation because of easy dust accumulation and difficult removal
- Tech21 - out of rotation because of lack of a CC button and the groove where the button is is massive

Returned cases:
- Nudient clear case - returned because it was ridiculous, just a thin sheet of hard plastic with holes for all the buttons
- Nomad Modern Leather - returned because it felt not protective enough for that price and I didn’t like the color.
- Benks Magnetic - returned because of metal camera frame
- Spigen ultra hybrid - returned because of a misaligned.. well, everything
- Torras Ostand Q3 Air - returned because the metal ostand holder inside the case protruded a bit
- Araree Duple M Armor - returned because the case didn’t even fit on the phone, that was wild

Still incoming cases:
- Phone Rebel Air - incoming today
- Ryan London Black Shell Case - incoming ~December
- Caudabe Paragon Moonstone - incoming sometime 2026 probably. Might cancel it.
 
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Ava* said:
Ho boy, where do I even start 😂 it’s been a journey, but so far nothing has topped the Beats Rugged for me when it comes to handling and feel of the case.
Here’s my list:

Cases I kept:
- Beats Rugged - favorite by far
- Apple Silicone - favorite form factor
- Beats regular - would be my favorite if I could get the phone out of it without help 😂
- Spigen Rugged Armor
- Mous Limitless - probably
- ESR Hybrid Clear Case - had to return a lilac version of it though because of alignment issues
- Apple Clear Case - out of rotation because of easy dust accumulation and difficult removal
- Tech21 - out of rotation because of lack of a CC button and the groove where the button is is massive

Returned cases:
- Nudient clear case - returned because it was ridiculous, just a thin sheet of hard plastic with holes for all the buttons
- Nomad Modern Leather - returned because it felt not protective enough for that price and I didn’t like the color.
- Benks Magnetic - returned because of metal camera frame
- Spigen ultra hybrid - returned because of a misaligned.. well, everything
- Torras Ostand Q3 Air - returned because the metal ostand holder inside the case protruded a bit
- Araree Duple M Armor - returned because the case didn’t even fit on the phone, that was wild

Still incoming cases:
- Phone Rebel Air - incoming today
- Ryan London Black Shell Case - incoming ~December
- Caudabe Paragon Moonstone - incoming sometime 2026 probably. Might cancel it.
Click to expand...
Nice line up!

I’m going to try the Beats rugged again. Seemed slippery when I was handling it even though it has dot grips.

I have to agree there’s nothing like the Apple silicone when it comes to form factor, perfectly molds to the form of the iPhone. IMO the AS is the benchmark for how to design an iPhone case. The Sheath would be the closest BUT it weighs too much.
 
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Ava* said:
Ho boy, where do I even start 😂 it’s been a journey, but so far nothing has topped the Beats Rugged for me when it comes to handling and feel of the case.
Here’s my list:

Cases I kept:
- Beats Rugged - favorite by far
- Apple Silicone - favorite form factor
- Beats regular - would be my favorite if I could get the phone out of it without help 😂
- Spigen Rugged Armor
- Mous Limitless - probably
- ESR Hybrid Clear Case - had to return a lilac version of it though because of alignment issues
- Apple Clear Case - out of rotation because of easy dust accumulation and difficult removal
- Tech21 - out of rotation because of lack of a CC button and the groove where the button is is massive

Returned cases:
- Nudient clear case - returned because it was ridiculous, just a thin sheet of hard plastic with holes for all the buttons
- Nomad Modern Leather - returned because it felt not protective enough for that price and I didn’t like the color.
- Benks Magnetic - returned because of metal camera frame
- Spigen ultra hybrid - returned because of a misaligned.. well, everything
- Torras Ostand Q3 Air - returned because the metal ostand holder inside the case protruded a bit
- Araree Duple M Armor - returned because the case didn’t even fit on the phone, that was wild

Still incoming cases:
- Phone Rebel Air - incoming today
- Ryan London Black Shell Case - incoming ~December
- Caudabe Paragon Moonstone - incoming sometime 2026 probably. Might cancel it.
Click to expand...
Wanted to keep my Spigen Rugged as a beater case as I like the texture but the camera control button is so bad (I use it often to activate the camera) and the charging port cutout is misaligned lol... plus the button slits let in so much dust its mad so I returned it
 
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macher said:
Nice line up!

I’m going to try the Beats rugged again. Seemed slippery when I was handling it even though it has dot grips.

I have to agree there’s nothing like the Apple silicone when it comes to form factor, perfectly molds to the form of the iPhone. IMO the AS is the benchmark for how to design an iPhone case. The Sheath would be the closest BUT it weighs too much.
Click to expand...
I feel like the Beats rugged got less slippery over time just by wearing it in? I’d say give it a try. It adds bulk but it keeps the form factor with the smooth rounded edges. The buttons are the best out of all the cases I’ve tried. Tactile and super clicky, almost like the original. And the little groove where the CC button sits is awesome for orientation.

Yeah, the sili is like a second skin for the phone. If only the buttons were less “squishy” and there was more screen protection. I also don’t like how it feels when it warms up in the hand. And mine has already chipped and is slightly misaligned on the bottom (like yours). The beats regular feels a bit like the Silicone when it comes to form factor, just more slippery 😂
 
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bryxn11 said:
Wanted to keep my Spigen Rugged as a beater case as I like the texture but the camera control button is so bad (I use it often to activate the camera) and the charging port cutout is misaligned lol... plus the button slits let in so much dust its mad so I returned it
Click to expand...
The CC cover works perfectly on my Spigen Rugged. I also use it to activate the camera. I had a Spigen Hybrid where it didn’t work at all, though. Probably due to the misalignment. And my Spigen rugged has the misaligned USB port on the bottom, too. I agree about the flow trough buttons with slits. They just collect dust. It’s not my favorite case but also not the worst I’ve tested 😂
 
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Ava* said:
The CC cover works perfectly on my Spigen Rugged. I also use it to activate the camera. I had a Spigen Hybrid where it didn’t work at all, though. Probably due to the misalignment. And my Spigen rugged has the misaligned USB port on the bottom, too. I agree about the flow trough buttons with slits. They just collect dust. It’s not my favorite case but also not the worst I’ve tested 😂
Click to expand...
Have you tried the Nano pop? Looks almost similar to the AS.
 
macher said:
Nice line up!

I’m going to try the Beats rugged again. Seemed slippery when I was handling it even though it has dot grips.

I have to agree there’s nothing like the Apple silicone when it comes to form factor, perfectly molds to the form of the iPhone. IMO the AS is the benchmark for how to design an iPhone case. The Sheath would be the closest BUT it weighs too much.
Click to expand...
Have you tried the Techwoven? Has the form factor that I expect you will like but without the horrible silicone feel. It’s a far far better case IMO
 
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