YAAAAAAWUNUpdated September 27: Replaced Apple Fine Woven with cork covers 3:21 p. m. Updated September 22: Added a MagSafe link to the WaveGray, blue, blue-gray, and… uh… clear gray case. Apple opted for the muted titanium gray palette to celebrate the use of these shades on the new iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. While I appreciate your dedication, this means that whatever color you get, you’ll get a shade of gray. While this may be smart for the durability and weight of the device, it’s a bummer for anyone who was expecting something like last year’s purple (hey, Apple, what happened to the red color you were testing?). This year’s blue is. . . OK. But it’s still pretty boring. Fortunately, cases for the iPhone 15 Pro line are plentiful and provide plenty of visual interest and protection. The only smart thing about this titanium build is that the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are lighter this year. Therefore, the carrying weight of a case ends up being negligible overall (especially if you’re coming from a phone like the iPhone 14 Pro Max). Bring your iPhone Pro back to life with one of those colorful cases (and, yes, some clear ones in case you really want to show off your gray slab). Apple Silicone Case in Winter Blue Apple is going to kill off silicone accessories. . . but that’s not the case yet! Apple has been offering a wide variety of pretty colors for the 15 Pro Max lately. Guaranteed to be compatible with your iPhone, the microfiber interior protects your iPhone from debris that inevitably ends up in the case. Plus, you get a small, color-coordinated animated box when you insert your iPhone into the case. It’s a charging touch that only Apple instances can have. I know it’s frivolous, but it makes me smile at both of you every time I see it. I especially like Winter Blue. It costs $49 at the Apple Store. Otterbox Figure in Unicorn Sorbet With immersive watercolor-inspired graphics, no one will accuse you of having a boring iPhone. The Otterbox Figura series is an adorable mix of protection and decoration, with 4 different color combinations (including the Unicorn Sorbet shown in the photo) and Otterbox’s perfect drop detection. Additionally, the buttons have a distinctive, audible click. With MagSafe built in, this case is ready for your close-up. Otterbox offers them for $49. 95 on their website. Nomad Sport Case in Coastal Rock The Nomad Sport Case is an attractive scratch-resistant polycarbonate case with grippy bumpers and anodized aluminum buttons. The case includes MagSafe, so it’s compatible with all your accessories. The end is shiny and smooth, allowing you to store it smoothly in your pocket. The flared bumper provides plenty of grip and provides 8 feet. The back of the shield falls. The new Coastal Rock color is a modern addition to their color diversity. Additionally, Nomad will provide matching watch bands! Pick it up from the Nomad site. 15:21 Cork Case for iPhone 15 Pro MaxSo, it turns out that Apple’s Finewoven cases are kind of like. . . how can I put this delicately? Well, they stink. So what do you do when you want a case made with a durable fabric that maintains its high-quality look and feel? You turn around at 15:21. They’ve been making durable natural cork cases for years, and they just introduced their iPhone 15 line. The case glides smoothly, has an ultra-slim profile, and feels wonderful in the hand (although the cork sticks a little to clothing). The wrap-around case protects the edges of your iPhone but leaves the screen completely transparent. If you’ve ever tried to slide off the edge of your iPhone only to be blocked by the edge of a bulky case, you’ll understand why it’s a smart thing to do. Made in Stockholm with eco-friendly fabrics and production practices, you can order one for $42 on the 15:21 website. Modern Horween Nomad Leather Case in Brown If you still want leather but don’t want the environmental impact, rest assured. Carbon-free since 2020, Nomad is a great option for those who want to have their cake and eat it too (the cake is environmental awareness and. . . um. . . leather cases?). The Modern Case’s herbal vegetable-tanned Horween leather combines adorable vegetable-tanned Horween leather with internal shock absorption and a redesigned bumper (for better grip) that can withstand a drop of up to 8 feet. The leather of the case ages over time, darkening and revealing the telltale scratches and imperfections of fine leather. Available colors are also available on Apple Watch bands. So if you want your iPhone and Apple Watch to match, you can make this magic happen. Speaking of magic, the case also includes MagSafe magnets. You can get it on the Nomad site for $70. Nomad also makes the same popular leather case. It will age differently and probably won’t smell like “leather” right out of the box, but it will still offer the same benefit compatibilities but for $20 less, plus it comes in a gorgeous beige color. Sculpted Madalyn If you’re looking for a phone case that’s like nothing else in your pockets, look no further. Carved creates absolutely exclusive cases for the iPhone 15 Pro Max from root wood and resin. Each cover is literally carved from a piece of prepared curtain, making both covers one hundred percent unique. The stabilized wood of the boxes is hardened so they won’t crack or splinter, making them as protective as they are adorable. The buttons are clickable and the surface is smooth. Live Edge instances take the design all the way to the bumpers (there are also less expensive editions that just use a piece of curtain for the back of the case). They’re not $189, but they are legitimately adorable handmade art paintings that also protect your phone. Take a look at all the diversity on Carved’s site, then bookmark the page – instances are regularly replaced as they sell out in the styles featured (like the adorable Madalyn case pictured, which I’m looking forward to picking up as soon as possible). YAWWW-oh wait, that’s just the clear case. Apple’s clear cases have a smart track record of not staining or yellowing over time. You can also be sure that the magnets are well aligned. The curtains are also scratch resistant. That said, while it’s tough to scratch the clear back panel, I’ve yet to find a clear case where the more opaque bumpers on the side have taken a year of abuse without discoloring. Still, the Apple Clear Case with MagSafe does its job: protecting your phone without hiding it. It costs $49 at the Apple Store. Otterbox Symmecheck out in GLITTER Let’s make it transparent. . . but with shine. Otterbox’s Symmecheck cases have built-in MagSafe magnets, are nice and narrow, and have a decently grippy (and protective) bumper around the edges. This protector will fade after a year of use (I challenge you to find a clear case that doesn’t), but the shine lasts forever. The bumper has a wonderful lip on the front of the iPhone, preventing the screen from crashing when you drop it. It’s also $49 on the Otterbox site. Gravity has nothing on Ultra Bounce. Casetify makes some really exclusive instances to order, but there’s still nothing wrong with a clear edition of its maximum protection case, the Ultra Bounce. New this year, the Ultra Bounce Edges feature an astonishing 32. 8-foot drop protection, camera lens protection, and are made from recycled instances. Casetify sent me a piece of their Ultra Bounce curtain and the shock absorption was amazing. Suffice to say, you’ll have to work hard to try to break your iPhone 15 Pro Max with Ultra Bounce. The raised bezel also protects the screen. Plus, it has MagSafe magnets for full compatibility. It costs $112 on the Casetify website. While you’re at it, you can pick up a watch band made from the same “Bounce” fabric. If you want to have a case but don’t want to display it, Totallee’s clear cases are only about a tenth of a millimeter thick. They fit your iPhone and are slightly rubbery to the touch, making your new iPhone 15 Pro Max feel more secure in your hand, without feeling like it’s buried in a case. It is made of a flexible TPU plastic that is easy to attach and remove from the iPhone. Instances are unbranded and can be ordered with or without MagSafe magnet. So if you want a completely transparent and slightly transparent case, this is your most productive option. They start at $39 on the Totallee website. Eco-friendly and neon-friendly case maker UK Wave is back with a new range of biodegradable cases for the iPhone 15 Pro Max. They’re plastic-free, made from wheat straw so they break down into the environment when thrown away, and come in a variety of pretty colors that will liven up even the dullest iPhone Pro. I especially like the herbal stains on the curtains. When you carry it, it feels pleasantly comfortable in your hand. There are no MagSafe magnets on this one, but it’s thin enough that your iPhone’s magnet can stick to most accessories. The Wave Case is just $32 and, if you’re in the UK, uses carbon-free shipping (a pretty great touch). New this year, Wave will also offer a MagSafe edition of its case for $44. Hot air balloons? Helicopters: Tops of dams? Buildings? This case beat them all. Mous makes some of the most durable boxes in the world. Its Limitless 5. 0 improves on last year’s style by fully integrating the bumper into the back of the case, making it very durable. This bumper features new molded waves for added grip and an AiroShock curtain layer that absorbs bumps and drops. In one aspect there is new microfiber to protect its end. The case is also MagSafe compatible. The Limitless 5. 0 is available in a wonderful variety of features, from wood to aramid fiber and a pearl finish. It’s also one of the most reasonable ultra-shieldive instances on the market, at $70. Check it out on the Mous website. For All Your Telephone Nostalgia Do you want a leather case that really stands out from the crowd? This rotating leather case from Torro is made from American leather and features a rotating screen protector with dual card slots. The black leather with red stitching really stands out and I dare you not to open the case either way or both. The bumper has molded buttons, which certainly don’t look as premium as the rest of the case, but that probably won’t matter to you when you open the case like you’re flashing your badge in a crime drama. You can get it on Torro’s site for $51. Soft and protective. . . which also looks like your father, now that I think about it. This new offering from Pad & Quill is truly exclusive. Completely plastic-free, the wallet is incorporated with full-grain American leather and doubles as a stand. It wraps snugly around your iPhone 15 Pro Max for protection, but has the square, slightly baggy edges of a homemade leather bag. It is promoted through the bag that the founder’s father carried and I can verify that perfectly. It’s a lovely little return to a sea of ultra-protective, rugged and fashionable iPhone cases. You can buy one for $100 on the Pad & Quill website. So pretty. So blue. Are you not looking to load a wallet on your iPhone yet and would prefer your iPhone to be your wallet? Grab the Mujjo Leather Wallet Case to do just that. Made from vegetable-tanned leather that patinas over time, with machined steel buttons and a Japanese microfiber lining, this is a case that exudes elegance and style. The narrow wallet pocket on the back will hold your credit card and ID, but likely won’t interfere with wireless charging. The leather is wrapped to the edges and raised bezel. You can get this case or a walletless edition on Mujjo’s website.
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