When I ordered my Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max, I decided to get one of Apple’s cases for it, but now that it’s on the phone, I think I may have made a mistake.
Not only that, but I’m saying goodbye to the best phone case I’ve ever had, as my previous iPhone heads back to Apple inside a trade-in box.
What case did I choose?
And why is it bad?
Cases are a necessary evil. I don’t like them, but I want to give my expensive phone some protection.
I’d previously tried one of Apple’s Fine Woven cases on an iPhone 16 Plus, but wasn’t taken by the feel. Most of the time, I prefer transparent cases to showcase the color of my chosen phone.
Having chosen the Cosmic Orange color for the iPhone 17 Pro Max, I decided to get the Apple Clear Case.
It’s an odd-looking thing, as the majority of the rear is taken up by a big, white panel, so it’s not entirely transparent, but I could live with that, as I can see the bright orange color through the side panels and around the camera module.
However, it’s not the rather unusual look that’s the problem, as I knew what it looked like when I ordered. Instead, it’s the finish of the plastic used for the case.
For the first few days, it was incredibly slippery. More slippery than the phone itself, and not what you want from a protective case at all.
It has become a little better after I’ve endured it for a week or so, but not by much.
Juggling the phone
Better without it on?
The problem is that the case is completely smooth and made of fairly hard plastic, complete with a curve around both the upper and lower edges.
It’s comfortable to hold, but picking the thing up can be a challenge because there’s just no grip at all. No texture, nothing.
It’s worse when your hands are clean or cold, and I have noticed I keep a very tight grip on the phone when I’m using it casually to browse social media and apps like Reddit.
Yet, even when I have it in a choke hold, I can feel it trying to slip from my hand like a wet, particularly determined fish.
I don’t have confidence in the case. Not that it won’t protect the phone in a fall, because it certainly will, but more that it’ll be the cause of the fall in the first place.
Picking it up off a table is the worst, because you only get a slight grip on a small part of it at a time, and it has clattered back down a couple of times already.
Missing the best case I’ve owned
But not the phone
Apple’s transparent case costs $50, making it a considerable investment, and I’m disappointed with the way it feels in my hand, and concerned the surface won’t get more grippy over time.
That said, the iPhone 17 Pro Max itself is turning out to be a strong upgrade, and I have no regrets about the phone. Just what I put it in.
The other thing is, I’m coming from the best case I’ve ever owned. It’s a Casetify Impact Case, which cleverly blends a transparent rear panel with soft and grippy sides.
While it’s not as curvy or quite as comfortable to hold as the Apple case, it has masses of grip, and I could hold the phone lightly without ever feeling it’d make a bid for freedom.
It gathered a few scratches and scuffs over my year of use, but for the most part, it stayed looking good throughout, and I never once thought about changing it.
Why then, didn’t I just buy another one? The problem isn’t the case, but the collaboration.
My Impact Case was part of Casetify’s past collaboration with K-pop group Le Sserafim. There were several in the series, but the Impact was the least in-your-face, had MagSafe, and still showed the color of the phone inside.
It was practically perfect, because I could support one of my favorite groups in a fairly inconspicuous way, while still protecting my phone.
Why not get another?
Unfortunately, it’s not an option
The Casetify x Le Sserafim collaboration was made to celebrate the release of the group’s Easy EP, which came out at the beginning of 2024, and it was a limited edition collection.
What that means is, as you’ve likely guessed, I can’t just buy another Le Sserafim Casetify case because they’ve been discontinued.
Sure, I could just get any old Impact case, but part of the reason I liked mine is because of the collaboration and its simple, stylish design.
That said, I also miss how secure the Impact case felt in my hand, how well it protected the screen and the camera lenses, and its relative light weight for the protection provided.
What does all this mean to you? Whatever phone you own, I recommend Casetify’s Impact case. However, if you own or are buying an iPhone 17 model, I can’t say the same about Apple’s transparent Clear Case.
For me, it’s going to turn out to be a relatively pricey mistake, as I know I’m going to change it for another case soon, even if another Le Sserafim collaboration isn’t on the cards.
