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I tested the most durable iPhone case Apple sells and it has a unique safety feature
Tech 21 FlexPro.
ZDNET's key takeaways
- Tech 21 FlexPro is available from Apple and priced at $55.
- A stylish, well-designed, and rugged case, with cool glow-in-the-dark elements.
- A bit pricey and the lanyard isn't for everyone.
I don't discuss smartphone cases much anymore, as they all tend to be much the same -- a piece of polymer that covers five sides of your smartphone. Plus, accurately testing how much protection a case provides requires real-world use, and as one person with one phone, that's not feasible for me to conduct extensively.
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However, when I upgraded to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, I switched my case to a Tech 21 FlexPro. This case has proven to be one of the most rugged ones I've used. Additionally, choosing the clear, glow-in-the-dark version has made my iPhone easier to find, which is a handy bonus.
View at AppleTech 21 FlexPro features
- 20ft impact protection
- 1x stronger than the military standard (MIL-STD-810)
- Embedded with a magnetic ring
- Cool glow-in-the-dark elements
- Compatible with all your MagSafe accessories
- Smooth hardshell finish
- Anti-yellowing technology
- 100% recycled packaging
There's a lot I like about this case. It's easy to fit onto the iPhone (I don't know about you, but I've struggled to get some phone cases on or off) and the buttons are separate pieces molded into the plastic, so they have a more tactile feel than ones that are just part of the case.
There's a port cover on the bottom that is a welcome addition to prevent stuff from getting into the USB-C port, and all the cutouts line up perfectly with the features of the iPhone.
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I also like the bumper molded into the case that protects the cameras. That feature is nice because cameras hanging out the front can be vulnerable. There are also bumpers on the front of the case to protect the display, both when you put the handset face down on the surface or when you drop it.
The effective camera bumper.
The case also comes with a wrist lanyard, but this is not something that I ever use because I find they catch on things. However, I know the lanyard is a handy feature for some people and one that prevents the phone from being dropped or lost.
The one feature I love is the glow-in-the-dark elements. The MagSafe ring on the back glows, as do the button elements and the lanyard. The device gets a soft glow that makes it easier to find your phone in the dark or when it's buried at the bottom of a bag, and not the sort of glow that keeps you awake at night.
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This case can also take quite a beating. In the few months that I've owned the iPhone 15 Pro Max, I've dropped it quite a few times, and I feel like some of those drops could have been bad news if it wasn't for the case protecting the phone. I've dropped it on rocks, concrete, and even seen it slide down hills and bump downstairs. Thankfully, the case means there's not a scratch on the phone.
For the record, I have a screen protector on the handset for added durability. But I think this case is certainly one of the best I've tested in a long time, and the first in quite a while that I felt compelled to write about.
ZDNET's buying advice
I know some people say you don't need a case for your iPhone, and that may very well be the case (no pun intended). However, I think a case gives you extra protection in the event of a fall or drop and some additional grip -- modern smartphones do, after all, have the grip of a wet bar of soap. I also think a case is a nice way to personalize your phone. And since the iPhone is something that people drop several $100 on, I think giving it some extra protection isn't a bad thing.
My testing suggests cases don't get much better than the Tech 21's FlexPro -- and the glow-in-the-dark elements are a super-cool and unique feature.