Cases

If you're like me, you have probably seen and maybe even purchased those rugged, foam-filled shipping crates from Pelican. I use them all the time to ship computer and audio equipment. Well, what if you could have that level of protection for your iPhone? That's the idea behind the Pelican line of iPhone cases. The company sent me the Adventurer Case ($39.99) to try.

Solo sent me the Active Vector Slim iPad Case ($44.99) and it fit my 9.7-inch iPad from 2018 quite well. It is available in two color choices, all black or a gunmetal blue with black accents. I found both to be quite stylish, with a rubbery textured geometric pattern that also helps with grip.

Our iPhone Life editors just returned from the tech circus that is CES where they discovered the most innovative and useful iOS gear you can buy in 2019. Watch this video to see CEO David Averbach and Editor in Chief Donna Cleveland round up the 26 best tech accessories they found this year for your iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. 

I have been using and recommending Urban Armor Gear cases for iPhones, for many years. They had a clever promotion at the last few Consumer Electronics Shows in Las Vegas, where you turn in your old smartphone case, literally throwing it in a large, clear plastic bin, and they give you a new one. I did that and was happy to have the upgrade. But it occurred to me that, as valuable as my iPhone is, my laptop is even more important and harder to replace. This is why I was happy to review the Plasma MacBook Case ($79.95) when Urban Armor Gear gave me the case to try.

I have been reviewing Just Mobile products for iPhone Life since the release of the company's iPad accessories and stands nearly ten years ago. With Apple's introduction of its most impressive (and expensive) iPhone to date, the iPhone XS Max, keeping such a substantial investment from harm is of utmost importance. Just Mobile agrees and has designed two product to address such a need.

The iPhone may be the number one camera, by use and arguably by picture quality, but it's still pretty uncomfortable to take photos with. That's where the Pictar One (starting at $99.99) from Miggo comes in. The Pictar One is a sort-of half case that your smartphone slides in to. The Pictar One adds a tripod mount, a cold shoe for lights and similar accessories, three dials, and a shutter button.

I travel a lot, and I usually carry my iPhone, various power packs, cables and converters, headphones, and more. But I don't want to lug around a backpack. The Axis Modular Waist Pack ($120) from Mission Workshop is a beautiful alternative, whether in basic black, gray, olive, or black camo. It's very well-made and worth the price tag if you appreciate well-made gear. You could even wear it like a messenger bag.

There are so many accessories you can buy to use with your shiny new iPhone, from headphones to charging cables and everything in between. But the most essential accessory, and the first accessory you should buy for your new iPhone is an iPhone XS, XS Max, or XR case. To help you decide which case is right for you we've put together a roundup of some of the top cases for the new iPhones.

The folks at Silk recently sent me some sample iPhone X, XS, XS Max, and XR Cases ($11.99-24.99). What's more, they included prototype samples of the actual iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max, so I could test the cases with a reasonable facsimile of the new phones. That was a nice touch.

If you use an iPad for work, you should check out the Metropolis iPad Case with Handstrap ($44.95) from Urban Armor Gear. The case has a built-in 360-degree rotating hand strap, secured by durable velcro, which makes it great for one-handed operation. I could see using it on a shop floor or a trade show. There's even a strap to hold an Apple Pencil.

Apple has taken its sweet time delivering a multi-device charging station that can accommodate an iPhone, the Apple Watch, and Apple AirPods. It's been about a year since the AirPower wireless charger was announced, and when it finally is available, it will still be a lot more expensive than the Plux Wireless Charging Stand ($49) from Vinpak. 

My day-to-day case lately has been an Urban Armor Gear case that I picked up at CES 2018 and I'm quite happy with it. Recently, I got to try UAG's Monarch iPhone X Case ($59.95). This model carries on UAG's tradition of using heavy-duty materials and a rigid skeleton design, and goes even further with solid metal screws for support in the corners, which are the most likely points of impact when an iPhone is dropped. Indeed, the case meets 2X Military drop-test standards (MIL STD 810G 516.6.) The 10-year warranty is likely to outlast your iPhone!

Scosche has added another powerful mount to its product line up, and it supports Qi wireless charging for the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and the iPhone X. The MagicMount Pro Charge ($59.99) delivers up to 10 watts of Qi-based wireless charging and can be mounted on your car's window or dash.

There's a lot to like about the Defense Ultra iPhone X case ($39.95) from X-Doria. This attractive, protective iPhone X case is rugged without being bulky or interfering with the iPhone's audio quality. In fact, I had a hard time thinking of anything I didn't like about this case. 

I can’t say enough good things about the new line of iPhone cases and case accessories and mounts from Hitcase. They have truly raised the bar when it comes to creating rugged, durable, waterproof cases, which in and of itself would be noteworthy. However, Hitcase has taken things a step further by crafting an extensive lineup of custom-made accessories that perfectly fit its iPhone cases. These accessories include a selection of top-quality photo lenses, as well as a selfie stick, a chest mount, and a handlebar mount, to name a few.

I grew up with the Gameboy and handheld LCD games before that. So I was excited to see and try the Gamers Console For iPhone ($79.95, on sale for $24.95) from Wanle.

Solo isn't just the name of a swashbucking scoundrel from the Star Wars movie of the same name. It's the name of a New-York-City-based bag manufacturer whose products you've probably seen in Staples or Best Buy. But you might not see the Kilbourn Leather Backpack ($229.99) in person, as it is only available in limited quantities from select retailers, or online at www.solo-ny.com. 

I have always been leery of adhering a cover to my iPad. It isn't that I'm worried the adhesive will damage the device or leave it marred, it’s more about convenience. When you review cases you need to take them off with some frequency so you can test the next one. Well, I bit the bullet when two different cases arrived, both with adhesives. Here are my experiences and thoughts about the Twelve South SurfacePad and the Toast for iPad Pro.