The Best i. Phone 7 and 7 Plus Cases. So far this year, we’ve tested 5.
Phone 7 and the i. Phone 7 Plus. Given that the i. Phone 7 models just debuted, we expect to see many more cases in the upcoming weeks and months; we’ll continue to test new models and update this guide accordingly. In general, we look for cases that can adequately protect an i.
Phone without adding too much bulk or unnecessary embellishments. A respectable degree of shock absorption is important, as is a secure fit. The case should also cover as much of the i.
Phone’s body as possible, including a raised lip around the glass display to keep the screen from getting scratched when you set the phone facedown. Table of contents. Why you should trust me. I was the accessories editor at i.
Lounge for a little over three years. During my tenure, I reviewed more than 1,0. That number spans multiple generations of Apple devices, including every i.
Phone since the i. Phone 4 and every i.
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Pad. I’ve probably handled more i. Phone cases than almost anyone on the planet, so I have a particularly experienced perspective and depth of knowledge when it comes to these products.
I also consulted with Jeremy Horwitz while making final selections. Jeremy was editor in chief of i. Lounge for 1. 1 years, and was later a contributor and accessory reviewer for 9to. Mac. Jeremy is likely the only person who has tested more cases than I have, as far back as early i. Pods, and he knows this stuff inside and out.
How we picked. A sampling of the cases we tested in the fall of 2. But in looking for standout cases that would work well for most people, we sought models that could adequately protect a phone without adding unnecessary embellishments or too much bulk. We based this approach in part on a reader survey in which 8.
Phone’s feel and aesthetic. Apple’s guidelines for case developers espouse a similar philosophy: “A well- designed case will securely house an Apple device while not interfering with the device’s operation.” The guidelines also note requirements such as protection from a drop of 1 meter, which parts of the phone the case can and cannot block, and even the size and shape of the various openings.
However, while Apple’s guidelines are generally smart, a manufacturer can follow them perfectly but still produce a case that limits real- world usability, such as by preventing the use of dock cradles (something that about a third of our survey respondents said was important). And Apple’s guidelines assume that you’re using Apple’s cables—many third- party Lightning- to- USB cables have larger plugs.
A respectable degree of shock absorption is important, as is a tight fit. The case should cover as much of the i. Phone’s body as possible, but it should also include a raised lip around the edge of the screen: As Apple’s case guidelines explain, “. We used a 0. 8. 5- millimeter feeler gauge, per Apple’s guidelines, to test each case. It’s important that a case not hinder normal use of the i.
Phone—it shouldn’t be any more difficult to use the phone in the case than when it’s case- free. In this respect, cases that cover the i. Phone’s volume and Sleep/Wake buttons with protective overlays tend to be better than models with simple cutouts: Cutouts leave those buttons unprotected, yet you have to reach through tiny openings to use the buttons. The best cases offer button protection with great tactility, mimicking—or in some instances even enhancing—what you’d feel on a bare i. Phone. We also prefer cases that protect the speaker and microphones rather than leaving them unprotected. We also dislike cases with a circular opening to expose the Apple logo on the back of the phone.
There’s no need to leave part of your phone unprotected just to show off that logo, and we haven’t seen a case with such an opening that’s better than the good ones without it. Finally, a case shouldn’t reduce performance with any wireless signals: Wi- Fi, cellular, or NFC (near- field communication, necessary to use Apple Pay).
Our pick for most people. The Silk Base Grip for i. Phone 7. That’s why Silk’s Base Grip is an excellent choice for most people with an i. Phone 7 or 7 Plus: It’s a simple case that checks all the boxes at a reasonable price.
It’s a simple case that checks all the boxes at a reasonable price. The Base Grip is a one- piece TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane, a flexible plastic) case. It has just enough give to make it easy to install, without being so loose that the sides pull away—something that can be a problem on inferior cases. The back panel is slightly rough, with a pebbled finish on the edges for a good grip. It’s just the right amount of texture, offering extra security while you’re holding the phone without making the case feel weird or unpleasant. Along the bottom edge, openings for the speaker, microphone, and Lightning- connector port provide access without leaving too much of the i. Phone’s body exposed.
The case covers the volume and the Sleep/Wake buttons while maintaining a clicky feel. A tapered, black ring protects the camera(s) and flash, and the lip around the screen is deep enough to keep the phone’s screen from touching flat surfaces (and a film screen protector is included), without being so tall as to hinder the use of the touchscreen.
Silk claims that air pockets in the corners help absorb shock. Flaws but not dealbreakers. You won’t confuse the Base Grip with a premium case: It doesn’t look or feel particularly cheap, but it’s also not going to draw attention based on its looks. We also don’t love the seam between the back panel and the edge of the case, but that’s just a minor aesthetic bother.
A great leather case. Apple’s i. Phone 7 Leather Case. It isn’t as protective as our overall favorite, but we like it anyway.
It offers enough coverage to guard against the majority of scuffs and minor drops, and even though it’s thin and light, it still has an adequate lip protecting the screen. The Leather Case is available in 1.
Most important, though, Apple’s Leather Case just looks and feels great. It’s like the difference between a hiking boot and a leather dress boot—sure, the hiking boot is more protective and comfortable, but if you’re not hiking, forgoing a bit of protection and comfort for style and luxury is sometimes worthwhile. That’s why several of our editors use the i.
Phone 6/6s version of this model as their day- to- day case. There’s no mushiness when you press a button, but rather a crisp (and loud) click. We also love that the case is very thin and light for a leather model: The i. Phone 7 version weighs only 1.
Plus edition weighs 2. Flaws but not dealbreakers Apple’s Leather Case leaves the bottom edge of your phone exposed, which means that if you drop your phone the wrong way, you could damage the front edge (just below the Home button), or the area around the Lightning- connector port. We wish Apple would add more protection here, but after several generations of this case using a similar design, it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen anytime soon. Leather also doesn’t wear as well over time (in terms of durability) as plastic, so if you’re expecting a case to look the same in a year as it did on the first day, no leather case is going to be the right pick for you. Best thin case. Caudabe’s The Sheath. Unfortunately, even the best super- thin cases we’ve tested don’t protect your phone against anything but scratches, and many of them simply don’t last—a short fall often breaks the case itself.
Caudabe’s The Sheath for i. Phone 7 and i. Phone 7 Plus represents the best compromise we’ve yet seen, providing good coverage while remaining impressively thin.
The material is less than a millimeter thick, yet the case still offers a proper 1 mm lip around the phone’s screen. We also like how tightly tailored the camera, microphone, and flash openings are. Flaws but not dealbreakers. Though The Sheath is thin, it doesn’t compete for the title of “World’s Thinnest i. Phone Case.” If you’re truly looking for something that just wraps around the phone to prevent scratches, consider Caudabe’s The Veil, addressed in the Competition section below. At the other extreme, The Sheath doesn’t provide as much shock protection as thicker cases—less protection comes with the territory in this category.
Our wallet case pick. The Silk Vault for i. Phone 7. The TPU case has an integrated three- card wallet that, together with Apple Pay, may be enough to allow some people to ditch a separate wallet altogether. The Vault may be enough to allow some people to ditch a separate wallet altogether.
Vault’s core elements are very similar to those found on the company’s Base Grip. The buttons and cutouts are all the same, and the case has a strip of textured material along both sides.
The main difference is the molded card holder on the back, made to accommodate up to three credit cards and some cash. A small cutout along the edge opposite the wallet opening makes it easy to push cards out as needed, but even when we aggressively shook the phone, they didn’t fall out on their own. We also appreciate that the Vault exposes less of your cards than the competition—all you can see is a thumbnail- sized piece of the top card. It also happens to come with a protective screen film. Flaws but not dealbreakers Some other wallet cases are slimmer overall, and—because they have a flexible wallet component—are thinner when you have fewer cards in them; the Vault’s rigid wallet means that the case is the same thickness no matter how many cards it’s holding. That said, the Silk Wallet isn’t so large as to be cumbersome. The best transparent case.
The Spigen Ultra Hybrid for i. Phone 7. Spigen’s Ultra Hybrid, which combines a clear plastic backplate with rubberlike sides, offers the best balance of look, feel, protectiveness, and price we’ve yet come across.
Installation is as easy as with any case we’ve tested, button clicks are perfectly crisp, and air cushions in each of the four corners provide some drop protection.
Fester’s Lucky 1. Year- End Summary. Top 1. 00 Albums of 2. We lost a slew of top tier baby boomer talent, and we’ve all but guaranteed our accelerated demise in really fucked up elections on both sides of the pond. But the show goes on, at least until it doesn’t, and there is, as always, a massive amount of music enjoy for those who bother to look for it. As expected, a lot of the year- end lists and polls look like shrines to the dead and dying. David Bowie’s death looms over everything like massive supernova collapsed into a black hole, sucking everything up in its path.
It’s a challenging, fascinating listen that’s more chamber jazz than art rock. Impressive, but not remotely the best album of the year. But considering it is the best thing Bowie had done in 3. Bowie knew the end was coming due to his illness, and he made it to the finish line, releasing the album a few days before his death, and even made some cool, poignant videos. Leonard Cohen knew the end was coming at some point, and his creative juices were flowing more than ever in recent years, as he was working on yet another album meant to follow up You Want It Darker (which wasn’t especially better than his previous two, but of course it’s getting more attention. A Tribe Called Quest reunited after an eighteen year absence, and Phife Dawg got to lay down his final tracks before his demise.
Impressive, but not my favorite of his recent work. Iggy Pop has been saying that his collaboration with Josh Homme, Post Pop Depression, will be his last. Please don’t croak yet, Iggy.
Considering how close the edge he’s probably been (I wouldn’t be surprised if he hadn’t already died a couple times), it’s remarkable that he’s the last man standing among his peers. Not that those numbers mean much, I’m no authority on pop/R& B and hip hop. I still listen to a fairly diverse range of music, and my moods call for different types, but in general what you find at the top of my lists are albums that provide an immersive experience, a gateway to another world, be it magical, horrible, or a little of both, like the album of the year by Wolf People. While I get that apocalyptic British psych prog is not exactly trending right now, it’s still a major disappointment not to see it on any other year- end list so far. I guess that’s why I’m compelled to keep doing what I do.
Comebacks of the Year. I’m a little stumped for this one. When active touring bands regularly take 8 years or so between albums (like Metallica), it’s hard to know what to consider a comeback. I’m probably in a minority that I like that album more than Steel Wheels (1.
Earnest covers of blues songs, just like when they started out in 1. Blue Orchids had a fan driven fundraising campaign to put out their first album in 1. The Once And Future Thing. Moscow Circus had been together since 1.
Resouding with some songs nearly 3. Debuts of the year. This year the debut of the year award goes to Sir Robin & The Longbowmen. Newcomers Rolling Blackout Coastal Fever, Spirit Adrift, Wytch Hazel, The Winstons, Drakkar Nowhere and Tau all made the top 2. Overrated of the Year.
While I have enjoyed some of Kanye West’s albums, The Life Of Pablo is fucking terrible. As I write this, it’s currently #9 in the aggregated year- end lists. There is seriously no defense for that. Those who put it there should be embarrassed.
Disappointment of the Year. I’m not feeling very passionate about this category. Melvins’Basses Loaded is kind of throwaway, but they put out so many albums, that’s just how it goes. I did not have high hopes for the Pixies’ reunion album, Head Carrier, which isn’t terrible, but it also a far, far, far cry from their previous greatness. They would do well to take notes from Kim Deal, who has done much better in putting out quality albums with The Breeders.
More people seem to like the latest Wire album, Nocturnal Koreans, but I can’t get into it. Underrated. As usual nearly all of my top 1. Khemmis, could qualify.
Syd Arthur, Wovenhand, Truckfighters, The Drones, Blood Ceremony and Purson have gotten a smattering of nods, so I’ll go with a tie between Wolf People and Lola Colt. In a better world, they’d be huge. Fester’s Lucky 1.
The Best Albums of 2. Wolf People – Ruins (Jagjaguwar)Jack Sharp and Tom Watt of Bedfordshire, England were focusing on hip hop production, but while crate- digging for sample- worthy material, they discovered a wealth of European and British psych, prog and folk from the late 6. In the decade since they’ve formed, their third release finds them at the top of their game with dark, literate (and literary, inspired by novelist Ben Myers) psych prog, their sound now as heavy as their vibe. Syd Arthur – Apricity (Harvest/Communion)Like Wolf People, Canterbury’s Syd Arthur defies assumptions as to their backgrounds. Rather than hippies tripping out to Pink Floyd, this band is a younger generation who came from a background of forest raves and electronic dance music.
Well, they were probably also hippies. So some of the electronic sounds on their third album is less a departure than a return to their roots. Not to worry, it still brims over with sparkling musicianship. But their brand of psych prog is definitely forward facing. Lola Colt – Twist Through The Fire (Black Tigress)If I were to dream up an ideal band that references elements of both post- punk and menacing psych noir, it would be very much like Lola Colt. In their era, The Teardrop Explodes, The Scientists, Gun Club and Siouxsie & The Banshees may not have been household names in the mainstream, but I feel like they had pretty sizable cult following.
To be fair, the band has yet to tour North America, sticking exclusively to Europe, like a lot of bands do these days. It’s too bad, because people are truly missing out on something great. Khemmis – Hunted (2. Buck Spin)While 2. Buck Spin labelmates Magic Circle were nearly completely ignored, despite their second album being one of the best of last year, people are noticing Khemmis. I look forward to seeing them live next month. Wovenhand – Star Treatment (Sargent House)In my review, I suggested Wovenhand’s latest as a far more interesting, listenable alternative to Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds’Skeleton Tree.
To be fair, it’s a very different album, and if you’re looking for crushing despair, Nick’s got the goods. But in every other way, I think Star Treatment is still by far the better option. Truckfighters – V (Century Media)I suspect that Truckfighters’ name is preventing a particular audience to take them seriously. Their body of heavy desert fuzz rock should earn them a spot on a mythical stoner Mount Olympus alongside Kyuss, QOTSA and Colour Haze. Album number five is a must- have, as is any opportunity to see them live.
The Drones – Feelin Kinda Free (Tropical Fuck Storm)Australia’s The Drones have always been a great band, but their seventh sees them reach a whole new level. While some may prefer the sprawling punk blues garage noir of their older work, this fiery experiment of avant rock and prickly post- punk may take more time to come to grips with, but it’s worth it.
Blood Ceremony – Lord Of Misrule (Rise Above)Not as evil sounding as their name, Blood Ceremony nevertheless have matured on their fourth album into one worthy of the suggestive, threatening imagery. They have explored occult- ish proto- metal, folk, prog and here they evoke that sweet spot in 1. They were the highlight for me at this year’s Roadburn Festival in Tilburg, Netherlands. Purson – Desire’s Magic Theatre (Spinefarm)Since I heard the goth- prog- psych- folk- proto- doom of their 2. Rocking Horse,” the massive potential of these paranormal psych Beatles freaks was apparent. Their debut album The Circle And The Blue Door (2. It’s an art rock fever dream filtered through their own scintillating flavor of psych noir.
Asteroid – III (Fuzzorama)Together for 1. Asteroid takes their time between albums. They’ve taken a significant step up in songwriting and dynamics since their previous album in 2.
While they’re on Truckfighters’ label, they occupy a space between All Them Witches’ bluesy improvisations and Graveyard’s stellar songwriting. And since the latter recently broke up, it’s good to have Asteroid to help fill the void.
Chris Forsyth & The Solar Motel Band – The Rarity of Experience (No Quarter)Expansive would be an understatement for this double album. Philadelphia native Chris Forsyth is extremely prolific, collaborating with other artists on over a dozen records. His meandering guitar explorations are rooted in a tone inspired by Television and The Dream Syndicate, with additional psychedelic, jammy elements like the Quicksilver Messenger Service and Crazy Horse and even some post- rock elements. Solar Motel (2. 01. Intensity Ghost (2. High Castle Rock,” a sort of successor to the masterclass in ascension, “Marquee Moon.” Unlike his other albums, Forsyth actually does some singing this time, including a satisfying cover of Richard Thompson’s “Calvary Cross.” .
I was in a fugue state, exploring Brazilian albums. I think I was looking for Thiago Fran. On Nassif’s previous two albums, he approached music like a visual artist, sculpting sound as if it were geometric shapes. On his third album, producer Arto Lindsay helped him focus on songwriting, while still retaining the three dimensional qualities.
It’s exciting to hear Lindsay’s signature angular but lush sound, as I haven’t heard much from him in 1. Blues Pills – Lady In Gold (Nuclear Blast)Once again it was a close contest for the lucky 1. Sir Robin & The Longbowmen, Causa Sui, Savages and Blues Pills. It basically came down to what I enjoyed listening to most frequently this year.
Blues Pills has the songs that have stuck with me. It’s most likely to have the longevity. A few late additions pushed these bands just off the top 1. Blaak Heat, Dreamtime, The Hazytones, Gojira, Jenny Besetzt, Sunwatchers, Resina, The Dwarfs Of East Agouza and Horse Lords.
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