Other Good MagSafe Wallets
Photograph: Jacob Roach
ESR Geo Wallet Stand for $43: Apple’s Find My app lets you track your devices if they’re lost, and ESR’s Geo wallet has it built right into the wallet itself. This is the wallet I’ve been using for the past few weeks, and outside of the Find My capabilities, I love that it strikes a great balance between size and usability. ESR says it can hold up to three cards, but I’ve been using mine with four—three cards plus my ID—and I can get them all out easily. Although having a wallet with magnetic charging pins is weird—the Find My feature requires a battery that lasts three months—you can turn it off if you don’t care for it (but then, maybe just buy a different wallet). It does kind of suck that you need a proprietary charger to recharge your wallet. The magnets adhere well to the back of the phone, and you can pop the wallet open and use it as a kickstand. ESR even includes a strap on the back that works as a phone grip.
OtterBox Symmetry Series Cactus Leather MagSafe Wallet for $45: It’s nice and simple, thin, lightweight, has a strong hold on my phone case, and offers a dedicated fabric-covered slot at the bottom to push the cards out (I was able to fit three without much trouble). This OtterBox wallet is made from cactus-based leather, which feels nearly as luxurious as real leather. Just know that cactus leather isn’t as eco-friendly as it’s made out to be—these cases are still infused with layers of plastics.
Apple FineWoven MagSafe Case for $59: Any time the wallet is separated from your iPhone, you’ll get an alert and can track it in Apple’s Find My app. It has a single slot that can fit up to three cards, but to take the cards out, you have to remove it from your iPhone and push the cards up via the slot on the back. Unfortunately, Apple’s MagSafe wallets exclusively use the company’s proprietary FineWoven material (made of recycled materials). It’s a commendable effort to reduce reliance on leather production, but several WIRED reviewers have said the material doesn’t hold up all that well after some time.
Bluebonnet Minimalist Full-Grain Leather MagSafe Wallet Card Holder for $68: Bluebonnet’s wallet is thin, even with cards inside, and also comes with an elastic grip you can put your fingers through to hold the phone more securely. The magnets are stronger than those in other wallets I’ve tested, though the bottom moves a bit when using the grip. Bluebonnet claims it can fit up to three cards, but I’ve been able to fit only two (my license and debit card). It’s a struggle to insert or remove more than that.
Avoid These Wallets
Ohsnap! Snap Grip Wallet: I had high hopes for this one, mainly because of its build quality. The wallet is aluminum, can hold up to eight cards (depending on whether they’re lettered or not), has MagSafe support, and comes with a grip that doubles as a kickstand. Unfortunately, the grip is made of plastic, and it broke after a short time (it won’t fold properly back into place). The magnetic hold isn’t as strong as other MagSafe wallets, even with a MagSafe-approved case on my phone. None of that is great, especially at this high price.
Benks 600D MagSafe Wallet with Stand: The Benks 600D MagSafe wallet might be made with Kelvar, but it sure doesn’t feel like it. The inside shell of the wallet is made with plastic, and after just a day of use, I spotted a crack in that plastic right next to the hinge. Worse, I tried to apply a bit of pressure to see if the hinge would still hold up, which completely warped the MagSafe ring. Even without clear durability problems, this wallet wouldn’t make the top of the list. It’s reasonably priced at $30 and comes in a handful of attractive colors, but it’s limited to just three cards, and there’s no easy way to get them out.
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