In my 10 years of owning cell phones, I have broken practically all of them. I’ve sent my LG flip phone through the wash twice, and shattered a brand new iPhone screen. Keeping a phone in mint condition is clearly not a talent I possess.
In an effort to keep my phone unharmed for as long as possible, I’ve experimented with heavy duty, shatterproof cases such as the Otterbox or Lifeproof, but they’ve all been too big and bulky for my liking. I mean, half the point of spending so much money on the iPhone is the aesthetics, right? That’s why, when an ad for Casetify—a surprisingly cute phone case that is supposed to withstand drops up to nine feet—popped up on my Instagram timeline, I was immediately sold.
What makes Casetify different?
Founded in 2011, Casetify claims to be the “fastest growing global tech accessories brand for millennials.” Their phone cases, Apple watch bands, and various other tech accessories can be seen in use by a slew of celebs ranging from Gigi Hadid to Dwayne Wade to Taylor Swift.
Not only are Casetify’s hundreds of phone cases cute, they’re practical. They’re made with two layers of shock-absorbing plastic to withstand impact. The raised bezels around the screen and camera lenses help protect the glass if dropped on a flat surface.
The Ultra Impact and Impact cases in particular offer “military-grade protection.” The Impact case is certified to withstand drops of up to 6.6 feet (two meters), and the Ultra Impact case is good up to 9.8 feet (three meters). Somehow, these cases aren’t ugly and bulky, but slim and fun, fulfilling their tagline of “protective cases you’ll actually want to show off.”
Ultra Impact Phone Case
Protective phone cases at Casetify
Phone cases at Casetify
The cases range widely in price depending on your device type, the design, and the amount of protection you want. They offer a basic snap-on case with light protection, up to the MagSafe Ultra Impact case, which provides the greatest defense against drops.
In between, Casetify offers dozens of cases with a range of protection levels and styles. You’ll find sequin cases, mirror cases, print cases, marble-look cases, faux “vegan” leather cases, and cases you can customize with your own photos. Many let you personalize them by printing your name or any word or phrase up to 12 characters in length.
I found the selection a bit overwhelming, but the second I saw the one-and-only Kylie Jenner posing on the Casetify Instagram with a gold glitter case with her name printed on the back, I knew I had to have one just like it.
Is my Casetify case as cute IRL as it looks on IG?
One hesitation I had when ordering my silver glitter case was whether it would look and feel bulky on my iPhone X. For the case’s free-flowing glitter to move, it would need a hollow compartment to float in through. Although the case looked fairly slim online, I am no stranger to the “Instagram vs. Reality” contrast.
Luckily, my case is just as cute and slim as it looks online. I’ve gotten tons of compliments on it from friends. People have even taken my phone just to flip it and watch the glitter fall for minutes at a time. Plus, when I lost my phone at a bowling alley, it was easy to recover because my unique case had my name on the back.
Are Casetify cases actually drop-proof?
Unfortunately, I really don’t know. I was excited to put my case to the drop test in the Reviewed labs to see if it could really withstand a six-foot fall. Based on the ads I saw, I was led to believe that all of their cases were “military grade” and guaranteed to protect phones.
Still, before deliberately dropping my precious iPhone, I emailed Casetify to make sure my case was up to the challenge. The customer service quickly replied to say that while all of their cases are designed to protect a phone from drops, the Impact and Ultra Impact cases are the specific versions that are drop-proof from up to 6.6 and 9.8 feet, respectively.
Since my initial purchase, some of the information about the case’s strength and weight have been moved up from the bottom of the page into a widget on the right side. You can select your case style from an array of options, each with easy to read ratings about their strength and weight.
What’s more, even for the cases that are “certified drop-proof,” that may not mean much. I asked if the company offers any phone replacement guarantee if the phone is damaged while dropped in a “certified” Casetify case. The team told me that while they stand by their product, they do not offer any guarantees like that.
They do offer a six-month quality assurance window to replace your case if you deem it defective. This warranty is similar to what competitors Otterbox and LifeProof offer.
Moral of the story, I chose not to drop-test my phone, since my case turned out not to necessarily be drop-proof. Even if I’d bought a “certified” Impact or Ultra Impact case, I wouldn’t be drop-testing it any time soon. I don’t think Casetify was trying to be purposefully deceptive in their ads? But at the time of my purchase, their website needed more clarity about the protection each case offered.
All of that said, my glitter phone case did survive some pretty nasty falls from about three or four feet over the course of normal use. My phone—as well as the case—still looked good as new.
Are Casetify cases worth it?
If you’re looking for an attractive phone case that purports to protect your phone from drops, Casetify just might be the brand for you. My glitter case has already exceeded my expectations for looks and protection alike.
In terms of pricing, Casetify cases seem to be in line with their competitors like Case-mate and Speck that focus on fun designs, as well as high-protection cases from Otterbox and LifeProof. Considering the competition, Casetify’s range of prices seem reasonable for the designs and protection available.
The range of fun and fashionable cases that Casetify offers is impressive. I am happy so far with my Casetify experience. With so many great options, I feel confident saying I will be buying from the company again.
Casetify Phone Cases
Phone cases and other tech accessories at Casetify
Pros
Customizable options–you can get it for nearly every year, make, model
Compostable line
Durable and long-lasting compared to other phone cases we’ve tried
Even as it yellows with time, stays sturdy
maintains color well without rubbing off (except compostable)
Mag-Safe compatible
Cons
A little slippery for car magnet holders
Compostable cases can get dirty (the lighter colors) and chip
Some complain that the clear border yellows over time (but this takes at least a year or more to start happening)
The occasional chip or dent can happen, but that’s rare
A little stiff and hard to put on/take off your phone
Can be a bit on the pricey side ($40-$80, as opposed to the $10-$30 range you’ll find on Amazon).
Overall:Casetify cases are some of the most durable and long-lasting cases we’ve tried. No phone case is invincible, but these ones last as long as you need them to before you start to want a new phone anyway. In addition, they do an excellent job at protecting your phone while still being minimal and not overly bulky. They can be a bit stiff to take on and off, but that’s because they’re more durable than your average minimal case. And they do slip beautifully into pockets and purses without getting stuck or attracting lint. And in addition to how wonderfully long-lasting and durable they are, they are by far some of the best looking phone cases we’ve seen (We might be a little biased on this one, ha)!
One additional note: we’ve had a few people complain about the higher price of Casetify’s phone cases. As mentioned above, the cases range from $40-$80 most of the time, depending on phone model and customization options. This can be a deal breaker for some, but we find it relevant to remember that durability and price usually go hand in hand. By paying a bit more for your phone case, you’re also paying for a biodegradable, durable phone case that will last and protect your phone well over time.