Image credit: Palash Volvoikar/Techlicious
ESR is my favorite tech accessories brand, and its new iPhone 18 lineup is a good one, and it’s already discounted for Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days. The Classic Hybrid for the iPhone 18 Pro and 17 Pro is down to $20.39, from $29.99, and the 18 Pro Max and 17 Pro Max version is $23.09, from $36.99. The deals run through the end of October 7, and because Apple kept the 18 Pro the same size as the 17 Pro, these cases fit the 17 Pro models as well, so you don't need the newest phone to get one.
Why the Classic Hybrid is the clear case I would keep using
I've put a lot of clear cases on a lot of iPhones, and the Classic Hybrid is my favorite of them. The back didn't scratch up the way almost every other clear case I've tried has, and it's sturdy enough to trust to handle a drop without adding a lot of heft to the phone. ESR also says it’s made to resist yellowing, which is a must for a clear case. The camera ring doubles as a kickstand that props the phone up in landscape or portrait. Also, the magnets hold at 1,500 grams, so MagSafe chargers and wallets snap on pretty firmly, especially in comparison to most other clear cases.
The Atelier is a solid vegan leather case
My other favorite in the new lineup is the Atelier, which has an excellent feel in the hand. The vegan leather isn't the same as real leather, but it feels premium in the hand, and it's the one to get if you'd rather not carry animal leather. The Atelier isn't part of Amazon's badged Prime deals, but there's a 15% coupon on the listing right now that takes the 18 Pro and 17 Pro version from $42.99 to $36.54 and the 18 Pro Max and 17 Pro Max version in black from $39.99 to $33.99 once you click the coupon box. It has the same flex stand built into the camera ring, this one in zinc alloy, and ESR says it's tested to 12 feet of drop protection.
The charger I use with both of them
The ESR Cyclone charging pad is down to $35.14, from $49.99, which is 30% off. It's a very stylish puck, and it has become my go-to wireless charger since ESR sent it to me a couple of weeks ago. It's a Qi2.2 charger rated at 25 watts, so it will charge the current iPhones at full wireless speed, and ESR builds a small fan into the puck to keep the phone cool while it charges, which the company says runs under 25 decibels. You get a 5.9-foot cable, which is longer than most pucks come with.
