Accessorize Your iPhone With Otterbox's Modular Case

Remember Project Ara? Google's modular smartphone has yet to make it to market, but OtterBox is bringing a similar idea to iPhone users.

The company on Tuesday unveiled the uniVERSE Case System, which lets you swap out different "accessory modules" to enhance your iPhone with things like new camera lenses, an extra battery, speaker, payment processing hardware, and more.

The uniVERSE Case itself will set you back $49.95 (for iPhone 6 and 6s) or $59.95 (for the 6 Plus and 6s Plus), while the swappable modules range from $19.99 to $249.

OtterBox has partnered with a number of companies like Square, olloclip, and SanDisk to create compatible modules that easily attach to the case using a slotted rail system. The $49.99 Square module, for instance, will let you accept not only credit cards but also contactless payments on the go. Removable flash drive modules from SanDisk, priced from $59.99 to $119.99, offer 32GB, 64GB, or 128GB of additional storage in a literal snap.

Other modules include a $79.99 olloclip 4-in-1 lens, which lets you switch between fisheye, wide-angle, 10x, and 15x lenses, and a $249 Seek Thermal Compact Camera, which will let you turn your smartphone into a thermal imaging device. Head over to OtterBox's website to explore other available modules.

"Innovation in the mobile technology world continues to evolve, and smartphones are at the center of this evolution," OtterBox CEO Jim Parke said in a statement. "OtterBox is bringing together industry giants and cutting-edge innovators to create a customizable mobile ecosystem. With uniVERSE Case System, consumers don't have to compromise premium protection to use the amazing array of accessories that are changing how we use our phones."

For more on the uniVERSE Case System, check out the video below.

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade.

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes.

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app.

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth.

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light.

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

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