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9 iPhone Cases That Do Double Duty

 & Chandra Steele Senior Features Writer

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9 iPhone Cases That Do Double Duty
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An iPhone case can do more than protect and beautify your phone.

Nothing multitasks like your iPhone. No, not even you.

With thousands and thousands of apps available on iOS, there's not much more that your phone can do for you, right? Not exactly. An iPhone case can do more than protect and beautify your phone; it can make your photos better, step up your chances of survival in the wilderness or the urban jungle, make sure you never have to endure a music-less sweat session at the gym because you forgot your headphones, help you get a party going, and give you a better view of yourself. We've found a few of our favorite iPhone cases that do double—and sometimes triple—duty. These cases aren't magic but they can seem like it sometimes.

Some selections are more frivolous than others (there's one that will make you forgive your mom for throwing out your Etch-a-Sketch) but they all protect your phone and add a little something to your day without adding too much weight to your phone. Browse the selections, and if you come across any other cases that answers more than one call of duty, let us know in the comments.

Snap Happy

The iPhone's camera is truly a wonder, but if you're wondering how it can be improved, put your phone in the Moment iPhone case. It lets you swap out a tele lens or wide lens, and has a shutter button that integrates a DSLR feature, allowing for a half or full press. If you want fisheye, wide-angle, 10x macro, and 15x macro lenses, then slip your phone into an Ollo case and buy a lens set; if you need mounting options, get the Olloclip Studio.

If I Had a Hammer

It's easy to start a flame war with your phone, but if you need to start a real fire, your phone is useless. Unless it's in the TaskOne G3 case, which comes outfitted with a serrated knife, sawblade, fire-starter, pliers, wire cutter, ruler, wrenches, wire stripper, screwdrivers, and a bottle opener.

Full of Sound and Fury

The sound on your iPhone is adequate but if you really want to pump it up—whether you're just on a conference call or if you've suddenly got a party full of people to play music for, then go for a case that enhances your speakers. The Zagg Speaker Case has a Bluetooth speaker that amplifies your music, movies, and calls.

Worth Shelling Out For

You've got a good head on your shoulders but your headphones, well, they're who knows where. TurtleCell has built-in retractable earbuds so not only will you always be able to listen to your music in peace, you won't have to tussle with a tangle of cords. The case also has a kickstand for even more multitasking.

Game Save

You're super bored and want to play a game on your phone but your battery is even lower than you are. PureGear's Amazing Case has a maze game built into its back. The only power it requires comes from you.

So Sketch

The Etch-i-Phone case brings you all the fun of that trademarked toy from your childhood.

Reflect Yourself

Very rarely will someone tell you that you have something in your teeth. To subtly check—or to brazenly make sure you look good for selfies—get an iPhone case with a mirrored surface. Case Mate and Zero Gravity have you covered. The Case Mate option is sleek and comes in chrome and gold, and the Zero Gravity one is set off with a touch of acrylic, and comes in silver and gold.

Charge It Please

You've lost your charging cable more times than your wallet can handle. Never again with the Boomerang Case. A 2-foot USB cable retracts at the touch of a button. A word of caution, though. It's an Indiegogo project; its creators say that cases should ship this spring.

Cash In On It

You need little more than your phone and your wallet, so why carry anything else? This case from MochiThings has space for cards, cash, and of course your phone.

About Our Expert

Chandra Steele

Chandra Steele

Senior Features Writer

My Experience

My title is Senior Features Writer, which is a license to write about absolutely anything if I can connect it to technology (I can). I’ve been at PCMag since 2011 and have covered the surveillance state, vaccination cards, ghost guns, voting, ISIS, art, fashion, film, design, gender bias, and more. You might have seen me on TV talking about these topics or heard me on your commute home on the radio or a podcast. Or maybe you’ve just seen my Bernie meme

I strive to explain topics that you might come across in the news but not fully understand, such as NFTs and meme stocks. I’ve had the pleasure of talking tech with Jeff Goldblum, Ang Lee, and other celebrities who have brought a different perspective to it. I put great care into writing gift guides and am always touched by the notes I get from people who’ve used them to choose presents that have been well-received. Though I love that I get to write about the tech industry every day, it’s touched by gender, racial, and socioeconomic inequality and I try to bring these topics to light. 

Outside of PCMag, I write fiction, poetry, humor, and essays on culture.

My Areas of Expertise

  • Making incomprehensible tech news easy to understand
  • Expanding the boundaries of topics covered in the industry
  • Figuring out tips and tricks in apps and on devices and letting you know about them
  • Putting together gift guides for everyone in your life 

The Technology I Use

All that gadgets is gold for me: my iPhone 11 Pro, my fifth-generation iPad that I use only for streaming videos and music, my iPad mini 4 that I like to take with me whenever I carry a bag that can fit it, and my MacBook Pro. Why are they all different shades of gold, though? What’s going on, Apple? 

None of them quite live up to my two past loves: my LG Lotus LX600 phone and my Sony Walkman NW-E005 MP3 player. 

I've never given up wired earbuds so I was ahead of all those trend pieces. I use a Mangotek Lightning-to-3.5mm headphone jack adapter to connect them to my phone. 

I have had so many ebook readers, but I prefer paper to them all. Still, my Kindle Paperwhite is perfect for traveling or when I’m too impatient to wait for a book to be released in paperback.

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