I’m insanely jealous of anyone who doesn’t use a case on their iPhone—walking around freely without fear that they might accidentally drop it and shatter the fragile screen. I treat my iPhone like a Fabergé egg, complete with a heavy-duty screen protector and case. This is partly because I’m extremely clumsy and partly because I’m still scarred from when I accidentally dropped my iPhone 6 on the concrete in a parking garage and destroyed the display back in 2014. Ever since then, I won’t unbox a new iPhone until I’ve also bought the proper protective gear to encase it in.
Even though using a screen protector and case is supposed to help me save money, my absent-mindedness and carelessness still costs a lot. I’ve gone through about three cases and four screen protectors in the last six months alone, mainly because I tend to drop my phone on hard surfaces so often (particularly sidewalks). This adds up over time.
I didn’t think much about it when I slapped a Wildflower case onto my iPhone (the company sent me a couple after I requested a few AirPods Max cases to test). I liked the design, but it’s a lot bulkier than other cases I’ve used, on both the front and back. But I stuck with it for the past few months. I was pleasantly surprised at how well it works, and now I can’t see myself ever going back to another brand.
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Pretty and Protective
I’ve always used cases on all my gadgets as a way to express myself. I’m currently using the hilarious Casetify Busy by Mikkoyo Snap Case on my MacBook Air and this adorable dinosaur case for my third-gen AirPods. Before switching to the Wildflower case, I was using Apple’s silicone case, which I decorated with stickers. I’m always finding ways to dress up my gadgets to counter the fact that a majority of products are only available in boring, muted colors.
Wildflower’s catalog of designs certainly matches my aesthetic—you’ll be hard-pressed to find a single case without fun and quirky illustrations. With new styles dropping every week, there’s always a ton of options. I switched to the Bloom phone case with my iPhone 15 Pro, but before that, I was using the Energy case on my iPhone 14 Pro Max. Be warned: Some cases are only limited-edition.
According to the company, each case is also handmade, and a disclaimer says that due to this process, “the placement of artwork in the case and colors may appear different in person than they do on our website.” I haven’t had an issue with the cases appearing different in real life. If anything, the colors look a lot brighter and better than on the site. Each case also includes the signature silver “wf” emblem on the lower right-hand side. I typically shy away from cases that stamp their logo bluntly on the case (it’s why I’m not a huge fan of phone cases from Casetify and Sonix, even though both companies offer fun designs too), but this logo is adorable.
The highlight feature, however, is the rubber bumpers. These are included on both the front and back, protecting both the case itself and (more importantly) the screen. It feels a little awkward to use at first, especially if you’re coming from a flatter case or no case at all. Since the bumpers are raised, you have to get used to cradling the phone a little differently with your fingers while texting, typing notes, or scrolling through social media. I don’t even notice it anymore, but it might not be for everyone. The adjustment period took a few weeks for me, but I can see why others might be annoyed by it. For some, it might feel unwieldy and unnatural.
On the front, it does an excellent job of protecting the screen—so much so that I stopped using a screen protector. This wasn’t an easy decision. But I was tired of all the dust that would collect alongside the bezel and how unresponsive the display was sometimes. It was only shortly after I first got the case and removed the screen protector, that I dropped my phone outside on the sidewalk. My boyfriend and I looked at each other in horror as I picked up my phone from the concrete. Not only was the display perfectly intact, but the case was too—without a ding or dent in sight.
This hasn’t been my experience with other cases. Whenever I’ve dropped my phone in the past, the screen protector has either fully cracked or the case bore the brunt of the fall. I know that’s the point, but after enough damage, the case looks so awful that I have no choice but to replace it. I’ve dropped it multiple times since then with the Wildflower case on, and you would never be able to tell.
A Few Small Requests
Wildflower MagSafe Magnetic Rings (3-Pack)
I love Wildflower cases, but as with anything, there’s always room for improvement. For starters, I wish the cases had support for MagSafe. The charging technology has been out since 2020, and most brands have updated all of their cases to include it. So it’s a bummer that Wildflower doesn’t. The cases are thin enough that you can still attach certain MagSafe accessories to them—I can still stick the MagSafe iPhone wallet to the back of the iPhone 15 Pro securely. But this hack didn’t work with the iPhone 14 Pro Max, particularly when trying to attach it to a Casetify MagSafe car mount.
As a workaround, Wildflower offers MagSafe Magnetic Rings ($12 for a 3-pack). I bought these for when I was using the bigger iPhone. They work well and are just as strong as cases that come with built-in MagSafe support—the ring had strong grips on both the wallet and the car mount. I don’t find it the most aesthetically pleasing. But I do use a lot of MagSafe accessories, and it’s a lot more convenient than having to take the case on and off.
Speaking of aesthetics, my other request is that Wildflower change up the color of the bumpers to match the case design, especially since the bumpers are so prominent. As of now, it’s black across the board, which doesn’t look great against the fun prints. The bumpers are part of the brand’s signature look, but it would be nice to see the company have some fun with it.
My last plea is that Wildflower expand its cases to the world of Android phones too. The company offers cases across the entire Apple lineup, including iPhone, AirPods, iPads, and Airtags. But it would be nice to see the catalog expand, with more offerings across a bunch of different smartphone brands.
Regardless, I highly recommend these cases for those with an iPhone who are also wildly irresponsible when caring for their phones. If you (like me), too often watch your phone fly from your hands to the ground, then a Wildflower case is most definitely your best option—especially if you want to take fewer trips to the Apple Store.
