| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Impressive weight-to-bulk ratio | Squishy integrated buttons |
| Better-than-average MagSafe strength | Noticeable seam at the bottom |
| Solid face-first drop performance | Weak structural rigidity |
| Suspended design reduces internal contact | Top-heavy due to metal camera accent |
| Average-to-good corner and camera impact results | Not competitive at its price point |
If you’ve been around our reviews for a while, you’ll know it’s been some time since we last looked at a Ghostek case. They’ve made big strides since then, but the Covert left us conflicted.
How We Test
30+ drops per case | 6+ metrics recorded per impact | 100% independently tested
Our goal is to find out what cases are actually best for your iPhone. We don’t base our reviews on any of the marketing a company wants you to believe. We’re reviewers, not influencers.
Our case testing procedure for the iPhone 17’s:
- Buy the case ourselves
- Measure all the physical dimensions of the case:
- Weight
- Size
- Back rigidity
- Corner/Back Thickness
- Corner compression
- Rank the handling and access of the iPhone in the case
- Perform magnetic strength tests using a force meter
- Perform audio tests (if needed using a DB meter)
- Perform 30 corner, face and camera lump drop tests. This data is collected from the iPhone’s accelerometer and gyroscope. We’ve built custom drop rigs to ensure every drop almost identical. To gauge the iPhone’s protective abilities, we measure:
- Average peak deceleration
- Average decay rate
- Average impulse
- Average max rotation
- Average angular displacement
- Average settling time
- After we collect all the data, we then run it through or scoring formula to figure out how well the case ranks.
We’ve got a few more ideas to implement for the next round of iPhone’s including more data collection during drops as well as high speed camera photos of the initial impacts.
Design
| Metric | Value | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 50 g | 45 g |
| Added Case Thickness | 37% | 51% |
| Added Overlook Bulk | 47% | 66% |
The Ghostek Covert goes for a hybrid build with a clear back and TPU edges, and the raised perimeter helps keep that clear panel from scratching. But the MagSafe area is unusual. It appears to cut straight through the case, making the back feel less like one solid piece. There’s also a metallic ring around the camera bump, which looks cool but makes the case feel a bit top heavy. Inside, the raised MagSafe platform, thin sidewalls, and ribbed edges all hint at Ghostek’s strategy: suspend the iPhone as much as possible. Impact foam stretches across the corners rather than being embedded. Despite the protective ambitions, the case only adds 42g and increases bulk by about 73%, beating most cases in the same size class by around 10g.
The Covert’s structure is a mix of strengths and compromises. The corners measure 2.5mm thick and the back is 2mm. But the thin bumpers make the case extremely flexible. You only need 14N to bend it 8mm, which is 48% below average rigidity. That flexiness had us worried going into face-down testing.
Accessibility & Handling
| Metric | Value | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Grip | Reverse concave edge improves grip; otherwise slick | – |
| Buttons | Integrated; mixed finishes; camera control button does NOT work | – |
| MagSafe Strength | Pull 8.5 N / Push 7.6 N | 10.1 N |
Handling on the Covert is…fine. The matte bumper finish and grip strips keep it usable, but overall grip isn’t great. The integrated buttons are small and squishy, especially compared to floating buttons used by competitors. The camera control button is uncovered, the port cutout fits any cable, and pinky comfort is solid. One annoyance: the seam at the bottom is very noticeable. MagSafe performance came in at 9N pull and 12.4N push, about 8% better than the average case we’ve tested.
Protection
| Metric | Value | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Back Thickness | 2.5 mm | 2.4 mm |
| Corner Thickness | 2.5 mm | 2.9 mm |
| Air Pockets | Present | 10.1 N |
| Rigidity | 15.8 N | 29 N |
| Initial Impact | 7.422 G | 10.3 G |
| Rotation Rate | 180.00°/s | 300°/s |
| Time to Settle | 0.450 s | 0.53 s |
| Settling Rate | 0.288 s⁻¹ | 0.24 s⁻¹ |
| Total Force | 1.350 Ns | 1.5 Ns |
The suspended design means the iPhone floats inside the case with plenty of air gaps, especially behind the back panel. In real testing, that translated to a strange combination of results. Corner drops landed at 10.5N, basically average, but rotation rate was 23% better and settling rate was 17% slower. Total force ended up 10% better than average, though the overall drop event was shorter by about 20%.
Face-first drops were the biggest surprise. We fully expected a failure because of the flexible back, but the screen clearance carried the case through and it passed brilliantly. Initial impact was 32% better than average, settling rate was roughly average, and final force was 11% better.
For camera-lens drops, the hard PC ring around the bump helps, even though the outer edges flex and the clear back floats. Initial impact was 11% better than average, settling rate matched the database average exactly, and total force was basically neutral. All told, the Covert lands squarely in the “average protection” category.
Value
The weight-to-bulk ratio is impressive, and the suspended design does work in certain drop scenarios. But when you factor in the flexible frame, squishy buttons, and small build-quality quirks, the Covert doesn’t stand out in a competitive category full of stronger options at similar prices.
Verdict
Would we buy the Ghostek Covert if we weren’t reviewers? Honestly, probably not. For the price, Ghostek should’ve included floating buttons at minimum. The case is average in protection, decent in weight efficiency, and okay in MagSafe strength but nothing pushes it into must-buy territory for 2025.