| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Affordable | Loose top edge affects face-first drops |
| Decent handling and grip | Rough seams and finish |
| Decent drop results for the price | Thin back and low stiffness |
| Decent MagSafe performance | Slick PC back |
| Large port cutout | Integrated buttons are squishy |
Every time we do a big product roundup, there’s always that one brand we’ve never heard of that sneaks its way into the testing pile. This time, it’s the FNT case. It’s a budget clear case that literally costs about the same as a cup of coffee. And honestly, that’s the real question here: is this thing worth skipping a latte for, or is it just another forgettable bargain-bin accessory? After running it through our full testing process, the answer is more interesting than you’d think.
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 | 33.8 g | 45 g |
| Added Case Thickness | 41% | 51% |
| Added Overlook Bulk | 49% | 66% |
This is your typical clear case setup: TPU edges wrapped around a polycarbonate back. Nothing fancy, nothing overthought. What caught us off guard were the odd markings showing the model name and build quirks that oddly resemble what we saw on the more “premium” Otterbox Symmetry with the rough seams, tiny feet on the bottom, and a slight taper on the top and bottom edges. The MagSafe ring is actually embedded into the case instead of printed, which is surprising at this price. It adds 34g to your iPhone and increases bulk by 49%, which is lighter and slimmer than most clear cases we’ve tested.
The corners measure 2.1mm thick and include air pockets about 0.7mm deep. The back panel is only 1.4mm thick, which falls well below the 2.4mm average in our database. Because of that thinness, it takes just 10N to flex the back by 8mm, making the case roughly 64% less rigid than the average clear case. On paper, this isn’t a particularly tough build but the price explains a lot.
Accessibility & Handling
| Metric | Value | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Grip | TPU edges okay; PC back is slick | – |
| Buttons | Integrated; very squishy, poor feedback | – |
| MagSafe Strength | Pull 7.5 N / Push 12.6 N | 10.1 N |
Handling is very middle-of-the-road. The TPU edges provide acceptable grip, but the PC back is slick as always. The buttons feel squishy, though the camera control is completely unobstructed since nothing gets in the way. Screen access is excellent because the case edge sits almost flush with the display. The port cutout is large enough for thick cables, though the edges are a bit rough. For MagSafe, it takes 7.5N to pull accessories off and 12.6N to push them off.
Protection
| Metric | Value | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Back Thickness | 1.4 mm | 2.4 mm |
| Corner Thickness | 2.1 mm | 2.9 mm |
| Air Pockets | Present | 10.1 N |
| Rigidity | 10.40 N | 29 N |
| Initial Impact | 10.147 G | 10.3 G |
| Rotation Rate | 297.44°/s | 300°/s |
| Time to Settle | 0.390 s | 0.53 s |
| Settling Rate | 0.242 s⁻¹ | 0.24 s⁻¹ |
| Total Force | 1.349 Ns | 1.5 Ns |
Despite its thinness, drop results were surprisingly decent. In our 3-foot drop tests, the iPhone recorded 10.2G on initial impact. Rotation rate was 7% higher, settling rate was 6% better, and total force was 8% better than average. For cheap cases, that’s not bad at all.
Face-first drops are where things fall apart. The top edge is incredibly loose, and the corners pop off easily, leading to full failures in those tests. The camera bump is guarded by a TPU ring, and drops landed with a 6% higher initial impact, 5% better settling rate, but a 15% higher impulse. Not terrible, not exceptional, just workable.
At the end of the day, this isn’t a bad drop performer for its price. You really can’t complain too much when it costs less than a coffee.
Value
If you’re on a tight budget and just need something that works, the FNT case is shockingly competitive. It outperforms most budget clear cases we’ve tested, delivers reasonable MagSafe strength, and provides respectable drop performance. It’s far from refined, but the value is undeniable.
Verdict
So should you get the FNT case? If you’re saving every dollar, then honestly, yes. It’s one of the few ultra-cheap options that doesn’t feel like a total compromise. We’re half-impressed and for a case this inexpensive, that’s already a win.