| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Unique design with soft rubber back | Awful on face drops |
| Strong MagSafe | Below average back rigidity |
| Excellent mounting system | Case corner pops off too easily |
| Great handling | Bulky top-heavy feel |
We’ve been reviewing iPhone cases for over a decade now, and every once in a while we get genuinely excited to test something different. The Peak Gnar definitely fits that vibe. We’ve have been testing more than 20 cases at this point and we really wanted to like Peak Gnar. The design is wild, the mounting system is clever, and Peak clearly built this for people who live inside their ecosystem of mounts and tripods. But after running it through our full test suite, we’re not sure we can recommend it unless you’re already deep into Peak’s accessory lineup.
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 | 61 g | 45 g |
| Added Case Thickness | 43% | 51% |
| Added Overlook Bulk | 62% | 66% |
This is a genuinely unique-looking case. The back has a soft rubber finish that feels great in the hand, and the top section of the case is noticeably more substantial than the bottom. Along the edges you get a diamond-pattern texture that boosts grip, and the iPhone sits on a bed of microfiber with ridge-like structures running along the interior for added structure.
The standout feature is Peak’s mounting system. There’s a metallic ring around the mount opening, and a thin layer of material separates the phone from the mounting hardware, keeping scratches at bay. The case adds 61g and increases bulk by 62%, but most of that weight is concentrated at the top, so it doesn’t feel as heavy as the numbers suggest.
Accessibility & Handling
| Metric | Value | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Grip | Mid-level grip; diamond-pattern sides and textured accents | – |
| Buttons | Metallic flow-through; peaked shape, unique feel | – |
| MagSafe Strength | Pull 15.1 N / Push 11.7 N | 10.1 N |
The handling on this case sits right in the middle, but it’s a nice middle. The diamond pattern and short edges help with grip, and the orange accent material has just enough texture for your fingers to latch onto. The metallic buttons have a unique peak in the center, giving them a distinct feel that’s surprisingly satisfying.
Screen access is a bit too open. With a tempered glass screen protector installed, the glass actually sits past the lip of the case. This tells us the Gnar is clearly designed for people who don’t use a screen protector. Port access is generous, and there’s a port cover, which pinky-prop users will appreciate.
MagSafe performance was impressive. It takes 15.1N to pull accessories off and 11.7N to push, with total strength sitting 69% above average despite the lower push number.
Protection
| Metric | Value | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Back Thickness | 2.6 mm | 2.4 mm |
| Corner Thickness | 4.5 mm | 2.9 mm |
| Air Pockets | Present | 10.1 N |
| Rigidity | 22.1 N | 29 N |
| Initial Impact | 9.323 G | 10.3 G |
| Rotation Rate | 212.20°/s | 300°/s |
| Time to Settle | 0.410 s | 0.53 s |
| Settling Rate | 0.253 s⁻¹ | 0.24 s⁻¹ |
| Total Force | 1.444 Ns | 1.5 Ns |
The Gnar has massive 4.5mm corners which is the thickest we’ve seen in this series so far. The back is a more modest 2.6mm, which is right around average. Rigidity is where things fall short: it only took 22N to bend the back 8mm, which is 23% below average.
In corner drops, the case performed well. The iPhone recorded 9.3G, about 11% below average impact, rotation rate was basically average, and settling rate was 11% better. Total force was average overall, making this a well-balanced performer for corner impacts.
Face-first drops are where things fall apart. The iPhone slides easily when placed face-down, and the corners pop off with just 15N of force which is far below the 25N average. Even mixed-angle drops put the screen at serious risk.
The camera-lump protection was a mixed bag. Initial impact was 27% better than average thanks to the chunky TPU top, but settling rate was 38% below average and overall force was 24% below. The top absorbs the first hit extremely well but rings longer than most cases, transferring more total force.
Value
The Peak Gnar offers a compelling design, a genuinely useful mounting system, and great MagSafe strength. Handling is solid, and corner protection is respectable. But the weak face-first performance makes it hard to recommend to most people. If you’re not dropping your phone often and you’re already invested in Peak’s mounts, the Gnar brings meaningful improvements over Peak’s Everyday Case. If you want real protection, though, this isn’t the case.
Verdict
Would we use this case? Honestly, no. The face-first failure is too big of a flaw. But if you’re a Peak fan with a lineup of their mounts and tripods, this is the better option compared to their Everyday Case thanks to its improved handling and stronger MagSafe system. For everyone else, there are safer picks in our top-tested lineup for 2025.