Your iPhone XS Max Is A Fragile Flower - Here's How To Protect It Without Ruining It

I mentioned it last year, but it's worth repeating. The iPhone XS Max has a bit of a durability problem. It’s not surprising, given the fact that it’s sporting the largest piece of glass used on an iPhone. With the extra weight of the device, all that glass is under more stress and is more prone to breakage.

That didn’t keep me from ignoring my own advice and cracking the rear glass of yet another iPhone XS Max.

What can I say? I’m case-averse. Generally, I have a lot of faith in Apple’s design team to create a durable device that’s up to the task of daily wear and tear...and the occasional drop.

Maybe it’s something about the tile floors at my house, maybe it’s the extra weight of the XS Max, but this generation of iPhone has shaken that tennant.

But I still hate the idea of covering up all that glass with plastic or rubber. It cheapens the feel of the device and makes it harder to get out of your pocket. And metal vaults feel impossibly bulky and industrial.

If I’m going to cover my $1,000 phone, I want it to be with something that does more than just covering it up. I want something that's going to enhance my iPhone.

Kerf

Kerf is a lovely, handcrafted wooden case available in one of fifteen different wood types, from Walnut to Figured Sapele. It's a seamless case that's a little thicker than others in this roundup. I don't mind the extra thickness, though, because it fixes the one thing that has bothered me about the iPhone since the iPhone 6, the camera bulge.

With my iPhone snug in the Kerf, the back of the device is even and flat. The suede liner protects the finish of my device and it's still completely compatible with wireless chargers.

Plus, it smells really nice - when have you ever been able to say that about your iPhone?

Kerf's iPhone XS Max lineup starts at $79. That can double in price as you choose more exotic woods, but each new wood is jaw-droppingly gorgeous. If you're in the market for a truly unique iPhone case, this is your choice. I haven't come across another manufacturer that's even come close to offering the kind of selection that Kerf does. You can check out their full selection on their website.

Hitcase Ferra

If wood isn't your thing and you prefer leather, you might think you're stuck getting one of those bulky "might as well be a checkbook" pleather billfolds. You could also grab an official Apple Leather Case, which is undoubtedly nice, but there's a better alternative.

The Ferra case by Hitcase is cut, sewn, and dyed by hand, then fitted with stainless steel buttons and a special camera ring (more on that in a second). The microfiber interior won't scratch your iPhone's finish. Like the official Apple cases, the Ferra is open at the bottom so that it doesn’t interfere with swipe gestures. But it wraps around the edges to help protect your screen during falls.

So back to that camera ring. Where Apple uses machined aluminum in their case, Hitcase uses stainless steel. This makes the Ferra case compatible with the wide angle and macro lenses they make for the iPhone. Letting you capture full landscape views, without having to resort to panoramic shots, the SuperWide lens in particular is a lot of fun to play with.

You can pick up a Ferra for $39.99 (that's $10 less than Apple's) on their website.

Toast

The Kerf and Ferra cases are both stellar solutions and both feel great in your hand when using your iPhone. But as impressive as they are, they still felt like they added too much heft to my device. I wanted protection that felt like it was part of the iPhone, not added to it.

So I got toasted.

Toast's real wood covers stick directly to your device. You don't have to worry about micrograins getting in between your device and your case, marring the surface, because, to borrow a phrase "there is no 'there' there."

When you first get your Toast cover, it takes a leap of faith. It feels flimsy in your hand, but that's only because it doesn't really have a structure of its own, it's enhancing the structure of the device it's covering.

This is one instance where I actually appreciated the camera bulge on the iPhone XS Max. Using that as my guide, it was a cinch to line up the case perfectly and press it into place. You'll want to take a bit of time as you work around the edges. The cover is broken up into sections so that it can adhere to the curve of your phone. If one of these are a little off, you'll be stuck either having to pry it off or trying again.

Thankfully, Toast offers a "butterfingers" guarantee so that you can get a replacement if you really screw things up.

Once the case was on my iPhone, I was impressed with how it felt like part of the phone, not an addition to it. The real ebony wood is smooth, but with enough texture that it doesn't feel like a plastic applique. And it's impressively slim. So slim, in fact, that there's still a little bit of camera that pops up from the back. But I still feel like that giant expanse of back glass is fully protected.

Toast lets you decide how much coverage beyond the rear cover you want to use. If you don't want to cover up the buttons (the cover is slim enough that they're still useable), you don't have to. Want to add a little protection to the rear camera? There's a cover for that as well. And if you want that wood feel to carry all the way around to the front of your iPhone, there's a front frame that you can add, too.

The only problem? Toast's covers are stuck to your iPhone until you go at it with a hairdryer and heat it up to pull it off. If you're the kind of person that likes to change out their cases to match their outfits, Toast isn't your kind of solution.

But if you're looking for the slimmest possible protection for your iPhone, that doesn't feel like you're shoving water wings on your device, you can grab a Toast cover for $34 from their site.

Thanks to Kerf, Hitcase, and Toast for providing samples for consideration. Opinions are my own.