What I wanted was a minimalist wallet, mostly for cards. I looked into the Ridge Wallet and similar card wallets, but they all had flaws. Finally, I had an idea: what if I don’t need to carry all of my cards all the time? What if I just have one slim wallet for my most used cards, and another minimalist wallet for cards and cash? Split the duties.
Brilliant!
It would be even better if I could attach this wallet to my phone!
Fortunately, I was far from the first person to want this.
I actually ordered a Moft wallet first, but later decided to order the MagSafe wallet when the Moft Wallet was taking weeks to ship. Of course, it would ship out as soon as I got my Apple MagSafe wallet, but, by then, I was already testing my Apple Wallet. And falling in love with it.
The Apple MagSafe Wallet certainly has its flaws, but I love what it’s done to my pockets and “everyday carry.”
In This Article:
Specs
- Width: 64.20mm
- Height: 94.90mm
- Depth: 6.17mm
- Weight: 33g
This is made for the iPhone 12 mini. It’ll work with any iPhone 12 series phone, but with the mini, it fits perfectly. It doesn’t add much weight or bulk, and fits just under the camera bump. It’s so perfect, I almost think that the entire iPhone lineup was designed around the iPhone 12 mini being able to hold cards.
As for that 33g weight, the iPhone 12 mini weighs about 137g, so, it is noticeable, but still not enough to really make the phone feel too large or too heavy, even with cards like the titanium Apple Card.
The Setup
Apple says their wallet fits two to three cards. I’ve found that’s pretty precise. You can’t (and shouldn’t try to) stretch it to four cards. I needed two wallets. That sounds a bit complex, but it’s really not. I have my Apple Wallet for my most used cards. My ID, my Apple Card, and my Metro Card. For most outings, that’s all I need. Going to a friend’s place, our favorite bar, dinner, etc? That’s it. That’s all my monetary needs. For a while I haven’t even been bringing anything to the bodega when I go, just using Apple Pay on my Apple Watch. However, once when there was a new clerk, I really wished I had my ID. Now, with my Apple Wallet, I have it without thinking of it.
That’s also really helpful now when I go to use my vaccine card, Empire Pass, or other vaccine ID system to get in somewhere. You still may need photo ID. Now I’ll always have it.
Apple’s MagSafe wallet on an iPhone 12 Pro Max… I kid, it’s an iPad Air 4.
But what about the other stuff? Well, if I know I may need other cards, perhaps a debit or ATM card, a membership card, or something like that, I just bring the other wallet. I have a slim Herschel wallet (the Charlie), which carries the rest of my cards and a few bills. If I need even more cash, say, because I’m going to my favorite cash-only bar, I may reach for one of my old wallets, a clutch, or a small handbag. My small wallet can fit in a cargo pants pocket or even the pockets on some of my looser jeans.
In most cases, having the Apple Wallet reduces what I need. Sure, sometimes I need all the same bags I used to, but that’s quite rare. I’ve already prepared for a night out with nothing more than my iPhone with this wallet in my pocket. Not having to worry about leaving my bag unattended somewhere was a godsend.
Is this how guys feel literally all the time when they can go out with everything in their pockets?
Appearance
This may be the very best looking MagSafe wallet on the market. The Casetify MagSafe wallet is a good option, but that’s largely because it looks just like the Apple MagSafe wallet. Same with the Spigen MagSafe card holder. However, of the three, the Apple one is the only one made of genuine leather. Faux leather is just plastic, usually. It can break down over time, adding microplastics to the ecosystem and eventually going to live in a landfill. That’s true of the Apple wallet as well, but at least the leather will hold up longer and look better as it ages.
The Apple MagSafe wallet is slim, with clean lines, a subtle logo, and an almost elegant appearance. It looks high-end, even as it shows wear. As a vegetarian, I shy away from leather, but it does at least lead to less plastic waste. Plus, it looks damn good.
MagSafe Strength
Even with this thin case, the hold is surprisingly strong.
The MagSafe strength is better than I expected. Thanks to the low weight, there’s less mass too, so there’s less pulling your wallet away from your phone if you drop your device. However, I have dropped my phone from about four feet. The case protected my iPhone, and everything was fine, but the MagSafe wallet did come off. I found this with another MagSafe wallet I’ve tested too. The truth is, MagSafe is only so strong. Making it much stronger risks ruining your cards. I think it’s a good strength, but you will have to make sure it’s attached right.
Something else I noticed was when it became detached in a tight pocket. As I moved, the wallet would become reattached and disconnected from my iPhone. I could tell because the official Apple MagSafe wallet tells you when it’s disconnected by making your iPhone vibrate a bit. So I could tell it was coming off, then re-attaching. This was because the wallet wasn’t perfectly straight on my device. I fixed it and put it back, and it was fine.
That does bring up a good point though. This is something wallets from other manufacturers likely won’t have. The Moft MagSafe Wallet I’m testing certainly doesn’t. If your Apple MagSafe wallet becomes disconnected, your phone will vibrate. That’ll make sure you don’t accidentally lose it while pulling your phone out of a pocket or putting it back in one. Other wallets may just drop, forever lost. For the peace of mind, I consider it a must-have feature, and the Apple MagSafe wallet has it.
Tight Jeans Pockets?
Yes, I have an iPhone 12 mini with a case and a wallet comfortably in the front pocket of my Express “legging” fit jeans.
I was worried about tight pockets. I saw the YouTuber reviews. They all had issues with tight pockets! If you just try to jam your iPhone into a tight pocket in the most unnatural way possible, it will come off. However, if you just use like a normal person, you’ll have no issues. It seems a bit silly to think people are going to hold their iPhone, line it up with their pocket, and then just push on the bottom to slide it in your pocket. Anything you didn’t cement to the back of your iPhone would fall off doing that.
I’m a woman. A millennial woman at that. You know how much we love our skinny jeans. And, as a woman, my pockets are more a tease than something actually usable. If I don’t have problems getting this wallet and my iPhone into a pocket, even my front pockets, then you likely won’t either.
Or, to put it another way, here’s Oliver Haslam, writing for iMore:
“But how can that be? We’ve seen YouTube videos, Instagram posts, and Twitter comments waxing poetic about just how woeful the leather wallet is. So what gives. Does McKinnon have a special wallet? Special magnetic jeans?”
“No. He just puts the thing into his pocket like someone who isn’t trying to make the wallet fall off every time.“
Seriously, watch:
People made a big deal out of this for clickbait. It’s not a real issue.
Phone Ergonomics
It barely adds much depth to your phone.
I remember seeing a curved phone back for the first time on a larger phone with the HTC One M7. It had flat sides, but a curved back. That curved back helped your fingers find grip, even though it was a little too large to hold with one hand. The Apple MagSafe Wallet sort of feels that way. It adds just a bit of roundness to the back of your iPhone, filling in the area between your phone and your curved fingers. The flat sides with that bit of texture and curvature on the back, and you have something that actually improves grip. For a while, I used the wallet without a case, because it improved my grip enough that I wasn’t overly worried.
The Apple Wallet is sized perfectly to the edges of the iPhone 12 mini. It just makes the entire setup seamless. I’ll never understand why people don’t get the iPhone 12 mini for many reasons, and the way MagSafe accessories fit it perfectly is now one of them. This might not feel as seamless on the back of any other iPhone, but on the iPhone 12 mini, it’s perfect.
Other iPhones?
These cases give you a general idea of the size of this on the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro Max.
I actually had to check out other reviewers. Actually, some of them didn’t like this wallet with the iPhone 12 , iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max. Because they’re larger, the wallet doesn’t line up with the sides of your device. That means it’s easier to knock askew while you’re using it. Once again, the iPhone 12 mini comes out on top as simply the best iPhone you can buy, period.
Getting Cards
On the back of the Apple Wallet is a little thumb hole. Here you can push your cards up out of the top, which, naturally thanks to friction between the cards, fans them out a little bit. This isn’t just some card-shaped leather sleeve either. Inside, there’s an internal mechanism that holds your cards against to rear surface of the wallet. That means whether it’s one flimsy Metro Card or three cards, they’re all held in there with roughly the same force. This also means that, unlike some other wallets, the Apple MagSafe wallet doesn’t change size. Instead, it’s just one size no matter how many cards you put into it.
You know, only up to three cards, because it can’t fit any more.
This does mean that you have to take the wallet off the back of your iPhone every time you use it. Honestly? This isn’t a big deal at all. It’s still easier than rifling through a bag, opening a wallet, and pulling out the card you need by the top of it. With this on my iPhone, I can do my normal fast walk right to a train station, whip out my Metro Card, swipe, and do a dangerously fast run down the stairs because I hear my train coming. Rushing made easy!
It’s also quite handy in situations when you’re not cursing out the need to run due to the large gaps between trains, like when you’re just paying for a tab at a restaurant or bar, or buying groceries.
Card Safety?
Magnets and cards? Are you sure? Well, as it turns out, yeah. After a month of using this wallet, I didn’t lose the magnetic strips on my cards. In fact, even my Metro card, which is usually finicky and can lose magnetism quickly, has been fine. The cards are shielded from the magnets. I wouldn’t try to put them between your phone and the case, but you shouldn’t have any problems with the magnetic strips on your cards and the Apple MagSafe Wallet if you’re using it as intended.
Sustainability
Many iPhone accessories end up in the trash as soon as you get a new iPhone. That iPhone 12 mini case won’t be very useful after you get the iPhone 13 mini. However, the Apple Wallet is a bit different. In fact, this is part of the reason I like Apple’s new strategy towards iPhone accessories. It’s also part of the reason I don’t mind the higher cost too much. When you get a new iPhone, you can continue to use your MagSafe wallet with the new iPhone or new case. It’s that simple. With a case like this, made out of durable leather, it could sit on the back of many iPhone generations before you feel the need to replace it. When you do, the leather parts will break down in the environment. However, the metal and plastic inside likely wont.
The MagSafe wallet, like most of Apple’s products, comes in all cardboard packaging. It’s absurd that this isn’t an industry norm yet. So many cases, even those that are supposed to be more sustainable, come in plastic packaging. Why? That’s so unnecessary.
Apple still doesn’t have a recycling program for most of their products. They will recycle your phones and other electronics, but, frankly, as an electronics retailer, that’s something they have to do in some areas. They could easily accept and recycle their own silicone or even leather products. Apple chooses not to. You can try your luck with something like Terracycle, but we all know where most of Apple’s accessories will end up.
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Odds and Ends
I had two things I wanted to bring up here. First, on the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12, the lower camera sensor is the main sensor. I recently got a Moment case and Moment telephoto lens. I’m liking them so far, but, as you know, I like to spend a few weeks with a product before writing a review. Anyway, I noticed something. The low profile of the Apple Wallet allows it to work perfectly with this lens system. The Moft wallet (review in a few weeks, I’ve only just started testing it full time), does not. It gets in the way of the lens. The fact is, it’s not quite to Apple’s size specifications. And that’s what’s so great about the Apple MagSafe Wallet. It was made to fit the iPhone perfectly, especially the iPhone 12 mini.
One other thing I really like: courier delivery. In many cities, you can get a courier to deliver your Apple products. For just $9, it’s delivered by a bike messenger instead of a truck. Lower emissions, same day (hell, same hour) delivery, and all just for $9. If you’re impatient, it’s fantastic. Eat your heart out, Bezos.
Overall
Early reviews of the MagSafe wallet were pure clickbait, showing the wallet falling off as it slides into a pocket. It wasn’t until I decided I didn’t want to carry a bag or purse everywhere I go that I said, “I’m going to give these wallets a shot anyway.” I’m glad I did. The negativity around them when they first came out was silly sensationalist headlines. Instead, this is an incredibly useful accessory. I really love it, I don’t leave the house without it now. Want to know what I frequently do leave the house without now? A handbag. Now I can slide my iPhone 12 mini into one pocket, clip my house keys to a belt loop, put on a mask, and go outside.
I love the Apple Wallet. Sure, it’s not completely perfect, but it’s my “must have” accessory for the iPhone 12 lineup. This is the first accessory in a while that improved not only how I use my iPhone, but just how I go about my day. The minimalist approach to pocket space has freed me up from weighty theft targets like handbags, and I’m thankful for it. I highly recommend the Apple Wallet to anyone looking for a slim, convenient way to start carrying less. It’s a game changer.
Apple’s “iPhone Leather Wallet with MagSafe” is $59. It’s a surprisingly good value for a wallet you will use for years.
What I Like
- Convenient
- Slim
- Looks fantastic
- Frees me from handbags
- Alerts when it becomes disconnected
What I Don’t Like
- Can be tough to figure out the right 3 cards to use, as it can only carry 2-3 cards
- Wish there were also more eco-friendly options, like canvas or compostable materials