I’ve been thinking about getting a Moment case for a while. I had iPhone lenses a long time ago, which magnetically attached to your smartphone, but they weren’t very high quality. They were fun, to be sure, but had a lot of problems. I couldn’t bring myself to pull the trigger and get a Moment case so I could use the lenses because I had been fooled before.
Then the iPhone 12 mini came out. Suddenly MagSafe became an important feature on a case. I wanted a compostable case as well. The iPhone 12 mini has two lenses: a wide angle lens and an ultra-wide angle lens. The iPhone 12 Pro models have an additional lens: telephoto. Telephoto lenses are better for portraits, as well as getting close to objects. Ultra-wide lenses are good for landscapes, weird angles, and little else. I really wanted a telephoto lens, but I never want to use a smartphone larger than the iPhone 12 mini again.
So I bought the Moment case, mostly because it was reportedly one of the best iPhone 12 mini cases that had MagSafe, but also because I was curious about those lenses. When I found out it was mostly compostable, I hit buy quickly.
Without a doubt, it’s the best compostable case I’ve tested. In fact, you could be forgiven if you completely forget it’s compostable. On more than one occasion, I did. But on top of that it has well thought-out design features that make it more than just an iPhone case.
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Specs
- Height: 136.5mm
- Width: 68.55mm
- Depth with camera bump: 12.79mm
- Depth without camera bump: 10.79mm
- Weight with lens attachment: 30g
- Weight without lens attachment: 30g (< 1g difference)
Putting these specs into perspective, it’s slightly taller than Apple’s silicone case thanks to the additional space for a wrist strap or body-worn strap mounting points on the bottom. However, that’s only by about 1.5mm. Other than that, it’s less than a millimeter wider, and actually thinner than Apple’s silicone case when not including the lens adapter bump. The weight is only 5g more than Apple’s case. This is not my thinnest or lightest iPhone 12 mini case, but it’s close.
Protection 9.5/10
I’ve dropped my iPhone in this case a few times already without a hint of damage on my iPhone. The case itself is stiff and sturdy feeling. It actually takes some effort to get it on your iPhone, and it’s not the kind of case to easily come off. The inside has a sort of cushioning system that reduces the shock that a fall will transfer from the outside of the case to your iPhone. The edges come up over the screen, protecting it, and the bottom even has additional protection because Moment made room for a lanyard or body strap. Also along the bottom, the case becomes flatter, so you can still easily do the swipe up gesture. All while still protecting the bottom of the case.
Grip is quite good, and you can improve that if you want with a lanyard or strap. The only change I’d make is that I believe the back should have had a crosshatch design. I think that would have improved grip a bit better. Still, the diagonal grooves in the case provide grip and add to the unique appearance of this case. It has protections in place for if you drop your iPhone, but also makes falls happen less often.
However, there is one negative aspect to all of this protection. The lip of the case comes over the edge of the iPhone quite a bit. It can interfere with screen protectors. Mine gets in the way along the corner. Fortunately, I’m using a film screen protector, so I can smooth it out and it’s been fine. But those using tempered glass screen protectors (which I don’t recommend) may have to use one specifically made for cases. These are usually smaller, and don’t protect the full glass of your front screen. However, since the case wraps around the front so much, you won’t need the edge-to-edge protection. I took off half a point for this, otherwise this case would have gotten a perfect score in protection. If you’re using a film screen protector that doesn’t go to the edges, or you just don’t use a screen protector, it’ll be perfect for keeping your phone safe.
Looks 9.5/10
My biggest complaint about the appearance is that they didn’t make the MagSafe version in red. The non-MagSafe version comes in red, but not the MagSafe one. Instead, you get to choose between black, indigo blue, mustard yellow, or olive green. Yellow is perhaps the most vibrant one, but all of the colors have a darker hue. If you don’t care about MagSafe at all, you could get that “spicy red” color. But I highly recommend their MagSafe version, as Moment’s implementation of MagSafe is very good.
I love that this is clearly a camera-focused case. Even without the lens mounting plate in the case, the style just screams “camera.” From the diagonal grip to the smooth area by the lens bump to even the lens bump itself. Add a lanyard or neck/body strap to complete the look! It’s unmistakable, this case was designed to look like a camera accessory. As a result, it gives your iPhone a nice high-end appearance that looks as good on a table as it would coming out of your camera bag.
Ergonomics 8/10
As I mentioned in the protection segment, the back could have gone with a crosshatch design for a bit more grip, but it’s not bad. Some may have felt as though the crosshatch was too grippy, or uncomfortable to hold, so I can understand the choice. There’s a nice area at the bottom to make the swipe up gesture as easy as it is without a case too. The oversized edges coming around the iPhone to protect the screen and that larger bottom area do make the case feel bulkier than it is though. It’s very close to the size of Apple’s case, but feels larger than that.
The real problem is that I had to cut the buttons. I’ll never understand why every case manufacturer makes their buttons so stiff. There were cutouts already, but they weren’t large enough on the lock screen button. Carefully, I cut in slightly longer slits along the bottom of the button with a sharp knife (don’t try this at home, kids… or anyone else). This really made the case button feel more like the clicky button underneath. Every case manufacturer seems to have this same problem, and it’s such a simple solution. Just reduce the material around the button. It’s so simple.
Overall though, the grip this provides and the fact that you can attach a strap to it make it an excellent case for keeping your iPhone comfortably in your hand.
Sustainability 7.5/10
This case is compostable. I almost forgot that when I actually held it in my hands for a while. Moment’s case doesn’t feel like a compostable case. It hasn’t absorbed the oils from my hands like some of my other compostable cases have. It stays firmly planted on my iPhone like it should. The texture is nice, the sidewalls are strong, and it stays in place. It’s not overly thick to give it that durability either. This is an actual compostable case that doesn’t feel like it.
Now, not all of it is compostable. When composting, you’ll have to cut off the bottom area that has the mounting points for a lanyard, as well as the mounting area for the lens mount. These you’ll have to throw away. But that’s much better than every other case. Also, obviously, the magnets in MagSafe don’t break down. It’s not as though they’re bad for the environment, but it is a metal piece that simply won’t turn to compost.
Furthermore, the case shipped in, of all things, a plastic bag. The bag is reusable, it has a resealable top so I can use it for something else, but… why? Why go through all of the trouble of making a compostable phone just to put it in a non-recyclable shipping container? Why not use cardboard?
A few small things take away from this case, but it is the best middle ground. If you want a compostable case with MagSafe that doesn’t feel like a cheap compostable case, this is the right one for you.
Durability 9/10
A drop left this little scuff, which, all things considered, isn’t too bad.
Most of the compostable cases I’ve used have been imperfect. They’ve gotten large marks on them easily, fallen apart, fallen off my iPhone, or absorbed oils from my skin and got a dirty feeling texture over time. The best I’ve tested was Incipio’s Organicore… before this. This case is firm, it has a good texture, it has survived a few drops with just one scuff from a particularly bad fall, and it feels like it’ll last years. I tested this case longer than I do most cases before reviewing it, in part because I’ve simply enjoyed using it. I was in no rush to review another case because this is definitely the last case I’ll have for my iPhone 12 mini. It’ll likely be the first, and perhaps last, case I use for my iPhone 13 mini as well. This case has really stood up to some, at times surprisingly harsh testing. For a compostable case, this one really stays together.
Value 6.5/10
This is a little expensive for an iPhone case. However, thanks to MagSafe, most iPhone cases have gotten more expensive. The Moment Thin Case with MagSafe is $59.99. You can often find it on sale for $10 off, but $60 is still a lot for a case. Still, what you get for that price is just about the best iPhone case I’ve ever used. It’s compostable, has an incredibly strong MagSafe grip, mounting options for lenses (more on that below and in a later review), it’s protective, has a nice texture, and is nice to hold. Frankly, it’s probably the only iPhone case you’d need for as long as you wanted to have your iPhone. Then, when you’re done, most of it will break down. Those are features you normally don’t see together.
However, $60 for a case is still a lot. Especially from a company that will then sell you accessories for that case, like a wrist strap, a lineup of incredible MagSafe accessories with more magnetic strength than anything I’ve seen from Apple, and, of course, lenses. This is a surprisingly high barrier to entry for an ecosystem that includes $150 lenses. I think Moment could have priced the case lower to serve as a sort of entry point, like how gaming console prices are set below the cost of the machine because the real money is in licensing the games.
I think it’s worth the price, because you get the best case I’ve ever used for that price. It costs the same as Apple’s leather case, without the ecological impact of leather and with far more features. So, yes, it’s expensive, but it’s not a terrible value.
I still think they should charge $10 less for it though.
MagSafe Compatibility
This has been the best non-Apple MagSafe strength I’ve come across. The camera bump does make it thicker, so it’s not as though you can stick it on your fridge with the same security as Apple’s, but it’s a surprisingly strong connection. It also works with all of my MagSafe accessories, including recognizing Apple’s MagSafe wallet. The textured back also adds grip for accessories, especially Moment’s own, which have a rubber pad on the magnetic part. I’ve tested Moment’s tripod mount for the iPhone 12 series, and it’s the strongest MagSafe mount I’ve tested. It shows that Moment has spent a considerable amount of time thinking about how to make good MagSafe products… even if the tripod mount doesn’t work with the iPhone 12 mini and Moment’s own lenses.
Despite that hiccup with an accessory, Moment’s case and accessories may be better than Apple’s own offerings when it comes to MagSafe, and should definitely be on your list if MagSafe is important to you.
Additional Features / Odds & Ends
For being such a slim and compact case, it’s surprisingly full of little features. There’s the area on the bottom for extra edge protection as well as a lanyard, strap, or quick release clip. That’s fantastic. But what I really found tantalizing about this case was the camera lens mounting plate. With this, you can mount camera lenses from Moment, as well as some potentially compatible lenses from other manufacturers. The best part about the iPhone 12 mini is that it’s the size all smartphones should be. It fits perfectly in the hand like nothing else. However, Apple didn’t see fit to give it the best lens system. Make no mistake, the main camera lens and sensor are the same as the setup on the iPhone 12 Pro, but instead of the far more useful telephoto lens, Apple included the ultra-wide angle lens. This lead to the awkward lens setup where the primary lens is actually the one closer to where you hold your iPhone.
Moment to the rescue. The 2x telephoto lens from Moment will give you better photos than you can get from Apple’s telephoto lens, with real bokeh too. Miss the ultra-wide? Moment has one of them too. Want a cinematic feel for your videos and photos? Try Moment’s anamorphic lens for beautiful lens flare and a cinema-style 2.40:1 aspect ratio. Or maybe you want to get really close to something? I know I have, that’s why a few of my reviews have featured photos taken with Moment’s 10x macro lens. I’ve been testing a few out and will review them separately. However, I can say, they’re an excellent addition to your iPhone’s lens system, and outperform Apple’s own offerings. I’d trust my iPhone 12 mini with a telephoto lens for the perfect portrait over an iPhone 12 Pro Max with its built-in telephoto lens any day.
Odd
It’s a dust magnet now.
As far as the odd in odds and ends? The camera lens plate collects dust. You’ll want to sweep it out on occasion. I have a few small lens cleaning brushes, but a shirt can do as well. The lenses on iPhones are protected by sapphire glass, and would be exceptionally difficult to scratch. Sure, you should use microfiber, but it probably won’t be the end of the world if you clear a smudge or some dust with a soft t-shirt.
I also found that you have to be careful putting lenses on. Take the lens cap off before putting them on your iPhone. My plate was loose from when I got it, but I feel as though it loosened up dramatically over time. Moment actually sent me a replacement, which is far tighter than the first one was. You may want to buy a replacement plate ahead of time, just in case yours loosens up. Or, just be extra careful! That’s what I’m doing now.
Overall 9/10
This is it, folks, my favorite iPhone 12 mini case. Hell, my favorite iPhone case ever. Protective and grippy, with great features like Moment’s lenses. It looks cool (though I still really wish it came in red) and it’s compostable. This phone combined all of the features I normally look for in a case, like something that’s slim yet protective, grippy but doesn’t stick to the inside of a pocket, and compostable, then added lenses. I didn’t use a wrist strap much, but I did give it a shot. It’s not my thing, but I could see someone wanting it if they were going to use their iPhone as a camera a lot, especially in places where dropping your phone means the end of your phone.
For the iPhone 12 series, I really don’t think there’s a case out there that matches the protection, sustainability, and features of the Moment case. It’s my #1 recommendation for cases right now.