Flaunt iPhone 13 mini Case Review: Beautiful Square Cases… with a Few Flaws

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iPhones sure are pretty. But holding one in your hand still kind of sucks. The iPhone 12 gave us flat sides and a flat back, which improved grip substantially on the device. But it still just feels… wrong. Like it’s never quite in your hand right. I have an iPhone 13 mini, the closest to the perfect size phone we’ve had this decade, and its still not quite right. The aluminum is slick, the back glass picks up fingerprints and grease, and nothing provides any grip. These are devices made to require another product. It’s so silly that Apple would design a product that requires another product immediately. It’s like buying a bike that doesn’t have a seat. Sure, you can ride a bike without a seat, but it’s a pain.

Flaunt cases set out to fix a few problems with the iPhone. The first, like most cases, is protection. The case offers soft TPU bumpers and a hard plastic back. Next is grip. On the Flaunt case, this comes in a unique way. Not only is the TPU and back plastic more grippy than the iPhone, it also features sharper edges on the corners. These vastly improve grip, give your iPhone a unique look, and add more protection on one of the most vulnerable parts of the case. In many ways, it has become one of my favorite cases, and made me realize that, if our iPhones had sharper corners, with built-in cushioning for the screen, we might not need cases. However, it’s not perfect, and falls flat in a number of ways. One of them quite literally.

Specs:

• Width: 67.5mm
• Height: 135mm
• Depth: 10.5mm

As for the weight? I messed up. I didn’t measure it. Normally, that’s not a huge problem, right? Well, only if you didn’t make modifications to the case. This case didn’t have MagSafe, but I need MagSafe in a case. Therefore, I added it. This time, by cutting out some of the TPU and adding only one layer of magnets on the inside, and placing a metal ring on the outside. Obviously, these add significant weight. The setup is still on the lighter side, however. This is because the TPU Flaunt uses isn’t very dense, and the back plastic is quite thin as well. The weight, with modifications, is 30g. That makes it lighter than quite a few of my cases that don’t have so many additional parts.

Protection 5/10

The iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 mini are among the most durable iPhones Apple has ever made. The combination of the ceramic blended glass and smaller size mean it’s not likely to break. The smaller 3.5-inch iPhone models may have been more durable, but since Apple’s been increasing the screen size, only their mini iPhones have retained any durability. That’s what I tested this case with. That’s why my statement of, “I haven’t broken my iPhone in this” might not carry the same weight as if I had an iPhone 14 Pro Max. Still, despite multiple drops, my iPhone hasn’t broken. That’s an indicator that the iPhone is more durable, because the Flaunt case doesn’t add a ton of protection.

The corners are obviously a win for protection. The more space you can put between the impact edge and your device, the less likely it’ll break. However, the TPU is a bit thin, and not very dense. Even with the magnets I’ve added, as well as an additional metal ring, it still weighs less than my slim Caudabe case, because that case is dense and offers real protection. The lightweight and slim silicone is great for grip and handling, but it does mean a drop face-down will peel back the case. The corners pop off easily. A case with corners that peel back doesn’t mean they offer no protection, but I have broken a glass screen protector in the past due to a case that didn’t stay on well (that was the Rhinoshield). You run a risk with cases like this. I switched back to film screen protectors after that, but if I had glass ones, I don’t know if they’d have broken by now.

Looks 8/10

Flaunt is one of the very few smartphone manufacturers making square cases for the iPhone. It’s a shame there’s not more competition in this field, especially since they don’t have enough MagSafe on any of the iPhone 13 mini models, but one thing they have in common: they look good. The shape just gives it a sort of unique, unexpected, out-of-place style that just works. However, as you could probably guess from the not-perfect score, it’s not perfect. The hard plastic on the back has a nice glossy look, but it also is a complete fingerprint magnet. It also scratches and scuffs extremely easily. Finally? I had to cover it with a MagSafe sticker. That might not be for everyone. Part of me likes the kind of messy pieced-together look, but it’s definitely not for everyone.

Ergonomics 10/10

This case feels good. Out of the box the buttons are responsive and clicky, the sides and back have decent grip, and the corners on the sides provide far more grip than rounded cases. You might think having a pointed corner on the bottom is uncomfortable, but it’s really not. Perhaps it’s because I have the iPhone 13 mini which is light and actually fits in a hand, or maybe it’s my grip, but I’ve never felt any discomfort while holding this. It just works. It feels good to hold and improves grip, it’s exactly what you want when you hold a phone in a case.

Durability 5/10

As I mentioned in the looks department, the back of this can really start to show wear quickly. It gets scratched up quickly. However, it’s not the only place that starts to show wear. The corners are already looking like I polished them, likely from sliding my case in and out of my jeans. These really should have a bit of reinforcement, and, perhaps stiffer TPU or TPE, but, because they don’t, the case shows more wear. That’s definitely going to impact the look of your case in a short amount of time.

Sustainability 0/10

This is a case made of TPU and plastic, and it comes in a plastic box with no recycling markings. I always feel so ashamed of myself when a package like this shows up and, honestly, I wouldn’t buy a Flaunt case again because of this alone. The all-plastic packaging is a dealbreaker for this case.

Value 4/10

For $40, I’d expect to see some MagSafe here. The case is certainly unique, but because of the way the corner can fold back, it’s not very protective. I’ve noticed some quick wear and tear, including rubbing on the corners and what appears to be a coating or film on the back wearing off, alongside scratches. It certainly doesn’t feel low quality, but it’s around the middle for what you’d expect for a bit less money. I’d expect something like this, a case with no MagSafe and light TPU edges, to cost $20.

MagSafe Compatibility 0/6

Since the iPhone 12 series introduced MagSafe, there shouldn’t be many iPhone 13 cases without it. And yet, Flaunt never made a MagSafe case for the iPhone 13 mini. It’s actually why I stayed away from buying one for so long, before deciding I’d just add it myself on a whim. I can’t recommend carving up and customizing cases like this, and, as a result, can’t recommend this case for anyone who uses any MagSafe accessories.

Overall 5/10

Flaunt’s “square” case nails the ergonomics. It has great grip, it’s slim and lightweight and the buttons are clicky. However, it also features some loose TPU that can pull back, potentially damaging your screen in a drop. The case also doesn’t have MagSafe on the iPhone 13 mini version. Plus, the packaging is all plastic, instead of recyclable materials. This case contributes heavily to landfill waste. It’s a nice looking case, and it certainly feels nice in the hand, but it falls short in so many important ways. I don’t think this will be the right case for most people. Still, if you want something that looks unique, and don’t mind slapping a MagSafe sticker on the back, it might be the right case for you.