Budget-Friendly Protection for Your iPhone

An Honest Look at SURPHY Faux Leather and Liquid Silicone iPhone Cases

Image courtesy of SURPHY | | NOT sponsored content

So you’ve bought a new iPhone and now you’re on the hunt for a case with which to protect your investment. You tell yourself that it’s an investment but it is of course an expensive hunk of all-too-breakable tech.

You want a decent case but you’re also on a budget. Why are you on a budget? Because you spent all your money on an iPhone. That was my predicament when looking for a case for my new iPhone 13 Mini.

If you can afford it then you can wrap your phone in diamonds and spider silk for all I care. I’m not telling you how to live. But if you want a phone case that’s a little easier on the wallet, I’ve got you covered. You know — just in case.

That was an excellent pun and you know it.

SURPHY is a reputable Chinese brand known for its affordable smartphone accessories. They’ve been going since 2016. You will often find them among the top search results on Amazon. Their Samsung Galaxy and Apple iPhone cases have thousands of positive reviews.

Their cases include grippy faux leather and silky smooth liquid silicone options. They have cases for iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, and other accessories like AirPod cases. You’re sure to find something that matches your style and budget.

I reached out to them because I liked the look of their iPhone cases. In particular a black faux leather case for the iPhone 13 Mini.

SURPHY kindly sent me two iPhone cases for the iPhone 13 Mini:

SURPHY Faux Leather Case (Premium PU Leather with Metallic Buttons and Microfiber Lining)

SURPHY Magnetic Case (Liquid Silicone with Microfiber Lining)

This isn’t a sponsored or paid post. It’s my honest opinion of the cases that they sent me including the one that’s now protecting my phone.

Why should you trust my opinion? I’m a writer — not an influencer. I don’t expect you to take me at my word. Do your research. Shop around. Make your own mind up.

But for what it’s worth, I’m a qualified freelance journalist. I wouldn’t talk about a product without getting hands-on with it and putting it through its paces. I live and die by the tech that I use and I’m not shy about sharing my opinion.

If that helps you to make a better buying decision, then great.

SURPHY has cases and accessories for most iPhones. This includes the latest and greatest models. You can often find them sold at their best prices on Amazon. The newer options come with updated packaging and improved design. Many also include free accessories such as lanyards and tempered glass screen protectors.

You can see everything they currently have available and find the latest deals here.

My thoughts on SURPHY iPhone cases

Without further ado here are my thoughts on SURPHY’s cases.

I’m reviewing the faux leather and liquid silicone cases that they sent me for my iPhone 13 Mini. But most of it applies to newer models too.

Both cases share some common features. They have precise cutouts for ports and buttons. This gives you easy access to all features. And both cases have a raised lip for screen and camera protection.

The faux leather has a classic understated look. It’s nice and grippy. Whereas liquid silicone offers a softer feel and vibrant colors.

Neither case makes any bold claims about drop-protection. But they’re both shock-absorbent and will provide a bit of cushion for accidental drops.

SURPHY Faux Leather case

Image courtesy of SURPHY | | NOT sponsored content

I don’t like the way that most iPhone cases change the shape of the phone. One thing Apple gets right with their cases is that they fit the phone and not the other way around.

The Apple leather cases were a great example of this. But they’ve since stopped producing leather cases to reduce their carbon footprint.

I love leather. Deep down in my heart, I wanted one of Apple’s leather cases. But there are plenty of reasons that you might want to try faux leather instead.

I got my hands on SURPHY’s black faux leather case for my iPhone 13 Mini and I’m impressed. I’m more than happy with it.

For a faux leather case, this thing gets a 10 out of 10 for looks and how it handles in day-to-day use.

First things first, the design is sleek and stylish. That’s what caught my eye in the first place when I was shopping around online.

It’s made out of synthetic PU Leather (polyurethane). But in most other regards it’s a dead ringer for Apple’s leather case.

It has metallic buttons and a soft microfiber lining. This is close to the look and feel of Apple’s leather case. It fits the phone well and has no logo or branding on the back of the case.

The faux leather feels nice in the hand and has a grained matte finish. The case is a tight fit when you first put it on but it fits the phone exactly and is unlikely to slip off.

The iPhone 13 Mini is a smaller phone than most other iPhones. That’s one of the reasons why I chose it. In this SURPHY case, it has extra grip so you’re unlikely to drop it. Even if you’re a klutz like me.

Now, the important part — protection.

Protection isn’t a word you associate with budget-friendly cases. With good reason. But this case will get the job done and cover the basics.

The case is well-padded, so you don’t need to stress too much about dropping your phone. The faux leather is hard so it’s likely to be tough and resilient compared to other cases.

There’s a raised lip around the screen and around the camera module. This means that you can put your phone down any way up without worrying about scratching it on the table.

The microfiber lining inside the case protects the back of the iPhone. The tight fit prevents dirt and scratches.

Precise cut-outs allow easy access to the lightning port and speakers. The closed bottom of the case keeps the phone protected. This is much better than cases with open bottoms or sides.

The iPhone 13 Mini faux leather case doesn’t support MagSafe. It doesn’t have magnets built into the back of the case but you can still connect MagSafe accessories to the phone. I’ve tried it with an Apple MagSafe charger and you can still charge the phone using MagSafe.

This isn’t an issue with later models as all the newer cases are MagSafe compatible.

In short, after using it, I couldn’t find any major issues. It does what I expected, no complaints. And it looks a damned sight better than anything else I found other than Apple’s own leather cases.

So if you’re on the lookout for a good-looking and decent protective iPhone case, this one might be up your alley.

I like it a lot.

SURPHY Magnetic Liquid Silicone case

Image courtesy of SURPHY | | NOT sponsored content

SURPHY’s Magnetic Liquid Silicone case is a different animal.

It feels like a plush marshmallow in your hand — soft and flexible.

It’s ultra-thin and light. It isn’t much thicker than the phone itself. At the same time, it’s also quite stiff. It retains its shape well, unlike flimsy rubber bumpers.

The case's other features are pretty standard across the SURPHY line-up. Precise cutouts, easy access, and a comfortable grip.

Much like the faux leather case, it has raised lip protection for the screen and camera. The buttons aren’t as tactile as the metal buttons on the faux leather case. They’re made from the same silicone material as the case, instead of metal, but still feel nice and clicky.

Again, no promises of being drop-proof, but at least it’s shock-absorbent.

The case will be fine for most day-to-day use including the occasional accidental drop. It doesn’t scream “I protect my phone with my life.” But so long as you’re not throwing it off of a building, or something like that, you should be fine.

Liquid Silicone has some interesting properties. It’s quite elastic, meaning it can deform to absorb some of the impact from a drop. This helps to protect your phone from internal damage. So, in theory, at least, the case is more shock-absorbent because of science.

I was unwilling to put that theory to the test by dropping my phone on purpose.

The case is MagSafe compatible and you can charge your phone without taking the case off. You should also be fine using it with other MagSafe accessories such as a wallet or car mount.

The case has a soft microfiber lining. Putting it on and taking it off is a piece of cake, and it fits my iPhone 13 Mini like a glove. No extra bulk, which was a major plus for me.

A lot of silicone cases tend to get stuck as you pull them out of your pocket or covered in dust and lint. This one holds up well on both counts.

It comes in a wide variety of vibrant colors. I went with black. Because of course I did. But you can make your phone stand out with something bright and cheerful if you want.

So in summary, the liquid silicone case looks decent. Worth a shot if you want something that won’t mess with your iPhone’s sleek look.

So which case did I prefer?

I went with the SURPHY faux black leather case. This is the case that I already had my eye on and that first attracted me to them.

This is how the actual case looks on my actual phone.

Photo by James Garside on Unsplash | My Midnight iPhone 13 Mini with a SURPHY black faux leather case

Not too shabby, am I right?

It’s a tight-fitting case with precise cutouts, easy access, and a slim profile.

The PU leather feels decent, is easy to grip, and looks smart. The black case is nice and understated, with no logo or branding on the back.

No drop protection superhero, but it has a raised lip around the screen and camera to fend off scratches.

It looks the part. It gets the job done. And it doesn’t turn my iPhone into a tank, which I appreciate.

A solid good-looking case with a touch of style.

I’ll need to shop around for a third-party screen protector as one wasn’t included with the cases for the iPhone 13 Mini.

The cases for newer iPhone models come with a free tempered glass screen protector. So if you’re buying one of those that’s a nice bonus.

Let’s talk about the iPhone 13 Mini cases in particular for a moment.

The silicone case is a good option if you need to use MagSafe — Apple’s proprietary charging system. MagSafe uses magnets to connect with your phone. The connection is stronger.

I’d say the faux leather version looks the best but its main drawback is that it doesn’t support MagSafe.

I’ve tried it with MagSafe accessories and you can still make a connection through the thicker case. So I can still charge it using MagSafe in a pinch. But I wouldn’t trust it with accessories that need a stronger connection such as a MagSafe wallet or a bike or car mount.

This isn’t a problem on later models. Both Faux Leather and Liquid Silicone cases for newer iPhones are MagSafe compatible. So if you have a more recent phone this is a non-issue.

Which case should you buy?

SURPHY cases aren’t bad at all. They’re budget-friendly but more than good enough for your needs.

The faux leather and liquid silicone cases both hold up well. They won’t turn your phone into a fortress, but they offer a decent level of protection for everyday use.

They don’t offer the best drop protection compared to other brands of iPhone cases. But they look the part and won’t mess with the look or day-to-day use of your phone.

These cases are legit. If you like the leather look, go with the faux leather case. If you want something more slinky, go with the liquid silicone.

If you want a phone case that’s attractive and affordable, then either one will serve you well.

If you want a case that looks good and does the job, and aren’t planning on extreme adventures, this is it.

What alternative iPhone cases should you consider?

You can’t go wrong with Apple’s own iPhone cases. They cost a packet but you’re not going to find a better fit. Their leather cases were the best option by far, if you ask me, but the silicone and hard cases are also fine.

You can buy premium leather third-party cases but you will pay through the nose for them. I didn’t find one that I liked more than Apple’s leather cases or the SURPHY faux leather case. They fit the phone the best out of the options I considered.

You can also get a fancy phone case that promises the ultimate in drop-protection. But they tend to be bulky and the ones with rubber bumpers make your phone look like it’s a Dodgem car.

If you do want drop-protection then go with something like a Limitless case from Mous. They cost a pretty penny but it looks like they have the best drop-protection available on the market.

You might have seen adverts of Mous doing horrendous things to their phones and laptops. Like throwing them up in the air and dropping them on the pavement outside of an Apple store. Or bungee jumping. Or dropping them from a helicopter or the side of a mountain. If so, then you already know the score.

For now, at least, I’ll stick to my trusty method of drop-protection. I’ll try hard to look after my phone and avoid dropping it in the first place. Unless I start bungee jumping out of helicopters on a regular basis.

So which phone case are you going to buy?

In the world of smartphone cases, SURPHY is one of the better budget-friendly options. They do a good job of balancing style, affordability, and functionality. Their cases look good, provide adequate protection, and don’t break the bank. If you’re in the market for an iPhone case like that, they’ve got you covered. Head over to their website to explore their full range of options or check out the latest deals on Amazon.

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* The links in this post are affiliate links but this isn’t a paid or sponsored post. If you use them I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. All views remain my own.