The Lowdown
The Moshi Altra Slim Hardshell Case with Strap is customizable to suit your needs and provides good drop protection as well. You can be sure you keep a grip on your phone with both the strap option as well as the grippy, textured back. The raised buttons feel good, and my phone feels secure in my hand.
Overall
Pros
- Textured, grippy back
- Removable wrist strap
- Good drop protection
- High-end design aesthetic
Cons
- Maybe the back could be slightly more grippy
- I’d love to see a slightly higher bezel on the front
What’s the first thing you do when you get your shiny new iPhone? I put it straight into a case because I don’t trust myself with the latest iPhone models’ slippery metal and glass finish. Moshi has a great lineup of new cases, including my favorite, the Moshi Altra Slim Hardshell Case with Strap.
You may remember that I previously reviewed a Moshi Altra case back in 2019 after the release of the iPhone 11, and it quickly became my favorite case, and I ended up using it until I got my new iPhone 13 Pro Max. The 2021 version for the iPhone 13 lineup is different in some ways but continues the legacy of the great Altra design that I loved.
The Moshi Altra Slim Hardshell Case with Strap for iPhone 13 comes in three colors, Rose Pink, Sahara Beige, and Midnight Blue. The case itself is slim with a textured, hard shell around the phone’s perimeter and metallic buttons over the power and volume buttons that feel good to press. The Altra features Military-grade drop protection (MIL-STD-810G and SGS-certified).
The back is covered with a softer textured pattern that helps improve your grip on your phone. There’s a wrist strap on the bottom of the phone that rotates 360 degrees but is also detachable, so you can remove it if you don’t want to use it. The front of the case is raised very slightly so that you can put your phone screen facing down on a table without worrying about scratching the screen, though I would prefer a larger bezel for better drop protection.
The Altra is compatible with Moshi’s SnapTo Magnetic Mounting System and includes NanoShield anti-microbial coating to kill germs and bacteria upon impact. In addition, the Altra is 100% non-toxic and BPA-free.
I’ve really been enjoying the Altra during testing due to the textured back and good drop protection. The Altra should work with wireless charging; however, I have an older wireless charger, not one of the new MagSafe chargers, and I find it extremely difficult to charge with the Altra installed. Typically I remove the Altra at night to charge my phone on my bedside wireless charger, which is annoying, but not the end of the world.
There are a couple of differences between the 2019 version and the 2021 version that I want to mention:
The texture of the back of the 2021case isn’t as “rubbery” as the 2019 version, which has both positives and negatives. On the plus side, it’s going to last longer, as the rubber from my 2019 version started wearing off and could be torn off. On the downside, the textured back while adding grip isn’t as “grippy” as the softer back of the 2019 case.
Also, the strap attachment was moved from the right of the case to the left (looking at the back of the case), making it easier for me to hold in my right hand. The strap attachment is also completely removable, which is a great option, as the strap attachment can get in the way of putting the back of the case flat on a table. Another thing I like is that the strap attachment isn’t fixed in place but rotates 360 degrees, which makes it fun to play with, almost like a fidget toy.
Overall, I’m a big fan of the Moshi Altra case. It’s customizable to suit your needs and provides good drop protection as well. You can be sure you keep a grip on your phone with both the strap option as well as the grippy, textured back. The raised buttons feel good, and my phone feels secure in my hand.
The Moshi Altra Slim Hardshell Case with Strap starts at $39.95; it is available directly from the manufacturer.
Source: Manufacturer Supplied review sample
What I Like: Textured, grippy back; Removable wrist strap; Good drop protection; High-end design aesthetic
What Needs Improvement: Maybe the back could be slightly more grippy; I’d love to see a slightly higher bezel on the front