On the tenth anniversary of the iPhone, Apple introduced three brand new phones. There are numerous differences between the X, the 8, and the 8 Plus —Digital Trends has a helpful guide breaking them down — but what we’re most excited about is a feature available in all three: wireless charging.
This year’s iPhones are the first to sport a glass back since the much-loved iPhone 4S. While the aesthetics of the nearly all-glass enclosure are certainly striking, there’s a functional purpose here as well. Glass, unlike most metals, allows electromagnetic induction to take place between a phone and a wireless charger.
The iPhone’s wireless charging works by placing the device on a puck-shaped mat, which contains electromagnetic coils that transfer energy via induction. The coils in the device and the pad need to be aligned and within close proximity to each other to work. The aluminum that Apple used in the iPhones 5 through 7 blocks electromagnetic induction, so that’s why Apple used glass for the back of the iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and X.
The downside to this design is that glass is obviously much more fragile than metal. Even though Apple claims its glass is “the most durable glass ever in a smartphone,” similar claims haven’t proven the devices to be indestructible. In fact, Apple has seemed to acknowledge as much when, in September, it increased the service cost for broken screens. Not only that, but some recent reports suggest that with the integration of wireless charging components, the rear glass panel is even more difficult and expensive to repair than the front screen.
With all that said, there’s no reason you can’t enjoy the benefits of wireless charging and still protect your device. Speck cases for the iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and iPhone X are designed and proven to be compatible with the wireless charging standard adopted by Apple, called Qi (pronounced chee). Even more importantly, Speck’s Presidio cases are designed and tested to protect your iPhone from drops of at least 8 feet and other forms of damage.
Polycarbonate and certain kinds of rubber allow induction and protect valuable hardware by absorbing shock and redirecting energy across areas of the device that are more structurally sound. Speck cases have at least two layers of drop protection—you guessed it, one made out of polycarbonate, and another out of a proprietary, shock-absorbing IMPACTIUM™ rubber. This means that a new iPhone protected by a Speck case can still be charged wirelessly, without any concern over damaging the potentially fragile glass back. This is even true for the Presidio Wallet case, which holds credit cards and bills across the back of the phone.
Each Speck case has been drop-tested at heights ranging from 8 feet (for the Presidio Clear, Presidio Clear + Glitter, and Presidio Clear + Print), 10 feet (for the Presidio, Presidio Grip, Presidio Inked, Presidio Grip + Glitter, Presidio Wallet, and Presidio Show), and even 15 feet (for Presidio Ultra). They’ve also been designed to address other structural weaknesses that have plagued iPhones at various points—which, given that the new iPhones have just hit the market, are always a risk—including antennae interference, device bending, abrasions, and more. Modern protective cases also have to go above-and-beyond everyday situations, which is why Speck cases are also designed to withstand extreme temperature fluctuations, UV yellowing, and even certain chemicals.
The great benefit of wireless charging is increased mobility. It’s never been easier to just set down your phone, let it charge, then grab it and go. Ideally, making devices easier to charge means the more at-ready they are throughout the day. But all of this is for nothing if your case stands in the way of this feature, or if your phone, without a case, gets damaged from a drop. With Speck cases for iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and X, you can get everything you need out of your new iPhone, without the risk.