Choosing the right phone case
Start with how you actually use your phone rather than how the case looks. A slim cover handles everyday knocks and keeps the phone pocketable. A shockproof case adds reinforced corners, air-cushion edges and a raised lip around the screen and camera glass that lip is what stops a face-down drop from cracking the display, and it is the single most useful feature on any case.
Clear cases keep the phone's finish visible, which matters if you paid extra for a colour. Check that the case uses anti-yellowing TPU; untreated plastic turns amber within a few months, faster under New Zealand sun. Wallet cases carry two or three cards so you can leave your wallet behind, and the detachable magnetic-back styles let you drop the card section and still charge wirelessly.
MagSafe and magnetic cases explained
Every iPhone from the 12 onwards has a ring of magnets behind the back glass. A case with a matching ring built in lets the phone snap cleanly onto a MagSafe charger, a magnetic car mount or a magnetic power bank. A case without that ring will still charge, but the alignment drifts, charging slows, and the phone will not hold on a magnetic mount at all.
The ring has to be moulded into the case, not an adhesive plate stuck on afterwards stick-on rings shift over time and sit off-centre. Several Samsung and OPPO cases in this range add a magnet ring even though those phones do not have one built in, which is the simplest way to get magnetic charging on a non-Apple device.
Getting the fit right
Phone cases are model-specific and rarely cross-compatible, even within the same generation. An iPhone 16 case will not fit an iPhone 16 Plus, and a Galaxy S24 case will not fit an S24 Plus. The camera cutout is almost always where a near-miss fails.
If you are not certain which model you have, check Settings > General > About on iPhone, or Settings > About phone on Android. Then browse by brand: iPhone cases, Samsung cases or OPPO cases. You can also shop by model to jump straight to cases confirmed to fit your device.
Beyond phone cases
Protecting the rest of your kit: tablet cases, watch cases, AirPods cases, phone card bags and magnetic rings for adding MagSafe to a case you already own.
Buying phone cases from Mobie
Mobie has been selling phone accessories in New Zealand for more than 10 years, with physical stores you can walk into. If a case does not fit, you can bring it back over the counter instead of posting it overseas and waiting.
Orders over $49 ship free and arrive within 1–3 working days. Every case comes with a 14-day no-reason return window and a one-year warranty, and Afterpay is available at checkout.
