A card on the back of the phone
A card holder case keeps a bank card, an ID card or a travel card on the back of the phone, so you can go out with just the phone. Unlike a wallet case, there is no cover over the screen, so the phone stays slim and quick to use. It suits anyone who carries one or two cards and nothing more: a run, a trip to the shops, a night out, or a commute with a travel card.
Slot, pocket or snap-on wallet
- A slot built into the case. The case has a pocket on the back that a card slides into. The clear hard acrylic cases here have one, with the card showing through.
- A leather wallet case with a card holder. Leather all round, with a card pocket on the back and magnets for MagSafe-compatible accessories.
- A card wallet that snaps on. A slim leather wallet with a magnet in it, which sticks to the back of a magnetic iPhone or a magnetic case and comes off in a second. More of these are in magnetic phone wallets, and wallets that stick on with adhesive are in stick-on phone wallets.
How to choose
If the cards should never leave the phone, a slot built into the case holds them most securely. If you charge wirelessly every night, a snap-on wallet is easier, because you can lift it off before charging. A magnetic wallet holds on a phone with magnets, or one in a magnetic case: on a phone without them it will slide off. Each case is made for particular phone models, so choose yours from the list on the product page.
Questions people ask about card holder cases
Can I charge wirelessly with a card in the back?
Take the card out first. Apple says never to put credit cards, security badges, passports or key fobs between an iPhone and a MagSafe charger, because they can be damaged. A card in the back also widens the gap to the charger.
Can I pay at a ticket gate with the card still in the case?
Transport for London warns that with more than one contactless card together, the wrong one may be charged or none read. Keep one card in the holder, or take it out to touch in.
Can I tap to pay with my phone instead?
Yes, the card on the back does not stop your phone's own payments, and many people carry one card as a spare for the day the phone's battery runs flat. The guide to phone wallets and card holders covers both.
More to look at