After trying out the Caudabe Veil with the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which I liked but found that it impedes my access to the Camera Control, I swapped to a Beats Case in Riptide Blue. I like pretty much everything about the case, save for maybe–maybe–the plastic.

First, the color. While arguably not the most important factor in picking a case, it is, for me, a departure to have a bright case. The loudest I’d say I ever had was the Project:Red case for my iPhone 7. I figured the light blue would look nice with the Desert Titanium of the iPhone.

Second, the bottom of the case is open, as John Siracusa prefers. I never objected to the lip on the Caudabe Sheath on my previous iPhone, but now that I’ve been using the Beats case on the new phone, I definitely prefer the latter. It also gives you a nice view of the color of the phone.

Third, Camera Control: the Veil requires the user to squeeze their finger into a void, and that makes using the capacitive power of the Camera Control difficult and a poor user experience. The Beats case has a conductive layer, which allows for authentic and accessible use of the new button.

Lastly, the plastic: it is shiny and slick. It puts me in mind of iPhone 5C, which I liked a lot (but did not own). I would prefer something grippier; I was a fan of Apple’s leather cases, and the Sheath had a great texture despite being plastic. Overall, I enjoy the case and glance at the color from time to time with delight. But I do worry about the slick surface.