Ditch the Wallet: Modular and Utility iPhone Cases for the Minimalist
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Digital IDs have taken off in a big way in 2025, but even if you’re fortunate enough to have these available, we’re not quite at the “zero-wallet” finish line yet. Physical driver’s licenses are still a legal requirement for drivers in all 50 states, and even eleven years on, Apple Pay hasn’t completely eliminated the need for that one backup credit or loyalty card.
Still, the right case can get you pretty close to total pocket freedom. For the latest chapter in our last-minute holiday gift guide, I’ll be diving into the world of cases that do more than just protect and dress up your iPhone. These functional cases go beyond the basics by holding your cards, propping up your phone for FaceTime, and using MagSafe in ways Apple never imagined. If you or someone on your holiday list hates pocket clutter, these will help you travel lighter.
The Last-Minute iPhone Gift Series
Part 1: Style & Protection
Part 2: Wallets & Utility Cases (You Are Here)
Part 3: Charging & Power (Coming Monday)
Part 4: Car Mounts & Essentials (Coming Tuesday)
Smartish: When Apple’s Wallet Isn’t Enough
Even if you’re lucky enough to be able to store your digital driver’s license or the new Digital ID on your iPhone, you’ll likely still be carrying physical cards around for a few more years. That’s where Smartish’s Wallet Slayer comes in. While many wallet cases are bulky folio-style arrangements that cover your screen, Wallet Slayer uses a much simpler, side-loading design that won’t get in the way of actually using your iPhone. A spring-loaded slot at the back offers room for up to four cards plus a bit of cash, keeping them snugly inserted yet easily at hand.
Despite the use of the word “spring,” there are no moving parts in Wallet Slayer. Instead, the case material provides the tension to hold your cards in. I was pleased to find that Smartish has used materials that won’t stretch out over time; I can switch from carrying four cards to just one without worrying about anything falling out. Just don’t overstuff it.
Wallet Slayer also provides solid everyday drop protection with a lightweight and slim design that’s “skinny jeans” friendly. The only catch is that the Camera Control is an open cutout rather than a pass-through button, but it at least fully surrounds the button, which is better than the more open-edge designs I’ve seen elsewhere.
I tried the Black Tie Affair and Walnut Woods, both of which paired elegantly with my cosmic orange iPhone 17 Pro Max, along with the So Jaded — a fun choice for those who prefer a higher-contrast look.
It’s worth taking a beat here to note how fun and whimsical the company’s colors are. The other options include Blues on the Green, Moving Mountains, and Very Cherry Blossom, the latter of which are patterned styles, and Smartish also offers over a dozen other custom prints on Amazon that can be layered on top of its three base colors, plus a Design Studio website where you can add any print you like.
The Sequel
The original Wallet Slayer has been dubbed the “Vol. 1” as Smartish has also released a sequel, the Wallet Slayer Vol. 2 for those looking for an even slimmer aesthetic. This swaps out the plastic pocket for a fabric backing, although you’ll sacrifice room for an extra card. It officially holds three, and Smartish isn’t kidding here, as it’s a pretty snug fit. I can force a fourth card in if none of them are embossed, but it’s a fight to get them out.
However, the Wallet Slayer Vol. 2 has another trick up its sleeve that could make this compromise worthwhile: a credit card kickstand. At first glance, you might be wondering where this is hiding, but it’s actually a really simple yet clever twist: since you’re stowing plastic cards anyway, why not use one to prop up your iPhone?
A credit-card sized slot on one edge lets you insert any of your plastic cards lengthwise to create an ad-hoc stand. It gives you an 80-degree or 30-degree orientation in landscape. It can also be used in portrait mode, but I found the right-side placement a bit unstable for the bulky iPhone 17 Pro Max. I suspect it might work better for the smaller models.
The Wallet Slayer Vol. 2 comes in four of the same standard colors, patterns, and custom options as the original, although the fabric design gives them a slightly different look. I only tried the Black Tie Affair version, but I’m happy to note that it looks much darker and less tweed-like than it does in the photo on its Amazon listing. I’d recommend visiting Smartish’s website, where the depictions seem much more accurate.
The only real knock against both Wallet Slayers is that they aren’t MagSafe compatible, since the card pocket gets in the way. If there are no cards inside, the Vol. 2 is thin enough that it will charge on some MagSafe chargers, but it won’t attach, so you’d have to lay it flat. You’re much better off just removing the case entirely, and we suspect Smartish considered this, as these are easier to get on and off than most of the cases I’ve tried.
The good news is that Apple Pay still works fine since the NFC chip is up in the camera plateau, but I found I had to be a bit more careful about presenting the top end of my iPhone to the terminal, lest it detect one of the inserted cards instead. Of course, that won’t be an issue if you don’t carry any contactless cards.
The Smartish Wallet Slayer continues to be one of the best ways to ditch your wallet without adding extra bulk to your iPhone. While I still personally prefer to carry a traditional wallet most places, these are the cases I’ll pop on when I want to leave it behind.
MOFT: A Modular Collection
MOFT is a company that does far more than just iPhone cases — it offers an ecosystem of accessories that can encompass your entire digital life, and do so in style.
The Case
I checked out the MOVAS Snap Case in “Misty Cove” — a nice light grey that borders on off-white. Against the Cosmic Orange of my iPhone, it creates a very clean, “creamsicle” aesthetic and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it.
While its $50 price tag puts it on the higher end of the price range, it earns it with a design that feels premium, from the soft Vegan leather to the accented metallic buttons and solid Camera Control coverage. It’s also elegantly furnished on the inside with soft padding to protect your iPhone’s finish.
MOFT tells me the materials here are “engineered to outperform traditional leather while reducing environmental impact,” and the company has performed 26 rigorous lab tests to prove its durability and stain resistance.
It’s also fully MagSafe compatible with a strong magnetic grip, but its true power comes from its larger world of stylish modular accessories.
The Wallets
The company sent me a kit that included two wallet and stand attachments, a lanyard, and even a matching Apple Watch band with a magnetic clasp, plus a 3-in-1 carry sleeve for a 14-inch MacBook Pro.
The Snap Field Wallet acts as a matching MagSafe “backpack” for the case, providing room for some cash and up to 8 cards, with a pull tab that lets you easily fan them out. It also folds out to act as a stand for propping your iPhone up at about a 60-degree angle.
The Snap Tripod Wallet is even more fascinating. You only get a single card slot, so it only barely earns the “wallet” moniker, but it makes up for that by offering a stand that can also turn into a tripod for selfies, group photos, video calls, or just about anything else you need to elevate and angle your iPhone for.
The Strap
The Everywhere Lanyard rounds out this on-the-go utility package with a crossbody strap, which seem to be all the rage these days. It doesn’t use MagSafe, as that would be rather risky, but instead has a pad that fits inside the case to anchor the iPhone to the durable and versatile strap.
Crossbody straps aren’t really my thing, but this was one I just had to try out, and I can see the appeal. It can be worn in a variety of ways, either crossbody, over the shoulder, or even around the neck, and it’s very easy to adjust on the go. There’s a quick-adjust buckle that works one-handed, pulling the cord to shorten or pressing a button to lengthen it back out. A more typical buckle on the other end allows for additional adjustments.
The lanyard can go out to about 4.5 feet, which is sufficient length to wear crossbody on my six-foot 210-pound frame and still be able to check my iPhone and tap out quick replies. Two quick release hooks also make it easy to remove if you prefer to hold it untethered.
I’ve tried a few different crossbody straps purely for review purposes and curiosity, but the Everywhere Lanyard has come the closest to winning me over. It’s both durable and sleek looking, and I can actually see myself using it in some settings, but my jeans pocket will continue to be my spot for everyday carry.
The MOFT case and related accessories are also available in an extensive set of colors, from the Misty Cove shown in my photos to Jet Black, Taupe, Navy Blue, Clay, Oz Green, and Sapphire for the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. The iPhone 17 and iPhone Air versions offer a more limited selection of only Misty Cove, Taupe, and Jet Black.
The MOVAS Snap Case sells for $50, and the wallet stands add another $50 each, and the lanyard is $30, so the kit can get rather expensive if you go all-in, but the company offers some nice discounts, especially during the holidays, including bundle prices. However, the modular design also means you can pick and choose the items you specifically need. Best of all, it could also be the gift that lets you keep on giving, especially if MOFT continues to expand its ecosystem with even more matching accessories.
Satechi: Just the Wallet, Please
If you prefer to go caseless or already have a favorite case that doesn’t give you anywhere to stash your cards, then Satechi has the answer with its Magnetic Wallet Stand. It’s arguably what Apple’s MagSafe wallet should have been.
As the name suggests, this is a standalone wallet that docks to the back of your iPhone, either directly or to whatever MagSafe-compatible case you have on it. It’s arguably inspired by Apple’s MagSafe wallet, but it’s better in just about every way, from using vegan leather rather than Apple’s less-than-stellar FineWoven material to doubling as a stand and holding more cards. The only thing Apple’s first-party wallet has on it is support for Find My, but all this does is log the spot where the wallet was last disconnected from the MagSafe ring.
Satechi’s Magnetic Wallet Stand sells for $40 on Amazon and comes in colors that match many of the latest iPhone finishes, including blue and orange for the iPhone 17 Pro Max, plus more neutral black and brown options. I got the dark blue, but it’s actually kind of a nice contrast against the cosmic orange iPhone.
The wallet stand has a strong magnetic grip to ensure it stays in place — another area where it beats out Apple’s weaker wallet. I’ve used both over the past couple of years, and Satechi’s has proven itself the strong option by far.
The wallet holds up to four cards — three in the main slot on the back and a fourth in a quick-access side slot underneath the fold. An opening behind the main slot also lets you slide your cards out easily with your thumb.
Despite this, Satechi’s snap-on wallet stand adds less than half an inch to the back of your iPhone. While it will obviously need to be removed for MagSafe charging, it won’t get in the way of Apple Pay, although any contactless cards inside might if you’re not careful about your tapping angle.
However, the other bonus here is that it doubles as a fully adjustable stand that opens to 160 degrees, letting you prop your iPhone up at nearly any angle. It won’t quite give you the group photo versatility of the MOFT tripod stand, but you could maneuver your iPhone into an appropriate angle in a pinch.
While cases with extreme camera bumps might present a bit of a challenge, I have yet to find a MagSafe-compatible iPhone 17 Pro Max case that it won’t fit onto. Even the larger ring on Casetify’s Impact Case, which I wrote about yesterday, doesn’t even come close to getting in the way. If anything it complements the Satechi Magnetic Wallet Stand quite well, as it protrudes out at roughly the same distance.
What’s Next?
Getting your cards and phone into one pocket is a great feeling, but keeping that phone alive is the next challenge. On Monday, I’ll talk about power and portability: the “stay alive” gear that I personally pack for holiday travel, from TwelveSouth’s PowerBug to Mophie’s Juice Pack and beyond. Be sure to check back next for the last two installments in our iPhone holiday gift guide series.
