Two affordable iPhone 17 Pro accessories worth trying

Source: 9to5Mac

My Experience with Cases & Screen Protectors on the iPhone 17 Pro

I usually prefer using an iPhone without a case or screen protector, but with the iPhone 17 Pro I’ve actually started enjoying both. They’re inexpensive enough to try without committing for a year or more, so I can recommend giving them a shot.

A Quick History of Apple’s Display Protection

• Five years ago – Apple introduced Ceramic Shield glass, promising four‑times better drop performance and fewer shattered screens.
• Today – The new Ceramic Shield 2 front cover claims three‑times better scratch resistance.

Even with Ceramic Shield, I still end up with two or three deep scratches after a year of use. I’m still worried about those scratches and want to avoid them for now.

Anti‑Glare Improvements

Apple also says the front panel now has improved anti‑glare to reduce reflections. In practice, however, the effect isn’t anywhere near the nano‑texture finish you see on the iPad Pro and MacBook Pro.

Bottom line: If you’re concerned about scratches and glare on the iPhone 17 Pro, a good case plus a high‑quality screen protector are still worth considering, even with Ceramic Shield 2.

Make Your iPhone 17 Pro Display More Matte

If you want a matte look for your iPhone 17 Pro, I recommend the Mothca matte glass screen protector – a product I tried a few years ago and liked.

Mothca Matte Glass Screen Protector – Amazon

Why It Works

• Easy to apply – the adhesive is strong but leaves no bubbles.
• Premium feel – feels more upscale than the price suggests.
• Affordable – $9 for a single pack or $14 for a double pack.

Drawbacks

• Slight rainbow effect – you’ll notice a faint color shift at certain angles.
• Minor brightness loss – the matte layer reduces peak brightness a bit.
• Not a true nano‑texture – if you want a completely rainbow‑free, ultra‑matte surface, a nano‑texture coating would be better.

Purchase Options

Bottom line: The Mothca matte protector is a solid, low‑cost way to get a matte feel on your iPhone 17 Pro. It isn’t perfect, but it’s a good starting point if you’re curious about how a matte display looks on an iPhone.

A Minimal Case for Just‑in‑Case Situations

I usually throw a case on before an activity like kayaking or mounting the iPhone to motorcycle handlebars. I’m also concerned about chipping the orange‑aluminum finish from the sharp angles on the camera bump.

I would probably just go with Apple’s clear case for my occasional usage, but I don’t love the not‑so‑clear design for the Pro version this year. If I were a daily case user, I’d probably try Apple’s new TechWoven option, but none of the colors appeal to me yet.

I like black but find the pairing with Cosmic Orange a bit too Halloween‑themed for year‑round usage. Instead, I decided something more gray could pair nicely with orange and create a sort of futuristic “space‑suit” look.

I’m pretty happy with the case I sort of stumbled upon in a retail store a few days ago.

It’s a Spigen Thin Fit case that comes in black, gunmetal, or abyss‑green. I’m using the gray version, and it fits the look I was imagining.

It’s priced at $39.99 from Spigen, but Amazon lists it for $34.99.

I noticed that a lot of cheaper cases don’t include MagSafe, which can limit the effectiveness of battery packs and magnetic mounts.

The Spigen Thin Fit includes both MagSafe and a capacitive Camera Control cover instead of just a cutout.

I like that this case covers the full camera “mountain range,” an area that concerns me with durability.

It also creates a cool “orange‑circles” look that resembles the Digital Crown on the Space‑Black Apple Watch Ultra. Cosmic orange is visible around the button covers, not just the bottom port, giving the orange‑accented gray aesthetic I wanted.

Another benefit is that it does not show the orange aluminum border around the display. The border is fine when the phone is bare, but it can be distracting when a thin orange line appears between a dark case and a dark screen.

Two Low‑Priced iPhone 17 Pro Accessory Recommendations

• Mothca Screen Protector – protects against deep scratches; the matte texture cuts glare.
  Buy on Amazon

• Spigen Thin Fit Case – metallic look, smooth feel, and adds very little bulk.
  Buy on Amazon

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