Apple’s Silicone Case is in every one of my case tests. People love it or hate it, usually because of the material and the price. For the iPhone 18 Pro, Apple quietly changed something, and you notice it immediately when you put the new case next to a cheaper alternative.
Apple Changed the Surface
The new case has a different texture than before. It even runs across the Apple logo and feels more like plastic. The soft silicone feel that made many people buy this case isn’t quite there anymore. The surface is less smooth and a little more slippery in the hand. It isn’t bad, just different, and if you know the old feel you’ll notice.
The inside hasn’t changed. It still has the familiar microfiber lining, and the iPhone sits firmly. Unlike Apple’s TechWoven Case, you can’t just push this one off. That’s a huge difference, because a case only protects the phone if it holds on to it in a fall.
Weight, Colors, Box Contents
The case weighs 36 grams, two grams more than the TechWoven Case. As usual, Apple offers lots of colors, from black to burgundy to a clear blue. There are no accessories in the box.
Protection
Under the silicone is a hard-shell core, fully wrapped. That gives very good impact protection. The camera lenses don’t stick out past the rim, and the screen lip is high enough to fit a screen protector underneath. You’ll find the ones I recommend in my iPhone 18 Pro screen protector comparison. The microfiber lining traps grains of sand so they don’t rub against the delicate back.
The silicone does have one drawback that you’ll know from earlier generations. If the case hits a hard surface, it picks up marks quickly. The iPhone stays intact, but the case looks worn afterwards.
Buttons, Cutouts and Camera Control
Every opening is cut out separately. I always prefer that, and not every case in the test does it. Nothing is covered. The buttons press easily, and Camera Control works fully: single press, double press, light press and swipe.
MagSafe: Only 1.17 kg
MagSafe charging works, of course. In my force gauge pull test, though, the Silicone Case only reached 1.17 kg. That’s still above the 1 kg line I count as good. Among the ten cases it’s still near the bottom, since the strongest reached 1.59 to 1.75 kg. For a MagSafe car mount on rough roads, there are safer choices.
Head to Head with the Budget Alternative
I put the ROXX Silicone Case, about $27, next to the Apple case. It still has the old, soft surface. A thin layer of silicone covers the Camera Control, and you can actually feel the button better through it. In the MagSafe test both were practically equal, at 1.17 and 1.16 kg. So if black is all you need, you can pay less than half for a very similar result.
Verdict
Apple’s Silicone Case is still a pleasure to hold. It has good protection, a microfiber lining and precise cutouts. The new texture is a bit more slippery, the magnet is weaker than the competition, and about $65 is a lot of money. If you want a specific color, it’s still a good choice. See how it compares with the other nine cases in my iPhone 18 Pro case buying guide.
View the Apple Silicone Case on Amazon
More Tests
For Apple’s foldable I’ve already compared iPhone Duo cases and iPhone Duo screen protectors. Whether your charger really delivers the speed it promises, the free Charge Check will show you.