This is the English edition of a review from my Japanese YouTube channel, iestaLife. I review gadgets from my home studio in Japan, so product links go to Amazon Japan.
Quick take
I bought six clear cases for the iPhone 17 Pro Max (Cosmic Orange) to find one that lets the colour show without looking cheap. My two favourites: the NIMASO "Hyosei" series in black for its finish and feel, and the ESR Classic Hybrid for protection and its built-in stand. If weight is all that matters, the memumi 0.3 mm case is only 13.4 g.
What I tested
- memumi 0.3 mm ultra-thin case
- NIMASO "Shimizu" series (soft, covers the camera area)
- NIMASO "Hyosei" series in clear and in black
- ESR Classic Hybrid (camera frame doubles as a stand)
- A ¥100 case from Daiso, a Japanese dollar-store chain
- All weighed on a kitchen scale and fitted to an iPhone 17 Pro Max with a lens frame attached
What I found
| Case | Weight (my scale) | Price at recording | In one line |
|---|---|---|---|
| memumi 0.3 mm | 13.4 g | ¥2,199 | Thinnest and lightest; MagSafe area bulges slightly |
| Daiso | 26.4 g (28.3 g with a metal ring added) | ¥100 | Soft and simple; no MagSafe |
| NIMASO Shimizu | 42.7 g | ¥1,780 | Protects the lens area; looks slightly hazy |
| NIMASO Hyosei (black) | 34.4 g | About ¥2,100–2,200 with a coupon | Textured black edge; precise buttons |
| NIMASO Hyosei (clear) | 34.4 g | About ¥2,100–2,200 with a coupon | Clear edges, very understated |
| ESR Classic Hybrid | 49.5 g | Around ¥3,000 | Heaviest, but most protective; camera frame is a stand |
- NIMASO Hyosei (black) was my top pick. The edge has a fine textured finish, the buttons and Camera Control feel good, and the back stays properly clear. Fingerprints show a little. In the video I said it does not feel like a ¥2,000 case.
- ESR Classic Hybrid covers the whole camera area, and that frame flips out into a stand, so you can skip a MagSafe ring. The raised screen lip is the tallest of the six. Its weak point is weight: 49.5 g. It fitted fine over my lens frame.
- memumi is remarkably light. Because it is so thin, the MagSafe magnet area sticks out a little, and the Camera Control has a cut-out rather than a cover.
- NIMASO Shimizu protects right up to the lenses, so you do not need a separate lens protector. Small dots on the inside make it look a bit hazy, and it would not sit flat with my lens frame on.
- Daiso fits perfectly for ¥100 and has a strap hole on one side, but it has no MagSafe magnets. A metal ring would not stick with double-sided tape on such soft material.
Who it's for
- Pick a clear case if you agonised over your iPhone colour and want to see it every day.
- NIMASO Hyosei black if you want the case to look premium; ESR if you want protection and a stand in one.
- memumi if you want the lightest option. Daiso only as a stop-gap; it is sold in Daiso stores, not on Amazon.
- Skip the Shimizu if you use a lens frame or lens guard.
Watch the review
The video is in Japanese. The weigh-in starts around 4:00, and fitting each case starts around 6:00; the ESR stand appears just after 11:00.
Limitations
These are first impressions from fitting each case, not drop tests. Weights are from my own kitchen scale. Prices were Amazon Japan's (and Daiso's) at the time of recording, and the Daiso case was bought in a Japanese store.
Products
NIMASO Hyosei series, black (iPhone 18 Pro Max / 17 Pro Max): on Amazon Japan
NIMASO Hyosei series, clear: on Amazon Japan
ESR Classic Hybrid with Flex stand, clear: on Amazon Japan
memumi 0.3 mm ultra-thin case: on Amazon Japan
NIMASO Shimizu series, clear: on Amazon Japan
The Amazon Japan links above are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Check the listing for the exact model, current price and shipping availability in your region.
More reviews in English
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This review is also available in Japanese.