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
The CASEKOO LINKOO is an iPhone case with an unusual trick: when you are not using a strap, the strap anchor tucks away inside the case. I bought it in matte blue and fitted it to my Glacier iPhone 18 Pro, and compared it with the clear/silver LINKOO I already had. Same features, but on a Glacier iPhone I much prefer the matte blue. Out of the 30 to 40 iPhone cases I have used over the past year, this is one of my favourites.
What I tested
- CASEKOO LINKOO for iPhone 18 Pro / 17 Pro, matte blue: MagSafe, shock absorption, anti-fingerprint, anti-yellowing, hand strap included. About ¥6,000 at the time of recording
- CASEKOO LINKOO, clear/silver: the same strap mechanism with a clear back, which I bought earlier and have been using
- Fitted to an iPhone 18 Pro in Glacier; weighed both and tried Apple’s own Crossbody Strap and hand strap with it
What I found
- Most strap-ready cases leave a strap hole or anchor exposed at the bottom all the time, which bothers me when I am not using a strap. On the LINKOO, the anchor folds into the case, so most of the time it looks like a normal case and you add a strap only when you need one. Not having to switch cases depending on whether you want a strap that day is really handy.
- Matte blue suits Glacier very well. The clear/silver version shows off the phone’s colour and the case’s parts more; the matte blue unifies the colour and looks calmer. Glacier’s cool tone flows naturally into the blue.
- The matte back looks very different from a clear case, shows fingerprints less and feels understated. If you want to show off the iPhone itself, go clear; if you want the whole thing to look coordinated, matte blue is a great option.
- Weight on my scale: matte blue about 42 g, silver about 40.9 g. A difference of about 1 g, which you will not notice. Not heavy for a case with a built-in strap mechanism.
- Apple’s own Crossbody Strap attached without any problem, so you can use it when out and about, then tuck the anchor away at home.
- Apple’s hand strap works too. You can use the crossbody for trips or long days out, the hand strap day to day, and nothing at all when you do not need it.
- MagSafe works with chargers, stands, wallets and other MagSafe accessories, so it is a proper everyday case, not just a strap case.
- Downsides: the Camera Control area is a cut-out. I would prefer it covered for a more unified feel. The camera surround is metal, and metal buttons to match would make it feel even more premium. At about ¥6,000, it is not cheap, so I expect that level of detail.
| LINKOO matte blue | LINKOO clear/silver | |
|---|---|---|
| Back | Matte, coloured | Clear |
| Weight (my scale) | About 42 g | About 40.9 g |
| Strap anchor | Folds away | Folds away |
| Look on a Glacier iPhone 18 Pro | Unified, calm | Shows off the phone colour |
Who it’s for
The LINKOO is a great choice if you use a strap some days but not others, want MagSafe and a strap in one case, or want to pair it with Apple’s Crossbody Strap. Functionally the two colours are the same, so choose by look: clear/silver to show off your iPhone’s colour, matte blue if you have a Glacier iPhone 18 Pro and want everything to match.
The video is in Japanese.
Limitations
My long-term impressions come from about three months with the LINKOO overall, including the earlier clear/silver version; the matte blue is new. I did not drop-test it. Colour match is judged on a Glacier iPhone 18 Pro only. The price is the approximate Amazon Japan price at the time of recording.
Products
CASEKOO LINKOO for iPhone 18 Pro / 17 Pro, matte blue: on Amazon Japan
CASEKOO LINKOO, clear/silver: 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.