New in OS X: Get MacRumors Push Notifications on your Mac

Resubscribe Now Close

Apple Planning to Launch New Clear Case for iPhone XR, Priced Around $40

Friday October 12, 2018 6:24 am PDT by Mitchel Broussard
Apple's iPhone XR will go up for pre-order one week from today, and once the lower-cost smartphone is available customers will have the option of purchasing a see-through case sold by Apple. Spotted by Twitter user @ivanincanada and shared by 9to5Mac, iPhone XR press releases in countries like Canada mention "a clear case" priced at $55 CAD, or about $40 USD.

The iPhone XR will come in white, black, blue, coral, yellow, and (PRODUCT)RED, all made with glass bodies and matching anodized aluminum frames. Because of the colorful additions to Apple's iPhone lineup, a clear case makes sense, offering users the chance to show off which color option they've chosen while still protecting their iPhone XR.

Images via 9to5Mac

Similar to Apple's other first-party cases, the clear case has the usual cutouts for the rear-facing camera, and protrusions for the volume rockers, silence toggle, and lock button. No images shared today show off the front of the case, but it appears that there is a gap in the bottom of the case -- like the company's silicone and leather case options -- allowing for access to the Lightning port and more comfortable swipe-up gestures, which are crucial for navigating iOS on the iPhone X, XS, and XR.

Apple announced the iPhone XR alongside the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max at an event in September. The latter two smartphones have already launched, and Apple has debuted a new line of silicone and leather cases for the devices, in as many as nine new colorways for each type of case. The iPhone XS and XS Max also have the folio case option, which protects the display of the device using a leather flap.


Those waiting to pre-order the iPhone XR can expect more case styles besides the clear case to debut on Apple.com, likely including these silicone and leather options. Apple is positioning the iPhone XR as the entry-level device in the 2018 iPhone lineup, pricing the device at $749 for the cheapest storage capacity. This means that the iPhone XR comes with a few trade-offs to get the price down (compared to the $999 iPhone XS and $1,099 iPhone XS Max), including an LCD display, aluminum frame, single lens camera, and "Haptic Touch" instead of 3D Touch.

Related Roundup: iPhone XR
[ 245 comments ]

Top Rated Comments

(View all)

Avatar
DTECHQUE
13 months ago
This case looks so much more premium than the ones from 3rd party sellers ./sarcasm.
Rating: 51 Votes
Avatar
ricktat
13 months ago
Now if they can keep it from yellowing.
Rating: 32 Votes
Avatar
Baymowe335
13 months ago
Apple cases aren't cheap, but the quality is great. I have used the same Apple case for over a year and it looks brand new.

When I buy 3rd party, I end up buying 3 or 4 over a couple years.
Rating: 23 Votes
Avatar
Quu
13 months ago
Introducing iPhone Condom. The best protection for your phone.
Rating: 22 Votes
Avatar
ilikewhey
13 months ago
lol meanwhile every other clear case on ebay and amazon made from similar if not same material cost 99 cents to 10 bucks :D
Rating: 15 Votes
Avatar
OldSchoolMacGuy
13 months ago
Don't like the price? There are tons of other options. The complaining is silly.

There are lots of leather cases out there too but the one from Apple has shown to be well worth the price and of better quality than many of the others, even if it does come with a premium price.
Rating: 15 Votes
Avatar
Mackinjosh
13 months ago
This is hilarious, but not as hilarious as the people who justify that cost when there's cases of similar or better quality at Amazon for 10 bucks.
Rating: 12 Votes
Avatar
ddtmm
13 months ago
$40?? What do you figure it costs to make? 30, maybe 40 cents?
Rating: 9 Votes
Avatar
cknibbs
13 months ago

This is hilarious, but not as hilarious as the people who justify that cost when there's cases of similar or better quality at Amazon for 10 bucks.


You must have a preproduction model to be able to share with such certainty that there are clear cases on amazon that are better quality! I agree with many of the other posters in here. My leather X case is by far the best case I have ever owned. I have had many clear cases that were garbage and were scratched up beyond belief after a couple months of use. I wouldn’t judge the quality of this case until I had one in hand.
Rating: 9 Votes
Avatar
Rogifan
13 months ago

If this is the only official case, will definitely go third party or case less. A clear case for $40 is absurd.

Why? Apple’s silicon cases are $39. What’s different about this?
[doublepost=1539351976][/doublepost]

You must have a preproduction model to be able to share with such certainty that there are clear cases on amazon that are better quality! I agree with many of the other posters in here. My leather X case is by far the best case I have ever owned. I have had many clear cases that were garbage and were scratched up beyond belief after a couple months of use. I wouldn’t judge the quality of this case until I had one in hand.

There are cheaper clear cases. I’ve owned them. After a while my clear case looks like somebody pissed on it. If Apple has found a way to make a clear case that doesn’t turn yellow then it’s worth $40.
Rating: 9 Votes

[ Read All Comments ]