Tag TORRAS

It’s 2024, and your phone case should do a LOT more than just protect your phone. The folks at TORRAS believe that too, which is why they’ve been spearheading the ‘phone stand’ movement since as early as 2018. In fact, even renowned global research firm Ipsos has ‘declared’ the phone stand as the next generation of phone cases… and after a 6-year headstart, they’ve labeled TORRAS as the global leader in this domain.

Even though the company has a wide product range, going all the way from phone accessories to neck-worn fans, the phone stand dominated the TORRAS showcase at CES this year (so much so that their booth had a massive phone stand on the front of it too, making it recognizable from a distance). The company launched two new stands this year – the simple yet delightful Lstand, and an improvement on their existing Ostand, now with a rotating ring (called the Ostand R). They also refreshed their neck-worn cooler line with the COOLiFY Cyber, which can now adjust its temperature based on your surroundings, making it the most advanced neck-worn ‘air-conditioner’ on the market!

Designer: TORRAS

Click Here to buy a TORRAS Phone Stand (20% Discount)

The Lstand on the left, and the Ostand R on the right.

The Ostand R is an impressive case given its abilities. For starters, the case has a ring on it that folds flat when not in use, but opens up into an angle-locking stand that can be used in landscape and vertical modes (or even as a ring to support your finger as you hold the phone). Moreover, it rotates on its hubless axis, giving you the ability to position the ring wherever you want, all while still managing to support the iPhone’s MagSafe and wireless charging features.

You also (obviously) get the benefits of a case, with a soft bumper frame around the sides and even the camera bump. The edges have an air cushion that gives your phone even more security from bumps or accidental drops. The frosted polycarbonate back is a great way to show off your phone’s color, while the Ostand R’s colors on the TPU rim and the metallic buttons complement your smartphone from top to bottom.

It isn’t easy building a phone case that has its own stand which rotates, while still maintaining a slim profile… but TORRAS lifted the veil on the Ostand R’s design to show the amount of research and innovation that goes into every detail. A specially designed hinge measures a mere 1.2mm (0.04 inches) thick, but can resist tens of thousands of folds, and can even hold its angle like a laptop hinge (while taking the weight of your phone). The hinge is also accompanied by a hubless rotating element that lets the ring orient however you want it to, giving you the kind of freedom you wouldn’t get with other cases.

A quick breakdown of the Ostand R shows all the innovation gone into its features and details

The Lstand, on the other hand, is for people who want a smooth case with nothing on the back. Research from TORRAS’ customer base showed that while the Ostand was a hot favorite, there were some who liked the appeal of the company’s older stands that were either built into the bottom of the phone, or the sides. To cater to these people, TORRAS built the Lstand, a stand case with a fold-out element around the camera lens. The robust ring adds an extra layer of beefed security to your iPhone camera, but pop it open and it transforms into a nifty stand to rest your phone on.

The two stands, while impressive, come backed by an Ipsos paper that puts Torras at the forefront of the upcoming phone stand trend. Ipsos mentions that the rise of digital nomads and of social media has prompted a lot of people to rely on their phone for staying connected, and entertained. Given that phones are now growing bigger, flatter, and heavier, it’s becoming more and more important to shift focus from merely ‘phone cases’ to phone stands that allow people to hold their phones better, and to rest them on surfaces for work, leisure, and everything in between. Phone cases aren’t going anywhere, because people inherently need to have protective accessories for their expensive smart-devices… but more than 52% of people mention that they want their phone cases to have a hands-free feature, while a staggering 59% mention the need to still maintain a minimalist sleek design. The Ostand R and Lstand (along with Torras’ other stands) maintain these considerations, resulting in smartphone accessories that don’t protect the phone… they enhance the phone’s experience too.

When asked about TORRAS, the Ipsos study revealed: “Through continuous innovation and research and development, TORRAS integrated upgraded protection and portability, restoring the design style of bare phones. At the same time, it pioneers a new design of phone case with the combination of kickstand and magnetic suction, which performs excellently and has won many international design awards, patented innovations, and industry honors, leading the development and progress of the kickstand and magnetic suction phone case products.” They added that “TORRAS is the next generation of phone cases.”

Click Here to take a look at the Ipsos study on the future of Phone Stands

The COOLiFY range also saw some changes with the Cyber, TORRAS’ latest neck wearable. Building on the existing line, the COOLiFY Cyber comes with a larger cooling plate and air ducts, creating a bigger impact. The air ducts blow wind (cold or hot) towards the neck and face, while the cooling plates rely on an electric current that passes through a semiconductor to rapidly cool down. With 3 speed settings to choose from, 3 heat/cool plates, and a total of 36 outlets, the COOLiFY Cyber is the equivalent of wearing an air conditioner on your neck.

The COOLiFY Cyber sports an incredibly slick design that can easily be worn around any neck thanks to its flexible horseshoe-shaped design. It’s made to be lightweight, it charges via USB-C, and from personal experience, it feels a lot like wearing an ice or heat pack around your neck – something you’ll probably appreciate in the harsh summers and winters. The neck’s unique location (near the face and connected to the spine) makes it a perfect spot for something like the COOLiFY Cyber, as its cooling/heating effect can be felt all over you (and not just your neck). The COOLiFY Cyber is slated to launch around March, which is when additional details like battery life and pricing will emerge.

TORRAS even partnered with the Dallas Maverick to create special Mavs-branded merchandise for them and their fans

Click Here to Buy a TORRAS COOLiFY Portable Air Conditioner (20% Off)

Smartphones have become an integral part of our lives, allowing us to connect with each other, retrieve information, and even create and record memories. We bring our phones with us everywhere, even in some places or circumstances that would be precarious for the electronic device. Apple’s latest event played up that “wonderlust” and presented the iPhone 15 series as the perfect companion for your life’s journeys, especially when it comes time to snap up photos or record videos for posterity. Bringing along a naked iPhone to your many adventures, however, might not be the smartest and most efficient move, especially when not if accidents happen. Just in time for the release of the iPhone 15, TORRAS launched new cases designed to be just as adventurous as the new iPhones, so we take it for a bumpy ride to see if the new UPRO Ostand SS ShieldMate can truly turn the iPhone 15 into your faithful companion through life’s up and, most especially, downs.

Designer: TORRAS

Click Here to Buy Now: $39.99 $49.99 (20% off with coupon code “202yanko”). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

Aesthetics

With so many cases for smartphones littering the market today, you might almost be tempted to give the UPRO Ostand SS ShieldMate a pass. Your opinion will quickly change, however, the moment you behold the case, and especially after you’ve put it on your iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max. Depending on the color variant, the case is mostly clear or has a frosted surface that still lets the iPhone’s elegant colors shine through. The Gray case’s clear surface is perfect for the iPhone 15’s Natural or White Titanium colorways, but there are also Black and Blue options to cover the entire iPhone 15 lineup. Either way, your iPhone 15 doesn’t need to sacrifice its elegant colors just so that it can be protected.

You might, however, notice that the edges of the case have a different color and are slightly raised as if bulging a bit. This isn’t just some pointless embellishment and actually serves one of the UPRO Ostand SS ShieldMate’s most important functions, which we’ll get to later. Unfortunately, its color, which is mostly light gray, easily stands out from the rest of the case’s edges because of the color contrast. Some might find it visually disconcerting while others might not mind it so much. It could become a problem, however, with other iPhone 15 color options, like RED or future variants. It would have been nice if you could swap out these bumpers for different colors, but that could also reduce the case’s durability in the process.

The other visual detail that stands out is the ring on the back of the case. Thanks to many MagSafe-compatible accessories, the presence of this ring is no longer alien, even though Apple itself doesn’t mark the area on its iPhones. Thankfully, the ring, which is formally called the O-Ring, sits flush on the surface of the case, so it doesn’t cause the phone to wobble when placed on a table, nor will it snag in your pants pocket or other things in your bag. All in all, the TORRAS UPRO Ostand SS has a rather minimalist design, both visually and physically, except for those bumpers and that ring that serve important purposes that give the case its selling points.

Ergonomics

Despite knowing the risks of dropping an expensive iPhone, many people are reluctant to put them in protective cases. These iPhones are, after all, beautiful unclothed and are meant to be slim and comfortable to hold. Most of the fears stem from making the iPhone look like it’s going to war, which is fortunately not the case with this UPRO Ostand SS ShieldMate.

In addition to being visually simple and minimalist, the case is also space-efficient and lightweight. It delivers 92% protection against disastrous falls, but instead of simply wrapping the phone in thick layers of material, TORRAS employs innovative technologies that keep the case as slim as possible. The result is that it doesn’t add too much bulk to an already large iPhone 15 Pro or even bigger iPhone 15 Pro Max, nor does it add more burden to your hand when holding it.

In fact, the UPRO Ostand SS improves the iPhone 15’s ergonomics by giving your hand a non-slipper surface to grip. There’s also that O-Ring that folds out of the case, transforming into a holder for your finger to keep the phone steady, whether you’re simply watching videos or taking photos and selfies. The latter is a very important use case for both the new iPhone 15 and this UPRO Ostand SS, giving you the freedom and the confidence to shoot anywhere, knowing that the phone is secure in your hand. And unlike the typical rings that you stick to the back of your phone, the O-Ring folds flat when not in use, hiding in plain sight until it’s needed once more.

Performance

Right out of the packaging, you can already tell that the TORRAS UPRO Ostand SS ShieldMate is not your average case. The contrasting color of the embossed edges immediately call your attention, but these aren’t just for show. Their unique form is actually the case’s main selling point, being air-filled bumpers that protect your phone from drops and shocks, especially when it drops on one of its corners or edges, which is the most common place for this kind of accident.

For this innovation, TORRAS took inspiration from car airbags that protect you from accidents. When the iPhone accidentally drops on its corner or side, the air-filled thermoplastic polyurethane not only absorbs the force of the impact but actually bounces it off, preventing the shock from being transferred to the rest of your phone, which is the most common cause of cracked screens. These bumpers give the phone 360-degree military-grade impact protection that can absorb up to 98% of the shock.

But while protection is its main purpose, that isn’t the only talent that the UPRO Ostand SS ShieldMate has, which you can probably discern from its name. It features TORRAS’s unique O-Ring, a ring grip and stand combination that’s built right into the case and, more importantly, doesn’t stick out of it. You simply fold it out and you’re ready to go, standing the iPhone 15 on any flat surface or holding the phone in your hand with support for your finger. You can stand the iPhone vertically or horizontally depending on your use case, and the O-Ring will be able to support it. Unfortunately, the position of the ring itself is fixed in its position, unlike the Ostand R cases where the O-Ring can rotate 360 degrees. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it would have been nice to have to increase the case’s versatility.

That O-Ring has a third function in addition to grip and stand thanks to its use of a Halbach array of magnets. These strong magnets let you stick the phone to any MagSafe stand or holder, like those for cars or bedside tables. Alternatively, you can also stick the iPhone 15 to any metallic surface, from refrigerator or car doors to metal poles and walls. You no longer need to worry about not having a selfie stick or tripod when you can set up the iPhone at a distance anywhere. And, of course, the case lets you charge with MagSafe without having to remove the case. Apple may have introduced the universal USB-C connector for the iPhone 15 series, but those who have tasted MagSafe will probably never go back to cables if they can help it.

Sustainability

The UPRO Ostand SS ShieldMate for the iPhone 15 Pro is stylish, durable, and versatile, but the list of its strengths doesn’t end there. When it comes to sustainability, it also has an edge over other smartphone cases. Sure, it has its fair share of plastics, rubber, and other environment-unfriendly materials, but its use of thermoplastic polyurethane for its headlining feature scores in its favor. It has also committed to nurturing one tree in the Brazil Atlantic Forest for every three cases sold. If TORRAS could start using recycled plastics or lay out a more definite sustainability strategy, it would definitely take the lead in this market.

Where the case does shine is in its durability, which is to say that it’s made to last a really long time. It is, after all, designed to protect the iPhone 15 it holds, so it is also quite resilient itself. It won’t last forever, of course, and the case’s surface might tarnish and show discoloration over time. It would have been nice if the bumpers could be replaced independently of the rest of the case or vice versa, but TORRAS probably had to prioritize the product’s structural integrity over that kind of modularity.

Value

There are countless smartphone cases in the market today, especially for something as popular as Apple iPhones. With the launch of the iPhone 15 series, there’s bound to be even more, as proven by the flood of announcements following Apple’s event last week. It’s easy to get lost in a sea of cases that promise the same things but deliver in different ways, sometimes not at all. The TORRAS UPRO Ostand SS ShieldMate for the iPhone 15 Pro sets itself apart from the crowd by delivering not only protection for your precious new iPhone but also confidence and peace of mind.

The Ostand SS ShieldMate frees you from worries about accidents when bringing your iPhone 15 along for the ride in your outdoor adventures, globe-trotting, and other activities. It also allows you to hold the phone securely in your hand, whether for enjoying content or creating it, even letting you stick it to walls, poles, and surfaces to make it easier to take group selfies or do hands-free live streaming. The UPRO Ostand SS is definitely a great deal, but that only applies if you own an iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max. Unfortunately, the cases aren’t available for the non-Pro models, but TORRAS has a plethora of other options that offer protection as well as the versatility of the O-Ring for a wide range of iPhones.

Verdict

Smartphones have reached a point where they’ve become more than just gadgets but also important companions in our lives. The iPhone 15, with its enhanced photography prowess and upgraded hardware, offers one of if not the best tools for making life more enjoyable and more memorable. Its stylish designs, now in titanium, give it the expected Apple elegance that you wouldn’t want to cover up with a tank-like case, regardless of how much protection it offers.

Fortunately, the TORRAS UPRO Ostand SS ShieldMate is here to check all the right boxes and then some. While Apple’s absolutely dropped the ball on MagSafe, the folks at TORRAS thankfully are taking the magnetic ring to new heights. The UPRO Ostand is a unique iPhone case that doesn’t just protect your phone, it gives it superpowers. The Ostand’s air-filled bumpers protect your iPhone from every angle, and a MagSafe-compatible O-ring works as both a holder as well as a kickstand. Apple invented MagSafe. TORRAS perfected it.

Sarang Sheth contributed to this review.

Click Here to Buy Now: $39.99 $49.99 (20% off with coupon code “202yanko”). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!