Ekster MagSafe Card Holder review: Slim and magnetic everyday carry

With the iPhone 12 lineup of devices, Apple brought back MagSafe in a brand new form of chargers and accessories. One of the more convenient MagSafe accessories are wallets because they're so easy to pop on and off when you need them, and it's one less thing to carry.

Personally, I tend not to carry cash, and I only really need my ID and a couple of credit cards with me when I go out. That's why the idea of a MagSafe card holder is perfect for me because it lets me carry only the necessities and nothing more. Plus, since it's MagSafe, it works seamlessly with my iPhone 12 Pro, and any MagSafe-compatible case I happen to be using.

Ekster makes some high-quality leather goods that are classy and professional looking. When they launched a MagSafe Card Holder, I was intrigued and had to try it out for myself.

Ekster MagSafe Card Holder: Price and availability

While you can find a few Ekster products available on Amazon, you can only purchase the Ekster MagSafe Card Holder directly on Ekster's website right now. The Ekster MagSafe Card Holder will set you back $33.

Ekster MagSafe Card Holder: Slim but functional

Ekster is a brand that sells premium leather goods, and the MagSafe Card Holder is no different. It's made with premium American hides from ECCO Leather, so it has a genuine leather scent and is soft to the touch. The Ekster name is embossed at the bottom of the card holder, and the logo with the "E" in the shield is embossed on the other side, underneath the thumb slot. The Ekster MagSafe Card Holder only comes in one color — black.

The MagSafe Card Holder is slim — about as slim as two credit cards stacked on top of one another. The backside features two slots that allow you to store up to three cards and even a folded-up bill if you need. Depending on the thickness of your cards and whether they have raised numbers or not, putting three should be no problem, but more than that may result in a tighter fit. There's a thin mesh lining in between the two slots to give it a bit of leeway. The other side of the MagSafe Card Holder has an easy-access thumb slot, which allows you to push the card out from the top slot.

With the Ekster MagSafe Card Holder, the strong auto-aligning magnets are the best part. They snap on easily to a naked iPhone 12 or other MagSafe cases and accessories. It even takes a little effort to remove, so it won't just get bumped off. They also stay put without much wiggle room.

Overall, the Ekster MagSafe Card Holder is super minimal but has enough room for 3-4 of your most important cards, along with some cash. It is also one of the most elegant MagSafe accessories that I've seen so far.

Ekster MagSafe Card Holder: It's a little too simple

Unfortunately, if you're looking for a MagSafe accessory that has more than one purpose, then you won't find it with the Ekster MagSafe Card Holder. This is simply a card holder, so you don't get anything extra like a kickstand or phone grip like other products.

Oh, and don't forget that you can only get it in black. If you were hoping for something like a brown so you can develop a rich patina over time, you'll need to look elsewhere.

Ekster MagSafe Card Holder: Competition

The most obvious competing product to the Ekster MagSafe Card Holder is the Apple MagSafe Wallet. While Apple's wallet comes in multiple colors and has an exquisite design, it can only hold two cards and may wiggle around a little. You're also paying for the Apple tax since the Apple MagSafe Wallet is almost double the price of Ekster's offering.

You could also check out the MOFT MagSafe Snap-On Phone Stand and Wallet. This one holds between 3-4 cards as well, but it also has an integrated stand with multiple viewing modes and can double as a phone grip. It even comes in multiple colors. However, the magnets are not as strong.

Ekster MagSafe Card Holder: Should you buy it?

• You want a simple but professional card holder
• You want a MagSafe accessory with a strong and secure hold
• You don't carry more than 3-4 cards at a time

• You want a built-in phone stand or grip
• You need to carry more than four cards
• You don't like card holders

If you're in the market for a card holder that's MagSafe-compatible, Ekster's MagSafe Card Holder is the way to go. It's slim, professional, and has enough slots for your most important everyday cards and even some cash. And while the auto-aligning magnets are strong and secure, it's easy to remove when you need to, and the easy-access thumb slot lets you push your cards out with ease.

However, keep in mind that you won't be able to hold more than four cards at most, and this is a card holder and nothing more. So you won't get any extra benefits like a built-in phone stand or grip, but it is very similar to Apple's own option for almost half the cost.