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Apple now requires cases protect devices from 1m drops, meet new environmental standards

logitech-protection-plus-iphone-6-case

Apple recently started requiring case manufacturers in its Made for iPhone (MFi) licensing program follow new requirements that will ensure cases better protect Apple devices and cover glass from impact, according to sources with knowledge of the new guidelines.

The new restrictions were introduced in the months following the launch of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus and will require case makers to protect Apple devices from drops up to a 1 meter (3.2 feet) onto a hard surface like pavement. That includes protection of the device in any orientation including the usually exposed cover glass on the Apple device.

Apple is also now requiring that cases protect an iPhone, iPad, or iPod’s cover glass when lying flat on a surface like a table. Cases must now provide a buffer of at least 1mm between the cover glass and a flat surface. Case makers have two choices to achieve this: either they cover the glass entirely or have part of the case protrude from the cover glass slightly to keep it from touching a flat surface. Many cases already offer one of these two features.

The changes are part of Apple MFi licensing program, which allows manufacturers to build Apple certified accessories, access Apple’s proprietary technology and components like Lightning connectors, and receive assistance from Apple in product development. It also allows accessory makers to include the “Made-for-iPhone/iPad/iPod” logo on packaging, which means the case meets Apple’s MFi guidelines including the new device protection requirements above.

Lastly, Apple is aiming to improve its environmental impact via case manufacturers by adding a number of restricted substances/materials. The new restricted substances include Formaldehyde, Endangered species of flora and fauna, PFOS, PFOA, PBDE, PBB, and Phthalates. Some of the new restricted substances are due to environmental regulation in certain countries, while others, such as Phthalates, often used to make plastics soft, have been in the news recently following studies showing adverse health effects. Phthalates are also banned in children’s toys in the US and elsewhere. 

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Comments

  1. herb02135go - 9 years ago

    This will drive up consumer costs.

    • Edison Wrzosek - 9 years ago

      Shut up

    • standardpull - 9 years ago

      You are wrong again, Herb.

      A case engineered to protect a phone will save the customer money. A broken phone is usually more expensive than a case that costs no more than a poorly engineered case

      Remember, the material costs for these better cases are generally on the magnitude of far less than $1. It’s good engineering and testing that costs money.

      Customers that buy a crappy case are likely buying false protection. This actually costs them money at the end of the day. Why spend $5 on a case of you still end up with the same $150 repair bill if you had no case?

      • herb02135go - 9 years ago

        No, standard, you are wrong.

        Any restrictions drive up costs.
        Your logic is faulty because you assume a person will drop their phone and that it will be damaged.
        A case is a form of insurance. And, with insurance if you never need that protection then you have paid for nothing but peace of mind.

        I agree that there can be a correlation between cost and what you get (excepting the Apple premium).
        But for many, a cheap cade from the mall works fine. Few people really need a bulky Otter Box.

        I’m sure the sheep will pay more for this certification because they don’t use logic when spending their parents money.

      • Edison Wrzosek - 9 years ago

        Do you not know how to be a fucking moron?

    • Rich Davis (@RichDavis9) - 9 years ago

      Probably not.

  2. Edison Wrzosek - 9 years ago

    I like the fact they’re getting these cases certified to a certain standard of protection! I haven’t seen this before in any other product. Too many times I’ve seen phones, with cases on them, still suffering damage from falls or impacts that they should’ve been protected from by their case.

    Another nice touch is the removal of harmful chemicals!

    • herb02135go - 9 years ago

      Yea, because we know that washing your hands after using the phone and before sticking your finger up your nose is sooo much work!

      • You realize that this is only for the MFi program and anyone can still make and sell a “mall case” but to participate in the MFi program it has to meet these standards…just like the App Store standards that keep application quality high.

  3. Petr Bonzo Semenov - 9 years ago

    Your information is correct, but it’s related only for cases, that connects electronically to iOS device.

  4. chrisl84 - 9 years ago

    Im not even sure my official Apple leather case meets these requirements…but I dont see anything wrong with setting a standard with these

    • Edison Wrzosek - 9 years ago

      I have the Apple leather case for my 5S, and a few of my friends have it, and they’ve dropped theirs a few times, and the phone is still flawless.

      • chrisl84 - 9 years ago

        I have it on my 6 and it protects but it does not extend 1mm above the front glass, maybe 1/2mm so Im pretty sure it does not meet standards.

  5. Michael Schryver - 9 years ago

    I buy my cases for scratch protection rather than shatter protection, and want them as light as possible. Apple has just made it much less likely that I’ll buy a case with an MFi sticker, because it’ll be thicker than those without it.

    • Edison Wrzosek - 9 years ago

      Not necessarily, some slim cases still provide the required 1m minimum protection, and with this new requirement, will also be more environmentally friendly and of higher quality.

  6. Rich Davis (@RichDavis9) - 9 years ago

    I’m personally waiting for Mobee’s Induction charging battery case so I can use it with my Mobee Magic Feet. But unfortunately, I have to wait until the first half of next year. :-)

  7. Oflife - 9 years ago

    So Apple are conceding their devices are not robust and passing the buck. I have an LG G3 (whose screen res is the same as the none 5K 27″ iMac whose panel is also made by LG!), anyway, I have dropped the G3 hard onto rocks and paving 4 times in the last month, and it survived without anything more than a small scratch on one corner.

    No case, just in it’s birthday suit.

    • neide18701 - 9 years ago

      The 5k iMac has a 14.7 million pixel screen whereas your G3 has a 3.8 million pixel screen. How is that the same?

      • Oflife - 9 years ago

        Reread my comment.

    • Why not post on the LG G3 forum then? And learn how to NOT drop your phone so much.

    • Edison Wrzosek - 9 years ago

      How about you learn not to be such a klutz and keep dropping your phone all the time? Oh, and go comment on an Android forum, we don’t care about that crap here.

      • Oflife - 9 years ago

        Wool air! Keep your hair on!

  8. Jason - 9 years ago

    Want to design, build and sell MadeFor i cases? New guidelines from Apple place MFi certified cases in a position to take some responsibility when it comes to what a ‘case’ really is.

    My friends at 9to5mac got the scoop on this story, with the new metrics that MFi certified cases will need to meet before getting the Apple MFi logo stamp of approval.

  9. Léo Durand - 9 years ago

    This is ridiculous!
    Apple have to make their products strong and resistant, not the accessories brands !

  10. Bob Greene - 9 years ago

    The old cases didn’t protect the iPhone? Why did anyone buy a case? This really reads like Apple had no protection standards prior to this.

  11. Bardi Jonssen - 9 years ago

    Yeah, I got an Otterbox for my iPhone 4. Broken the case twice and replaced the screen protector once (replaced at no charge, even shipping), not a scratch on my phone.

    Side bonus. Looks clunky like an LG therefore no one will steal it.

  12. Marklewood at Serenity Lodge - 9 years ago

    Although I love all my Apple products, including my new iPhone 6+, I have to comment here that if Apple is requiring such high standards for 3rd party accessaries, why the hell didn’t they make the iPhone sturdy enough not to actually need a case in the first place? Make little sense to me. I spend almost $800 dollars for an iPhone and then another $100 to protect it — for what, a year, until the next model comes out? I think Apple needs to get back to basics here and make a product that can withstand the standards it sets for 3rd party makers.

    • mikabass (@mikabass) - 9 years ago

      Well then using that logic why do I need to buy car insurance for my $80,000 dollar Land rover. since I paid that much it should not be damaged when a ford focus hits me going 90MPH!!!

Author

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Jordan Kahn

Jordan writes about all things Apple as Senior Editor of 9to5Mac, & contributes to 9to5Google, 9to5Toys, & Electrek.co. He also co-authors 9to5Mac’s Logic Pros series.