The part I keep coming back to is the little metal loop on the back of the case. I pull it out to take a photo, fold it away when I’m done, and hear a satisfying snap as it settles flush against the phone. It’s a small detail, but it makes the SmallRig FlipLoop feel like something I’d use every day.
I’ve been using two cases from SmallRig’s modular iPhone lineup with my iPhone 18 Pro: the FlipLoop for everyday use and the separate photography case required for its 3.5x Telephoto Lens and Handle Kit. I’ve also tried the other accessories from SmallRig’s Modular iPhone 18 Case Ecosystem: the clip-on CPL filter, clip-on VND Filter, shoulder strap, MagSafe wallet stand, and AR HD screen protector. The FlipLoop is the easy recommendation of the bunch. The lens kit is more involved, though it has a clever trick of its own.
The FlipLoop Case
At $29.99, the FlipLoop case feels unusually well made. Both colors I have, a magenta or cherry shade and a dark gray or black one, fit the iPhone closely. The orange buttons have a crisp, responsive click. The openings around the cameras, speakers, and USB-C port line up cleanly, and a textured strip along the sides gives my fingers a little more to hold onto.
It feels protective without making the phone a chore to carry. I haven’t put its impact protection to a drop test, but the close fit and substantial feel inspire confidence. Just as welcome, I can remove the iPhone without wrestling it out of the case.
Then there’s the MagSafe connection. The ring built into the FlipLoop has an exceptionally strong hold in my use. The wallet stand attaches securely and stays put while I handle the phone, yet I can pull it off quickly when I want the case’s own grip back. It even feels stronger than the magnetic connection I’m used to from the iPhone alone, though that’s an impression, not a measured comparison. And if you haven’t moved to the iPhone 18 yet, the FlipLoop Case is also available for the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. SmallRig also says a Duo-compatible version is on the way.
For $30, getting this fit, this finish, a useful stand and grip, and a MagSafe connection I trust with an accessory feels like a very good deal.
The loop on the back is a two-part metal mechanism. One section hinges outward; the other swivels into position and clicks into place. Folded shut, it sits so flush that I can run a finger across it without catching an edge.
There’s a small cutout at the top to help pull it open. The hinge feels tight, with no noticeable wiggle.
SmallRig describes three ways to hold the case horizontally, from hooking fingers through the loop to resting it against the palm. I’ve found the finger grip especially useful for landscape photos: I slip two fingers through the opening, support the phone with my pinky, and reach the iPhone’s Camera Control button. Depending on how I position the loop, I can shift some of the phone’s weight into my palm instead of squeezing its sides. It’s an easy way to steady a shot without carrying a separate camera grip.
The metal may become less comfortable if you keep your fingers in it for a long stretch, though it hasn’t been a problem during my shorter shooting sessions. And the textured edge still helps when I’m holding the phone normally with the loop folded away.
The loop is also a kickstand. In portrait orientation, I can adjust it through a useful range. At a lower angle, around 45 degrees by eye, the phone is usable but only moderately balanced. Bring it closer to upright and it becomes much steadier on a desk.
Landscape is a slight shortcoming. The loop will prop up the phone, but its length and design leave the screen close to vertical, which makes it less than ideal for viewing media. In other words, I wouldn’t choose that angle to watch a movie on an airplane.
One caution: the stand has a clear stopping point. I can imagine bending the metal by forcing it farther than it wants to go, so I let the hinge and its click tell me where to stop. I haven’t damaged mine.
The Case and Filter Kit
The Case and Filter Kit bundles the FlipLoop Case with a clip-on CPL filter and a 2-in-1 shoulder strap. The clip-on CPL filter takes a little fiddling to seat over the camera. It feels as though it settles into position, then needs a final push to clip securely in place. Once attached, the rotating filter gives you an immediate way to change what the camera sees.
I tried it while photographing a computer screen with a Gadget Review page displayed. Turning the filter made a striking difference to the light coming through. A computer display produces polarized light, so that test shows how dramatically rotation can affect an image; it doesn’t tell me exactly how much glare the filter will remove at a lake.
That outdoor use is where I see the most appeal. A circular polarizer can cut reflections from water or glass and, with the right sun angle, bring more definition to a sky. If I’m photographing a shoreline, I’d rather rotate the filter while framing the shot than hope an edit can recover detail hidden by glare. SmallRig pitches the CPL for those kinds of nature and landscape shots. Lighting and angle still matter.
The shoulder strap makes that setup more appealing on a walk or hike. The phone can stay within reach, and I can grab it for a shot without first digging through a pocket or bag. Together, the case’s horizontal grip, the filter, and the strap make sense for someone who takes photos whenever the trail opens onto a view.
SmallRig also lists a VND version alongside the CPL. They serve different jobs: the CPL is the one I used to change reflections and glare, while the VND is intended to control how much light reaches the camera. I wouldn’t roll those effects into a single claim about my photos.
I’ve installed SmallRig’s AR HD screen protector as part of this setup. It’s a sensible companion to the case; SmallRig advertises an anti-reflective coating. I haven’t made a controlled comparison against an uncovered screen, so I can’t put a number on the glare reduction.
The Strap and Wallet Stand
SmallRig’s 2-in-1 shoulder strap is straightforward to set up. A thin attachment piece sits between the phone and case, leaving a loop accessible near the charging port. The adjustable strap clips onto it, and the connection feels secure in normal handling.
Worn around my neck or across my body, it keeps the camera within easy reach. Yes, it can give off a bit of a tourist look. I’d take that trade when I want to grab photos quickly or keep track of my phone while moving around. It can also sit fairly close to the body or tuck under a jacket. I haven’t stress-tested the attachment on a long hike, but the quick grab-and-shoot convenience is easy to appreciate.
The MagSafe wallet stand feels like it belongs with the case. Its tight hinge gives the phone a steadier portrait stand than the FlipLoop at some angles. There’s room for cards and a slim pocket for a small extra item, though filling that pocket will make the wallet thicker.
There is a trade-off here: attach the wallet and it covers the FlipLoop’s built-in grip and stand. Fortunately, it comes off quickly. I tend to think of them as two setups I can swap between, depending on whether I want the wallet and its stand or the loop for taking photos.
The 3.5x Telephoto Lens and Handle Kit
The 3.5x Telephoto Lens and Handle Kit takes your phone setup in a completely different direction. Because it relies on its own dedicated photography case, swapping over from my everyday FlipLoop setup means physically changing cases.
That extra step is definitely worth keeping in mind if you were hoping for a single, leave-on setup for everything. I paired the lens kit with my iPhone 18 Pro, and mapping out where to actually screw the glass on took a bit of trial and error.
SmallRig builds mount threads over both the top-right and the bottom positions of the camera array, but this 3.5x glass only works on the physical telephoto lens. When you hold the phone horizontally in landscape mode, that native 4x telephoto lens sits at the very bottom of the cluster.
Getting the phone to actually use the attached lens takes a bit of a trick. Because iOS loves to dynamically switch cameras depending on lighting and focus, it will often secretly try to use the top-right Main lens instead. If your screen looks blurry or unmagnified, here is the hack: set your Camera app to 4x zoom and literally place your finger over the top-right lens.
Blocking that sensor forces iOS to wake up and activate the bottom telephoto lens underneath your SmallRig glass. Once you force that switch, the hardware aligns perfectly, yielding a crystal-clear, heavily magnified shot. Just keep in mind that the “3.5x” label describes SmallRig’s glass multiplying what the phone is already doing, so it shouldn’t be treated as a simple description of the iPhone’s final zoom setting.
The grip also has a minor setup quirk out of the box that is incredibly easy to miss. The removable shutter module ships with a tiny protective plastic tab covering its charging contacts. Once you peel that off, you just charge it up, power it on, and pair it directly through the iPhone’s standard Bluetooth settings. Fortunately, you don’t need to download a clunky SmallRig app just to get the basic shutter button working.
The handle itself also acts as a built-in 3400 mAh battery bank, which is a massive help for keeping the phone topped up during long shooting sessions. When you go to take a shot, that shutter button requires a surprisingly firm press. A light tap had me worried the Bluetooth pairing had dropped, but a deliberate, heavy click triggers the camera every time.
Just keep in mind that the grip’s extra dials, like the physical zoom control, don’t really talk to Apple’s native Camera app. You’ll likely need a third-party app like Halide or Blackmagic Camera to unlock full functionality there, though I haven’t tested those extensively yet.
It’s an awesome touch for long-lens photography too, since physically tapping the phone screen usually introduces enough camera shake to ruin a sharp telephoto shot. Tucking a removable remote seamlessly into the handle is just smart engineering.
Verdict
I’d start with the FlipLoop Case. For $29.99, it gives me a close-fitting case that feels protective, responsive buttons, an unusually secure MagSafe connection, and a grip that makes one-handed photos easier.
The strap and CPL filter extend that appeal to travel and nature photography: the phone stays accessible, and the rotating filter gives me a way to manage reflections before I take a photo. The wallet is well made and stays firmly attached, though it covers the FlipLoop grip while it’s on. The screen protector rounds out the setup, especially if you use your iPhone for photography.
The telephoto kit asks more of you: a second case, some camera-checking during setup, a separately charged remote, and a harder shutter press than I expected. In return, it makes the iPhone feel much more like a purpose-built camera. I’m especially taken with that detachable remote. For most people, though, the $30 FlipLoop is where SmallRig’s idea comes together most convincingly.
