After testing about a dozen different MagSafe wallets the past year, I’ve found a new one that surprises me for its unique way of accessing all the cards I carry with me. The Ekster Cardholder Pro for MagSafe looks like something Apple would create with its space-grade aluminum construction. However, it has a secret weapon that makes it unique.
What’s special about the Cardholder Pro is the clever mechanism that slides out the cards stored inside of it. One click of a button ejects all of the cards stuffed inside it, but in such a way that it almost looks like it’s dealing the cards out.
I haven’t seen this before, and the Cardholder Pro has become my new favorite MagSafe wallet — and I’m not just saying that for this one specific feature. There’s so much more to it. Here’s why.
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The clever sliding mechanism is pure genius because other MagSafe Wallets I’ve used, like the Snap Grip Wallet from OhSnap, don’t make it easy to find the card I want to pull out. Since the Cardholder Pro uses a sliding mechanism that activates through a button on the bottom corner of the wallet, all of my cards come out in a stacked position — making it way easier to see and access them.
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)
One thing I look at when I test these wallets is how many cards they can accommodate; most of them top out at around three to five cards at most. MagSafe wallet cases like the Supcase MagFlip Stand and Moft Field Wallet do technically fit way more, like eight cards, but I find their design a bit on the bulky side.
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)
In contrast, the Ekster Cardholder Pro is uniformly sleek with its all-aluminum construction — with about the same thickness as my phone. Not only does it look cool, but it feels solid as well. There are MagSafe connections on both sides of this wallet, which lets me fasten it to the back of my phone, while the other side lets me connect other accessories without the need to remove it.
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(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)
The only downside about this design is that the top edges where the cards come out feels a bit sharp. And since it’s constantly rubbing up against my phone’s case, the red paint job shows more signs of wear and tear after a couple weeks of use. It’s not terrible, but I can only imagine what it’ll look like in about a year.
(Image credit: Ekster)
Part of the reason why Ekster puts another MagSafe connection on the other side of the wallet is because of how the company presents it as a modular wallet. There are other MagSafe accessories you can use with it, like a coin tray or cash clip. If you’re worried about losing or misplacing it, there’s the Finder Card that makes it trackable with support for Apple’s Find My service.
Yes, the Cardholder Pro is an expensive MagSafe wallet at $129, but it’s ingeniously designed. Removing cards is effortless, and the Cardholder Pro features RFID blocking technology to safeguard my stuff. Most importantly, I’m able to carry all the cards I need without taking on a bulky accessory when it’s in my pocket with my phone.
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