Can you use MagSafe with a 3D printed case?

Not with mine. Once I went to a single piece in regular plastic, the case covers the back and blocks MagSafe. To keep it you'd have to leave the phone's center circle open or embed magnets, which is a whole topic for another video.

What material is best for a phone case?

For something you handle and drop, PLA is too rigid and brittle. You want a material with some flex and impact resistance, like PETG or, even better, TPU if you want it to cushion the phone and hug it properly.

Why copy the Arc Pulse and not a normal case?

Because the whole point of the Arc Pulse is that it only goes on the top and bottom and shows off the phone's design. You spend €1000 on a phone and then hide it in a case: the idea was to protect it without covering it. Spoiler: that premise doesn't fully hold up.

Is it worth printing a case instead of buying one?

On money, absolutely: mine cost cents versus the €6-7 AliExpress copy or the ~€70 original. On finish and comfort, no: the printed one is rougher with edges that bother you. It's more of a fun experiment than a finished product.

Projects

I 3D printed an Arc Pulse-style phone case (and it came out cheaper)

It's a shame to spend €1000 on a phone and then €60 more on a case that won't let you enjoy its design. I saw the Arc Pulse —the one that only goes on the top and bottom— and thought: I want that. I was about to hit AliExpress until I remembered I have a 3D printer right next to me. So I designed it myself. Here's what I learned, flaws included.

Watch the video on YouTube ↗

The idea: protect the phone without hiding it

Going caseless is a bit scary: what if it drops, what if it scratches. But normal cases cover exactly what you paid so much for, the phone's design. The Arc Pulse caught my eye because it only covers the top and bottom and leaves the rest of the phone on show. The catch is the price: the original is around €70 and on AliExpress I found copies for €6-7. Printing it myself cost me cents.

Designing it wasn't easy

After several hours of sketching and modeling I got to something decent, but it took a lot of test prints. The hardest part was getting the case to not fall off and stay properly in place. At first I wanted a two-part design (top and bottom separately), but there was no way to make it hold, so I ended up merging it into a single piece to keep things simple.

The big downside: no MagSafe

Going to a single piece has a clear cost: you can't use MagSafe. The back gets covered and blocks magnetic charging and accessories. There's a fix —leave the center circle open or embed magnets— but that's a topic for another video. If MagSafe is non-negotiable for you, this design as-is won't cut it.

Honestly: it's rough, but I like it

In case you print it, fair warning: it's not very practical. It's pretty rough and has edges that bother you a bit when you grip it. And the whole premise of letting you enjoy the phone's design… honestly, it doesn't quite hold up. Even so, I designed it myself and wanted this rawer aesthetic, so I kept it that way on purpose. More than a finished product, it's a fun design experiment: it costs cents, comes straight out of the room, and I had a good time making it. If you want to print it, the design is free on my MakerWorld profile.

FAQ

Can you use MagSafe with a 3D printed case?: Not with mine. Once I went to a single piece in regular plastic, the case covers the back and blocks MagSafe. To keep it you'd have to leave the phone's center circle open or embed magnets, which is a whole topic for another video.
What material is best for a phone case?: For something you handle and drop, PLA is too rigid and brittle. You want a material with some flex and impact resistance, like PETG or, even better, TPU if you want it to cushion the phone and hug it properly.
Why copy the Arc Pulse and not a normal case?: Because the whole point of the Arc Pulse is that it only goes on the top and bottom and shows off the phone's design. You spend €1000 on a phone and then hide it in a case: the idea was to protect it without covering it. Spoiler: that premise doesn't fully hold up.
Is it worth printing a case instead of buying one?: On money, absolutely: mine cost cents versus the €6-7 AliExpress copy or the ~€70 original. On finish and comfort, no: the printed one is rougher with edges that bother you. It's more of a fun experiment than a finished product.

Enjoyed the experiment? I've got more things I've built in Projects, and if you're after your first machine, check the best 3D printer for beginners guide. All my designs are free on my MakerWorld profile.