This is my review of the Arc Pulse iPhone case. In the last weeks I kept getting these adds when scrolling through Facebook or Instagram. It featured images of a phone with a strange looking metal top and bottom part on it. I was intrigued by it. The design almost looked alien, out of this world (its not btw, it was designed in Groningen. An while that might sound like a place beyond the stars, it is in fact a city in the Netherlands). Even their website feels a bit spooky and strange; arc.cc. So I had to have the chance to test it for myself. For this review I’m testing the Arc Pulse in polished aluminium on an iPhone 16 PRO in silver.
Arc Pulse, case?
Arc calls the Pulse a case, that is a bit of a stretch. I would describe it as a protection system as most of the phone isn’t covered by the Pulse. The Pulse consists of two parts that slide on to the top and bottom of your phone. The two parts protect the corners of the phone in all directions and have a part that slides over the camera island on the back. It protrudes just enough on the front and the back to protect all sides of your phone.
Availability
Arc Pulse is available for the most popular phones. All recent iPhones are present, all the way from the 13 to the 16. But if you are an Android user you don’t have to miss out. The Pulse is also available for the recent Google Pixel, Nothing and Samsung phones.
The Arc Pulse is available in several colours. The cheapest (or should I say least expensive one) for the iPhone is the matt black that costs 79,95. After that you have the polished silver, graphite, rose gold and yellow gold aluminium options increasing in price with each step to 139,95 for the gold coloured version. At the top of the range you find the titanium version at 350 euro’s. Do note the available colours depend on the phone you have. For the Android models there are less colours available.
Design
At first I was a little unsure what to think of the Arc Pulse’ design. It has these flowing, organic lines. Almost like molten metal forming its way around your phone. It collides with the design of the modern phones that have hard, straight and almost Bauhaus like lines. But in a strange way it works. It compliments the phone and it made me fall in love with my iPhone’s design again. It also has a very subtle logo on the back of the top part, placed in a way it doesn’t distract.
The other part of the design I really like is how clever it is. It is machined to the smallest tolerances, to match your phone perfectly. It has to, because the Pulse is held on only by the pressure it puts on the phone. There is no glue, no screws no nothing, just high quality form fitting. The Pulse comes with rubber inlays that give the case the grip it needs to attach to your phone and to protect it from scratches and damages.
Protection
You might be wondering about the protection the Arc Pulse can give your phone. The good news is that the phone is shielded from all contact by the case in normal day to use. If you put you phone down on a flat surface no part of the phone will touch, no matter the orientation it is in. There is full 360 degree protection.
Dropping the phone might be an other situation. Because of the design big parts of the phone are not covered. In most cases this will never be a problem. If your phone drops on to a flat surface it is always going to hit the Arc Pulse first. Because of the rubber layer in the Pulse, it will absorb most of the energy and keep your phone safe.
Arc says they tested it with drops up to 10ft. No idea how much that is, but it sounds like it is at least 10 stories high (just kidding, its around 3 meters). Only when you have the misfortune that your phone hits a ledge you might be in trouble because the middle part isn’t protected. So, more than enough protection for day to day use and the incidental drop. But it might not be the best option if you are in the habit of dropping your phone daily.
Using the Arc Pulse
As I said, the Pulse made me fall in love with the design of my phone again. Before I used a (very nice) leather case by the German company Wiiuka in lovely back leather (check out Wiiuka if you are looking for high quality leather products for your Apple products). But this covers most of the phone, so I even forgot I got my iPhone in silver instead of black. When using a case you don’t even see the sides or back of your phone.
Your phone does not only look different but it also feels completely different when comparing a full case to the Pulse. The Arc Pulse is made out of aluminium and is lightweight. And by removing the case your phone will also feel much smaller. And if you really want to save some weight you could also get the Arc Pulse in titanium. But you have to be willing to pay an eye watering 350 euro’s for that.
The smooth lines of the Pulse make sure it doesn’t feel uncomfortable in your pocket or when holding the phone. And the reduced weight compared to my phone with a case helps when holding the phone for long scrolling sessions.
Because of the design and bare metal the Pulse will be in contact with all surfaces you put your phone on. The metal does come with a protective coating, but you will still get small scratches on the Pulse. Lets call it patina, since it doesn’t impact the look of the case too much. And its a sign of damage you’ve protected your phone from.
Conclusion
Is the Arc Pulse the best option for you? I think it might be for many people. If you are an avid phone dropper I might look at other options like the ones from Mous or perhaps Otterbox. But if you just need protection for that incidental drop, but don’t want a bulky full case this might be the one for you.
I love how my phone looks, how small and light it feels with the Arc Pulse. And I love the security I get from it. I believe Arc that my phone will survive a drop from 3 meters high, but I’m not going to try it myself. I just need some extra protection to ease my mind and the Pulse does just that.
It doesn’t come cheap though. At a minimum of 80 euro’s it is more expensive than a nice leather case from a quality brand. But the machining and precision that goes in to making the Arc Pulse isn’t cheap. So I can understand the price. You will have to decide if the looks, convenience and protection are worth it for you. One thing I know for sure is that the Pulse will stay on my phone until we part ways.