You got yourself a new iPhone 13; chances are, you need a case to protect your most priced possession. Of course, you would think that Apple’s offering are way too expensive and then you decided to look for a third-party case. Catalyst is one particular brand that captures a considerable amount of attention with its two new iPhone case lineups - the Vibe and Influence series.
Catalyst Vibe, Influence Series, Premium Case for iPhone 13 Pro
Both series cater to the whole lineup of the iPhone 13 series. In our testing, we tried the Catalyst cases specifically for the iPhone 13 Pro; and we’re here to share what we think of these premium lines of iPhone 13 accessories.
What’s in the Box?
Both the Catalyst Vibe Series and the Influence Series come with a standard blue-and-white box. The package contains the case and a wrist lanyard.
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| Catalyst Active Defense - Vibe Series Packaging |
All the things that you need to know about these cases are printed in the box - 2.5x Higher Drop Protection, 30% louder sound, raised edge protection, four corner attachments, and more.
Hardware and Design
Aside from the aforementioned gems, since these are Catalyst cases, we will be spoiled with iconic features like the rotary mute switch, 2.5x MIL-STD-810g standard, and more.
The Catalyst Vibe and Influence cases support the unique “Forward Audio” feature. These cases are designed to blast audio directly to the users through two forward-directed speaker grilles at the front-bottom portion of the case; this results to 30% louder sound.
Design: Catalyst Vibe Series Case for iPhone 13 Pro
The Catalyst Vibe has a built-in magnet which is compatible with Apple’s MagSafe system. You’ll have the option to choose between the Battleship Gray and Stealth Black, depending on your taste. We have a gold iPhone 13 Pro and we think the Stealth Gray is perfect with this variant.
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| Catalyst Active Defense Vibe Series - Stealth Black |
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| Catalyst Active Defense Vibe Series - Stealth Black |
There's a satisfactory triangular pattern that provides good texture to the back and the sides of the case. Its innards features the built-in magnets. Despite the multiple design cues, the Catalyst Vibe still preserves a thin form factor.
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| Catalyst Active Defense Vibe Series - Battleship Gray |
The side buttons feature some linear texture to separate them from the knurled texture on the side. Also in the side section, you'll find the rotary mute switch which holds the Catalyst logo.
The backing mimics a carbon fiber-like appearance with a raised bezel on the upper left for the camera bump protection. You'll also notice the air cavity areas in the corners of the case. These cavities provide another layer of protection in a way that they compress to absorb impact. The cavities also double as the area where you can attach the wrist lanyard.
Design: Catalyst Influence Series Case for iPhone 13 Pro
The Catalyst Influence case has a slightly muted texture on the side. However, I could say that it still offers a better grip than most iPhone 13 Pro cases I've tried. Its backing has a frosted glass design but the build is made up of high quality plastic - it's PVC to be specific. However, unlike the Vibe series, the Influence case does not have a built-in magnet installed.
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| Catalyst Active Defense Influence Series - Glow-in-the-Dark color option |
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| Catalyst Active Defense Influence Series - Glow-in-the-Dark color option |
It also has some important design cues like the air cavities in the corners, Forward Audio mechanism, and linear texture on the buttons. The neon green option is an eye-catcher, it glows in the dark.
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| Catalyst Active Defense Influence Series with Wrist Lanyard |
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| Catalyst Active Defense Influence Series - Clear color option |
Performance
Both the Catalyst Vibe and Influence Series cases do not give a considerable amount of heft to your device. The cases instantly fit your phone and they're not a chore to remove from your iPhone.
The choice of textures and their implementation are also some things to be lauded about. This made these cases very attractive yet gives the right amount of texture to your hands. We also notice that they're both very easy to slip in and out of our pockets.
Buttons are segmented parts which are pushed into the cases. In turn, this allows each buttons to work efficiently. The mute switch is easy to rotate, while the buttons are very clickable.
My favorite feature is the Forward Audio implemented as grilles at the bottom end of the cases. These are engineered to blast the audio in the direction of the user. I enjoyed consuming videos and music with these cases.
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| Catalyst Active Defense Vibe Series - MagSafe Compatibility |
The MagSafe compatibility works just fine. I had no problems charging using the MagSafe charge. However, the magnet is not as strong as using an Apple-proprietary case when I tried the MagSafe wallet.
The Wrap
The Catalyst Active Defense Vibe and Influence iPhone 13 Pro cases are definitely easy to recommend. Both series exude excellence in design and function. On top of that, they remain sleek and light.
I am very confident that my iPhone is well protected with premium features present in the case-making technology. The addition of some gems like the Forward Audio and wrist lanyard support are also something to be lauded about.
You can get the Catalyst Vibe Series case for iPhone 13 Pro/Pro Max at Php 2,590 and the Influence Series Case for iPhone 13 Pro/Pro Max at Php 2,290 via Innovee's Official Store in Shopee.
Tip!
For a total device protection, you can also get the Catalyst Tempered Glass Screen Protector for iPhone 13 series which costs Php 2,290.
It offers optimum protection to your screen and is compatible with both Vibe and Influence cases. This tempered glass is shatter and scratch resistant; and also rejects fingerprints.
Related: Best Catalyst Cases for iPhone, Airpods Pro, Apple Watch: Optimum Protection for Apple Devices
