It’s no secret that while I embrace tech, I have a fondness for the past. Wireless speakers and streaming audio? Awesome. At last count I had 30+ wireless speakers in my office. But when I really want to kick back and enjoy the experience of listening to music, I ditch the wireless for records spinning on a turntable hooked up to a vintage Pioneer receiver driving a pair of PSB bookshelf speakers. When it comes to my iPhone–which I am never without–this leaning toward nostalgia is also there. Since I have to slap on a protective case anyway, this is an opportunity to customize the iPhone to reflect my tastes. Two of my recent purchases for my iPhone 17 Pro Max are the Spigen Classic LS case and phone strap, and the Black Cassette case from Pela.
The first does a solid job of dressing the iPhone up like a classic Apple Macintosh 128K computer, the second turns my iPhone into a convincing (though oversized) version of an audio cassette.
Spigen Classic LS Collection
When I first heard about the about Spigen’s Classic LS series for the iPhone, I was hooked. The company released a protective case and wrist strap designed to make an iPhone look like a 1984 era Apple Macintosh 128K. The classic Mac look was achieved with the distinctive gray plastic of Apple’s all-in-one, the sculpted appearance of a disk drive slot, a modified multicolor Spigen logo in a nod to the Apple logo of that era, buttons inspired by the Mac’s keyboard and the iconic “hello” startup engraved on one of them.
Even better, the Classic LS is part of a series of Apple Macintosh 128K-inspired iPhone accessories (each sold separately). The Spigen Classic LS collection includes the case, wrist strap, MagSafe wallet and an AirPods Pro case cover that looks like the classic Apple mouse.
The $59.99 Classic LS case is made of polycarbonate and thermoplastic polyurethane with raised edges around the display and camera bump, providing everyday protection for your iPhone. It also has a complete set of buttons (including a touch button for the camera), cutouts and is MagSafe compatible. Available for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, the Classic LS has frequently been sold out on the Spigen website, but I was able to get mine from Amazon.
Pela Black Cassette iPhone Case
Pela iPhone cases are primarily manufactured in British Columbia and are focused on sustainability. They are made from non-toxic, BPA-free flax shive and a plant based biopolymer that make them compostable. And the company donates to a wide range of environmental charities and organizations, including Save the Waves, Ocean Conservancy and the WWF. The cases are flexible and easy to grip. MagSafe is $10 extra. I’ve been using these with various iPhones over the past several years and find they offer effective protection, but pair a case with the company’s screen protector and Pela will pay up to $500 toward screen repair should your iPhone be damaged.
Outside of the sustainable approach and protection, Pela offers a wide range of designs printed on the case. My favorite (and one that I’ve ordered for several iPhones including the $75.00 version with MagSafe for my iPhone 17 Pro Max) is the Black Cassette.
This case is a throwback to the age of audio cassettes. I’ve had multiple people come up to me at concerts and other events when I’ve had this case on, asking where I got it. My kids have no idea what it’s supposed to be, but for a certain demographic this iPhone case really hits home.