Razer Arctech Slim is the new series of iPhone covers announced a few months ago by the well-known manufacturer of accessories (and not only) for gaming. As far as I'm concerned personally, Razer is a brand that I particularly care about and, despite being an Apple user with a Mac, I still use the Ornata Chroma keyboard, Naga Trinity mouse and Orbweaver controller to manage my workflow for photos and videos. Based on my affection for the brand, I decided to try the new exceptional accessory for the iPhone: the case that can cool the device. Will it work?
Razer Arctech Slim: materials make the difference
I admit I was very surprised a couple of months ago when I first saw these Razer covers dedicated exclusively to the previous and current generation of iPhones and the Razer Phone 2. A move, that of Razer, which aims to conquer a small space in the hearts of users of the bitten apple, thus offering a product made specifically for one of the best-selling (and most popular) smartphones in the world. The Arctech line does not include only the "Slim" version (product under review), but also a Pro version which, in the face of a slightly bulkier body, guarantees even better performance. The idea behind Razer Arctech Slim (and the series in general) is to offer the most hardcore gamers a means to best dissipate the heat generated by the various iPhones.
This certainly does not mean that an iPhone warms up more or less than the other devices, but it certainly was wise to take the ball for such a product especially after the release of Apple Arcade which, as far as I'm concerned personally, has changed the way. which you play with your smartphone, and the result is that now, as soon as I can, I open the various games and play a game. Thinking in this way, however, it is inevitable to encounter a possible overheating of the device, because it is put under stress for several hours (but also trivially minutes) by running three-dimensional graphics and advanced elements. In short, any device, if put under stress (and perhaps in a rather hot environment), would heat up, especially if you then choose a thick silicone or leather cover.
The cover Razer Arctech Slim is made with a Thermaphene layer, which I discovered to be a particular fiber created by the manufacturer to best guarantee dissipation. Thanks to the Thermapene, indirect contact (first there is another state of generic microfiber to protect against scratches) it is therefore possible to lower the temperature of the smartphone and avoid overheating problems.
The cover is perfectly made from a construction point of view and has holes in the area where it is usually possible to verify overheating in intense gaming sessions. The case material is a thin and, unfortunately, quite slippery polycarbonate imitation. In fact, I went from the classic Apple leather cover to this Razer Arctech Slim and the very first thing I got to notice is the fact that, due to the construction material, common to a normal notebook body, unfortunately the smartphone I it slipped out of my hands a few times without causing damage in any case (fortunately). A matter of habit actually, because in a few days I got used to and made peace with the external materials of this Razer Arctech Slim.
Since I recently bought the new iPhone 11 Pro Max I have decided to abandon (almost) completely the Lightning cable - I have never particularly liked it despite being reversible - and therefore only take advantage of wireless charging. Since this is a case designed for the last two generations of smartphones from the Cupertino house, obviously there were no problems with this type of charging with any base I used (in the test I changed three different ones between home and office).
Razer Arctech Slim: Does it really cool?
During my test I decided to put the iPhone under stress in various ways, and I realized that often I don't really need long gaming sessions: a classic day of intensive work is enough. The perfect theater for this dissipation test were the days spent in Lucca on the occasion of the Lucca Comics and Games 2019, an occasion in which I really needed to have the phone operational and alert all day.
Given the rain then, the situations of use were numerous, going from the external cold to the internal heating, to the games with the various games during the waiting in line, to the films watched during various trips and movements or simply before falling asleep. In short, I put a lot of meat on the fire to try this case and, in the end, to my delight, I noticed that the dissipation really works and it is not just fiction.
For reasons of scientific method, I madly decided to alternate various covers from day to day, therefore the result was to see one day the Arctech Slim, the day after the Apple cover in leather, then again any silicone case and then start again with the Razer (in rotation). This allowed me to understand the type of heating my iPhone developed which, in itself, is not that serious or worrying, but clearly in some situations it can happen.
Razer Arctech Slim does its job very well while remaining slim and unobtrusive, a design choice that leaves speakers and microphones a little less protected but which, according to the manufacturer, manages in this way to guarantee a better and more faithful listening to the one without case. For those who want more protection, however, the "Pro" and "THS" versions are available which, beyond small variations in the design and positioning of the logo (the THS version has the classic Razer snake instead of the Apple logo in the rear) they also offer resistance to drops from about 3 meters.
I definitely liked Razer's overbearing entry into the world of covers (especially those for iPhones), above all because I am a great admirer of the brand and I know that behind the products there are important studies and decisive choices for gamers (and not only). I know that by now the word "tamarraggine" has almost entered the Treccani, so I am sure that you will forgive me if I decide to close the review with a sentence like "the black and green THS version manages to offer the right amount of appreciable tamarraggine on your iPhone" .
Razer Arctech Slim: price and availability
Razer Arctech Slim is available starting with €34,99 for iPhone XS, XS Max and XR, while climbing to €41,99 for versions dedicated to new iPhone generations (11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max). If, on the other hand, you are interested in the “Pro” and “Pro THS” models, the prices can go up to €46. I realize that at first glance they can be important prices, but keep in mind that the average prices for original cases (or in any case sold at the Apple Store) are the same, with peaks of as much as € 150 in some cases (such as the original one of Apple in wallet format). In this case you will have a product that can offer a real benefit to your device and yes, add a bit of tamarraggine if you buy the THS version (I wrote that I should have concluded the review with "tamarraggine").
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