Speck Presidio Grip + Glitter for iPhone XS review: Sparkly and grippy protection

Speck is known for creating fun and colorful cases that provide excellent drop protection, and the Presidio Grip + Glitter case for iPhone XS is no exception! The thing that sets the Presidio Grip apart from the rest of the lineup is the raised rubber ridges on the back, and the Grip + Glitter adds in the extra sparkle of crystals for a fashionable touch.

Is the Presidio Grip + Glitter worth getting for fashionistas? We've put our case through the test!

Pros

  • Durable and flexible
  • Rubber provides grip
  • Raised lip keeps screen safe
  • Glitter doesn't peel or flake off
  • Buttons are easy to press
  • Not bulky

Cons

  • Gets dirty easily
  • Rubber wears out

Speck Presidio Grip + Glitter: What I like

When Speck first came out with their Clear + Glitter case, I fell in love with it and used it religiously with my iPhone 8 Plus at the time. But I was coming from a regular old Presidio Grip, which I loved using because of the, you guessed it, grippy feel. But I missed the sparkly glitter (yes, I like girly things), but then I would miss the grip. So what's a girl to do?

Fortunately, Speck granted my wish when they came up with the Presidio Grip + Glitter case. Like the other Presidio cases I've used, the Grip + Glitter is made of a tough polycarbonate shell, but it's still flexible enough to easily get your phone in and out of the case. The inside is lined with Speck's IMPACTIUM material, which feels like a softer plastic and is designed for shock absorption.

Like the regular Presidio Grip case, the back is lined with raised rubber ridges on the left and right sides, with some empty space in the middle. These ridges are also symmetrically diagonal, so I feel like it provides better grip, especially on top of surfaces. The rubber itself feels soft, smooth, and comfortable to hold.

I'm also a pretty big fan of glittery stuff, and I love how the glitter is done on the Grip + Glitter. Instead of just being a simple layer of glitter on top of the polycarbonate, Speck fused the glitter crystals into the shell itself, so it's impossible for the glitter to flake off or get scratched off. And since it's a ton of glitter crystals, you'll see the glitter on the case no matter what angle.

I've also had issues in the past with other cases, where the buttons become hard to press once the case is on. Fortunately, that's not the case with the Grip + Glitter, as each button press has a nice clicking feel to it. And the cutouts are accurate, with the camera still having some breathing room.

Speck Presidio Grip + Glitter: What I don't like

I have the Bella Pink color for the Grip + Glitter case, and while I love the color itself, I hate that the rubber gets dirty quickly. I tend to keep my phone in my pockets, so the front lip has dark blue or black scuffs. It can be wiped off though, which is easy enough, but still annoying to deal with.

Another issue I have with the rubber ridges can wear out easily. For example, my sister has the same color Grip + Glitter case for her Samsung Galaxy S9+, and the rubber on the back was lifting off of the polycarbonate shell. I have not had this issue happen with my case, but I felt it was worth mentioning.

The bottom line

Overall, the Speck Grip + Glitter is a great option to consider if you want a relatively thin profile case that adds extra grip and sparkle to your device while providing excellent drop protection. I'm definitely the type of person to spaz out sometimes and drop my phone, and I've had no issues with the case doing its job!

I just wish that the rubber on the lighter color options didn't get dirty so easily, but it's not hard to clean.

See at Speck

Christine Chan

Christine Romero-Chan was formerly a Senior Editor for iMore. She has been writing about technology, specifically Apple, for over a decade at a variety of websites. She is currently part of the Digital Trends team, and has been using Apple’s smartphone since the original iPhone back in 2007. While her main speciality is the iPhone, she also covers Apple Watch, iPad, and Mac when needed.

When she isn’t writing about Apple, Christine can often be found at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, as she is a passholder and obsessed with all things Disney, especially Star Wars. Christine also enjoys coffee, food, photography, mechanical keyboards, and spending as much time with her new daughter as possible.