Native Union Clic Canvas review: Stylish and slim MagSafe protection

As someone prone to dropping and bumping their iPhone 12 Pro several times a day, I'm always in search of the best case to keep my device safe and sound. But I'm not a big fan of the bulkier, rugged cases that will keep your device safe through a nuclear war. I prefer thinner (but not too thin) cases with some style and flair. Oh, and if they have MagSafe? That's a bonus.

I've gone through many, many cases in the past, but I recently had an opportunity to try some Native Union products, including the Clic Canvas MagSafe Compatible iPhone case. Honestly, while it's not perfect, it's becoming one of my favorite cases for day-to-day use.

Native Union Clic Canvas: Price and availability

The Native Union Clic Canvas MagSafe Compatible case is available on Amazon and directly from Native Union. The magnetic version of the case comes only in Slate (black) or Sage (light green). It costs $40 retail.

Native Union also has a non-MagSafe version of the Clic Canvas available for slightly less at $30. It also comes in Indigo (navy blue) and Rose (pink), as well as Slate and Sage.

Native Union Clic Canvas: Slim and stylish protection

The Native Union Clic Canvas Magnetic is a simple, one-piece slim case, which means that you won't be adding a lot of bulk to your iPhone. It's made of a polycarbonate and thermoplastic polyurethane material while also combining a premium, hard-wearing polyester material on most of the case's back exterior. With the polycarbonate material, you get a soft-touch finish that feels incredibly nice. Overall, the materials of the case give you additional grip, which is always nice.

One thing that always matters to me is whether a case provides that nice, tactile "click" when pressing the volume or power buttons when it's on. Native Union does a fantastic job with the Clic Canvas Magnetic in this regard. The covered buttons have precise placement, and when you press down on the buttons, they feel great and retain that click that I love, just as if there were no case on at all. I've experienced some other cases where buttons felt squishy and just bad, so I'm glad that Native Union has it perfected.

The original Clic Canvas did not feature MagSafe, but it was compatible with certain accessories like chargers because it was thin enough. Native Union updated the Clic Canvas to include a MagSafe ring on the interior, allowing full compatibility with accessories like MagSafe chargers, MagSafe wallets, and more. However, due to the textile material on the back, certain accessories may not work as well, which I'll get to in a bit.

You also get slightly raised edges on the front, so you can set your iPhone face down and not really worry about the glass getting scratched up on a flat surface. There are also precise cutouts for the mute switch toggle, camera, and most of the bottom is exposed for the charging port and speakers.

Overall, the Native Union Clic Canvas MagSafe Compatible is a great case if you want something that works with MagSafe, is thin (but not too thin), protective, and feels great in the hand while looking good too.

Native Union Clic Canvas: The fabric material makes it hard for some MagSafe accessories

Two of my favorite MagSafe accessories are the PopSockets PopGrip for MagSafe and the mophie snap+ juice pack mini. With other MagSafe cases, the magnets in these accessories feel very strong and secure when they're on and require quite a bit of force to pull off. However, when I use the Native Union Clic Canvas Magnetic, the magnets don't feel as strong, and it's too easy to remove.

In fact, when I used my MagSafe PopGrip, it simply came off when I was trying to pull the grip out to expand fully. The mophie snap+ juice pack mini also came off very easily with a little bit of force — mophie actually does not recommend using the magnetic battery pack with fabric (or other porous materials) cases, and I can see why after the fact. So if you plan to use accessories like that, then be aware that they may not stick on as well with the Native Union Clic Canvas Magnetic.

While I love the overall look and feel of the Clic Canvas Magnetic, I'm not that big of a fan of the opening at the bottom. I prefer that my cases completely wrap around my device, so having the opening makes me worry a bit about dropping it since it's exposed on that part. But if you're pretty good about hanging on to your phone, then this shouldn't be much of a concern — don't be a klutz like me.

Native Union Clic Canvas: Competition

If you're looking for a MagSafe-compatible iPhone case that doesn't add bulk and still protects your phone while looking good, then I would also check out Nomad Rugged Case with MagSafe. This is the other case that I have in my daily rotation. It's made with genuine Horween leather, has full all-over protection, and the buttons feel great. Plus, it has MagSafe, and since it doesn't have fabric, it works great with things like the PopGrip with MagSafe and mophie snap+ juice pack mini.

Another decent lightweight case is the OtterBox Aneu. These are one of OtterBox's slimmer offerings, but they give you the durable and tough protection that OtterBox is known for. They come in fun colors and are fully compatible with MagSafe.

Native Union Clic Canvas: Should you buy it?

• You want a chic and stylish slim case
• You need MagSafe compatibility
• You like simplicity and subtlety

• You want tough protection
• You want optimal compatibility with all MagSafe accessories
• You want a color other than black or green

For those in the market for a slim but protective case with a touch of subtle style, then the Native Union Clic Canvas MagSafe Compatible is a good option to consider. I particularly like the case's overall design, and it's lightweight enough that it won't add a ton of bulk. The buttons especially feel great, it adds some grip while using your device, and it's MagSafe compatible.

However, because of the fabric on the back, it may not have the best magnetic attachment with certain accessories, so be aware of that. The opening on the bottom also exposes a vulnerable spot for drops, so you still need to be careful while using the case. And while the raised edges around the screen do help, I wish they were a tad more raised, honestly. Still, it's a chic case that I enjoy using daily — I hope more colors come for it soon.

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