To be honest, Elago’s M4 Stand for the iPhone has little practical value, unlike the W3 Stand for Apple Watch, but it is kinda cool. You’ll have to decide if you want to spend $34.99 for a “kinda cool” case for the iPhone 7, iPhone 6s and iPhone 6 (alas, there are no Plus sizes available).
The M4 Stand’s gimmick is that you slide your iPhone into the stand (5.8 inches long, 4.3 inches wide, and 5 inches tall), “transforming it into an old Apple monitor.” Well, actually, the set-up resembles a “squished” version of an early, beige Mac. There’s a pass-through rail underneath the stand for connecting your Lightning cable for charging.
The M4 Stand is made with scratch-free silicone to prevent damage to your iPhone and cable. The material provides enough weight that you can plant your stand on just about any flat surface.
The M4 Stand — available in black and white versions — would be more functional if it could actually charge your iPhone. Also, you’ll have to remove most cases to insert the smartphone, which is inconvenient. And once it’s actually in the case, there aren’t many advantages to propping up the smartphone.
Despite all this, the M4 Stand will have fans for those who want their iPhone to occasionally look like a miniature, vintage Mac.
Apple World Today Rating (out of 5 stars): ★★★
