Does a phone case really block secret Apple feature? Weird iPhone myth busted

30 July 2023 , 06:30

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You might not need a phone case after all - thanks to a little-known iPhone feature

If you're anything like me, a phone case seems like the most obvious purchase in the world. All it takes is a couple of new phones shattering on the pavement to make you vow to use a case for the rest of time. After all, phone cases protect all that expensive metal and glass from scratches, scrapes, and drops from great heights.

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But there's one school of thought that suggests you shouldn't use either of these things at all. One argument is that a phone case stops you from using all of your phone's features effectively.

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For example, all iPhones have a 'Back Tap' feature built into the Apple logo on the back of the device.

This lets you assign a special action, such as opening your camera app or activating Siri, which is activated when you tap the logo two or three times.

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To turn on Back Tap, you just open your Settings app and tap Accessibility > Touch and then Back Tap. Once you've assigned it a feature, you'll be able to use it.

Some people claim that having a phone case over the logo could make it harder to use this feature, which is undoubtedly one of the iPhone's coolest but most little-known features.

However, Mirror.co.uk tested the Back Tap feature with an official iPhone case to see if its functionality is affected—and we can confirm that it still works perfectly fine.

The iPhone has a very cool feature built into the Apple logo on the back of the device

That's not to say that it will work with every phone case, particularly if you're using a cheap third-party accessory you bought on the high street.

There are still a few good arguments for skipping out on a phone case. Obviously, the iPhone is a beautiful bit of kit and not only looks great but feels good to hold.

With the iPhone 12, Apple introduced something called Ceramic Shield which makes the screen much more resistant to cracks and drops.

Of course, that doesn't mean that the metal body of the iPhone will be invincible to scratches or dents if you drop it on some tarmac, but if you look after your phone relatively well, it should survive most hits.

If you're using a silicone or rubber phone case, your phone could also overheat in hot weather—but the effects of this may be a little bit overstated.

So, it's really up to you. If you want to ditch your phone case and enjoy it in its full glory, you probably can do as long as you don't go dropping it off bridges or out of fast-moving vehicles. But if you don't trust yourself to keep it scratch-free, a case won't stop you from enjoying all your iPhone features to the max.

Ciaran Daly