The topic Caviar’s iPhone case is 3x pricier than the phone and adorned with a real T-Rex… is currently the subject of lively discussion — readers and analysts are keeping a close eye on developments.
This is taking place in a dynamic environment: companies’ decisions and competitors’ reactions can quickly change the picture.
Caviar has made plenty of absurdly expensive custom phones before, but its latest iPhone accessory might be a crossover for the ages (literally). The company’s new Magnetic Custom Relict is a magnetic case for the iPhone 17 Pro Max, and it costs $4,490. Yes, the price tag sounds absurd till you realize what the case includes. Embedded into the iPhone protective cover is a fragment of a Tyrannosaurus fossil set into the tip of its signature checkmark design.
Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro Max starts at $1,199 in the US, which means Caviar’s case costs well over three times as much as the base phone it attaches to. For that money, Caviar is using lightweight aviation titanium for the magnetic panel, alligator leather in the Himalaya colorway, and blue jewelry enamel around the decorative checkmark element.
The company describes this design as a modern object carrying a trace of prehistoric Earth, making it sound a lot more dramatic than it’s supposed to be. The case attaches magnetically to the iPhone body, so this is not one of Caviar’s full custom iPhone rebuilds. Essentially, you’re buying an ultra-premium backplate that gives the phone a new look without permanently modifying the device.
Caviar is keeping this piece very limited. There are only seven pieces on sale, which also explains the price. Each unit also comes in the company’s signature gift box and includes a personal certificate. It probably won’t be the most protective or drop-resistant case, but it surely will be the most premium and exclusive one out there.