Benks sent me the Benks ArmorEdge Air Navigator Case For iPhone 17/18 Pro Max, thinking I would upgrade to the iPhone 18 Pro Max. But I did not get the iPhone 18 Pro Max, as there is really not much change from my iPhone 17 Pro Max.
The good news is that the dimensions are the same. The only difference is the camera plateau, which is 0.1mm thicker (11.5mm vs 11.4mm). Apple officially says the cases are not compatible, but in practice, cases fit both ways.
Benks ArmorEdge cases retail for US$69.99 on Benks, and my discount code, lesterchan15, takes 15% off storewide, bringing it down to US$59.49 (S$76.18). Shipping to Singapore is free.
Locally, the lowest I saw is about S$90 on Lazada and S$98 on Shopee without any platform vouchers. It is cheaper for users to buy directly from Benks’ website, and it is very unlikely that any platform vouchers will make it cheaper, since the difference is about S$14.
Unboxing
ArmorEdge Red Vs ArmorEdge Air Navigator
It is slightly confusing, as there are two cases in the ArmorEdge series that both retail for US$69.99, but their features differ.
- ArmorEdge Red: the protective one. The Kevlar wraps around the side edges, and it has two layers with airbags at all four corners and reinforced corners for drops. It only comes in Savvy Red.
- ArmorEdge Air Navigator: the slim one, which is what Benks sent me. The Kevlar back is left exposed, with TPU only at the impact points. It is matte black with brass details, and the back is engraved with Magellan’s route around the world.
In short, the ArmorEdge Red is for drop protection, while the ArmorEdge Air Navigator is for people who want a thinner case. The ArmorEdge Red stands out with red Kevlar that wraps around the sides, while the ArmorEdge Air Navigator stands out with an engraved route map on black.
How ArmorEdge Differs From The Other Armor Cases
I have reviewed plenty of Benks Armor cases since the iPhone 16 Pro Max, and it is getting confusing, so here is a quick rundown:
- ArmorAir: a 600D Kevlar shell with no TPU frame and open-cut buttons, so the buttons are exposed. The lip does not cover the edges of the screen.
- ArmorPro: the same 600D Kevlar back plus a shock-absorbing Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) frame, with metal buttons, an aluminum camera frame, and a 1.5mm lip around the screen.
- ArmorPro Prestige: the ArmorPro build with a brown, black, green, and gray woven pattern, and Kevlar accents in the frame, so the Kevlar reaches the side edges too.
- ArmorGrid ArmorPro and ArmorGrid ArmorAir: the same two builds, but with the Kevlar woven using the traditional Chinese jiaoluo technique.
- ArmorEdge:
- The ArmorEdge Red is closest to the ArmorPro Prestige, as both have Kevlar that wraps around the side edges, but it adds airbag corners and comes in Savvy Red.
- The ArmorEdge Air Navigator is closest to the ArmorAir, as both are thin cases with an exposed 600D Kevlar back. Still, it adds a thin TPU frame that protects the sides and buttons, which the ArmorAir leaves exposed, plus the matte black and brass Navigator design.
Like the rest of the Armor cases, it is MagSafe compatible.
My Thoughts
ArmorEdge Air Navigator is the most expensive Kevlar case Benks has sent me. In Benks’ own store, it is US$20 more than the ArmorAir for the iPhone 18 Pro Max (US$49.99).
It either comes in red or black. However, Orange is my favorite color, so I have gone back to my Benks Mist Case despite it being more slippery to hold than the ArmorEdge Air Navigator.
Having said that, if you want a thin Kevlar case that does not look like every other Kevlar case, the ArmorEdge Air Navigator is the one to get.
If you want airbag corners for extra drop protection, get the ArmorEdge Red instead. If you want a thin Kevlar case and do not care about the engraving or protection on the sides, the ArmorAir does the job for US$20 less.
