Digital Minimalism: Elrow Industries Miniphone Ultra Case

We have a bit of a confession to make here at The Coolector. As much as we appreciate the health tracking, the seamless notifications, and the sheer futuristic utility of an Apple Watch Ultra, there is a part of us that deeply misses the weight, the ticking heart, and the mechanical soul of a traditional timepiece.

The dilemma of the modern wrist is a real one: do you wear the computer that keeps your life in order, or do you wear the Omega, the Seiko, or the G-Shock that completes your outfit? Usually, the “real” watch loses out to the tyranny of convenience.

But what if you could have both? What if you could strip the Apple Watch of its strap and transform it into the ultimate minimalist communication device? Enter the Elrow Industries Miniphone Ultra Case, a 3D-printed marvel that solves the two-watch problem with serious style.

The concept is ingenious in its simplicity. Sometimes, a phone—even the sleekest iPhone—is just too much. It is a portal to doom-scrolling and distraction. The Miniphone Ultra Case reimagines the Apple Watch Ultra (be it the 1, 2, or 3) not as a wearable, but as a dedicated, palm-sized “miniphone.”

By encasing the watch body in a robust, handheld shell, it allows you to keep the essential connectivity—calls, texts, maps, and music—while freeing up your wrist for a piece of horological history. It turns the most advanced wearable into a dedicated tool that you actively have to pick up to use, instantly curbing the urge to mindlessly check notifications every time your wrist vibrates.

Aesthetically, this case hits all the right notes for the everyday carry (EDC) enthusiast. It is crafted from PETG, a high-quality thermoplastic polymer that offers significantly increased durability and temperature resistance compared to standard PLA+ prints. This material choice is deliberate; PETG is trickier and slower to print, requiring a level of patience and precision that mass-manufactured plastics simply don’t demand.

The result is a translucent body with textured outer surfaces that feel grippy and substantial in the hand. And then there is the color. Finished in a translucent Olive Green—which the creators boldly claim is “the best color in the whole world”—it has a utilitarian, military-spec vibe that looks fantastic alongside a canvas field bag or a brass pen.

Measuring 95mm tall, 42mm wide, and 13.5mm thick, and weighing in at just 25g, the form factor is spot on. It is big enough to feel like a deliberate device rather than a loose component, yet small enough to slip into a coin pocket without creating bulk.

The package includes steel hardware and a hex wrench for assembly, ensuring your expensive tech is locked in securely. It also features a nifty lanyard hole and comes with a lanyard included, complete with a bright orange grippy bead. This isn’t just a visual accent; the bead adds a tactile anchor point, making it easy to fish the device out of a pocket or bag.

Functionality has been thought through to the end. The case features an open back, meaning you never have to unscrew the hardware to charge the device; you simply drop it onto your magnetic puck as usual.

The creators also offer a pro-tip for the new form factor: make sure to turn off wrist detection in your settings to maximize battery life, as the sensors will no longer be against your skin.

Priced at just £29, and with a lead time of around seven days due to the custom printing process, the Elrow Industries Miniphone Ultra Case is an affordable, stylish, and genuinely useful way to disconnect from the digital noise while staying just connected enough.

---