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Best Eco-Friendly and Recycled iPhone 13 Cases for 2023

Reduce, reuse, recycle. Check out these environmentally friendly iPhone 13 cases.

This story is part of Tech for a Better World, stories about the diverse teams creating products, apps and services to improve our lives and society.

The iPhone 14 has been out for a while now but that doesn’t mean your old reliable iPhone 13 is obsolete. If you don’t want to upgrade to the latest iPhone and instead keep your iPhone 13 in working order, you’ll want to use a good case to protect it. Those who care about the environment have plenty of recycled and biodegradable options to choose from, too. You don’t have to sacrifice protection or style either, as there’s a wide variety of environmentally friendly options available. We’ve rounded up some of the best eco-friendly iPhone 13 series cases below, though many are available for other iPhone generations as well. 

Regular phone cases tend to turn into single-use items and end up in a landfill — especially with how often we upgrade our phones. Investing in a eco-friendly phone case is a great way to stop that cycle. We’ve collected some of the best environmentally conscious iPhone cases, which are all made of recycled plastic or fully biodegradable plant-based materials.

Eco cases can look and feel different from standard thermoplastic polyurethane, or TPU, cases, but most people probably won’t realize you’re using an eco-friendly case unless you tell them. Many offer good drop protection and all the cases on this list are compatible with wireless chargers. A few have MagSafe options.

Read more: Best Cases for iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max

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You’re receiving price alerts for Incipio Organicore

Incipio’s Organicore cases are made with 100% compostable and biodegradable materials and also have eco-friendly packaging. Organicore cases offer 8-foot drop protection and are available in three color options: charcoal (pictured), natural and blue.

It feels similar to a firm plastic case and has a slight bit of grip to it. It also seems pretty protective and has raised edges to help protect your screen in the event you drop your phone face down.

Yes, ZWM stands for zero waste movement and its slim iPhone cases are made from renewable organic material that are completely biodegradable. The company says it’s also «climate neutral,» planting one new tree for every phone case sold.

ZWM cases come in a variety of color options and are some of the more attractive looking eco cases I’ve tried. 

I’ve previously featured Nimble’s translucent Disc cases that are made out of recycled compact discs. Its Spotlight case for iPhone 13 is the company’s latest eco case. It’s kind of funky looking — yes, it spotlights its recycled nature — and even though it’s pretty slim, it does offer good drop protection, with a 15 -foot rating. Nimble says it’s made from 72% recycled materials, including recycled polycarbonate, TPU, silicone, and old plastic phone cases. It’s available in 3 color options.

Casetify launched its Ultra Compostable Cases for the iPhone 12 and now has plenty of eye-catching designs for the iPhone 13. This eco model has 6.6-foot drop protection and is made with the 100% compostable, plant-based material.

Casetify also says the packaging is made of 100% sustainable, recycled and compostable materials including eco-friendly, nontoxic ink made from soybeans. The case has a raised edge design to protect your screen in the event of fall and is available in seven color options. The starting price is high at $52, but the case is customizable with personalization and prints.

Re/Casetify is Casetify’s line of eco cases that are made of recycled materials, including old, discarded phone cases, manufacturing scraps and plant derived bio-plastics. They come in a variety of color and print options ranging in price from $58 to $72 for models that include MagSafe.

Amazon

$9 at Amazon

You’re receiving price alerts for Inbeage Earthever Bio Case

This is the only case on the list I haven’t yet tried, but the Amazon user reviews for it are positive and it costs less than $10. Inbeage says its case is built from 100% biodegradable plant-based biopolymers and harvested plants, including wheat straw and bamboo fiber. It fully covers your phone and has raised edges, so that should help with any face-down drops. It’s available in six color options.

Inbeage also sells a Fabric Bio Case for around $16. It also has decent reviews but doesn’t seem as durable as this case.

David Carnoy/CNET

$28 at Amazon

You’re receiving price alerts for LifeProof Wake

Lifeproof’s Wake case is made out of recycled ocean plastic (85% of it anyway). It’s attractively designed but I wouldn’t call it super tough — it isn’t enclosed at the bottom and has 6-foot drop protection. It comes in four colors, including gambit green, which I like. (If you’re going to get a «green» case, it might as well be green.) 

KerfCase has been making handmade wooden cases for a while, and its new Plywood case is not only more durable but less expensive than some, starting at $50, with 6-foot drop protection and a limited lifetime repair warranty. I like it better than other cases made of wood that I’ve tried. It’s also worth noting that Apple’s MagSafe charger will stick to the back of it, and KerfCase sells matching charging docks for the Apple MagSafe charger (yes, it’s an accessory for an accessory).

More accessories for your phone

Technologies

These Anker Earbuds Are Down to $57 — and Even Amazon Couldn’t Resist Matching the Price

Grab yourself a solid pair of earphones that offer excellent noise cancellation and battery life.

There are plenty of earbud options out there, but finding the right ones for you can feel nearly impossible as a result. But if you’re after some of the best noise-canceling wireless earbuds and you’d like to save some money, we might have the answer for you.

Best Buy is running a one-day sale on the excellent Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC earbuds, knocking the price to just $57 — which matches the lowest price we’ve seen yet. And Amazon’s price-matching. With a 43% discount, now’s the time to grab a pair before this limited-time deal disappears.

These earbuds have 11mm drivers, as well as hi-res wireless, LDAC technology and adaptive noise canceling that should reduce noise from your environment by up to 98.5%, according to Anker. That means you can stay immersed in the music (or other content you love) regardless of what’s going on around you.

Plus, because they’re equipped with six mics, they offer good call quality, regardless of your environment. We found them comfortable, too, and loved the bass they put out.

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The Liberty 4 NC earbuds have an impressive battery life as well, offering up to 10 hours of playback per charge, with an additional 50 hours available with the charging case. And just 10 minutes of fast charging can get you up to four hours of playback. They’re also rated IPX4 water-resistant, so any inclement weather while you’re out shouldn’t cause these buds any harm.

Another great feature these earbuds offer is multipoint connection, which lets you connect to your phone and your computer at once, which is super convenient. That’s a lot of features for earbuds this affordable.

If you’re not totally sold on this model, be sure to check out our roundup of all the best headphone and earbuds deals happening now. 

Why this deal matters

These excellent earbuds are now available at their record-low price. Best Buy is limiting this discount to a one-day sale, and we expect Amazon to end the deal around the same time, so be sure to grab a pair before this opportunity expires.

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Technologies

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 Just Got Its First Proper Discount, but It Won’t Last Long

The latest rugged smartwatch from Apple is yours for just $700 right now.

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 has only been on sale for a few weeks, but it’s already available for its first real discount. Getting one of the best smartwatches money can buy isn’t going to be cheap, but this deal saves you $99 off the usual asking price. But be warned, we don’t expect this early Black Friday deal to last long.

The result? You’ll pay just $700 for your new Apple Watch Ultra 3, with a couple of colors and band combinations available. These prices often fluctuate, so we suggest checking out all available pairings before placing your order. Apple Watch Ultra 3 deals are likely to come and go quickly.

All Apple Watch Ultra 3 models come with cellular modems inside so you can connect them to your carrier — assuming it supports the Apple Watch’s eSIM. That’ll allow you to stay connected even when you don’t have your iPhone with you.

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The Apple Watch Ultra 3 comes in a large 49mm size, so it’s easy to read. Despite that huge display, Apple Watch Ultra 3 owners can expect long-lasting battery life. In fact, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 can run for up to 42 hours in normal mode and a whopping 72 hours in its low-power mode.

This being an Apple Watch, it comes with all of the usual health and fitness monitoring features, as well as sleep tracking. It can monitor your heart rate, track your progress thanks to its precise dual-frequency GPS, and do a whole lot more.

If the standard Apple Watch models can’t quite live up to your busy, active lifestyle, this is the model for you. Be sure to order your new smartwatch before this deal expires.

SMARTWATCH DEALS OF THE WEEK

Deals are selected by the CNET Group commerce team, and may be unrelated to this article.

Why this deal matters

The latest Apple Watch Ultra 3 is the best of its kind. It has a new display that’s designed to be easier to read and has an impressive battery life. It isn’t the cheapest smartwatch on the market, but if you want the best that Apple has to offer, now is the time to place your order — before this deal ends.

Looking for savings on other models? Check out all the best Apple Watch deals happening now.

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Here’s the Best Time to Spot November’s Supermoon, the Brightest Moon of 2025

Does the moon look brighter and bigger? It’s not just you — here’s why this month’s supermoon is even more super.

November is a great month for skygazers, featuring a trio of meteor showers and the return of the northern hemisphere winter constellations. This week, it also features the second of four consecutive supermoons. This month’s supermoon will happen on Nov. 4-5, and November’s beaver moon is special because it’ll be the brightest full moon of 2025. 


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In addition to being a supermoon, November’s full moon is known as the beaver moon. There is some debate as to why it was named this way. Some believe that this was the best time of year in the old days to set beaver traps to get pelts for winter clothing. Others believe that it coincides with the busiest part of the year for beavers, who are now stocking their lodges with supplies for the upcoming winter. 

The brightest supermoon: When’s the best time to see it?

The moon will reach peak illumination at 8:19 a.m. ET on Nov. 5, making the evening of Nov. 4 and the morning of Nov. 5 the best times to view the moon.

Since moon phases shift slowly, the moon will appear almost full for nearly a week. If you are unable to view the full moon on its best night due to weather or other reasons, you can still see a mostly full moon at any point from Nov. 3 to Nov. 8. 

For all of those days, the moon will be measurably brighter in the night sky compared to any other full moon in 2025. The reason for this is because of the moon’s elliptical orbit. Since it’s not a perfect circle, the moon’s 27.3-day journey around the Earth brings it closer to us on some days, a phenomenon known as perigee. If there is a full moon during this time, it’s branded as a «perigean full moon,» which you may know better as a supermoon. 

Not all supermoons are equal, and November’s will be a little more special than others. According to The Farmer’s Almanac, the beaver moon will be a scant 221,817 miles away from Earth, making it the closest full moon of the year. That means it’ll be the biggest and brightest of the year. 

In practice, the differences are fairly minor and likely won’t be visible to the naked eye when compared side by side to other supermoons. A supermoon is only about 7% larger than a regular full moon. According to NASA, the biggest difference is when comparing a supermoon to a micromoon, where a supermoon will be about 14% larger and 30% brighter. So, if you notice that your backyard patio is lit up more than usual, it’s because of the supermoon. 

Also due to the moon’s orbit, November will also bring a micro new moon, which means the moon will be as far away from the Earth as it can get — a phenomenon known as apogee. November’s new moon occurs on Nov. 20, but you won’t be able to see it.

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