Technologies
Best Eco-Friendly iPhone 12 and 12 Pro Cases
Protect your phone while protecting the Earth with these environmentally friendly phone 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.
Within the past few years, many companies have began making great strides in producing more sustainable, eco-friendly products. Though the tech industry still has a lot of catching up to do, eco-friendly iPhone cases are on the rise. These iPhone cases, made from recycled and/or biodegradable materials, are more than capable of protecting your phone while helping the environment.
Biodegradable cases also won’t harm the environment for years and years after you’re done using them. Some of the cases listed below are made out of both recycled plastic and plant-based materials that are biodegradable.
Eco cases can look and feel slightly different from standard thermoplastic polyurethane, or TPU, cases — particularly the wooden ones — but most people wouldn’t even realize you were using an eco-friendly case unless you told them. Many offer good drop protection, and all the cases on this list are compatible with wireless chargers.
It’s also worth noting that many of these cases are available for earlier iPhone models, including the iPhone 11 and iPhone XS, and many of those cases are discounted.
Read more: Best iPhone 12 and 12 Pro Cases
Moment’s iPhone 12 case is thin and comes with a soft-to-the-touch texture. It is made out of biodegradable materials so the body is compostable after the polycarbonate parts are removed. It can be tossed in your compost bin when you are done with the product.
You know all those compact discs you no longer listen to? Nimble makes translucent iPhone cases out of them. They’re a little pricey at $50, but some of us like the idea of protecting the latest technology with recycled technology and don’t mind paying a little extra for that. They have antimicrobial protection, are scratch-resistant and aren’t supposed to turn yellow over time. While the Disc Case is slim, it’s rated for 6-foot drop protection.
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: black, natural and eucalyptus (pictured here). They look and feel similar to the Torro Eco Cover cases and it’s really a toss-up between the two brands. The Torro’s main advantage is that it comes in more eye-catching colors — the red and blue do pop — and currently costs less.
Note that Amazon is discounting certain colors of the Organicore case (the natural version is $10), but the green version shown is $15. Also, the Organicore is available in a iPhone 12 Pro Max version, but it costs more.
Casetify recently launched its new Ultra Compostable Cases. Compared to its earlier Conscious cases, this new eco model increases the drop-protection to 6.6 feet and is made with the 100% compostable, plant-based material Ecotify, the company’s proprietary blend of biopolymers, starch and bamboo grain.
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 the screens and is available in seven color options. The price is high at $66, but the case is customizable with personalization and prints.
This is the only case on the list I haven’t yet tried, but the Amazon user reviews for it are positive and it costsonly $9. Eplantita says its case is built from 100% biodegradable wheat straw and recyclable TPU. It fully covers your phone and has raised edges, so that should help with any face-down drops. It’s available in several color options.
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 this teal variant, which I happen to like best. (If you’re going to get a «green» case, it might as well be green.)
Tech 21 offers a few different eco-friendly case options for the iPhone 12 series. The cases are made of biodegradable materials and have a grippy texture that helps you avoid having your phone slip out of your hand. The Eco Slim model is available in a few different color options and offers good drop protection (it’s rated for up to 10-foot drops) while also being relatively slim. Prices vary a bit by the type of iPhone 12 you have but most versions cost $15 or less.
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).
Read more
- iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max vs. iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max: Specs and Features
- iPhone 12’s Four Models Compared
- iPhone 12 Specs You Should Care About
- Best Headphones and Wireless Earbuds for iPhone 12
- MagSafe Accessories for iPhone 12 are Here
- Best iPhone 12 Chargers Starting at $10
- Best Cheap True-Wireless Earbuds in 2023
- Best Wireless Car Charger and Mount in 2023
- Best iPhone 2022: Apple Currently Sells 7 Different Models. Here’s How to Pick One
- Best iPhone 13 Case
Technologies
Your Roku Device Is Getting a Free Content Discovery Software Update
Finding something to watch on your Roku will get easier soon. Here’s how to check for the software update once it’s ready.

Roku this week unveiled two updated streaming devices and three new TVs to its lineup for 2025, along with a new set of software features that will head to all Roku devices in the coming months, with a focus on discovering new content to watch.
In its own survey, Roku says that 57% of viewers give up and do something else after searching fruitlessly for something to watch. This new experience hopes to address the scroll fatigue that many streamers face when trying to find something to watch without specific content in mind.
Below, we’ll break down what the new software update is packing and how to manually check for a software update on your Roku device.
For more, here’s how to set up a VPN on your Roku device.
Here are the new features coming to your Roku
So what can Roku users expect with the upcoming update? A lot, actually. Here’s a breakdown of what’s coming.
- Coming Soon to Theaters: A new row will be added that will keep you up to date with the latest films that are currently in theaters. If you’re more of an at-home movie watcher than a movie-goer, you can add the films you’re interested in to your Save List and you’ll get a notification when it’s available to stream.
- Short-form video content: Roku’s getting on the short-form bandwagon and rows will appear in the All Things Food and All Things Home tabs to get recipes and quick home hacks in a flash.
- New badges: In addition to new, paid and free badges, an Award Winner badge will be added to titles so you can prioritize quality content.
- Personalized sports highlights: A new and personalized sports highlights in the Sports Zone section will give you the clips that are most important to you for easy viewing.
- Sports Zone expansion: Roku is expanding its Sports Zone availability globally, giving you a dedicated spot to catch up on highlights for mobile. You can also select your favorite teams to get notifications when they’re playing.
- Additional Roku mobile app updates: Roku is making its app a solid second-screen companion, allowing you to explore what’s on and use the app as a remote for your TV. Updated content details will bring cast and crew, IMDb ratings, trailers and more so you won’t need to switch to another app to get the information you want.
- Daily trivia: Test your entertainment knowledge with up to 10 new daily trivia questions each day. From there, you can tap into the Trivia Vault for even more.
- New Roku City tile: You’ll soon be able to jump into the side-scrolling Roku City with a press of a button, completely with the purple and orange vibes and plenty of easter eggs hidden throughout.
Here’s a video of Roku City in action in case you need something to mindlessly watch on repeat and are away from your Roku TV.
Roku did not immediately respond to our request for comment about the impending update.
How to manually check your Roku for software updates
If you’re wondering how you’ll be able to get the update (or any update) on your Roku when it’s available, checking to see if new software is waiting for you is a breeze. That said, as long as it’s connected to the internet, your Roku will eventually automatically update itself.
If you’re impatient, here’s how to check for new software updates on your Roku.
- Press the Home button on your Roku remote.
- Scroll to and select Settings.
- Select System.
- Select Software update.
- Select Check Now to manually check for updates for your device.
If you’re having trouble connecting your Roku to the internet, you can also update the software via a USB flash drive.
For more, don’t miss our best streaming device picks for 2025.
Technologies
Netflix Rolls Out New Dialogue-Only Subtitles Option
Say goodbye to noise descriptions such as [phone buzzing] or [dramatic music swells], unless you want to still see them.

If you got easily distracted by reading subtitles of noise descriptions, like «car engine revs up» or «crowd shouts,» Netflix has a new subtitle option for you — dialogue only. The streaming video company announced the change on Thursday. The new format drops subtitles for sound as well as the names of who’s speaking, only showing the dialogue.
Earlier this year, Netflix increased its prices and added an additional cost for family members that don’t live in your household but are still on your Netflix account. The streaming subscription also added more original titles and upgrades to the service.
Read more: Best Streaming Services of 2025
Currently, the new subtitle option is only available in English, and only for new Netflix original titles. It begins Thursday with season 5 of You, a popular Netflix original thriller.
If you need or prefer to see the subtitles with speaker names and sound descriptions, select English CC in your Netflix settings. If you want the dialogue-only option, you’ll select English. You can customize the size and font of your subtitles, and choose from other languages — but only English will have the new version.
Technologies
Madden NFL 26 Release Date Announced, Skipping PS4 and Xbox One but Coming to Switch 2
Football fans on older consoles will need to update their hardware this year.

The NFL Draft is happening Thursday evening and EA made it official that Madden NFL 26 will be released Aug. 14 and, for the first time since 2013, the game will not be available for the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One. It will, however, be launching on the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2.
EA had its reveal for Madden 26 on Thursday with details about the price, release date and the special MVP Bundle that includes the latest Madden game and College Football 26. Also announced were the platforms for the new Madden game, which will be PS5, PC, Switch 2 and Xbox Series X|S consoles. The PS4 and Xbox One will not receive a version of the game when it launches on Aug. 14.
Out of all the major video game publishers, EA tends to drag its feet on dropping platforms, especially for sports games. The last Madden game for the PS3 came out in 2016, which was three years after the launch of the PS4. Although that wasn’t the last EA game for the PS3, which was FIFA 19 in 2018, five years post-PS4 launch.
Madden 26 marks the return of the franchise to a Nintendo console. Thanks to the upgraded hardware in Nintendo’s new console, it appears to be enough to handle the football sim. The last time a Madden game was available on a Nintendo console was in 2012 with the release of Madden 13 on the Wii U.
Madden NFL 26 will be released on Aug. 14 for $70 with a Deluxe Edition costing $100. Those who purchase the Deluxe Edition will get early access to the game starting Aug. 11, along with 4600 Madden Points and other digital content. The MVP Bundle costs $150 and comes with Madden NFL 26 Deluxe Edition and College Football 26 Deluxe Edition, which has its own early access starting July 7 before the game’s July 10 release date, as well as more digital content. College Football 26, however, will not be coming to the Switch 2.
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