Review: dbrand skins are one way to protect your Apple Card

Posted:
in General Discussion edited January 2021
Worried about your Apple Card getting damaged? dbrand skins may be a simple option to protect that titanium finish and add your own flair to Apple's staid design.




Apple may have taken a round of bad press when it uploaded a support document outlining how to clean Apple Card, instructions that noted the card should not be placed in a leather wallet or near denim -- two common places one would keep a credit card.

While Apple may have been on the receiving end of countless jokes, skin and case maker dbrand took it as an opportunity and started work on a line of Apple Card skins. These precise 3M adhesives can be applied to the front and back of Apple Card to give it a unique look while at the same time protecting that clean, white exterior.

The mag stripe of Apple Card wearing around the corners
The mag stripe of Apple Card wearing around the corners


After only a couple weeks, we already started to see signs of wear on our well-protected Apple Cards. The mag stripe on the back was getting worn down on the corners and the front had a small ding it in from who-knows-what.

A small ding shows the titanium on the front of Apple Card
A small ding shows the titanium on the front of Apple Card


Needless to say, we wanted to see these dbrand skins for ourselves.

We tried out four different finishes including matte, camo, swarm and carbon fiber.

The skins are easy to apply and dbrand even has a simple explanatory video for those having trouble.

Like any of dbrand's other skins, those for Apple Card are precise and high quality. There is no cheap material here; the skins feel solid and precisely well cut just for Apple Card.

Precision is key for the dbrand Apple Card skins
Precision is key for the dbrand Apple Card skins


They even have a cutout for the Apple Logo so everyone knows what credit card you are using when you pull it out. Other exposed elements include the chip and the mag stripe on the back.

Apple Card itself is precisely machined, matching the exact thickness of all other credit cards out there. We compared it against other metal and plastic cards and found no deviation in thickness.

Apple Card is slightly too thick for some readers with both the front and back skins applied
Apple Card is slightly too thick for some readers with both the front and back skins applied


However, with a skin attached, it is a bit thicker than your average card. We were curious how that would impact our ability to use our card in tight places, such as chip card readers.

With two skins attached to our Apple Card, we tried it in our own Square card reader. Unfortunately, it simply wouldn't fit. It added too much thickness to the card and we could not insert it. We dropped down to a single skin on the front, which allowed us to use the reader.

For what it's worth, the Square Card reader supports Apple Pay, so if you encountered one in the real world, NFC would be the easier option.

We went out to try a couple card readers in local stores to see if it made a difference. At those we tested, Apple Card with two skins worked at all but one establishment and swiping wasn't a problem whatsoever.

Fortunately, dbrand sells the skins individually for the front and back of Apple Card. That allows you to just pick up a front or a back by itself if you worry about usability issues. We certainly can't vouch for every card reader out there, but the fact that it failed on two machines is enough to give us pause before applying both sides at once.

Camo, carbon fiber, swarm, and matte black dbrand Apple Card skins
Camo, carbon fiber, swarm, and matte black dbrand Apple Card skins


We like the dbrand Apple Card skins, it just is a bit out there that this has to be a thing in the first place. It is disappointing two skins can't be confidently applied at the same time without impacting the card usage, but we can't argue with the design and implementation of dbrand's efforts.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

You can choose any of the existing designs dbrand offers or you can go wild and customize your own, and can get them with or without the Apple logo.

Each skin will run you $4.95 apiece in one of 14 different finishes.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 28
    cgWerkscgWerks Posts: 2,952member
    I don't even know how to react to this...
    One of the first times I'm kind of embarrassed to be associated with Apple.
    TomPMRIforgot usernameSolidewmejdwsuperklotonrazorpitbigtdschemengin1
  • Reply 2 of 28
    I'm not sure if this fits under the category of "Necessity is the mother of invention," or "A sucker is born every minute." 

    My Apple Card is surviving just nicely in my Buffway Slim Minimalist Front Pocket RFID Blocking Leather Wallet.

    randominternetperson
  • Reply 3 of 28
    KC in KCKC in KC Posts: 5unconfirmed, member
    Dark Mode for my Apple Credit Card!
    TomPMRIStrangeDays
  • Reply 4 of 28
    Amazon has the old fashioned paper credit card holders like we used to use. Four for very little. 
    randominternetperson
  • Reply 5 of 28
    foljsfoljs Posts: 390member
    dbrand skins may be a simple option to protect that titanium finish

    If you're not showing off that "titanium finish", why do you care to protect it?

    Using a skin for this reason doesn't make sense.

    It would be understandable if someone wanted to avoid damage on the chip (which the skin doesn't cover/protect at all).

    But why care about scratches on your card, if you don't care how the card looks by itself (since you cover its default look)?


    EsquireCatsjdb8167randominternetpersonbonobobwlym
  • Reply 6 of 28
    foljs said:
    dbrand skins may be a simple option to protect that titanium finish

    If you're not showing off that "titanium finish", why do you care to protect it?

    Using a skin for this reason doesn't make sense.

    It would be understandable if someone wanted to avoid damage on the chip (which the skin doesn't cover/protect at all).

    But why care about scratches on your card, if you don't care how the card looks by itself (since you cover its default look)?


    Kind of obvious isn't it?  The titanium finish damages easily.  The skins are for those who don't want their titanium finish damaged while still being able to flex the Apple logo.  
    From the article:
    They even have a cutout for the Apple Logo so everyone knows what credit card you are using when you pull it out. 
    People aren't showing of the titanium finish.  They're showing off that ↑↑↑
    cgWerks
  • Reply 7 of 28
    fred1fred1 Posts: 1,133member
    cgWerks said:
    I don't even know how to react to this...
    One of the first times I'm kind of embarrassed to be associated with Apple.
    I agree with you entirely.  Where were the materials experts and innovators when this was designed?  What a mess.
    superklotonTomPMRIcgWerks
  • Reply 8 of 28
    I wouldn’t use one. The wear of the card will just show that I am using the card actively. 
  • Reply 9 of 28
    As the physical card does not support touch payments, its sole function is to be swiped/inserted into physical readers. Applying adhesive skins is thus a terrible idea, not only will the card not fit into some readers, but in time as the skin degrades the card is certain to get jammed. Worse still, wear and tear will be more noticeable on the skin than the actual card - leaving almost no reason for why anyone to use these things.
    jdb8167randominternetpersoncgWerks
  • Reply 10 of 28
     My Apple Card is surviving just nicely in my Buffway Slim Minimalist Front Pocket RFID Blocking Leather Wallet.

    That's nice and all but Card doesn't have RFID anyway. You can't use them contactlessly.
  • Reply 11 of 28
    I only shop where Apple Pay is accepted. The physical card will never see the inside of a credit card machine. 

  • Reply 12 of 28
    MacProMacPro Posts: 19,851member
    Steve would have used a new specially developed Corning Glass!  ;)
  • Reply 13 of 28
    lovemn said:
    Amazon has the old fashioned paper credit card holders like we used to use. Four for very little. 
    Excellent point.  I think I have one of those tyvek sleeves somewhere.
  • Reply 14 of 28
    Kind of obvious isn't it?  The titanium finish damages easily.  The skins are for those who don't want their titanium finish damaged while still being able to flex the Apple logo.  
    From the article:
    They even have a cutout for the Apple Logo so everyone knows what credit card you are using when you pull it out. 
    People aren't showing of the titanium finish.  They're showing off that ↑↑↑
    If that's the case, people are even stupider than I thought.  ANYONE with a halfway decent credit rating can get an Apple Card, ergo it's not a status symbol.

    Me, I'm protecting my Apple Card by having it encased in a 5" cube of clear Lucite.
    chemengin1
  • Reply 15 of 28
    MacProMacPro Posts: 19,851member
    Kind of obvious isn't it?  The titanium finish damages easily.  The skins are for those who don't want their titanium finish damaged while still being able to flex the Apple logo.  
    From the article:
    They even have a cutout for the Apple Logo so everyone knows what credit card you are using when you pull it out. 
    People aren't showing of the titanium finish.  They're showing off that ↑↑↑
    If that's the case, people are even stupider than I thought.  ANYONE with a halfway decent credit rating can get an Apple Card, ergo it's not a status symbol.

    Me, I'm protecting my Apple Card by having it encased in a 5" cube of clear Lucite.
    Aesthetically a brick size and shape would look better I feel.
  • Reply 16 of 28
    wlymwlym Posts: 102member
    This is like getting a full-face tattoo to hide the fact that you have a few freckles.
    randominternetpersonrazorpitCarnage
  • Reply 17 of 28
    MacPro said:
    Kind of obvious isn't it?  The titanium finish damages easily.  The skins are for those who don't want their titanium finish damaged while still being able to flex the Apple logo.  
    From the article:
    They even have a cutout for the Apple Logo so everyone knows what credit card you are using when you pull it out. 
    People aren't showing of the titanium finish.  They're showing off that ↑↑↑
    If that's the case, people are even stupider than I thought.  ANYONE with a halfway decent credit rating can get an Apple Card, ergo it's not a status symbol.

    Me, I'm protecting my Apple Card by having it encased in a 5" cube of clear Lucite.
    Aesthetically a brick size and shape would look better I feel.
    Oh, perhaps a monolith?  With or without beveled edges?  I wouldn't want it to get chipped.
  • Reply 18 of 28
    Kind of obvious isn't it?  The titanium finish damages easily.  The skins are for those who don't want their titanium finish damaged while still being able to flex the Apple logo.  
    From the article:
    They even have a cutout for the Apple Logo so everyone knows what credit card you are using when you pull it out. 
    People aren't showing of the titanium finish.  They're showing off that ↑↑↑
    If that's the case, people are even stupider than I thought.  ANYONE with a halfway decent credit rating can get an Apple Card, ergo it's not a status symbol.

    Me, I'm protecting my Apple Card by having it encased in a 5" cube of clear Lucite.
    It may not be a status symbol to me and you, but it's pretty obvious that a certain segment of the population views anything Apple as a status symbol... card included.  Now I'm not judging them, just sayin' they exist and they feel that way.
    cgWerks
  • Reply 19 of 28
    AppleExposedAppleExposed Posts: 1,805unconfirmed, member
    cgWerks said:
    I don't even know how to react to this...
    One of the first times I'm kind of embarrassed to be associated with Apple.

    1. This isn't an Apple product.

    2. You're embarrassed Apple released a revolutionary product that's so beautiful people want to protect it?

    Banks and credit companies wish people gave a damn this much about their cards!!
  • Reply 20 of 28
    AppleExposedAppleExposed Posts: 1,805unconfirmed, member
    Why the F isn't there a clear option? Reading the name of the article logically I thought it would be available.

    Either way these look nice!

    Kind of obvious isn't it?  The titanium finish damages easily.  The skins are for those who don't want their titanium finish damaged while still being able to flex the Apple logo.  
    From the article:
    They even have a cutout for the Apple Logo so everyone knows what credit card you are using when you pull it out. 
    People aren't showing of the titanium finish.  They're showing off that ↑↑↑
    If that's the case, people are even stupider than I thought.  ANYONE with a halfway decent credit rating can get an Apple Card, ergo it's not a status symbol.

    Me, I'm protecting my Apple Card by having it encased in a 5" cube of clear Lucite.

    Don't you need an iPhone to receive Apple Card? The Card would be an extension of that. Ever see iPhone cases with the logo cut out?
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