Secrid MagSafe Wallet Review

About the Brand: Secrid

If you have not come across Secrid before, let me introduce you to them. Not many people know this, but Secrid were actually the inventors and original designers of the iconic pop-up wallet, also known as a slide or fan wallet, that is now produced and copied by thousands of brands worldwide. Back in 2009, founders René and Marianne were struggling with their design business due to the global financial crisis, and took a leap of faith, pivoting away from design and into the world of wallets. It is fair to say it paid off, and they have since gone on to become one of the largest and most recognized independent wallet brands in the world.

The Wallet to End All Wallets… Maybe?

You probably already know this, otherwise why would you be considering the Secrid MagSafe wallet in the first place? But for those who do not know, the pop-up wallet is, in my opinion, one of the best wallets ever invented, and that is one of the reasons it is now produced and copied worldwide. The concept is simple. A small metal box or shell stores your cards. A lever at the bottom corner of the device can be pressed, activating a spring-loaded mechanism inside that automatically ejects the cards from the shell. And if that were not enough, the mechanism also does something very clever: it fans the cards out perfectly, staggering them so to speak, allowing you to see all your cards at once while easily picking out and removing the one you want to use.

This review is not going to be all that in-depth, mainly because I have reviewed hundreds of pop-up wallets over the years and I have very little to add other than this: yes, it is as good as it sounds, and to this day I have yet to see a solution for storing and accessing cards as good as Secrid’s pop-up wallet.

Look and Design: MagSafe Done Effectively and Elegantly

The first thing to note about the Secrid MagSafe wallet is its size, and when it comes to a MagSafe wallet I feel size is one of the most important considerations. After all, nobody wants an overly large, thick, and heavy wallet attached to their phone. It almost defeats the purpose of using MagSafe in the first place. Coming in at 95 x 63 x 10.5mm (102mm if you include the lever), I would say this wallet sits firmly in the medium size category. Not the smallest in the world, like a Moft wallet for example, but also not the largest, like the Shuffle 2.0. It is that middle ground which I like, as it does not inhibit pocket feel or make the wallet uncomfortable to carry, either on its own or on your phone, while still offering higher storage capacity than many smaller MagSafe wallets that can usually only carry one or two cards. Speaking of capacity, the Secrid wallet can store up to six flat cards or four embossed cards, which is plenty for most people.

What I like most about Secrid’s MagSafe wallet is the fact that the actual MagSafe component is slightly raised from the surface of the wallet. I have had issues with metal MagSafe wallets in the past that often feel like they are scratching and scuffing the surface of both my phone and the wallet. With this raised area you get the full strength of the magnets with limited surface area making contact between the phone and the wallet. It also helps that the magnets have been coated in what feels like a soft plastic material, another preventive measure that stops potential scratching on the device. As for the effectiveness of the MagSafe itself, how magnetic it is, it is very strong and I have had no issues whatsoever with it accidentally detaching from my phone.

The only downside I have to the Secrid MagSafe wallet is its complete inability to store cash. I mentioned in my review of the Cardprotector+ that I did not like that Secrid did not include an option to store cash as standard, instead opting to sell their cash strap as an optional accessory. I see why they did this from a sustainability perspective. There is no point selling a cash strap if people are not going to use it, and making it optional solves that. But with the MagSafe wallet there is literally no option at all to store cash, which might be a dealbreaker for some.

Sustainability of Secrid

I do not often talk about the sustainability of wallet brands, but in the case of Secrid I think it is worth a mention. After all, as I mentioned earlier, copycats have taken the pop-up wallet and mass produced it across the globe. So you might be wondering, why Secrid? Especially if you can get your hands on an identical wallet for a fraction of the price. Well, without banging on about the far superior quality of Secrid’s wallet, from the higher quality materials to its better mechanism and design, it is the brand’s commitment to sustainability and ethics that I admire the most. Secrid are certified across a number of areas that back this up.

Secrid have worked hard to ensure their company and the suppliers they use are all local, with the vast majority based in the Netherlands where the brand itself is located. They are both a certified B Corp and a member of 1% for the Planet. And finally, my favorite aspect: sheltered workshops. All of Secrid’s wallets are made in so-called sheltered workshops in the Netherlands, places that provide employment to people from disadvantaged backgrounds, those with disabilities, and others who struggle to find work in society. It is a great initiative, one that Secrid have used from the very beginning, and the thing I admire most about the brand.

Secrid Cardprotector vs Ekster Cardholder: MagSafe Edition

I wanted to end the article with a quick head to head between two of the biggest players in the wallet game, two brands who have both only fairly recently released their own MagSafe wallets. Ekster is another famous name in the world of wallets, and earlier this year I wrote a review on their Cardholder with MagSafe. These two wallets could not be more different in what they are trying to achieve. While the Secrid wallet prides itself on minimalism and simplicity, the Ekster wallet tries to do much more, so comparing them in a review would be like comparing apples and oranges. That said, there are pros and cons to both, which are outlined in the table below.

	Secrid Cardprotector for MagSafe	Ekster Cardholder Pro MagSafe
Price	$69	$129
Dimensions	95 x 63 x 10.5mm (102mm with the lever)	100.5 x 60 x 9.4mm
MagSafe	One side, raised and coated magnet ring	Both sides, phone on one and accessories on the other
Cash storage	None	Optional Cash Clip accessory
Accessories	None	Modular range, including the Cardholder Nano and Cash Clip
Stuck cards	Salamander lever frees them in place	SIM tool removes the mechanism

If you are considering either one of these wallets, I would urge you to ask yourself what you really want. Ekster’s MagSafe wallet has a double-sided MagSafe designed to work with a range of modular accessories. If cash is a must and you want the ability to potentially change the functionality of your wallet over time, the Ekster is a great option. That being said, when it comes to a simple head to head of which wallet is better overall, I am going to have to go with the Secrid.

The two are essentially the same in terms of function, but the Secrid wallet is slightly smaller (although the Ekster is a touch thinner), which is better for MagSafe, has that aforementioned raised back which I prefer, and comes in a better and wider range of colors and personalization options. The Ekster wins in terms of functionality, but as I said, if you are just looking for a cardholder and a MagSafe wallet, the Secrid is the way to go.

Final Verdict: Is the Secrid MagSafe Wallet Worth It?

In a nutshell, yes. The Secrid MagSafe wallet builds upon what was already a fantastic wallet and simply expands its functionality. The wallet is nearly unrivaled in terms of quality, materials, and ease of access, with its iconic pop-up design making card storage and access a breeze. If you are looking for a MagSafe wallet that retains a small size, can be used solely as a wallet, and still holds a decent number of cards, then this is the wallet for you.

And at a price of $69.00, it really is quite affordable compared to other wallets on the market. For more information on the Secrid Cardprotector for MagSafe, check out Secrid’s official website using the link below.