We are taking a closer look at the latest metal skeleton cases from Arc for iPhone 18 Pro. The Arc Pulse has made headlines in the iPhone bumper case world for more than a couple years now, but does the tried and tested design still standout the way it used to? Here are my hands-on impressions fo the new Matte Dark Red colorway.
Hands-on with the Arc Pulse Bumper Case for iPhone 18 Pro
The new Arc Pulse for iPhone 18 Pro is available in various colors and finishes starting at $70:
- Matte Black – $69.99
- Polished Silver – $89.99
- Polished Graphite – $99.99
- Matte Light Blue – $119.99
- Matte Dark Red – $119.99
- Polished Gold – $129.99
- Titanium Onyx Black – $299.99
Features at a glance:
- CNC-machined from aerospace-grade Aluminum 7075-T6 & 6013-T6 (Matte Black, Matte Light Blue & Matte Dark Red).
- High-end anti-scratch coating for long-term durability.
- Sculptural, ultra-minimal design that enhances the original form of iPhone 18.
- Precision pressure-fit with a slide-on mechanism—no glue, no moving parts, no residue.
- Edge and corner wrap with raised protection around the screen perimeter and camera bar.
- Full access to buttons, ports, microphones, and speakers; designed to maintain wireless charging.
- Dual-layer architecture: rigid aluminum shell paired with an internal shock-dampening structure.
- Engineered and tested for up to 3 m | 10 ft drop protection without unnecessary bulk.
- 360° coverage focused on high-impact zones, including corners and the camera bar.
The new 18 Pro edition of the Arc Pulse is not going to surprise anyone familiar with previous iterations – it is literally the exact same thing with couple new colors to match Apple’s latest color palette as far as I can tell. If you loved them before, chances are you’re going to love them again.
As a quick refresher, and now that I have had a chance to test out the latest model on iPhone 18 Pro, you’re looking at a two piece bumper case here. The top piece slides on, much like the bottom, adhesive-free and remains in place, grasping the frame of the phone with precision. All good here.
I have had a chance to test out the new burgundy (Matte Dark Red) colorway, designed to pair with Apple’s Burgundy vibe. I like it, but it’s not exactly the same as Apple’s in some light conditions. It looks a little closer in person than some of my pictures make it seem, but I consider it to be more of a complementary burgundy as opposed to an exact extension of Apple’s paint job. This is something to consider if you were hoping for an identical color (it’s not as close as the marketing image above make it seem to my eye).
Now it is perhaps a structural thing, something that makes the skeleton of this bumper case more robust and protective, but the overall shape of the top piece throws me off a bit.
It upsets the fine lines Apple has carefully put in place here on the phone itself – providing you are into these sorts of cases in the first place, this one of two aspects of the design I do not love here. I just really wish it could maintain the rounded corners and overall form-factor of the 18 Pro as opposed to the slightly more bulky shoulders. This, for me, would make it a near-perfect bumper skeleton for Apple’s latest and greatest.
The second aspect I don’t love, is the way it claws around to the front of the display. This is after all the side of the device your eyes will be spending the most time on, and while it maintains the rounded corner look far better than the back, there is a little too much of a lip for my taste this time around. This is not something that bugged me as much in previous years, but I was hoping for a near seamless match to the burgundy this time around and something that provides some basic drop and camera protection without being overly noticeable.
All told, this is not a bad bumper case, or iPhone skeleton case, or whatever you want to call it. In fact, it is still the best one I have ever tested out. There’s just something about those overly bulbous shoulders that is throwing me off this year, and something I hope the brand can “rectify” without compromising its protective nature in the future. This thing is still a conversation starter, and one of the more unique iPhone 18 Pro protection accessories on the market.
Buy the Arc Pulse Bumper Case for iPhone 18 Pro
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