TL/DR: 4 stars – docking one star for the design miss with contact charging. Great case otherwise.After having used the CordKing iPhone 12 Pro Max case for about two weeks, the events of which included a 6-foot drop of my encased iPhone 12 Pro Max – I am opting to write this review so it can help make your decision easier.First Impressions: the case comes packaged in a nice ‘gift-box’ like enclosure, with promises of excellent customer service (in reasonably good English) and QR codes printed on the outside. In the box, you will find a cute thank-you note addressed to “Dear Sweet Angel” – obviously something was lost in the Google Translation – with more promises of great customer service. If the intent was to make the buyer feel special, they get an A for effort!This is a silicone case – the case is not very rigid and reasonably flexible. You need that in a case so you can get it on or off easily.The case does not have rounded edges (like some other 12 pro cases) that provide air pockets to cushion an impact.The side lock button feels weird – there is very minimal tactile feedback. I have the habit of locking my phone as soon as I finish looking at it by clicking the side button; the first few days of using this case, my attempts to lock were hit or miss – sometimes it locks, other times it summons Siri. I had to “learn” to apply proper pressure for locking. Same deal with the side volume buttons.The cut-out for the mute button is wide enough to turn on with my thumb; but I definitely need a bit of fingernail on the other direction to unmute.The lightning port is a little mis-aligned in the cut-out provided for it. Using a cable, or wired headphones, the connector’s end sits a bit tight at the top and disproportionally spaced at the bottom.The case’s lip around the face of the phone has adequate clearance (~2 or 3 mm) when placed face down to protect screen from getting scratched. The back is whole another story. There is almost no clearance in the camera cut-out to protect the lenses. You may want to get a camera-protector to keep your cameras from scratching. BUT... before you dismiss this case for this singular reason, know that the magnetic ring in the back provides some lift for the whole case when placed face-up, so this whole point may be moot.On to the ring: it is a pretty cool accessory that helps hold this large phone in your hand while messing around with it. I have large hands, but I still cannot reach all the way to the top to swipe down without repositioning the phone (I am not a giant). The phone precariously dangles for a split second when you do that, and this is usually when spills happen. The ring is handy in these situations and gives you a bit more control over the phone’s handling.The ring also doubles as a stand for your phone but know that it only works in landscape orientation. You cannot use the ring as a stand in portrait mode. Okay fine; you can, but you might as well lay the phone down flat in that case.The magnet inside of the ring is quite powerful and attaches to my Scosche Magic Mount on my rear-view mirror nicely. The force really is strong with this one.One disadvantage I found with the ring: phone handoff to another person is tricky when you have your finger through the ring. Especially if the other person is a significant other that has a tendency to snatch the phone instead of waiting for you to hand it to them. Yeah... ouch!Another disadvantage: You might as well return the contact chargers you bought. They are useless with this case on. The magnetic ring does not allow for flush contact with the Magsafe/Qi charger surface; you have to remove the case to get the juice flowing through contact. With this bad boy on, the only charging possibility is via lightning cable. Seems to me like a design decision which favored the ring/magnet feature.Bottom line: I am quite happy with this case, despite some irritants: inability to use the contact charging feature, little tactile feedback from the side keys etc. It does take a bit of practice before you learn how to pry open and use the ring in a one-handed operation, but once you do you will enjoy a secure feeling while holding this phone in your hand.
