The Selfix iPhone 17 Pro case solves a problem most iPhone users never knew they had: the iPhone 17 Pro’s best camera is on the back, but you cannot see yourself while framing a shot. This crowdfunded accessory from Dockcase adds a rear OLED touchscreen display and microSD card slot, turning the phone into a creator tool that costs just $79 at entry level.
Key Takeaways
- Rear OLED touchscreen displays what the main camera sees, eliminating the blind spot for selfies
- MicroSD slot supports up to 2TB expansion for storage and data transfer
- Crowdfunding price starts at $79 USD for iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models
- Case effectively doubles phone thickness, adding significant bulk
- USB-C connection mirrors display output; no app installation required
- Auto-shutoff after five minutes conserves battery life
What the Selfix Case Actually Does
The Selfix iPhone 17 Pro case is a protective case made from TPU with a soft rubber finish that snaps onto your phone and adds a 3.5-inch OLED touchscreen to the rear. When you press the dedicated camera control button, the display activates and mirrors your iPhone’s output via USB-C, showing exactly what the rear camera sees. This means you can frame selfies using the iPhone 17 Pro’s superior 48MP main lens, 48MP ultra-wide lens, and full Night Mode and Portrait Mode capabilities—all while watching yourself in real time.
The Selfix iPhone 17 Pro case maintains full compatibility with MagSafe accessories and supports fast charging, so you are not sacrificing core iPhone functionality. A dedicated physical power button on the side controls the rear display, and the screen automatically shuts off after five minutes of idle time to preserve battery. You navigate the phone using the rear touchscreen, and if you need full control, enabling AssistiveTouch in Accessibility settings gives you complete navigation from the back display.
Storage Expansion That Actually Matters
Beyond the rear camera viewfinder, the Selfix iPhone 17 Pro case includes a microSD card slot that supports cards up to 2TB, letting you expand your phone’s storage and transfer data directly from your iPhone’s internal storage. For content creators who shoot constantly with the rear camera system, this dual functionality—live viewfinder plus expandable storage—eliminates the workflow friction of managing files on a computer or relying on cloud services.
The microSD approach is a practical middle ground between internal storage limits and external USB-C SSDs. While external solid-state drives offer faster transfer speeds, microSD cards are simpler to use and do not require carrying a separate device. For creators who need extra capacity without complexity, this addresses a genuine pain point.
The Bulk Problem You Cannot Ignore
Here is the catch: the Selfix iPhone 17 Pro case is not subtle. It effectively doubles your phone’s thickness, making the device significantly bulkier than a standard case. The iPhone 17 Pro dimensions are 156mm (H) × 76mm (W) × 17mm (D), and adding this case transforms it into something you will definitely feel in your pocket. For casual users, this is a dealbreaker. For content creators who already carry gear, it is a calculated trade-off.
The case is heavier than a traditional protective case, and the OLED display adds another layer of complexity to a device that is already feature-rich. If portability matters to you—if you want to slip your phone into a jacket pocket without thinking about it—the Selfix iPhone 17 Pro case is not the right choice. But if you are someone who shoots content regularly and values the ability to see yourself while using the best camera on your phone, the bulk is the price of admission.
How It Compares to the iPhone 17 Pro’s Native Setup
The iPhone 17 Pro’s front-facing camera is no slouch. It features an 18MP Center Stage lens with automatic subject framing and landscape orientation capability, representing a significant upgrade over the iPhone 16 Pro and older models. For video calls and casual selfies, the front camera handles the job competently. But for photography enthusiasts and creators, the rear camera system is in a different league—48MP resolution, 8x optical zoom, and Night Mode capabilities that the front camera simply cannot match.
The Selfix iPhone 17 Pro case bridges that gap by letting you use the rear camera for selfies without the guesswork. You see exactly what you are framing, adjust composition in real time, and access the full suite of rear camera features. This is not a replacement for the front camera for video calls—you would not want to hold your phone backwards during a FaceTime conversation. But for photography, it unlocks creative possibilities that the native iPhone setup does not offer.
Crowdfunding Status and Availability
The Selfix iPhone 17 Pro case is currently live on Kickstarter with crowdfunding prices starting at $79 USD. At the time of the source article, the campaign had ten days remaining. Availability is limited to iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models only—there is no Android equivalent, and no versions for older iPhone models. This is an iPhone-exclusive accessory due to its Kickstarter status and the specific engineering required to interface with the USB-C port and camera system of the iPhone 17 series.
If the campaign funds successfully, you can expect the case to ship to backers before wider retail availability. Crowdfunding prices are typically lower than post-campaign retail pricing, so early backers get the best deal. The $79 entry price is competitive with premium protective cases that lack any additional features, making the rear display and microSD expansion surprisingly affordable for what you are getting.
Is the Selfix case worth the bulk?
For content creators who shoot regularly with their iPhone and want to use the rear camera for selfies without fumbling, yes. For casual users who take the occasional photo, probably not. The real question is whether you value the creative control of seeing yourself while using a superior camera more than you value a slim, pocketable phone. If you do, the Selfix iPhone 17 Pro case is worth trying.
Can you use the rear display while charging?
The Selfix iPhone 17 Pro case supports fast charging, so yes, you can charge your phone while using the case. However, the rear display connects via USB-C, which is the same port used for charging. You would need to manage cable routing carefully, and the case does not include a workaround for simultaneous charging and display use. In practice, you would likely charge the phone separately from extended shooting sessions.
Does the rear display work with all iPhone camera features?
The rear display mirrors your iPhone’s output via USB-C, so it displays whatever the camera app shows. This means you get access to all rear camera features: the 48MP main lens, ultra-wide lens, Night Mode, Portrait Mode, and zoom controls. You frame shots using the touchscreen, and zoom by touching the bottom of the display with the same gesture you would use on the iPhone’s main screen. The full camera system is available—there are no hidden limitations.
The Selfix iPhone 17 Pro case is a niche product designed for a specific use case: photographers and content creators who want to use their phone’s best camera for selfies without shooting blind. It solves that problem elegantly, adds useful storage expansion, and does not break the bank at crowdfunding prices. The bulk is a real trade-off, but for creators who already carry gear and prioritize capability over portability, it is a genuinely useful tool.
Edited by the All Things Geek team.
Source: Android Central
