The ESR Aura MagSafe wallet and stand. The Aura wallet launched in November, and I was immediately struck by how much it reminded me of two other wallets already ZDNET-tested and loved. ESR, in my opinion, has just leveled up on Satechi’s flagship wallet, and shares similarities with Journey’s Ezmo wallet.
Like the Satechi wallet, ESR features an ID window, seamless design, and a $40 price point — but has upped the ante. You can store one more card than Satechi’s recommended 4, and ESR’s color options are a little trendier and more varied. To compare the two even further, the ESR wallet has a slightly grainy texture, where Satechi’s wallet is smooth and slick.
Like Journey’s Ezmo wallet, the ESR Aura has a larger card capacity than most and a strong magnetic hold. Once again, ESR’s color options appeal more to me than Journey’s quiet luxury-esque neutrals. It’s more lightweight and compact than the Journey wallet, and similar in stature to the Satechi wallet, too.
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What I really like about this ESR wallet is that it’s just a tad more functional than Satechi’s option and even more affordable than Journey’s (and sometimes Satechi’s when the ESR is on sale).
The ESR Aura MagSafe wallet propped open to a stand.
Kayla Solino/ZDNET
The best part of this wallet, however, is the phone stand. It makes it easy to prop up my phone in portrait or landscape mode at the office or at home, and it’s the ultimate sidekick for holiday cooking and baking on the counter. I successfully made the TikTok-viral Tini’s Mac and Cheese while using this phone stand to prop up the recipe, so it’s a tested winner. It’s also great for stabilizing your hand while taking timer pictures.
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The magnetic connection, which ESR says is up to 3,200 g of holding force, rivals that of other top-tested picks, like the Satechi wallet. It’s secure enough to hold onto my iPhone 14 Pro, and while I don’t recommend doing this, it didn’t even budge while I held it suspended from its hinged end. Seriously, it didn’t even come off when I attempted to whip my phone out of my hand (again, please don’t try this at home).
ZDNET’s buying advice
If you can snag the ESR Aura wallet, which comes in over 20 colors, and for larger storage needs or a traditional wallet feel, I like the Journey Ezmo wallet