If you’ve ever tried to slim down your pocket game, you’ve probably come across both Ekster and Ridge, two brands that have turned the humble wallet into a modern, minimalist statement piece. Both now offer MagSafe-compatible wallets, promising a sleek, convenient way to carry your essentials. But after testing both, there’s one clear winner in my book: the Ekster Cardholder Pro for MagSafe.
Why? Because while Ridge feels like a solid step toward minimalism, Ekster feels like a complete leap into the future. This is the world’s first dual-sided MagSafe cardholder, and it’s not just a wallet—it’s an entire modular system designed for customization, versatility, and genuine everyday utility.
Let’s break it down section by section and see how these two stack up.
1. Design & Build Quality: Ekster Wins on Modernity and Materials
Ridge has always leaned into that rugged, tactical look, all sharp edges and aerospace-grade aluminum. It’s the wallet equivalent of a lifted Jeep: tough, functional, and a little overbuilt for everyday life.
Ekster, meanwhile, went in a different direction. The Cardholder Pro for MagSafe is sleeker and lighter. It’s built from 100% recycled 6061 aluminum, so it’s both premium and sustainable, no plastic, no bulk, just clean modern design.
The finish feels high-end, the proportions look better on the back of an iPhone, and it actually complements the device instead of making it look like you strapped a toolbox to it.
Winner: Ekster. Smarter build, sharper aesthetic, and a more thoughtful approach to materials.
2. MagSafe Compatibility & Modularity: Ekster Changes the Game
Ridge’s MagSafe wallet does the basics: it sticks to your iPhone and holds your cards. That’s about it. It’s minimalist, yes, but it’s also rigidly single-purpose.
Ekster completely rewrote the rulebook with its dual-sided MagSafe compatibility. You can attach it to your phone or use it standalone as a modular carry system. It connects magnetically to add-ons like the Cash Clip, Coin Tray, Finder Card, and the Cardholder Nano, which can expand its capacity to up to 17 cards.
It’s like building your own wallet system, piece by piece, depending on your day. Run errands with the slim setup, or snap on a tracker and cash clip when you travel. That kind of flexibility is what makes Ekster’s ecosystem feel truly next-gen.
Winner: Ekster. The only MagSafe wallet that can adapt to your lifestyle.
3. Card Access & Functionality: The Trigger Feature Seals It
If you’ve ever tried to grab a card from a Ridge wallet, you know it’s not exactly graceful. The friction plate-and-elastic design keeps everything tight, sometimes too tight. You end up shaking or sliding cards until the right one finally slips free.
Ekster’s solution? The now-iconic trigger mechanism. One press and your cards fan out smoothly for quick access. The new version even ejects them higher for easier grab-and-go, and the mechanism is removable for cleaning and maintenance. It’s the difference between a cool design and one that’s built for real-world use.
Winner: Ekster. Functionality meets finesse.
4. Durability & Minimalism: Ridge’s Moment to Shine
Here’s where Ridge earns its win. The Ridge MagSafe Wallet is built like a vault with aerospace aluminum, solid screws, and a “nothing fancy, just functional” design philosophy. It’s the kind of wallet that can survive being dropped, stepped on, or tossed in a gym bag without a scratch.
Ekster’s aluminum is strong too, but it’s built more for comfort and style than brute durability. If your top priority is a wallet that can take years of abuse without showing it, Ridge edges this one out.
Winner: Ridge. The original minimalist tank.
5. Smart Features & Everyday Use: Ekster Goes Fully Connected
This is where Ridge’s simplicity starts to show its limits. There's no expandability and no modular add-ons for MagSafe. It’s great for the basics, but in 2025, “basic” doesn’t always cut it.
Ekster’s Cardholder Pro integrates seamlessly with its Finder Card, available for both Apple Find My® and Google Find My Device®. Lose your wallet? You can see its exact location, make it ring, or even use it to find your phone. The Finder Card’s wireless charging and five-month battery life make it completely set-and-forget.
Add to that the RFID protection, cash clip, and Nano expansion, and you’ve got a wallet that does everything Ridge doesn’t, without losing its sleek form.
Winner: Ekster. The smartest MagSafe wallet on the market.
6. Sustainability & Warranty: Ekster’s Conscious Edge
Both brands use premium metals, but only one takes sustainability seriously. Ekster’s 100% recycled aluminum construction and recyclable packaging give it a clear ethical edge. Ridge, while durable, doesn’t emphasize recycled materials or environmental responsibility in its build.
Ekster also includes a lifetime warranty, which feels like the cherry on top of a product that’s already engineered to last.
Winner: Ekster. Eco-conscious design that doesn’t sacrifice performance.
Final Verdict: The Future of MagSafe Wallets Is Ekster
After weeks of using both, I can confidently say this: Ekster’s Cardholder Pro for MagSafe isn’t just the better wallet, it’s the smarter one.
It redefines what a MagSafe wallet can be: dual-sided, modular, customizable, and genuinely useful beyond holding cards. Ridge may have started the minimalist revolution, but Ekster is perfecting it.
CNET calls it “a cash and card carrier fit for a spy.”
And Forbes named Ekster “the most successful smart wallet brand in the world.”
They’re not wrong.
If you’re looking for the ultimate MagSafe-compatible wallet, something that looks sharp, adapts to your life, and feels future-ready, the Ekster Cardholder Pro for MagSafe is it.
Winner (by a landslide): Ekster.
