turn your iPhone into a professional camera

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With the release of a new iPhone lineup—in this case, four new iPhone 16 models—a collection of third-party iPhone cases and covers will also be released at the same time. Neewer makes an impressively wide range of iPhone-compatible accessories, from teleprompters to LED lights, so it’s no surprise that they also offer cages for the iPhone 16.

The latest iPhones may have the toughest glass on a smartphone today (according to Apple), but without a case or frame they can be a little slippery to hold due to the smooth glass and metal body (and I still cringe when I see the line hair). cracks on my iPhone 14 Pro Max without case). The plastic housing provides a stronger hold and added protection. A cage like the Neewer Cage encases your iPhone in an aluminum alloy for added protection. It also offers plenty of ways to expand your shooting capabilities, especially if you shoot video, as we’ll explain in this review.

We tested the iPhone 16 Pro in the PA073 version of the Neewer iPhone cage, but there is also a PA074 version for iPhone 16 Pro Max users. If you shoot with other phones, you should find the best frame for your phone in our guide to the best iPhone camera grips.

Neewer Cage for iPhone 16 Pro: characteristics

Neewer Cage for iPhone 16 Pro: price

You can purchase the Neewer Cage for iPhone 16 Pro for $49.99 on Amazon. It’s cheaper than Brandon Li’s SmallRig iPhone 16 Pro cage with similar specs, although you’ll have to spend an extra $31.99 for the basic PA045 quick-release side handle.

Neewer Cage for iPhone 16 Pro: Design and Handling

Your iPhone 16 Pro is an expensive piece of kit, so it feels secure when you slide it into the aluminum alloy Neewer Cage and twist the secure locking mechanism into place. It’s reminiscent of a VIP stepping into a bulletproof military HUMVEE, especially with the cage’s matte black finish and curved, beveled edges. Your iPhone fits securely but smoothly into the cage thanks to surrounding rubber pads that act as shock absorbers for added protection.

It’s unlikely you’ll drop the cage thanks to the PA045’s durable and easy-to-use quick-release side handle (sold separately), but if you do, you’ll be less likely to worry about your iPhone 16 Pro being damaged. You can attach the side handle (using the locking mechanism) to the various mounting holes along the edges of the cage. The PA045 quick release side handle is an essential cage accessory, so be sure to add it to your order if you decide to purchase a Neewer cage.

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The Neewer Cage does much more than just protect your iPhone. With 1/4″ threads and cold shoe slots, you can attach third-party accessories to your iPhone and create a shooting rig with an LED or shotgun microphone.

The front of the cage has slots that allow you to attach a back panel with 17mm filter threads so you can screw on filters like the Neewer ND (sold separately) and shoot in high-contrast areas. The cage also comes with a T-mount backplate that allows you to attach Moment T series lenses to your iPhone 16 Pro. The back of the cage is open so you can attach MagSafe accessories (like a battery) to your cage-mounted iPhone 16 Pro.

Neewer Cage for iPhone 16 Pro: Performance

To test out the Neewer PA073 iPhone 16 Pro cage, I took it with me on vacation to Tunisia. I was really excited to see how Niver’s cage would help me make a mini video of the camel ride I had booked. I attached a quick-release grip to the left of the cage so I could hold the rig in my left hand and start recording video by pressing the new camera control button on the iPhone 16 Pro with my right hand.

There is a small recess in the metal rim of the cage that makes it easier to access the camera control button. If you don’t need the “Camera Control” button, then this recess can be filled with a silicone insert (which I once managed to lose, but, retracing my steps, I found again). As soon as my camel rose from its knees, I was 6 feet off the ground (so I wouldn’t be able to pick up the iPhone if it slipped from my hands onto the rocky road surface).

Luckily, the optional PA045 quick-release side handle allowed me to hold the cage-mounted iPhone 16 Pro firmly with my left hand while I used my right hand to hold the wooden handle on the camel’s saddle while its movement caused me to rock. This side handle is well designed. It comes with a removable hex key that allows you to adjust the height of the handle as per your requirement. Nice design solution!

Since I was recording a video, I could quickly start recording and then grab the camel saddle handle again to avoid falling. I set the iPhone 16 Pro to shoot in Action mode. This sleek camera rocks very effectively from camel rocking, as you can see from the supporting video I made for this review. Once I got used to the camel’s motion, I gained confidence in shifting my cage-mounted iPhone from one hand to the other to shoot from different angles and experiment with different Camera app settings and shooting modes. The grip has always given me a secure grip on my prized iPhone 16 Pro, and I can’t imagine shooting in such challenging environments without the support of the Neewer Cage. By the way, it was extremely uncomfortable to sit on a camel even with a soft saddle. I thought I was going to dislocate my hips when I first climbed into the saddle. I also think my wife was much more comfortable riding the camel than I was. Enough said!

The Neewer Cage also comes with a rear panel with a 67mm filter thread adapter, which allowed me to attach a Neewer-branded ND filter (sold separately) to the three front cameras of the iPhone 16 Pro. The filter has metal knobs that can be turned to let more or less light into the cameras. To test the ND filter, I got up at 06:00 and shot the sun rising over the ocean horizon. As you’ll see in my supporting video, the ND filter made a huge difference and I was able to capture more of the color and shape of the sun while turning the foreground people and beach furniture into striking silhouettes. This ND filter has proven to be a must-have accessory for holiday photos.

The Neewer PA073 Cage also comes with a lens back plate with a 17mm diameter thread that allows you to screw the lens onto the iPhone 16 Pro’s main camera. Niver lent me an 18mm wide angle lens that I could screw onto this backplate. Since the iPhone 16 Pro’s 0.5x ultra-wide-angle lens is a 13mm optical lens, it can capture a wider angle than 18mm, but the Neewer lens did a decent job of capturing a wide angle with less distortion at the edges than the iPhone’s ultra-wide-angle lens. so I can see its value. If you have Moment T series lenses, you can attach them to the Neewer PA073 cage using the optional included T-Mount Lens Back Adapter. Backplate adapters attach to the cage by inserting two metal teeth on the adapter into two slots in the cage. I found this operation a little difficult at first, but after several attempts I became more proficient at it.

Oh, one little thing. You can’t connect a wireless microphone receiver to the iPhone 16 Pro’s USB-C connector because the thickness of the case blocks the receiver connector. This is not just a Neewer Cage problem. However, as you’ll see in my video, audio recording from the iPhone 16 Pro’s four built-in microphones was excellent, especially thanks to the new Audio Mix tools in the new Camera app, which allow you to reduce the presence of unwanted background noise (or disruptive wind noise). .

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Neewer Cage for iPhone 16 Pro: verdict

The new iPhone 16 Pro cage was a must-have accessory for filming my vacation trip, as I was able to shoot video from multiple angles from the top of a swaying camel and create relatively smooth, well-composed clips. The risk of dropping the iPhone 16 Pro mounted on the cage was much lower, making the cage ideal for those who plan to shoot action or sports films. Optional cold shoe mounts and 1/4″ threads allow you to add accessories such as LED lights and shotgun microphones to help you enhance your video and audio production. The included backplates also allow you to attach filters and lenses to further enhance your photo/video experience. The only downside is the inability to connect a wireless microphone receiver, but this is not an issue thanks to the excellent results achieved by the iPhone 16 Pro’s built-in microphones and the new Audio Mix tools.

✅ Buy…

• You need to attach lenses and filters to your iPhone 16 Pro.

• You want to capture fast-paced events safely and efficiently

• Need more protection for your iPhone 16 Pro

🚫 Don’t buy…

Alternatives

RODE Cage: I’ve tested various cages for Digital Camera World and they all have their pros and cons. Most of them are iPhone-only, so they may become outdated when you upgrade to a newer smartphone model. However, the RØDE cage is much larger than many other models, and your smartphone attaches to it magnetically. This leaves you plenty of room around the edges of your smartphone so you can easily connect devices like SD drives or wireless microphone receivers to its USB-C port. Read full review…

Mobile video kit SmallRig Brandon Li: This cage is similar in features to the Neewer Cage in that it includes a T-plate (for mounting Moment T lenses) and a filter adapter. It costs about three times more than the Neewer PA073 Cage, but includes two handles for better grip. It also comes with a very useful remote shutter button that allows you to take photos (and video) with one hand, which will be especially useful when you need to hold a moving vehicle (or a camel) with your other hand while shooting. ! I reviewed an almost identical version of Brandon Li’s SmallRig mobile video kit for the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Read full review…