Arc
has just debuted its all Arc Pulse Bumper cases for Google’s new Arc Pulse Pixel 9, 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro XL. These bumper cases have been among the most popular smartphone accessories around here across 2024, and they are now finally ready for Google latest slate of Pixel 9 devices. Best of all, using our exclusive
9TO510 code will deliver the
best price anywhere on your pre-order. Head below for additional details and a closer look at the new Arc Pulse bumper case for Pixel 9.
Arc Pulse Bumper cases for Pixel 9
We had a chance
to go hands-on with the iPhone version of the Arc Pulse earlier this year and loved every second of it. If you’re into the bumper case vibes and like what you see in the imagery here, you likely won’t be disappointed – they are the very best bumpers I have ever tested out.
Pre-orders for the new Pixel 9, 9 Pro, and 9 Pro XL Arc Pulse
will drop 10% in the cart using code
9TO510 at checkout. Simply
follow this link and then navigate to the menu in the top left corner
of the site and select your Google Pixel 9 device of choice. The first round of pre-orders placed will begin shipping between January 10 and January 15 – all US orders receive free shipping.
The Arc Pulse bumpers are made of an outer aerospace-grade metal shell (aluminum 7075-T6 with high-end anti-scratch coatings) with an inner custom-engineered elastomer for a “friction-fit lock.” This is another highlight here – there is no sticky adhesive or anything like that to keep them in place. They “feature a unique pressure-fitting mechanism that securely locks the metal shell and elastomer inlay without the need for glue” in order to enhance durability and make “the case fully recyclable, aligning with our commitment to sustainability.”
Each Arc Pulse bumper ships as a two-piece package – you simply pop on the top bumper to safeguard the camera array and top corners of your device, and then follow suit along the bottom.
Phone cases are a dime a dozen, and most don't go out of the way to look too unique. Occasionally, you might find a really nice thin case or one that slaps your favorite movie characters on the back, but what if you removed 90% of the case and could still protect your phone?
I first heard of the Arc Pulse case when the company teased its Galaxy S25 Arc Pulse case
a few days ago, and while that case isn't available yet, the company does sell its cases for the Galaxy S24 series, Google Pixel 9 series, and several different iPhones.
These ultra-minimalist cases are built out of Aluminum 7075-T6 and feature a rubber-like Elastomer inlay to keep them snuggly attached to the phone at all times. The case design is so outlandish there was no way I could pass up the opportunity to test it, and I'm sure glad I did.
The drop test
Let's just get right to business, shall we?
I don't often drop test phones in cases because so many cases are very similar, but Arc Pulse is a different beast entirely. For the test, I dropped the phone on three different flooring types: a wood floor, an area rug placed on concrete, and bare concrete. I dropped it at pocket height, roughly 3ft, and at head height, roughly 6ft, to simulate the two most common ways someone might drop their phone.
To my surprise, the
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL was spotless after all these drops. No scratches, cracks, or any other damage was found, and the case's unique design is surprisingly effective.
The case is designed to primarily protect the corners of the phone, with a lip around the front and back to keep the glass surfaces from coming into contact with any surface.
Of course, being so exposed in most places means that it will certainly not survive a drop onto an uneven surface if the screen or back glass hits a rock or something similar. In other words, you'll want to pair this case with one of the
best Google Pixel 9 Pro XL screen protectors to ensure that screen doesn't get shattered.
Because of the metal construction, the Arc Pulse case feels incredibly high quality and is as shiny as those side rails on your
Pixel 9, matching the aesthetic quite nicely. Corner coverage works well because of the weight, helping ensure it most often falls on one of the corners rather than flat on the front or back.
I've purposefully dropped it about a dozen times now and haven't seen a time when it fell flat on its face or back. Even if I dropped the phone flat, it would angle to one of the corners naturally before hitting the ground.
After several drops on the concrete, a crack developed in the top left corner of the Arc Pulse case. This isn't terribly surprising given the sheer weight of the phone and the case together being dropped on hard concrete. Metal is more protective but it's also more rigid than the usual materials used to make a phone case.
The result is the potential to crack if dropped on other rigid surfaces a lot, but the case has still held together very well despite this damage. Despite the ultra minimalist coverage, I'm super confident about the Arc Pulse case's ability to protect my phone. I was extremely nervous dropping it on concrete but it survived every attempt without scratching or damaging the phone at all, even from 6ft up. That, alone, is worth a recommendation!