Aukey HD Wide Angle Cell Phone Camera Lens

PROS

Widens phone camera field of view. Available with case for iPhone 6/6s or 6/6s Plus. Doesn't introduce unwanted distortion.

CONS

Clip attachment for other phones is an inelegant attachment method. Image quality takes a serious hit with use. Case blocks LED light.

BOTTOM LINE

The Aukey Wide Angle Cell Phone Camera Lens promises to broaden the field of view of your phone's camera, but it is detrimental to image quality.

The Aukey Wide Angle Cell Phone Camera Lens ($42.99) is another add-on lens for smartphones that promises to enhance the functionality of the integrated camera—in this case, by widening the field of view. It includes a dedicated case, which is a plus for keeping it aligned perfectly, and delivers images with a wider perspective and no added distortion. But image quality takes a hit, especially at the edges of the frame, which makes the Aukey lens a tough sell to all but the most devoted wide-angle fans.

DesignThe Wide Angle lens can be purchased on its own—for $39.99—or along with a case. We reviewed the version with the case for the iPhone 6 oriPhone 6s, but Aukey also offers it for iPhone 6 Plus and iPhone 6s Plus owners. There's a nominal price increase when buying it with a case—$42.99.

The plastic case features a matte black finish, a hole in the rear to show off the Apple logo on your iPhone, and the Aukey logo printed below it in block letters. It's slim, and feels smooth and slightly soft to the touch, but its design doesn't add a lot of physical protection to the phone. There is one big downside—even without the lens screwed in, the iPhone's rear LED light is blocked by the case. I use my iPhone as a flashlight at least a few times a week, which makes the case a deal breaker as far as I'm concerned. You also won't be able to use the flash to capture photographs. I much prefer the case that ships with theImvio lens kit. It looks better, offers more protection, and doesn't block the LED. But the optics of the Imvio lenses are inferior when compared with the Aukey add-on lens.