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Updated 2025-05-13T19:43:47Z
The champion iPhone cases service respective purposes. Worthwhile cases chiefly support your iPhone from scratches, scuffing, and ungraded without sacrificing aesthetics oregon interfering with the phone's functionality. Cases tin besides adhd adjuvant features.
We've tested dozens of cases from assorted brands to prime the apical picks for this guide, which focuses connected the iPhone 16 series. Whether you're looking for high-end protection, an charismatic wallet case, oregon a wide lawsuit that won't yellowish rapidly, these are the apical options we've recovered for varying usage cases and budgets.
Among the champion iPhone cases we've tested, our apical prime for extortion is the Otterbox Commuter Series for MagSafe case. It features the brand's broad sum and exceptional durability successful a comparatively slim and affordable form. Our archetypal fund proposal is the Smartish Gripmunk with MagSafe case, which offers stellar grip, protection, and MagSafe compatibility for its debased price.
Our apical picks for the champion iPhone cases
Best for protection: Otterbox Commuter Series for MagSafe lawsuit - See astatine Amazon
Best fund case: Smartish Gripmunk with MagSafe lawsuit - See astatine Amazon
Best leather case: Nomad Modern Leather lawsuit - See astatine Nomad
Best wallet case: Smartish Wallet Slayer Vol. 1 lawsuit - See astatine Amazon
Best wide case: Apple Clear Case with MagSafe - See astatine Amazon
Best for protection
Otterbox is rightfully 1 of the archetypal lawsuit makers that comes to caput erstwhile extortion is paramount for immoderate of the best phones. While Otterbox's ultra-bulky Defender cases connection unrivaled, all-encompassing defence for the iPhone 16 series, we've recovered the Commuter Series case provides a amended equilibrium of worth and extortion portion sporting a slimmer plan that much radical would beryllium comfy utilizing daily.
Indeed, we consciousness precise comfy with the Commuter's extortion from our experiences accidentally dropping previous, efficaciously identical iterations of the lawsuit severely, lone to find the lawsuit and telephone unscathed. The Commuter has a durable two-part design: a brushed rubber interior ammunition for fantabulous daze absorption and a hard outer ammunition that covers the backmost and parts of the framework edges for other protection.
The Commuter lawsuit besides features a screen for the iPhone 16's USB-C port, which is casual to flip unfastened and adjacent for wired charging. It's designed to forestall particulate and ungraded from entering the USB-C port. If you've ever had to scoop retired lint and different debris from an iPhone's charging port, the Commuter case's USB-C screen volition assistance forestall that.
The lawsuit has a cutout for the caller Camera Control fastener (described successful our iPhone 16 review) and brushed rubber fastener covers. The powerfulness fastener feels mean to press, but the measurement and Action buttons are a small harder to property than erstwhile the iPhone 16 is naked. However, this is simply a communal compromise, not a dealbreaker comparative to the case's protection.
The Otterbox Commuter lawsuit is disposable for the pursuing iPhone 16 bid models: iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, and iPhone 16e.
Best fund case
The Gripmunk with MagSafe case from Smartish punches supra its affordable $25 (often $20) terms tag for its design, features, and wide protection. In fact, it's the archetypal lawsuit we'd urge for astir radical for its simplicity, performance, and value.
The Gripmunk with MagSafe for iPhone 16 is simply a hardshell integrative lawsuit with a textured bumper framework and flimsy digit grooves for other grip. It features "air-pocket corners" that Smartish says assistance with driblet protection. The lawsuit is disposable successful assorted colorways, including a wide option.
It includes magnets for MagSafe support, a cutout for the Camera Control button, and integrative fastener covers. The powerfulness and measurement buttons consciousness mean to press, but the Action fastener needs a small other pressure, arsenic is the lawsuit with astir cases.
The Smartish Gripmunk with MagSafe lawsuit is disposable for the pursuing iPhone 16 bid models: iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, and iPhone 16e.
Best leather case
The Modern Leather Case for iPhone 16 from Nomad comes with fewer complaints. It's a beauteous lawsuit with a leather back. The achromatic integrative framework looks sophisticated, offers amended extortion than if it was leather, and it won't scuff oregon teardrop connected impacts similar leather.
Nomad's Modern Leather case is our apical prime among the leather cases we've tested for its fantabulous decorativeness and protective qualities.
The case's leather blends good with its achromatic protective hard integrative bumper framework without creases oregon fold marks. We similar the Modern Leather Case's hard integrative framework bumper implicit a afloat leather case, arsenic it adds much daze absorption. In our experience, afloat leather volition scuff oregon adjacent teardrop with impact, leaving an unpleasant aesthetic.
The case's interior features a brushed microfiber worldly for other daze absorption and extortion against micro scratches from particles that compression into the lawsuit implicit time.
The Modern Leather lawsuit includes magnets that enactment the iPhone 16's MagSafe connectivity. It features a cutout for the Camera Control fastener that doesn't hinder its functionality. Its aluminum fastener covers consciousness premium, and the covers for the Action and powerfulness buttons person textured ridges for a pleasing tactile experience.
The Nomad Modern Leather lawsuit is disposable for the pursuing iPhone 16 bid models: iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Best wallet case
A simple, inexpensive wallet lawsuit that's not excessively bulk and offers coagulated mundane protection, the Wallet Slayer Vol. 1 by Smartish is an perfect enactment for astir radical who privation to consolidate their wallet and phone.
The Wallet Slayer Vol. 1 features an unfastened sleeve for up to 3 cards and cash. It securely holds each contents with a spring-loaded bracket inside, though the integrative backmost bows somewhat outward erstwhile the wallet is filled. We actively tried to person cards and currency "accidentally" gaffe retired of the sleeve successful a investigating environment, and thing budged. Even erstwhile cards were partially sticking retired of the sleeve, they wouldn't gaffe out.
Because it's a wallet case, with up to 3 cards stashed successful the backmost sleeve, the Wallet Slayer Vol. 1 doesn't enactment wireless charging oregon MagSafe, a communal compromise for wallet cases.
Like Smartish's Gripmunk cases, the Wallet Slayer Vol. 1 has a textured framework made of somewhat softer integrative that offers an enhanced grip.
The Smartish Wallet Slayer Vol. 1 lawsuit is disposable for the pursuing iPhone 16 bid models: iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, and iPhone 16e.
Best wide case
There's nary substitute for Apple's ain Clear Case with MagSafe if you're aft a protective wide exemplary with a decently slim profile, seamless MagSafe compatibility, and the slightest magnitude of branding that besides doesn't yellowish implicit time.
Indeed, Apple's wide lawsuit has shown the astir absorption to yellowing successful our semipermanent testing. We person yet to spot immoderate important yellowing connected an Apple wide lawsuit we've utilized for 2 years.
In our experience, Apple's wide lawsuit tin go somewhat damaged oregon cracked astatine the corners aft a peculiarly terrible impact. However, it's apt to past astir drops successful the agelong run, and we'd readily bargain different wide lawsuit from Apple if it ever breaks.
Apple's wide lawsuit for the iPhone 16 bid has a sapphire crystal conductive furniture implicit the caller Camera Control fastener that works seamlessly with it successful our testing.
Our lone gripe with immoderate wide case, including Apple's, is that ungraded and particulate particles visibly physique up betwixt the lawsuit and the iPhone 16's metallic frame. It hasn't caused immoderate micro scratches oregon scuffing, but it's unsightly. I periodically region the case, rinse it, and scrub it with a brushed microfiber cloth.
If $50 is implicit your fund for a case, we'd easy urge the Smartish Gripmunk with MagSafe lawsuit successful the wide colour enactment for $20. Though we haven't tested it against yellowing implicit the agelong term, its backmost is made of hard plastic, which is slower to go yellowish than softer plastics. The bumper integrative is softer than Apple's, which could pb to faster yellowing, but its grip texture should fell it to an extent.
The Apple Clear Case with MagSafe is disposable for the pursuing iPhone 16 bid models: iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Other cases and brands we've tested
We tested assorted cases from each the aforementioned companies alongside models from Zagg, Casetify, Moft, UAG, Moment, PopSockets, ESR, Speck, Peak Design, and different brands.
Below are cases we besides deliberation are precise good, but didn't diagnostic above.
Also worthy a look
- Otterbox: Symmetry Series with MagSafe, Defender Series with MagSafe.
- Moft: Movas with MagSafe.
- Speck: CandyShell Grip with MagSafe.
- Peak Design: Everyday.
- Zagg: Milan, Crystal Palace Snap, Denali, and Santa Cruz.
- UAG: Plyo, Monarch Pro, and Pathfinder.
- Casetify: Bounce, Ultra Bounce, Impact, and BioVeg.
- PopSockets: Clear and Black.
- Moment: Camera Case with assorted camera lens attachments.
- ESR: Hybrid Case with Stash Stand.
Cases to avoid
Each of Apple's silicone cases we've utilized for six months oregon more, careless of the iPhone model, has deteriorated into an ugly, ragged, torn-up mess.
We similar the archetypal look and grip of Apple's silicone lawsuit caller retired of the box, but we expect importantly amended durability for $50.
Also, debar wide cases chiefly oregon wholly made of brushed plastic, arsenic they rapidly go yellowish comparative to harder integrative cases.
How we trial iPhone cases
For this guide, we tested dozens of cases for the iPhone 16 series based connected assorted criteria. We besides leaned connected our extended acquisition with telephone cases historically to find our apical picks.
Our superior appraisal constituent is the protective physique prime of the case's materials and whether it affects the iPhone's functionality. While we won't explicitly harm oregon drop-test caller phones oregon cases, we've utilized (and accidentally dropped) erstwhile iterations of astir of our selected cases implicit respective iPhone generations. As a result, we tin confidently measure which materials thin to connection the champion protection.
Likewise, from our semipermanent usage of assorted wide cases, we've recovered that hard integrative successful transparent covers is overmuch much resistant to age- and use-related yellowing than softer, flexible plastic.
For leather cases, we look for agelong marks and folds astir the corners and sides, which tin springiness the content that the lawsuit was poorly made and is susceptible to damage. We besides measure the remainder of the case's materials, similar plastic, to spot if they lucifer the leather's premium nature. We can't defy performing the sniff trial connected existent leather cases, but it doesn't carnivore connected our recommendation.
What to look for successful iPhone cases
The archetypal happening to see successful a lawsuit is whether it's designed for your iPhone exemplary and generation. Cases from an older procreation sometimes acceptable newer generations, but this is rare, arsenic elaborate successful our model-specific lawsuit collections beneath for the iPhone 16 series.
- Best iPhone 16 cases
- Best iPhone 16 Plus cases
- Best iPhone 16 Pro cases
- Best iPhone 16 Pro Max cases
- Best iPhone 16e cases
The 2nd large happening to see is however overmuch extortion you want, which typically affects a case's bulk. As expected, thicker cases person higher extortion potential. Cases made partially of softer materials, similar rubber, tin sorb much daze than a afloat hard integrative case, without excessively overmuch bulk.
The 3rd happening to see is whether the lawsuit has MagSafe compatibility, if that's important to you. Even if it's not a interest now, you whitethorn privation to follow MagSafe wireless charging and accessories down the line, and we'd mostly urge astir radical get a lawsuit that supports MagSafe, which has been a diagnostic of the best iPhones since the iPhone 12 series.
You tin besides cheque whether a lawsuit covers the iPhone 16's buttons, including the Camera Control button. We person nary issues with fastener covers, and nary of the cases we've tested negatively impact the Camera Control button. Yet, if you cognize you similar to property and usage the iPhone 16's built-in buttons directly, you should look for a lawsuit with cutouts.
Antonio Villas-Boas
Senior Tech Reporter
Antonio Villas-Boas is simply a user tech adept with implicit a decennary of acquisition investigating and reviewing smartphones, tablets, computers, smartwatches, and telephone carriers.ExperienceAntonio joined the Business Insider squad successful 2015 arsenic a tech newsman connected the quality table and moved to the work journalism squad successful 2020. As Business Insider’s elder tech reporter, Antonio has developed industry-leading battery-life tests for smartphones and tablets, and has covered and reviewed hundreds (if not thousands) of products from large brands similar Apple, Google, Samsung, and OnePlus since arsenic acold backmost arsenic Samsung’s Galaxy S6, the archetypal Apple Watch, and the precise archetypal Google Pixel. This decade-plus of acquisition has fixed him tremendous insights into what user tech genuinely stands the trial of clip and what volition beryllium irrelevant successful conscionable a fewer years' clip (RIP The Pebble).Antonio is besides an experienced woody hunter, surfacing the champion discounts connected phones, laptops, and smartwatches for readers during merchantability events similar Prime Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday. Previously, Antonio was a consumer-electronics expert astatine PCMag and ran his ain blog. Why you tin spot AntonioAntonio approaches each his reviews not lone arsenic a tech adept but arsenic a user himself. He reads each connection of good people successful the telephone bearer plans helium reviews, and is profoundly skeptical of deals that committedness you the latest iPhone exemplary for free. (Spoiler: it mightiness beryllium “free,” but you could beryllium stuck with it for 3 years.)He mostly recommends little costly and small-scale fixes to upgrade your existing tech earlier considering buying the latest and flashiest successful caller tech. Antonio believes his relation arsenic the go-to “tech guy” for his household and friends extends to his readers arsenic well; helium lone recommends products that person stood up to the investigating process.Scripps News, NewsNation, Fox 5 DC, NBC LX, and Rich DeMuro’s “Rich On Tech” vigor amusement person requested his commentary and expertise. ExpertiseHis expertise includes:
- Phones, including the iPhone, Google Pixel, and Samsung Galaxy models
- Phone accessories, including charging cables, telephone cases, and extortion plans
- Smartwatches, including the Apple Watch, Galaxy Watch, Pixel Watch
- Mobile bearer plans, including large carriers and MVNOs
- Tablets, including iPads and Galaxy Tabs
- Laptops and computers, including MacBooks and Windows models
- Computer accessories, including mice, keyboards, and monitors
EducationAntonio graduated from Colgate University successful 2009 with a bachelor's grade successful history.Outside of workBesides investigating tech products, Antonio’s 2nd full-time occupation is arsenic a dada to 2 young kids. His perfect time would beryllium spent connected a water successful the Adirondacks.You tin interaction Antonio with tips and chill tech via email at: avillasboas@businessinsider.comLearn much astir however our squad of experts tests and reviews products astatine Insider here.Learn much astir however we trial tech and electronics.
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