The 9 Best iPhone Cases of 2024 (2024)

Best iPhone Case with a Kickstand

Spigen Tough Armor

Weight: 1.4 ounces | Dimensions: 6.2 x 3.2 x 0.5 inches

The Spigen Tough Armor has two elements that we find to be especially attractive — a military-grade drop-test certification and a foldaway kickstand. A certification rating of MIL-STD-810 516.6 means that this case can protect your phone from several drops onto concrete from a height of up to twelve feet. Kickstands are always useful for watching videos, filming, reading, or just browsing the internet. This Spigen case has an especially thick outer shell but still maintains a reasonably low profile.

Although it is still our favorite option in this category, the kickstand on this case only works horizontally. If you regularly use FaceTime or other portrait mode apps, you might want to consider a different kickstand model. It is also pricey compared to the rest of the competition. There are better options with kickstands and more affordable drop-test-certified cases out there. But if you want both features in one case, the Spigen Tough Armor is the perfect case for you.

• Available for iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max

• Available for iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max

• Available for iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max

• Available for iPhone SE

Why You Should Trust Us

The GearLab team has been conducting hands-on reviews of iPhone cases for years, and we have tested a wide array of cases from the top manufacturers. We've toted cases along with us to weddings and concerts, and carried them on backpacking trips and while backcountry snowboarding. We have carried these iPhone cases everywhere, from the jagged peaks of Patagonia to the slot canyons of Southern Utah and into the cenotes of the Yucatan. We've researched hundreds of models and have purchased more than 50 cases for hands-on testing. We buy every single model at full price, just like you, to ensure a zero-bias approach to our review process. These iPhone cases undergo 130 individual tests during our side-by-side comparative analysis. This comprehensive round-up of features 10 of the best iPhone cases available for iPhone 11, 12, and 13 models.

We break down our overall score into four key metrics:

• Protection (40% of overall score weighting)

• Portability (25% weighting)

• Design (25% weighting)

• Ease of Use (10% weighting)

We put three of our top review editors — Jane Jackson, Amber King, and Ross Patton — to work on this category. Between the three of them, they have tested hundreds of products over a combined tenure of more than fifteen years with GearLab. Jane has been testing gear with GearLab since 2016, working with products ranging from the best laptop sleeve to top-tier water bottles. Amber has worked with GearLab since 2015, testing more than 300 products ranging from the best cookware sets to the best handheld GPS units on the market. Ross has tested hundreds of products across dozens of categories. He has worked with everything from the best electric skateboards to using his skill as a professional photographer to test iPhone gimbals.

How to Choose the Right iPhone Case

At this point, a new iPhone costs as much, or more, than a laptop. When you're spending that much money on a computer that fits in the palm of your hand, it's essential that you do something to protect it. Whether you're looking for a low-profile case to protect your iPhone from scratches, a stylish one to add some flair to your outfit, or a model you can go cliff diving with, our head-to-head review process will help you quickly and easily sort through the seemingly limitless options to find your ideal case.

What Type of Case Do You Need?

Your lifestyle is the main thing to consider when shopping for an iPhone case. If you're outdoorsy or you work a physically tough job, you are going to want a case that can take a beating. If you're friendly with your electronics and aren't the type who tends to drop or break phones, then it doesn't make sense to haul around a bulky, ultra-protective case. Perhaps it's more important to you that your phone looks good and takes up less room in your pocket. Another critical consideration is a case's functionality. Many iPhone cases include a holster, a kickstand, or a spot to hold a few credit cards. The four elements to consider when shopping for an iPhone case are:

• Protection

• Portability

• Design

• Ease of Use

These metrics will help you decide which type of case will best your lifestyle and help you land on the perfect iPhone case based on your needs and budget.

Protection

An iPhone case's primary job is to protect your phone, so it is most heavily weighted in our overall scoring. The degree of protection you require of your case will later dictate the portability, design, and how easy the case is to use.

For older iPhone cases, water resistance was much more of a concern. iPhones used to be very susceptible to water damage, so case manufacturers focused on making up for this design flaw by selling fully-enclosed cases. However, newer iPhones have an IP68 water-resistant rating, meaning that they can be submerged in up to six meters of water (almost 20 feet) for up to 30 minutes. As a result, iPhone cases are now geared more toward shock protection.

Advertisem*nts commonly claim that a case has been "drop-tested" or is "military-grade." The important thing to consider is whether or not the cases have an actual certification or if the manufacturer is just capitalizing on the buzzwords without actually substantiating those claims. We tested several models that meet military-grade MIL-STD-810G 516.6 drop-test requirements. To include this certification on a product label, a manufacturer must submit the cases to a licensed lab that will perform the qualifying tests. For this particular certification, the cases are dropped 26 times on all faces from a height of 12 feet onto concrete.

Aside from drop-test certifications, it's important to consider the construction of the case. Some cases have rubber flaps that cover the charge port and silent toggle, while others leave those areas exposed. Certain types of cases have a screen cover and lens covers integrated into the case, while others leave the glass exposed. However, many of those "exposed cases" include a bezel that keeps the glass from resting directly on a flat surface. This essentially provides an extra layer of protection for the camera or screen.

Aside from protecting your phone, it's important to consider how easily the case itself can withstand some wear and tear. Although hard plastic cases may offer more impact protection, these can be much more susceptible to scratching than cases made with rubber, silicone, or leather. While many of these rubber or silicone cases only offer a single layer of protection, dual-layer cases tend to incorporate an interior rubber or silicone case that is further protected by a hard plastic shell.

Portability

Once you've determined the amount of protection you require, you can then begin to consider other elements, such as the extra size and weight a case will add to your phone.

The size of iPhone cases varies significantly depending on the purpose of the case. In general, the simpler the case is, the smaller it is. If you want a case that will protect your phone from scratches but won't add much bulk, there are leather and silicone cases available that add practically nothing as far as size and weight go.

But when you start adding features such as drop protection, kickstands, and wallets, the size and weight of a case increase accordingly. The dual-layer drop-tested models tend to be the bulkiest options, but they also offer the highest level of protection.

Design

Certain models were created for drastically different lifestyles and day-to-day uses than others, so it's important to hone in on which elements of design are important for you.

Features

Cases with lots of bells and whistles are often seen as less stylish, and style-oriented cases don't always offer much in the way of features. While shopping, you'll need to consider where your tastes fall on this spectrum.

Kickstands

Kickstands are a fantastic innovation that are useful for all sorts of applications, from watching movies on airplanes, to gaming, to making FaceTime calls. The design of kickstands varies greatly. Some fold out of the back of a phone, some are integrated as a part of a screen cover flap, while others are a standalone piece that is either included with the case or sold separately.

Storage

Some cases are able to hold credit cards and cash. Obviously, this adds to the size and weight of your phone but simultaneously frees up the need to carry a wallet or purse. The design of these wallet-style cases can range from a hard plastic storage area to a sleek leather flap. This type of case is a fantastic option for events such as concerts or weddings when you're trying to minimize the number of items you have to carry while also making sure you have the essentials covered.

Accessories

Since the iPhone X, every model has been equipped with wireless charging capabilities. In addition to wireless charging, Apple has released its MagSafe line of iPhone accessories that magnetically attach to certain Apple cases. This modular technology is innovative and exciting, as it allows you to magnetically attach mods such as a cardholder or an auxiliary battery to your phone without ever changing the case. Whether you need the added battery for extended backcountry excursions or the cardholder for a night on the town, a single case is now versatile enough to do either. Some cases come with bicycle handlebar mounts, others integrate fisheye lenses for action sports photography, and some have lanyards so that you won't drop your phone while snorkeling — the possibilities are endless.

Style

A truly subjective element of an iPhone case is style. Much like choosing the color of your car or which shoes you put on in the morning, the type of case you put on your phone is a reflection of your personality.

And rest assured, there is a style of iPhone case out there for everyone. From pink sparkles to tactical camouflage, to clear silicone to thick genuine leather. We're certain you'll choose the case that best suits your style preferences.

Ease of Use

There are several things to consider regarding ease of use. During our testing, we found that some cases take a matter of seconds to unbox and install, while others require a lot more assembly than we'd like. Some even require a 30-minute soak in water to double-check their waterproofing.

It's important to consider the button function. Certain models have thick button covers that take quite a bit of force to push, while others don't affect the button function at all. Features like port covers, silent toggle covers, and integrated screen covers all offer added levels of protection, but make overall phone operation more difficult.

The grip of a case is another element to consider. While it's great that grippy cases stick to hard surfaces, they're generally also harder to get in and out of your pocket and tend to attract lint and dust. On the other hand, slick cases are easy to pull out of your pocket but are more likely to slide off a table. As with many of these decisions, the grip of a case ultimately comes down to personal preference.

Conclusion

Choosing the best iPhone case for your phone will largely depend on your lifestyle and personality. Over our years of testing these cases, we've found that any given member of our team will choose a different case as their favorite. Our goal is to do the research, purchase the products, and conduct a side-by-side analysis of the best options on the market. Whether you're looking for rugged protection, innovative features, or sleek style, our aim is to guide you toward the best iPhone case for your needs and budget.