![Best iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro Cases for 2024 [CNET]](https://i0.wp.com/upmytech.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/213851-attachment.jpg?resize=300%2C169&ssl=1)
Best iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro Cases for 2024 [CNET]
Article updated on September 23, 2024 at 3:26 PM PDT
Looking for a new case to protect your new iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Pro? These are the best cases, according to our experts.
Our Experts
Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission.
David Carnoy Executive Editor / Reviews
Executive Editor David Carnoy has been a leading member of CNET’s Reviews team since 2000. He covers the gamut of gadgets and is a notable reviewer of mobile accessories and portable audio products, including headphones and speakers. He’s also an e-reader and e-publishing expert as well as the author of the novels Knife Music, The Big Exit and Lucidity. All the titles are available as Kindle, iBooks, Kobo e-books and audiobooks.
Expertise Headphones, Bluetooth speakers, mobile accessories, Apple, Sony, Bose, e-readers, Amazon, glasses, ski gear, iPhone cases, gaming accessories, sports tech, portable audio, interviews, audiophile gear, PC speakers Credentials
- Maggie Award for Best Regularly Featured Web Column/Consumer
Affordable iPhone 16 case with built-in kickstand and MagSafe
ESR Kickstand case
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Which is the best iPhone 16 case overall?
I’ve been testing iPhone cases since the iPhone 4, and there’s no shortage of new cases for this year’s iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models. It’s always hard to declare one case better than all the rest because there are so many good ones out there, but if I had to pick one brand for the top spot, I’d say Otterbox (it makes several different iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro cases — I’ve highlighted a few of my favorite styles below). I’ve also long been a fan of Speck cases.
Note that Apple has changed the design of the cameras and added new programmable action button on the iPhone 16 and changed the lens configuration for the cameras on back, so iPhone 15 and iPhone 14 cases won’t fit the iPhone 16. The same is true for the iPhone 16 Pro models, which are slightly larger than their predecessors and add a camera control button (the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus also have it).
Because people’s preferences vary widely, I’ve included a wide variety of options in this list, ranging from value picks to tougher premium cases and slimmer models. Apple-branded iPhone cases are typically solid options, but beware of knockoffs. They look and feel similar but tend to show wear and tear more quickly. I’ll update this list as I test more iPhone 16 and 16 Pro cases.
Best iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro cases of 2024
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ESR Kickstand cases aren’t your typical cases with an integrated kickstand. That’s because the kickstand doesn’t flip out of the backside of the case at the bottom. Instead, it serves as a protective ring around your camera lenses when it’s retracted and not in use (ESR calls it a foldable stash stand). You’ll find other generic cases on Amazon with a design like this, but ESR stands out for having a more premium feel to its value cases.
Note that you can get the case in a soft silicone version, a thicker tough version (it really is tough) and a simple clear version. I like the soft silicone version, but the clear case is the most affordable, selling for around $15. I can’t vouch for the clear version not yellowing over time, but it is a decent budget option.
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Caseology makes some decent budget cases, including the Athlex Mag, Parallax, Dual Grip Mag and Capella Mag, all of which cost less than $20. Its Capella Mag Kickstand is one of the cheaper transparent MagSafe cases we’ve seen that has a built-in kickstand that retracts into the case when not in use so you can attach MagSafe accessories. You can see all of Caseology’s iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro cases here.
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Moft makes some nice MagSafe accessories, including wallets that convert into kickstands and an iPhone Tripod Stand. Its cases are also well-designed and attractive. It sells a very slim clear MagSafe case called the Invisible Case for $40, but I like its faux leather Movas cases, which list for $50 but sometimes sell for $40. (Vegan leather is designed to look and feel like real leather but is synthetic.) You can see the company’s full suite of cases and accessories here, including its new Creator kit that bundles a Movas case with a wallet stand, tripod stand and lanyard.
MagSafe support — or not?
You might be able to save a little money by getting a case that doesn’t have MagSafe support (the metal ring built into the case). I generally encourage people to spend the extra money for a MagSafe-enabled case because of the number of MagSafe accessories on the market, some of them quite useful.
Thin or thicker?
Some people like minimal cases that add little to no bulk to their iPhones, but the majority of people are looking for a case that offers good protection — or even maximum protection. I tell people to find a case that’s not too thick and maybe even pretty slim and that offers at least 6-foot drop protection (and good corner protection).
Do you want a clear case?
Clear cases are popular because they show off your phone (and its color). Clear cases, especially cheaper ones, can become less clear over time and slowly start to yellow. Many case makers now add UV protection to their clear cases to prevent yellowing.
Several of the cases on this list were previously available for the iPhone 15 models and we added them to the list based on our previous testing with the iPhone 15. Typically, we try to use the case on the phone for at least a day and make sure the buttons on the phone work properly with the case on. With some phone cases, we use them for several days or even weeks to see how they wear over time.
- Design: We evaluate the more superficial and cosmetic aspects of cases and consider how aesthetically pleasing they are because people sometimes buy cases solely for their colors and artwork.
- Durability: We look at how durable a case is, paying particular attention to corner and camera protection (raised corners on a case can help your phone survive face-down falls).
- Grip factor: We review the material the case is made of so we can talk about such factors as how grippy the phone feels in your hand and how protective the material is.
- Extra features: Some iPhone cases have extra features such as MagSafe, an integrated kickstand or grips, and, in the case of folio models, slots for storing credit cards and cash.
- Long-term testing: Although we don’t do long-term testing for most cases, we do use some of the most popular cases for longer periods to gauge how they wear over time and see how well our phone holds up during accidental drops with the case on it. We don’t do formal drop tests.
- Waterproof cases: Only a few fully waterproof cases are available, but If the case is supposed to be fully waterproof, we test it by submerging it in water.
We look at design features like the raised corners on this Otterbox case when we test the best iPhone cases.
David Carnoy/CNETWildflower cases During the past couple of years, Wildflower phone cases have risen in popularity. Collaborations with music festivals such as Coachella and influencers like Emma Chamberlin have helped the female-founded business gain visibility. Like Casetify, the company offers cases with a plethora of unique, eye-catching designs. However, none of its cases currently has a MagSafe option (you have to buy a ring to stick on the back on the case). That’s not cool.
Is USB-C charging an issue with some cases?
With most phone cases, the cutout for the USB-C port is wide enough to allow you to use most USB-C charging cables. Some USB-C charging cables with particularly large heads may not fit certain cases. The USB-C charging cable included with the new iPhones has a relatively compact head.
How protective of an iPhone 16 case should you buy?
I like cases that aren’t too thick but offer decent drop protection, with a lip over the edge of the screen (sometimes referred to as a “screen bumper”) and raised corners that help prevent your screen from cracking if your phone should fall face down. A folio case will more fully protect your screen.
The good news is that you don’t have to buy a super-protective iPhone 16 case like the OtterBox Defender XT to get good protection. Most cases are reasonably thin and still offer at least 6-foot drop protection. I did include one very thin case on this list for folks who prefer minimal protection. Before you go with a case like that, just remember how much your phone costs. It is better than having no case at all. Make sure you get a sound, tempered glass screen protector for your iPhone 16 model to prevent deep scratches and safeguard the screen.
Should I get a MagSafe case for my iPhone 16?
All the iPhone 16 models are equipped with Apple’s MagSafe feature, which offers faster wireless charging with compatible chargers. It also supports optional accessories — including the MagSafe wallet, mini wallets and various mounts — that adhere magnetically to the back of your phone. Like the iPhone 15, the iPhone 16 has “an array of magnets” (Apple says they’re recycled) embedded around a charging coil that can pull up to 15 watts of power.
If you want to use those MagSafe accessories without taking your phone out of its case, you need a phone case that’s equipped with MagSafe support. The MagSafe symbol is a circle with a short pipe below it. You can see it on clear cases, but it’s embedded on the inside of the case so if it’s nontransparent, you’ll only see it from the inside.
If you already have a MagSafe accessory — or plan on buying MagSafe accessories in the future — you’ll want to get a MagSafe compatible case; it’s a good option to have. With that in mind, the majority of the cases in this roundup are equipped with MagSafe.
Are MagSafe cases more expensive?
In general, yes — about $5-$10 more. Some more affordable MagSafe cases cost around $20, but most cost upward of $30. We see cases from certain companies that are essentially the same but one has MagSafe and the other doesn’t, and the MagSafe version usually sells for $10 more. It may seem like a little too much to pay for something that doesn’t seem like much of an upgrade, but in time MagSafe compatibility may command less of a “tax.”
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