Today’s smartphones have screens that take up most of their real estate. While this offers up the opportunity for large, gorgeous displays and intuitive touch controls, it also leaves the phones vulnerable to breaking.
Old-school flip phones could protect the most critical parts of their hardware, but modern smartphones tend to lack these protective measures. As a result, purchasing a phone case with your smartphone is vital.
Almost every phone brand has issues compatible with its products, and you can find highly personalized options on sites like Amazon or Casetify.
Some value fashion, opting for polycarbonate or leather cases with minimalist designs and various color options. Cases with credit card holders, screen protectors, and wireless charging features are available for those looking to add increased functionality to their phones or gadgets.
Of course, drop protection and safety are the most common reasons to look for a phone case. Fortunately, there is no shortage of high-quality, rugged cases, many of which are subject to incredible drop tests (such as OtterBox’s LifeProof line).
Whether you choose the company itself or a third party, make sure you pick a case that strikes the right balance of protection, style, and cost.
Why Should You Use a Phone Case?
People break their smartphones all the time. A whopping 72% of Americans have claimed to have broken their phones at least once in their life. Our phones are at the center of our lives in the modern era, and we must keep them safe.
Our phones are how we contact each other, access the internet, interface with our bank accounts, and communicate with our jobs. Without our phones, society would screech to a halt. A broken phone screen can certainly feel like your life is screeching to a halt.
Another critical thing to consider is that our phones are also expressions of ourselves. Almost everyone has a phone, and modern smartphones tend to skimp out when innovating their designs. Flip phones come in all shapes and sizes, but with smartphones, you can be ready for a dark-colored rectangle showing up at your door regardless of which one you buy.
Cases let us choose the look and color of our phones, allowing us to make them feel distinct from one another. While there were once a wide variety of brands fighting for supremacy over the mobile phone market, there are now fewer primary brands, with consumers focusing more on differentiation through the cases.
What Should You Look for in a Phone Case?
The most important thing about an Apple iPhone case is that it needs to be able to protect your phone. Whether you have an iPhone 11, iPhone SE, or even the brand new iPhone 14, ensure you look for cases compatible with your particular device and double-check that they will fit your needs.
Some phone cases go all out on safety, with bulky materials and much coverage. These tend to sacrifice style for security, ensuring your phone is as safe as possible, even if it may be a bit unwieldy.
Other cases are about style, with unique designs and materials made to look good and express your identity. These tend to be less secure, but some also have other functions if needed as well.
For example, many people buy wallet cases with slots for cards and cash. Some of these will also have a foldable protector for the display that increases safety and reduces scratching.
With recent iPhones, more and more are seeking out MagSafe compatible cases. Apple MagSafe accessories are wireless chargers that feed power to your device through a magnetic charging port on the back.
Since the iPhone 12, MagSafe charging has been one of the most popular features of new Apple devices. Cases doubling as MagSafe chargers, or even cases that allow other MagSafe accessories, are increasingly common.
The ideal phone case is based on your needs, and many people will be looking for a phone that does a good job providing the best of both worlds.
What Is the Best iPhone Case?
Phone cases have been a massive industry since smartphones became the norm, which means that there are many tried and true options on the market. Here are some of the best phone cases you can buy today:
Smartish Gripmunk
The Smartish Gripmunk is a phone case tailored to the iPhone 12 line. Its textured grip contrasts nicely with the iPhone’s naturally slippery material and offers a sleek and simple design.
The Gripmunk is compatible with both the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro. An exciting thing about Smartish is that you can customize the cases depending on what you want to see.
While you cannot change the overall structure, you can have colors and designs custom-made. You can stick with the microfiber or silicon case options; however, you can also opt for clear cases that show off the sleek design of your phone.
OtterBox Commuter Series Antimicrobial Case
OtterBox cases are some of the most popular cases in the world, and the commuter series is one of their biggest hits. The Commuter series cases are compatible with most major phone brands, including Apple, Google, and Samsung.
The Commuter Series Antimicrobial is infused with a silver-based antimicrobial additive that defends your case against the most common forms of dangerous bacteria. The design is meant to be sturdy but also lean enough that it can fit comfortably in your pocket when you are on the go, hence the name of the series. As far as OtterBox cases go, it is hard to beat any commuter series phone.
Additionally, for even more peace of mind, Otterbox offers comprehensive warranty protections — spanning up to seven years in some cases.
Spidercase iPhone 13 Pro Max Case
This Spidercase is unique because it caters specifically to the iPhone 13 Pro Max, a notoriously large phone for which it can be hard to find cases. The Spidercase offers military-grade protection with a tempered glass display protector.
It is a notably thin case, which is a good thing when considering the naturally large size of the iPhone 13 Pro Max. The case's primary body is Thermoplastic Polyurethane, and the camera gets a lens protector as well.
Amuoc Military Grade iPhone Case
The Amuoc Military Grade iPhone case has a lot of different models for the other iPhones out there. It is incredibly durable, with two pieces of tempered glass covering the front of the display. It is graded to be able to get dropped from up to 15 feet, which is an incredible height.
For only $10, this is a fantastic value for iPhone users. It is also scratch resistant and has an extra kickstand, further upping its value.
The Bottom Line
There are a lot of cases out there, and it can be tough to find the right one. Luckily, no matter what phone you have, there are so many out there that you will almost certainly see an excellent case for your device.
OtterBox is always a solid option, and no matter which phone you use, they will always have a wide variety of stylish and protective cases you can try out. Other companies like Smartish and Spidercase also have solid products that will keep your phones safe.
Of course, we didn’t cover every excellent case option on this list. Some other iPhone cases worth considering include:
- Speck Presidio Pro Case
- Spigen Liquid Crystal Case
- Nomad Modern Leather Folio Case
- Otterbox Symmetry Series + Case
Navi can help you figure out which phone is right for you. Navi uses industry insights to help you navigate the complex market of mobile phones so that you can get what you need. Use the service to determine which plans and devices fit your personal preferences.
Make sure you pick a solid case to protect your new phone after you use Navi to find the right fit for you.
