The best iPhone 16 cases offer versatile, protective, and appealing designs at prices that fit your budget.
To help you find the best case for your needs, we've compiled our favorite options from Apple and trusted third-party brands like Otterbox, Spigen, and others.
Among the best iPhone 16 cases, our top pick is the Apple Clear Case with MagSafe model. It retains first-rate clarity over time, showing off your iPhone's finish while protecting it for the long term. Our favorite budget recommendation is the Spigen Tough Armor case, a low-cost, high-quality model with an integrated kickstand.
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Staff Pick
Best overallUpdating a case that has offered the best anti-yellowing among clear cases in our testing, Apple's latest model has a sapphire crystal conductive layer for the new Camera Control button. -
First-rate protectionThe Otterbox Commuter case features the brand's standard, top-tier drop protection and charging port covers in a light and relatively slim form with five available colorways.
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Staff Pick
Best budget caseThe affordable and durable Spigen Tough Armor case has raised edges for screen protection and a built-in kickstand for content viewing or capture.
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Versatile and durableThe hardwearing Torras Ostand case has an integrated kickstand that can rotate 360 degrees and double as a grip, along with an enhanced magnetic back.
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Best customizationCasetify's case collection includes a wide variety of protective models that allow you to customize your case's back with text and color patterns.
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Affordable yet sturdyA more straightforward and even less expensive Spigen model, the Liquid Air case has raised edges and an intricate texture for an upgraded grip.
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Textured, non-slip gripThe ergonomically enhanced and inexpensive Caseology Parallax case features raised lips for screen and camera protection and MagSafe compatibility.
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Another stellar clear caseSpeck's Presidio clear case is the only other model that has offered comparable resistance against age- and use-related yellowing to Apple's proprietary clear case.
FAQs
Does the iPhone 16 need a case?
In recent years, iPhones have become significantly more durable. However, none of the best phones is immune to damage, and our iPhone 16 review recommends protecting your investment in the phone with a dependable case.
Protection aside, cases can also have the auxiliary benefit of adding features to your phone — like the integrated kickstand on our top budget option, Spigen's Tough Armor case — while being an additional level of personalization for your device.
A case alone may not save your phone's screen from scratching, so we also recommend adding a screen protector to the iPhone 16. See our guide to the best iPhone 16 screen protectors.
What should I look for in an iPhone 16 case?
As with any of the best iPhones, when looking for a case for the iPhone 16, you should consider several factors in addition to your budgetary constraints and aesthetic preferences.
Primarily, you want to ensure that the case provides adequate protection against drop damage, as each of our picks above does. If you intend to use the phone's improved MagSafe charging technology for magnetic attachment to chargers, wallets, or mounts, you'll need to ensure that your case adequately supports MagSafe.
The iPhone 16 series also introduced a new Camera Control button, which a case should account for.
Will an iPhone 15 case fit an iPhone 16?
While the dimensions of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 are remarkably similar, a case meant for the iPhone 15 will not fit on the iPhone 16, and vice versa, due to the phones' design differences.
The new base models in the iPhone 16 series have a redesigned vertical camera system and new hardware features, like the Camera Control and Action buttons, that make previous-generation cases incompatible. Read our iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 15 guide for further comparison.
