The 6 Best iPhone 16 Cases

After testing lots of iphone 16 cases, comparing materials, prices, and real-world durability, we’ve handpicked the absolute best options for your iPhone 16. Our top priority? Finding cases that offer premium protection, sleek design, and great value—so you don’t have to compromise.

And our #1 choice? The Peak Design Case—thanks to its perfect balance of style, toughness, and everyday usability. Whether you need drop protection, MagSafe compatibility, or just a slim yet sturdy case, we’ve got you covered. No fluff, no bias—just the best picks to keep your iPhone safe!

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Smartish iPhone 16 MagSafe Case

With Mahsafe

The Gripmunk has been our pick for the best basic iPhone case for years. It has a slim profile, a great grip, excellent protection, and easy access to the new Camera Control button.

$19 from Amazon

Smartish available for these iPhones – 

• Smartish With MagSafe Case of iPhone 16 Plus
• Smartish With MagSafe Case of iPhone 16 Pro
• Smartish With MagSafe Case of iPhone 16 Pro Max
• Smartish With MagSafe Case of iPhone 16e

The Smartish Gripmunk is our favorite case for as long as it has been for good reason: it offers the finest balance of coverage, protection, and affordability—all for somewhat more than you would spend on breakfast and coffee at Starbucks. We examined cases costing twice as much with less characteristics.

Made of a flexible, rubberlike plastic (TPU, or thermoplastic polyurethane), the Gripmunk has just enough give to make it simple to get the case on your phone, but not so much that it will stretch out. The edges of the case also remain in place. Its sides have a pebbly feel with three little grooves that give just the proper amount of grip; its back is smooth. The Gripmunk case covers the buttons on the iPhone, which are still easy to press. It also has a concave cutout for the new Camera Control button, which makes presses and swipes feel normal. Slightly elevated edges surrounding the camera lenses let your iPhone sit flat on a table while also offering defense. During our testing, the case showed no signs of damage from a few 6-foot drops. The smooth microfiber inside lining also looks good; it covers the MagSafe ring without making the case feel too thick. For individuals who do not wish to charge their iPhone 16 wirelessly, Smartish provides a non-MagSafe variant of the Gripmunk.

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Smartish iPhone 16 Wallet Case

Wallet Slayer Vol. 1 [Slim + Protective] Card Holder

If you’re wanting to throw out your wallet, this case can hold up to three cards securely without compromising design or Camera Control access.

$24 from Amazon

Smartish available for these iPhones –

• Smartish Wallet Case of iPhone 16 Plus
• Smartish Wallet Case of iPhone 16 Pro
• Smartish Wallet Case of iPhone 16 Pro Max
• Smartish Wallet Case iPhone 16e

Though we’re getting near, we haven’t quite reached the wallet-free future where Apple Wallet can pay for everything. The Smartish Wallet Slayer Vol.1 may be the next finest thing. It is the ideal choice for fusing a phone case with a wallet as it has sufficient room for a physical ID as well as several credit cards.

The Wallet Slayer Vol.1 has a full TPU build, air pockets in the corners, and pebble-textured sides for grip, but it replaces the microfiber interior of the Gripmunk with rubber. It also has rubber covers for the iPhone 16’s Action, Power, and Volume buttons, but it has a Camera Control cutout. The back wallet pocket gives the case’s profile exactly over half an inch more. On the left it has a tiny hole to push the cards out and a card slot on the right. Whether you’re storing one, two, or three cards, they remain safe and simple to slide in and out.

The trade-off of a wallet case is the lack of MagSafe compatibility together with the bigger profile. To access magnetic accessories or wireless charging, then, you will have to change cases.

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Smartish iPhone 16 Protective Magnetic Case

With Mahsafe

For those who want more protection with a bigger build and air pocket corners but not the bulk, this case is a good choice. It also lets you readily reach the buttons, USB-C port, and Camera Control button on your iPhone.

$28 from Amazon

Smartish available for these iPhones –

• Smartish Protective Magnetic Case of iPhone 16 Plus
• Smartish Protective Magnetic Case of iPhone 16 Pro
• Smartish Protective Magnetic Case of iPhone 16 Pro Max
• Smartish Protective MagSafe Case of iPhone 16e 

Look at the Smartish Gripzilla if you want the most protection for a fair price. Unlike other situations with additional safeguards, it’s still quite thin.

The Gripzilla resembles the Smartish Gripmunk but is somewhat taller and thicker. With an additional 0.2 inch in height and 0.1 inch in thickness over the Gripmunk, it barely adds any bulk to your iPhone. Additionally, the Gripzilla includes a 1-millimeter lip to shield the camera and a 1.5-millimeter lip to keep the screen safe from drops. Though somewhat thicker, it shields your Action, Volume, and Power buttons and supports MagSafe charging and has an easily accessible Camera Control button cutout. For individuals prone to dropping their phones, it has sunken finger ridges on either side of the case for a firm grip. It showed no evident damage after withstanding numerous drop tests from a 6-foot height.

Like the Gripmunk case, you may also design your own unique item that is offered for a premium via the website of the business.

The trade-off with a protective case is that the bigger corners add a little more bulk to it. Only when you have a Gripmunk—or another case—in one hand and a Gripzilla in the other is the difference quite evident. Both fit neatly into your pocket or purse.

Other protective cases

If you like a protective case free from the bulkier corners, the Casely Bold case with MagSafe is yet another excellent choice. It uses hard plastic for the rear and TPU for the sides for a stronger build than most. It has air pockets to keep the corners safe from falls, textured lines on the sides for better grip, raised bumpers to protect the screen and camera sensors, and a strong MagSafe support. It also includes easy access cutouts for the iPhone 16’s new Camera Control button and the USB-C connector as well as your phone’s buttons.

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Incase Slim Apple Magsafe Case for iPhone 16

Ultra Slim, Durable, Lightweight

This case has strong magnets, a hard back, extra protection around the camera and its corners, and buttons that are easy to reach. But we’ve never found a clear case that doesn’t change color a lot after six to twelve months.

$39 from Amazon

Smartish available for these iPhones – 

• Incase Slim Apple Magsafe Case for iPhone 16 Plus
• Incase Slim Apple Magsafe Case for iPhone 16 Pro
• Incase Slim Apple Magsafe Case for iPhone 16 Pro Max

The clear version of Incase’s Slim Case is a good choice if you want a case that shows off the color and design of your iPhone while also protecting it. It has a clear hard plastic back with frosted TPU edges and air pockets in all four corners for extra protection. It also has a raised border around the camera, but it still looks sleek. The frosted and slightly textured sides of the Incase case give you a better grip than most clear cases we’ve tested, and they don’t make your case a fingerprint magnet. The case protects all of the buttons except for the new Camera Control button, which is in a concave cutout. It also has a built-in lanyard loop, which is a useful feature that isn’t common on clear cases. All the transparent cases we’ve checked out have turned yellow and gathered dirt as time passed. This might also happen to this case even with its frosted parts. We’re going to keep an eye on it for a while to find out if and when it starts to change color.

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Totallee Clear Case for iPhone 16

Extra Grip, Slim Magnetic

A slim case that’s simple to hold, shields your iPhone’s buttons, allows quick use of the Camera Control button, and adds no extra weight.

$39 from Amazon

Totallee available for these iPhones – 

• totallee Clear Case for iPhone 16 Plus
• totallee Clear Case for iPhone 16 Pro
• totallee Clear Case for iPhone 16 Pro Max
• totallee Thinnest Clear iPhone 16e

Okay, so if you’re on the hunt for a phone case that’s basically invisible—like, thinner than your patience on a Monday morning—the Totallee Super Thin Case is the move. This thing is barely there, seriously, we’re talking half a millimeter thick. It’s so light you’ll forget it’s even on—less than an ounce! Now, don’t expect it to save your phone from a drop off the Empire State Building, or, honestly, even a tumble off your nightstand, but it does give your camera a little bumper and wraps your buttons up nicely. All the ports? Still wide open. Plus, MagSafe works, so you can still slap on your wireless charger or whatever doodads Apple’s selling this week. Honestly, if you’re looking for a case that stops your phone from slipping out of your hand, the Totallee isn’t it. Grip? Pretty meh. Drop protection? Yeah, don’t count on it. Scratches show up almost instantly—seriously, hold it under a lamp and you’ll see every tiny scuff, just like with other ultra-skinny cases. Oh, and if you’re into MagSafe stuff, tough luck: Totallee’s got a basic case for the iPhone 16e, but no built-in magnets. Kind of a letdown.

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Peak Design Case Compatible with iPhone 16

Charcoal Gray

Peak Design’s case just snaps onto all sorts of mounts—bike, car, whatever—thanks to this slick locking clip and some MagSafe-friendly magnets. And yeah, your iPhone stays safe inside.

$49 from Amazon

Peak Design available for these iPhones – 

• Peak Design Everyday Case for iPhone 16 Plus
• Peak Design Everyday Case for iPhone 16 Pro
• Peak Design Everyday Case for iPhone 16 Pro Max

Alright, so Peak Design—yeah, the same folks who make those slick camera bags everyone on YouTube seems to have—actually nailed it with their phone cases too. The Everyday Case, for example, is surprisingly solid. Not bulky at all, but it still manages to look sharp on an iPhone. The thing’s got this polycarbonate shell, wrapped up in a moody dark gray nylon (inside and out, which is kinda fancy). It shrugs off water pretty well—nothing’s totally waterproof, but this comes close enough for daily nonsense like coffee spills. If you’re feeling a bit bougie, you can cough up an extra ten bucks for the vegan leather version. No judgments.

Around the edges, there’s this TPU border with these tiny ridges inside—basically, it’s like shock absorbers for your phone when you inevitably drop it at the worst possible moment. The metal buttons have a nice click to them, too—none of that mushy nonsense. And, yeah, there’s a neat little dip for the Camera Control button, which is handy if you actually use it.

But, real talk, the MagSafe setup is what makes this thing pop. You just slap your phone onto all sorts of stuff—car mounts, bike mounts, tripods, even a wallet. It’s like phone Voltron. Charging’s a breeze too; no fussing around. Just stick and go.

# Material & Build

Alright, let’s talk materials. Silicone and TPU? Those are the squishy, grippy types—think of them as the hoodie of phone cases. Super chill for daily drops and butterfingers. Hard plastic (polycarbonate) is the polar opposite: lightweight, stiff, and actually pretty tough, especially if you see it paired up with something softer on the inside (that’s a “hybrid” if you wanna sound fancy).

Leather cases? Oh, they’re classy. They age like a good pair of boots, but don’t expect them to save your phone from a ten-foot nosedive. Style points, though. And hey, those hybrid builds—hard shell outside, soft inside—are kinda like a helmet with padding. Best of both worlds.

# Protection Features

Raised bezels—basically little bumpers—keep your screen and camera from kissing the pavement. Corners reinforced with air pockets? Think of ‘em as airbags for your phone. If you see a case bragging about MIL-STD-810G drop tests, that means someone actually drop-kicked it in a lab, so that’s a good sign.

If you like your case clear, watch out for yellowing—nobody wants their phone looking like a smoker’s teeth. And cheap cases tend to peel apart after a while, so look for solid construction.

# Functionality & Usability

You know what sucks? Cases that block your charger or make the buttons feel like you’re pressing mashed potatoes. Get one with sharp cutouts and clicky buttons. If you’re all about MagSafe or wireless charging, double-check that the case won’t mess with it. (Certified = safe bet.)

A case with some texture or curves is way easier to hang onto, especially if you’re a doomscroller or mobile gamer. And if you’re always on the go, wallet slots or a built-in stand? Game-changer.

# Heat Management

Big, chunky, or metal cases can turn your phone into a pocket oven. Not good, especially in summer. If you’re worried about overheating, go slim or grab something that lets your phone breathe a little.

# Style & Personalization

Now for the fun bit. Minimalist black, wild prints, faux wood, neon glitter—whatever floats your boat. Your case is basically an outfit for your phone. Eco-nerds (no shame) can grab bamboo or recycled plastic. And if you want your case to look fresh longer, avoid stuff that peels or turns yellow after two weeks.

Quick Recap Table –

Quick Picks for Different Folks

Just need a solid daily case? Go for a slim silicone or hybrid with grippy sides and raised edges.

Always dropping your phone or work in a warzone? Heavy-duty, military-certified with chunky corners—think OtterBox or UAG.

Love MagSafe? Get a certified slim case or a clear one that doesn’t block charging. Easy.

Addicted to scrolling or gaming? Textured, contoured cases save your hands.

Want to flex some style? Look at leather, eco-friendly, or custom print options—bonus points for monograms.

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Competition – 

Basic case

Apple’s Silicone Case? Oh, it’s grippy, alright—you’re not dropping your phone, but you are definitely picking lint out of it every five minutes. And that price? Honestly, it’s like Apple thinks we all have an endless pile of cash stashed somewhere. The Camera Control button is fully covered, so at least you won’t accidentally launch the camera, but man, the dust. Yikes.

The Beats Case looks shiny and feels fancy, but it’s slippery as heck. It’s got microfiber on the inside (nice touch), and yeah, your buttons are protected, but the bottom’s just hanging out there, totally exposed. Speaker, USB-C port—vulnerable city. Not exactly confidence-inspiring.

ESR’s Soft Case with Stand—looks like silicone, but don’t expect it to stick to your hand. Grip is meh. On the plus side, you get decent protection and a kickstand that pops out of the camera bump. For binge-watching in bed? Could be worse.

Spigen Thin Fit is mostly hard plastic, with a little flexible border so you don’t break a nail putting it on. MagSafe-compatible—points for that. The Camera Control button gets a cutout, but honestly, other cases in this roundup do a better job if you’re the clumsy type.

Spigen Liquid Air? It’s the definition of “just a case.” TPU all the way, so it feels cheap, but it’s easy to get on and off. You won’t find MagSafe or any bells and whistles—just basic protection and a cutout for the Camera Control button. Save your money unless you’re desperate.

Zagg’s Manhattan Snap, London Snap, and Milan Snap—these are fine. They cover what they need to, work with MagSafe, and don’t do anything weird with the Camera Control button. But nothing about them screams “buy me now.” They’re just… there.

Leather case

Moft’s Snap Case Movas? Yeah, it’s got that whole vegan leather vibe going on, and the inside’s all soft, microfiber—pretty nice for your phone’s backside, not gonna lie. You can slap a lanyard on it if you’re the type who drops your phone at brunch. The metal buttons? Solid as heck. And it shrugs off scratches way better than most “real” leather cases—which is ironic, honestly. But the leather itself… eh, doesn’t really have that fancy feel like Mujjo’s does. Plus, the cutout for Camera Control is just weirdly huge. Like, did they measure it with their eyes closed? Leaves way too much around the button naked and begging for scuffs.

Now, Otterbox’s Symmetry Series, they’re out here with this “leather” case made from cactus. Cactus! I mean, that’s kind of cool, right? It won’t get that classic worn-in leather vibe, but it laughs off scratches like nothing else we’ve tried. You get the usual features—microfiber inside, MagSafe, sturdy metal bumpers for the camera and buttons. But honestly, we had to pass. The cutout for the Camera Control button is just massive, and it leaves the rails totally exposed. Drop your phone once and those sides are gonna look like they were attacked by a cheese grater.

Then there’s the Torro Slimline Bumper Case. Real top-grain leather, none of that fake stuff. Somehow, it still manages to feel slim and grippy, which is kind of a miracle. The aluminum buttons? Super satisfying click. Microfiber lining inside, so your phone’s cozy. But here’s the catch: this thing’s not exactly built like a tank. No official drop rating, and the front lip barely pokes up over the screen. We dropped it on concrete—yeah, oops—and while the screen survived scratches, the display edges got some not-so-cute cracks. The upside? It’s one of the rare leather cases for the iPhone 16e rocking an actual MagSafe ring inside. Just—seriously—use a screen protector with it, or you’ll regret it.

Wallet case

Alright, let’s get real about these MagSafe wallets—because someone’s gotta tell it straight.

So, Apple’s FineWoven MagSafe wallet? The magnet’s got some serious grip, I’ll give them that. You can jam two cards in there, no problem. But, man, this microtwill stuff? Scratches if you even look at it funny. After a week, it starts to look like you’ve dragged it behind your car. Classic Apple: premium price, delicate as grandma’s best china.

Now, the Moft Snap Phone Stand & Wallet—honestly, this one looks slick. Vegan leather, only thirty bucks, and the magnetic stand is actually useful (rare win!). Downside? Don’t expect to fit your whole life in there. Two cards, max, then you’re pushing it. Forget about cramming in a third; it’s not happening.

Mujjo’s Leather Magnetic Wallet steps things up with real leather vibes and can hold up to three cards… in theory. There are these little silicone stripes on the back, supposedly to keep it from sliding. Yeah, no. The thing pops off if you even try to pull out a card. Annoying.

Mujjo’s Full Leather Wallet Case is all about that leather flex, plus aluminum buttons and a camera bump. Nice touches, honestly. You get a cutout for the Camera Control button, and it feels solid. But again—two cards, maybe three if you like a struggle. And I don’t love that the leather’s probably gonna get beat up fast. Oh, and if you don’t own a 16 Pro? Tough luck, this one’s not for you.

Last up: Smartish Wallet Slayer Vol. 2. It’s thinner than the OG but still covers your phone like a champ. There’s a cutout for the Camera Control button, which is handy. But seriously, try getting more than one card out of that tight sleeve and let me know if you don’t lose your patience. Not exactly “slayer” material.

So yeah, none of these are perfect. You wanna carry more than two cards? Might as well just bring your old-school wallet.

Clear case

Alright, here’s the real talk:

Apple’s Clear MagSafe case—eh, it’s got this pressure-sensitive button thing going on for the Camera Control, which is cool ‘cause you can swipe and half-press and all that jazz. But honestly? The grip’s kinda meh, and they just leave the whole port and speaker area out in the open like, “Hey, come scratch me.” Not sure what they were thinking there.

Now, the ESR Hybrid Case with Stand? The kickstand is actually built right into the camera bump. Not gonna lie, it’s pretty handy for lazy video calls or doomscrolling. Camera Control button is easy to get to, but again, the grip is nothing to write home about. Like, why are so many of these cases so slippery? Is it a conspiracy?

MOFT Snap Case—okay, so it’s not as stiff as the old ones, but now it covers even less. Both side rails are just chilling, exposed to the cruel, cruel world. Also, if you enjoy fingerprints all over your phone, congrats, this is THE case for you.

Smartish Gripmunk (yes, that’s really the name) with MagSafe in Clearly Clear: you get chunky frosted edges and a raised camera bumper, which is great, except the Camera Capture area is unfrosted with a naked button. Previous models turned yellow faster than a banana in July, so… I’d keep my expectations in check.

Speck’s got a buffet of clear cases—Presidio Perfect-Clear MagSafe, Lux, Lux Glitter, and Perfect-Clear Grip MagSafe. If you don’t wanna drop your phone every five minutes, go for the Grip versions. The non-Grip ones are basically slip-n-slides and the Camera Control button cutout is hilariously tiny if you’ve got beefy hands. The Grip ones look a bit funky with the raised plastic pattern, but hey, at least your phone stays put.

Spigen’s Ultra Hybrid T MagFit? Solid choice if you’re all-in on MagSafe. Tough borders, chunky corners, and that raised camera bumper for the clumsy among us. Both Action and Camera Control buttons are covered but still super responsive, so no worries there. The catch: only for iPhone 16 Pro, so everyone else can just stare longingly.

And then there’s the UAG Plyo. This thing’s like a tank with a clear shell—thicker everywhere, especially around the corners and camera. The Camera Control cutout is easy to get to, but the giant MagSafe magnet ring on the back? People either vibe with it or absolutely hate it. No in-between.

So yeah, pick your poison. They’ve all got their quirks.

Superthin case

Caudabe’s Veil used to be our go-to for ultra-thin cases. The new version? It’s got these little pebbled dots running down the sides—makes it way less slippery, so you’re not white-knuckling your phone every time you text. There’s a raised bit around the camera to keep your lenses from getting wrecked, and the cutouts for the Action and Camera Control buttons are actually decent. Downside? You’re outta luck unless you’ve got an iPhone 16 Pro—no regular models here.

Now, Pitaka’s Tactile Woven and Ultra-Slim Cases—yeah, they look slick and feel good, but honestly, they’re all show and not much muscle. They’re basically just hard backs that leave the Action button, Camera Control, and USB-C port totally naked. Sure, there’s an aluminum bump for the camera and MagSafe magnets, but, like, what’s the point if half your phone is still one bad drop away from disaster? Can’t say we’re fans.

Latercase Thin Case? It’s like Pitaka’s, but somehow even skinnier and, weirdly, flimsier. The whole thing just feels kinda… meh. The buttons and port are bare, and instead of a proper camera bump, it’s got this thin, skin-like layer over the camera. Not inspiring confidence. Can’t recommend it, sorry.