Best Phone Cases for iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Max

</p><p>I’ve already noticed hundreds, if not thousands, of iPhone 16 cases to chose from and it’s overwhelming to say the least. You don’t have to do the hard work, though, because that’s what these articles are for. I did the sorting and testing for you—literally by hand. My fingertips are sore from peeling all these cases on and off all these damn iPhones. I even took it one step further and risked dropping my phone from certain heights—it’s still one piece, by the way.</p><p>Ahead you’ll find the ten <a href=”https://www.esquire.com/lifestyle/g22877559/best-iphone-cases/” target=”_blank”>best iPhone cases</a> across every category you can think of. <a href=”https://www.esquire.com/lifestyle/g28087209/iphone-wallet-cases/” target=”_blank”>Wallet cases</a>, folios, silicone or leather—whatever your preferred form factor or material is, it’s all here.</p>”/>

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Best Clear iPhone 16 Case

Tech 21 EvoClear

EvoClear
Pros
  • Flexible yet protective
  • Lets you admire the phone you spent all that money on
Cons
  • Ugly MagSafe circle and line if you want wireless charging

iPhone 16 Plus iPhone 16 Pro iPhone 16 Pro Max

Clear cases are not entirely my jam, but if I had to recommend one, it would be the EvoClear. This flexible plastic case is made from 90 percent biodegradable materials so you can feel morally responsible while also not shattering your brand-new phone screen.

Material Biodegradable recycled materials
MagSafe Yes
Buttons Covered
Colors Clear

Thinnest MagSafe iPhone 16 Case

Peel Magnetic Case

On Sale

Magnetic Case

Pros
  • Slim, light profile
  • Clean look
Cons
  • Very thin, meaning not the most durable

iPhone 16 Plus iPhone 16 Pro iPhone 16 Pro Max

If you want a case you can quickly peel on and off, look no further. Peel is an expert at making cases impossibly thin. This one is MagSafe compatible and still remarkably slim.

This recommendation is a favorite of Esquire commerce editor Luke Guillory, who had to say:

I’m a dark-green Peel case die-hard. I love that Peel skips all the branding bullshit. I don’t need another ugly logo in my life. I need a good-looking case that protects my busted iPhone 12 Mini from becoming unusable because it’s been discontinued and Apple won’t replace it.

The only negative thing I’ll say about Peel is that the thinness compromises some durability. I’m fine with the trade-off, because it survives most drops, but one time I dropped a phone onto concrete and my case busted. (Phone didn’t suffer a scratch.) If you’re extremely cautious, buy two or three and that’ll last you the lifetime of your phone.

Material Polypropylene
MagSafe Yes
Buttons Cutout
Colors Black, Clear, Natural, Navy

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Best iPhone 16 Wallet Case

Bellroy 3-Card Phone Case

3-Card Phone Case
Pros
  • Card holder that doubles as a kickstand
  • Quality leather
  • 3-year warranty
Cons
  • Too bulky for MagSafe charging

iPhone 16 Plus iPhone 16 Pro iPhone 16 Pro Max

The best part about this case from Bellroy is the dual-purpose card flap. It can hold a few cards, but when you pop that tab out it becomes a footrest for your phone in horizontal mode. The cards don’t even fall out when you do this.

It’s also leather, so who doesn’t love that?

Material Leather
MagSafe No
Buttons Aluminum
Colors Sienna, Black, Agave, Ganache

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Best Protection for iPhone 16

Otterbox iPhone 16 Commuter Series

iPhone 16 Commuter Series
Pros
  • Secure two-layer protection
  • Slim … for an Otterbox
Cons
  • Not easy to remove

iPhone 16 Plus iPhone 16 Pro iPhone 16 Pro Max

If you are clumsy or have a history of broken phones, you know that you need an Otterbox. This dual-layer design allows you to really snap your phone in there once and then never worry about it again. For our money, the Commuter Series is Otterbox’s most attractive design.

Material Thermoplastic Elastomer Slipcover
Polycarbonate Layer
MagSafe Yes
Buttons Covered
Color Black, Baby Blue Jeans, Denver Dusk Purple, Foxberry Pink, Sagebrush Green

Strongest Custom iPhone 16 Case

Casetify Ultra Bounce Case

Ultra Bounce Case
Pros
  • Mighty protection
  • Handpick your case’s color and design
Cons
  • Bulky bumpers

Casetify will let you put almost anything on a phone case. Seriously, click the link and try it, no commitment necessary. This is Casetify’s strongest case yet, and you can get it for whichever iPhone 16 you picked up.

Material Polycarbonate, Thermoplastic Polyurethane
MagSafe Yes
Buttons Covered
Frame Colors Black, Indigo

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Best Leather iPhone 16 Pro Case

Nomad Traditional Leather Case

Traditional Leather Case
Pros
  • Classy
  • Aluminum button covers
Cons
  • Limited to Pro phones

iPhone 16 Pro Max

What we love most about this Nomad leather case is the choice to make one big curved cutout for the new Camera Control button. This feels like the optimal solution for how to handle access to this tactile and sensitive button. It’s also a great-looking leather case that is just pleasant to look at.

The only downside is that this design is limited to Pro phones. You can get the brand’s modern leather case for regular iPhone 16 and 16 Plus phones, but without that little divot it’s just not the same.

Material Leather
MagSafe Yes
Buttons Aluminum
Color Brown, Black

Best-Looking iPhone 16 Case

Mous Limitless 6.0 Walnut Phone Case

Limitless 6.0 Walnut Phone Case
Pros
  • Camera Control cutout
  • Gorgeous fake-wood finish
Cons
  • Costs a lot for what is, at the end of the day, a plastic case

iPhone 16 Plus iPhone 16 Pro iPhone 16 Pro Max

This is another one we love for the full Camera Control cutout. It’s simply the only way forward. We also love the look of this one. Mous makes some of the best looking polycarbonate cases out there, and this walnut finish on the Limitless 6.0 has got to be the classiest combo yet. Not opposed to the bamboo either.

Material Polycarbonate, Thermoplastic Polyurethane
MagSafe Yes
Buttons Covered
Color Walnut

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Best Silicone iPhone 16 Case

Apple iPhone 16 Silicone Case

On Sale

iPhone 16 Silicone Case

Pros
  • Sapphire-crystal Camera Control cover
  • A variety of bright colors to choose from
Cons
  • Nothing special

iPhone 16 Plus iPhone 16 Pro iPhone 16 Pro Max

This is the super-basic pick, but that doesn’t make it a bad one. Hell, if you want a silicone phone case, it’s the one to get. Since shutting up about the Camera Control button is not gonna happen, here’s one more thing. This case has a unique covering, built from sapphire crystal, that protects the button while allowing you to get the most out of it. That tactile precision is needed when acting as a shutter for your phone’s camera.

Material Silicone
MagSafe Yes
Buttons Covered
Colors Black, Denim, Fuchsia, Lake Green, Plum, Star Fruit, Stone Gray, Ultramarine

Best Detachable Folio Case

Blackbrook Tudor Trifold Leather Wallet Case

Tudor Trifold Leather Wallet Case
Pros
  • Folio by day, slim leather case by night
  • Each color has its own personality
Cons
  • Pricey
Material Leather
MagSafe Yes
Buttons Covered
Colors Burnished Tan, Distressed Coffee, Golden Brown, Pebble Black

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How to Choose a Case for Your iPhone 16

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Choosing the Right Case: For the love of God, triple-check to make sure you are buying the right case for the phone you have. It’s an easier mistake to make than you might think. This is the most important takeaway.

Protection: You need a case that can survive a nasty fall. Raised edges around your screen and camera prevent impact damage. Button covers protect your phone’s crucial functions from the elements.

Style: Leather or silicone? Dark and unassuming or bright and bold? These are the choices you need to make when deciding which phone case is going to be your daily go-to.

Wireless Charging: Most phone cases these days allow you to use MagSafe and wireless charging without needing to remove the case. However, some do not, so be on the lookout. If you just use a charging cable anyway, this feature won’t matter to you.

Why Trust Esquire?

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We’ve been testing products for years as individuals—decades, collectively—and it allows us to recommend the best tech. We compile our guides by performing heavy research and testing, and the gadgets we choose to award are what we’d spend our own money on.

We’ve tried it all and, simply, we know what works best. More complicatedly, we know all the weird jargon and specs of these products. We know which ones you need to know as a smart consumer. Better yet, we know which ones you don’t.

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