</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 btw.</p><p>Ahead you’ll find the 10 <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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Every product was carefully curated by an Esquire editor. We may earn a commission from these links. Here’s how we test products and why you should trust us.
Best Clear iPhone 16 Case
Tech 21 EvoClear
Pros
- Flexible yet protective
- Let’s 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
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 are experts at making cases impossibly thin. This one is MagSafe compatible and still remarkably thin.
This recommendation is a favorite of Esquire Commerce Editor Luke Guillory, who had to say:
I’m a dark green Peel case diehard. 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 thing negative 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 |
Best iPhone 16 Wallet Case
Bellroy 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 |
Best Protection for iPhone 16
Otterbox 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
Pros
- Mighty protection
- Hand pick 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 Casteify’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 |
Best Leather iPhone 16 Pro Case
Nomad 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 cut-out 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.
Only downside is 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
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 |
Best Silicone iPhone 16 Case
Apple 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 Grey, Ultramarine |
Best Detachable Folio Case
Blackbrook 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, |
How to Choose a Case for Your iPhone 16
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 look out. If you just use a charging cable anyway, this feature won’t matter to you.
Why Trust Esquire?
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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