Apple finally unveiled the iPhone 16 at the company's It's Glowtime event, and it beings next-level features that will improve your quality of life with your iPhone. Those features include Apple Intelligence, the company's special brand of AI, and Camera Control, where you can open the camera and take high-quality pictures and much more with just a push of the side button. For the gamers, the new model has an updated thermal design and a new thermal substructure that runs games like Resident Evil 7 with 30% higher performance than its predecessor.
Depending on how much storage space you need, the base model iPhone 16 — which comes in ultramarine, teal green, pink, white, and black — costs between $800 and $1,100. Regardless of how much you're planning to spend on a new iPhone, you need a phone case to protect that precious investment. To help you choose the right one for you, we've rounded up five affordable phone cases for you to choose from, ranging from clear to colorful. Here are the iPhone 16 cases we picked for your consideration.
![CANSHN Magnetic for iPhone 16 Case, Upgraded [Full Camera Protection] [Compatible with Magsafe] [Translucent Matte] Shockproof Protective Phone Case for iPhone 16 - Red](https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/ccp-prd-s3-uploads/2024/9/20/35c04e4a2c4f696643aad80862c55005c5254ae8.jpeg)
![Diaclara Designed for 16 Case, Full Body Rugged Case with Built-in Touch Sensitive Anti-Scratch Screen Protector, Upgraded [Full Camera Protection] for iPhone 6.1" (Rose Purple)](https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/ccp-prd-s3-uploads/2024/9/5/78f4cd22fde47d8a9191a23213efd964f110fdef.jpeg)
Your gorgeous new iPhone 16 deserves full protection, but not just any case will do. You need something that complements the thoughtful design of the new phone and offers extra features to improve your experience. From the Unicorn Beetle Grip, which includes a built-in Camera Control button, to the Unicorn Beetle Pro with its built-in kickstand and rotating belt clip holster, you’ve never seen better options. You’ll get full-body military-grade drop protection, elevated bezels to protect the display and MagSafe-ready cases. It’s everything you need at your fingertips — just like Apple intended. From now until October 9, on Amazon you can enjoy 10% off on iPhone 16 series cases.
The best thin iPhone 16 case
Spigen Thin Fit MagFit Case
- Thinnest case on the market
- Form-fitting
- MagSafe compatible
- Raises screen and camera edges
- Only available in Black and Navy Blue
Most cases add a little bulk to your phone for extra protection, but Spigen's Thin Fit case will protect your iPhone 16 just as good as the heavy-framed ones. It's made out of premium PC and TPU materials but still light as a feather. Light enough that it fits on your phone like a glove. The raised lips add roughly 0.06 inches more depth to your iPhone 16 to protect the camera and screen.
This case will cushion your phone's fall with military-grade Air Cushion Technology, so you can rest assured that it having a thin phone case won't make it more fragile than it would be without a case to begin with. If you're going for a case with less bulk but more drop-protection strength, the Thin Fit case by Spigen is for you.
The best bulky iPhone 16 case
OtterBox Defender Series Case
- Rough texture
- Can survive seven times as many drops as military standards
- Phone strap-friendly for drop prevention
- Unaffordable for some
Leave it to OtterBox to come in clutch by releasing the latest case designs to go with the iPhone 16, especially the Defender Series case. It has the signature rugged texture and triple layer protection to protect your phone from seven times more drops than the average military standard case.
Even with those drop protections in place, you can still attach a phone strap to the bottom of the case if it gives you some peace of mind. It is quite pricey, but it's worth the money if you swear by OtterBox every time you get a new case — or a new iPhone, for that matter.
The best matte iPhone 16 case
CANSHN Magnetic Case
- Matte texture
- Compatible with both MagSafe and Qi chargers
- Sensitive buttons
- Three-layer protection
- Hard PC back
- Limited color choices
The magnetic case by CANSHN is as fashionable as it is functional. It has a hard PC back coated with a matte texture enclosed in a flexible three-ply TPU frame, making it a sensory delight for some iPhone 16 users and shielding it from 12-foot drops. It not only works with MagSafe chargers but it's also compatible with Qi wireless chargers, so don't worry if you don't have a MagSafe charger of some kind.
This case is available in red, black, deep blue, deep green, deep purple, hot pink, light blue, and pink. It's not a wide color selection, but one of them is sure to fit your aesthetic.
The best iPhone 16 grip case
UAG Essential Armor Case
- Cool hexagonal MagSafe design
- Contoured edges for easier grip
- 15-foot drop protection
- A little too bulky
The iPhone 16 looks futuristic enough with Apple Intelligence and the new Camera Control button, but UAG's Essential Armor case makes it look like a phone straight out of Cyberpunk 2077. The MagSafe ring is shaped into a hexagon to match the hexagonal pattern lining up the back of the case. The edges of the case are contoured to reinforce drop protection and shock absorption from falls of up to 15 feet, and ensure that you're able to grip your phone comfortably.
Despite its slim frame, the corner edges add a little more bulk to the iPhone 16. But then again, fortifying your phone like a wall of steel is part of its design.
When Tony Robbins said, "Complexity is the enemy of execution," he likely wasn’t thinking of phone cases. But the sentiment rings true. ROKFORM’s Rugged and Crystal iPhone 16 cases deliver military-grade protection without sacrificing style. With the RokLock twist ecosystem and built-in magnets for the strongest MagSafe hold, ROKFORM cases offer versatile functionality and the ability to mount your phone in the car, attach it to your bike, or keep it secure—all while showcasing your iPhone’s design. Simplify protection with ROKFORM, where efficiency meets elegance.
The best translucent iPhone 16 case
Spidercase Magnetic Translucent Case
- Comes with two screen protectors
- 12-foot drop protection
- Strong MagSafe ring
- Not water resistant
While not exactly a clear case, this translucent case from Spidercase shows off a little bit of your iPhone 16's original color while adding a touch of its own. It comes with two tempered glass screen protectors, features 1.5mm raised bezels to protect the camera lenses, and has a strong MagSafe ring that won't let your phone fall off the MagSafe charger regardless of its rotation due to its high absorption capacity.
In the off chance that your phone does fall off the MagSafe charger, this case protects it from falls of up to 12 feet with 360-degree shockproof airbags and three-layer frames.
The best clear iPhone 16 case
Diaclara Defender Series Case
- Built-in screen protector
- Raised screen and camera edges
- Dual-layered, full-body protection
- MagSafe friendly
- Price varies by color
Diaclara's Defender Series case allows you to show off the color of your iPhone 16 while giving it the full-body protection it rightfully deserves. It comes with a built-in screen protector and rugged clear back cover to ensure that both your screen and the glass back are protected from falls, scratches, and cracks. The rugged frame amps up the protection with dual layers that raise the screen and camera edges by 1.5mm and 4.5mm, respectively, to cushion your phone's fall like a pillow.
The back cover of the case also has a camera cover that fully protects the camera without obstructing the lens. You don't have to worry about dust and oil surrounding the camera bezels, either.
The best protective iPhone 16 case
i-Blason Armorbox
- Rugged, military-grade protection
- 20-foot drop protection
- Built-in screen protector
- Camera control button compatible
- No water resistance
If you want full-body and military-grade drop protection for your iPhone 16, i-Blason’s MagSafe-compatible Armorbox is the way to go. It comes with a built-in screen protector, so you don’t need anything extra, plus it has a built-in camera cover that doubles as a kickstand. The zinc alloy anodized camera cover protects the high-power lenses on the back of the phone. The most unique feature on the Armorbox is the built-in camera control button which utilizes copper conductors to seamlessly match the operations of the unique button. It’s rugged through and through so it’ll survive a 20-foot drop.
Even with that protection it’s not bulky, it’s not ugly, and it works with so many different MagSafe accessories because of the powerful N52 magnet. For example, you can still mount your phone to a hands-free car adapter, even while it’s still in the case.
The best privacy iPhone 16 case
Antshare Privacy Case
- Built-in privacy screen protector
- Full 360-degree protection
- MagSafe compatible
- Won't work with pre-existing screen protector
Are you in the market for a case that protects your phone from damage and shields your screen from the prying eyes of other people? Let Antcase provide you with a case equipped with a built-in privacy screen protector made for your eyes only. The case has a 45-degree left and right viewing range so no one in your vicinity can see any sensitive information you're accessing on your iPhone 16, even if you drop it by accident.
The only caveat is you're going to have to remove your screen protector before applying this case. It'll be worth it in the long run if you're privacy-conscious.
The best artistic iPhone 16 case
Ratcase Oil Painting Printed Flower
- Suitable for creatives
- Lightweight
- MagSafe compatible
- Dual-protective shells
- Not water resistant
Ratcase's oil painting printed flower case will have your iPhone 16 looking like a work of art. The light purple flowers on the case look like they came straight from a Monet painting, making the case as beautiful as it is protective. The soft TPU shell and hard back shell help protect your phone from the shock of falls, bumps and scratches, leaving it as intact as the Mona Lisa at the Louvre.
Ratcase has other designs for the iPhone 16 phone case, with patterns like cherry blossoms, strawberries with a white dog, multicolored hearts, and sunflowers, but the cost depends on which one you think is the prettiest. Either way, each artistic case will keep the iPhone 16 looking like a masterpiece.
The best MagSafe case for iPhone 16
ESR MagSafe iPhone 16 Case
- Faster MagSafe charging
- Strong drop protection
- Transparent
- Can be a fingerprint magnet
This iPhone 16 is made of tough, scratch-resistant plastic that lets you show off the look of your iPhone. That's pretty cool in and of itself, but the raised camera bump offers added protection. Bumpers on each corner are built to withstand drops, and the powerful lock on the back makes MagSafe charging easier than ever. There are multiple colors to choose from if you don't want a transparent case, and most are reasonably priced. It's definitely something of a fingerprint magnet though, and you'll want to keep a cloth on hand to keep it sparkling clean.
Best camera case for iPhone 16
Tocol 3-in-1 Magnetic iPhone 16 Case
- Full camera protection
- Military-grade drop protection
- Available in multiple colors
- Can be slippery to hold onto
This case is a great pick for anyone who wants to keep their camera protected above anything else. The case is elevated around the camera bump to protect against drops and falls, and there are raised rings around each lens to offer protection from the sides. It also has cushions that function sort of like airbags to absorb impact if you drop your phone.
The one downside is that the plastic is smooth and can be a little slippery to hold, especially if your hand is wet.
The best wooden case for iPhone 16
Carveit Wood Case for iPhone 16
- Rubber padding protects the sides of the case
- Cases are designed for ergonomics
- Compatible with MagSafe
- Can be expensive
Wooden cases are always eye-catching, but they don't have to be fragile. This case comes with a rubber guard around the edges of the case to protect against drops and falls, and the wood itself is scratch-resistant. The image is engraved using lasers, and there are multiple designs to choose from. Even better, the case has a small magnet in the backing that allows it to work with MagSafe charging despite being wooden.
The best wallet case for iPhone 16
Scooch iPhone 16 Wallet Case
- Case can hide up to four credit cards
- Acts as a kickstand case
- Attaches to any strong non-MagSafe mount
- Doesn't work with wireless charging
If you're tired of carrying around a wallet, the Scooch case might be exactly what you're looking for. It can store up to four credit cards (depending on how thick each one is) in the back of the case, with an easy-open "door" at the bottom. The door can even act as a kickstand. It's tested up to military standards, on par with every other case on the market, and it has a strong magnet at the back for easily attaching it to a vehicle mount.
The best leather iPhone 16 case
WTCase Leather iPhone 16 Case
- Built-in kickstand
- Includes screen protector
- Works with MagSafe
- Some users say the magnet isn't strong
There's just something about a leather case that oozes style, and the WTCase Leather Case has a lot going for it with its close-stitched leather design, MagSafe cutout, and built-in kickstand. The case is definitely protective against drops and scratches (especially with the included screen protector), but it also has an understated elegance that makes it perfectly at home in a professional setting.
The best waterproof case for iPhone 16
Temdan Waterproof iPhone 16 Case
- Can be submerged up to 10 feet for one hour
- Full-body protection
- Works with MagSafe
- Bulky
If you carry your phone with you into rugged environments — and with Apple's safety features, you should — then you need a case that can handle any situation. The Temdan Waterproof Case is exactly that. It's IP68 rated, which means it's resistant to water and dirt for an extreme amount of time. It's also tested against high drops while retaining its ability to work with MagSafe. There's also a screen protector that's only 0.33 thick, but sensitive enough to respond to your inputs.
