These are the best iPhone 16 cases you can buy
If you’ve just picked up a new iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Pro, you’re going to want a proper case that keeps it protected from bumps and scratches – and looks good while doing it. We’ve been testing a range of cases from brands like Apple itself, Mous, Casetify, and Nomad to find options that combine style, comfort, and solid protection.
The iPhone 16 models bring a few new features to keep in mind when picking a case. Both the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus now have an Action Button on the side (that debuted in the 15 Pro models), and most cases have adapted with an extra button rather than a cutout on the left side for easy access.
All iPhone 16 models also have a Camera Control button on the right-hand side, and case makers have adapted to this with different-sized cutouts. Some cases, like Apple’s official options, have built a touch-sensitive surface for the Camera Control into the side of the case. In our view, both approaches work, but we have marked down or eliminated a few designs for a cutout that makes the button harder to reach.
It’s worth remembering that the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max are a little taller than the models they replace and the new buttons mean older cases won’t fit the newer models.
As with our iPhone 14 and 15 case roundup, we considered as many options as possible from reputable brands, prioritising protection that doesn’t add too much bulk, while keeping the corners and cameras safe with raised edges.
In our list, you’ll find cases that support MagSafe (Apple’s magnetic attachment system for accessories like chargers, power banks and wallets), as well as options in a range of colours and finishes, from leather to silicone. Whether you’re after something sleek or a bit more eye-catching, these are our favourite iPhone 16 cases right now.
How the GH Tech Team tests iPhone cases
To evaluate the best iPhone cases, we conducted hands-on tests of over 30 designs from a wide range of brands.
We start with a shortlist of the most trusted brands, but always try to consider several styles and approaches for different preferences. We use them as our main iPhone case for a couple of days, seeing how they perform in real-world scenarios that reflect everyday use. Of course, we always assess how well each case fits the phone, and how easy it is to get on and off.
Then we look how effectively the case's raised edges protect the screen and camera, and whether button covers remain responsive and clicky. We test MagSafe compatibility with chargers and accessories to ensure strong magnetic connections. And, in general use, we consider grip, comfort, and how lightweight the cases are.
While we don’t do any extreme drop tests, we do try to simulate everyday accidents. We place the phones on rough surfaces and, for some, we drop them from pocket height onto soft flooring. We've only included those that ticked every box below, with some falling short on protection, design, or functionality. Ultimately, only the very best iPhone cases earn our recommendation.
Mous Limitless 6.0
It’s no big surprise, but we’d still recommend Mous cases as some of the top options for the latest iPhones. And it isn’t just that the British brand has maintained its high-protection designs from the last iteration; it has further refined and improved on them for its next-generation “Limitless 6.0” series. The changes? The case is now thinner than its predecessor and more reinforced at the corners, making it easy to hold and not bulky overall, while still being ultra-protective.
We’re fans of the shockproof lining, well-designed raised edges around the most vulnerable areas and strong, built-in magnets. The designs are sleek and sophisticated, including the finishes Mous is known for like Carbon Fibre, Black Leather, Walnut, Speckled Fabric and Bamboo. These cases also have great clicky buttons and a very accessible cutout for the Camera Control button. Future versions will now offer a standalone button, which many will prefer, although we find it unusual that it's a tiny, replaceable part rather than fully built into the case.
Casetify Impact Case
The Casetify Impact Case for the iPhone 16 continues to be a top pick for its blend of style and protection. We're yet to find another option available with this sheer variety of customisation options. From collaborations with artists to florals, gradient pastels, personalisations and pop culture tie-ins, there’s a design for everyone.
Many styles are also available with reinforced corners (the "Ultra" or "Bounce" series), with or without MagSafe magnets, and with a handy "Ring Stand" integrated around the cameras. On test, we were impressed by the robustness offered without added bulk. These cases are slim yet durable, with raised edges around the screen and cameras and great 2.5-metre drop protection, which should be enough for most of us!
Whether you choose a clear version or opt for something bolder, the Impact Case delivers reliability without compromising on aesthetics. The only notable downside is the high price.
The Dairy Custom iPhone Case
This one’s a great recommendation if you’re looking for a fun present idea. It’s easy to use The Dairy’s intuitive online case design system to craft a unique custom cover for gifting (or for yourself). This gives you a lot of control over the colours and you can also add initials to the case for extra personalisation.
We’re fans of the artistic printed options available too, including this version with flowers, an illustrated “Mootini” case and this cute ribbon style. There are stronger options on our list for reinforcement, but these cases still have protective lips around the screen and the camera lenses, so we don’t think they’d be a disappointing option for most typical users. If your priority is getting something with a bit of style and a personal touch, we think The Dairy has some great options.
Apple iPhone 16 Clear Case with MagSafe
Going with an Apple-made case is always a safe bet, and there’s even more benefit to opting for the official clear case this time around.
Unlike most designs, which have made a cutout into the case for the Camera Control button, Apple’s has a built-in button that works exactly like the Camera Control itself, responding to clicks at different levels of forcefulness, as well as swipe gestures so you can zoom in and move between different photographic options while in supported apps.
Beyond the added Camera Control button, we like the feel and finish of the case. It’s quite smooth so will be slippery and doesn’t add much grip, but it does feel premium and has strong magnets on the back, for those who like to use MagSafe charging stands, power banks or wallets.
Nomad Modern Leather Case
Nomad makes our favourite leather cases with their soft Horween leather that will age well and gain a distinctive patina over time. This does mean they might pick up marks and scratches, and if you use MagSafe charging, you’ll start to see a ring around that area too.
These cases easily have the best feel of all the leather models we’ve tried, though. We’ve also tried the “Traditional” design, which is a full leather wrap (but not Horween leather), but we'd pick the “Modern” one if we were buying for ourselves.
It’s a lovely case overall, especially if you know you like the feel and finish of genuine leather products. It’s available in the gorgeous Rustic Brown that we tried and a Black, as well as limited-edition options that tend to sell out quickly.
MOFT Invisible Case
We know that a lot of users would prefer an iPhone case that gets out of their way, and there are several super-thin options on the market that do just that, allowing you to keep your phone lightweight and access everything without requiring buttons built-in to the case.
However, if you’d like that feel but would prefer to still get decent protection, that’s where MOFT’s “Invisible Case” comes in – it's a smart-looking clear option with strong MagSafe magnets, but it also has exposed sides so you can get to the buttons.
It's light and strong but still protected around the most vulnerable zones – the corners and the cameras. It feels, as the name suggests, almost invisible in use, and it's one of our favourite clear cases for the iPhone 16. We like how it feels in the hand and we expect it would be more protective than it looks.
Mous Clarity 3.0
The Mous Clarity 3.0 cases are ideal for both durability and style, and they're our overall favourite for protection and showing off the colour of your phone. The brand has made optimisations to its latest design, adding extra grip to the sides, a slightly thinner profile and reinforcements around the camera compared to Clarity 2.0. These all add up to an excellent clear case, albeit one with black detailing around the edges and MagSafe ring that may not suit everyone.
Much like Mous Limitless, it features some of the signature design elements from the brand. That includes raised edges and shock-resistant materials for robust drop protection. The Clarity styles are available either with or without MagSafe. And there's a fun “Iridescent” finish, adding a shimmering gradient that shifts under different lighting conditions.
The Mous Collabs range is also worth noting here, as a great way to get more artistic designs with a high level of defence for your phone. You can pick from a lot of creative and vibrant designs by artists. So, whether you're focused on durability, aesthetics, or a mix of both, Mous offers some fantastic choices for iPhone 16 users.
Torras Ostand 360° Spin Fusion MagSafe Case
Always watching movies or TV shows on the commute to work or when travelling? This clever case has a stand that flips out from the MagSafe ring on the back. This means you get both an incredibly versatile stand with 360-degree rotation and a lot of adjustment – plus you can still use the MagSafe charging and accessory attachment features. This wouldn’t be true with a lot of rivals with built-in stands or Pop Sockets that require you to use adhesives, preventing you from using MagSafe.
The Torras case is made with a grippy material too, and it’s worth noting that the stand is strong enough to prop the phone up in horizontal and vertical orientations – that means it’s as good for watching videos as it is for FaceTime calls. The rest of the case is well-designed, with impressive protection around vulnerable areas, reliable buttons and a good cutout for the Camera Control button.
Mous Super Thin 2.0
We tried a fair few “ultra-thin” cases as part of our review, including options from Totallee and Pitaka. These styles are designed with almost no drop or impact protection in mind, and are best viewed as a slim cover to protect your phone from marks and scratches only. After testing, we ended up favouring the Mous Super Thin option in this category.
It is, as the name suggests, super thin, but easier to get on and off than the rivals while still offering a strong magnet for MagSafe charging and accessories. While we wouldn’t trust it to protect the phone if it's dropped on the ground, it does have decent raised camera protection and a good cutout area for the iPhone 16’s new Camera Control button. We tried it in the new clear style, but it’s available in Stone, Black, Forest Green and Navy Blue too.
Burga Elite
After a case that combines standout style with practical protection? We think the Burga Elite is an excellent choice. There are over 200 prints to pick from, offering something for every taste, from bold and vibrant patterns to elegant finishes. Burga also extends these looks to matching accessories – including AirPods, iPad and MacBook cases – allowing you to coordinate your whole tech setup.
The Elite cases themselves are stylish and protective, made from strong materials, and they have a precise cutout for the iPhone 16's new camera button. You get all the features we expect from high-quality cases, including raised edges to protect your screen and cameras, a soft interior, a strap attachment point and shock-absorbing materials. It does cost extra to get MagSafe support for magnetic accessories, though, and the case makes your phone a bit heavier. Overall, however, we'd pick this "Elite" option over Burga's more basic "Tough" version.
Nomad Sport Case
We're still not sure what "sport" has got to do with these cases, but we'll continue to recommend them as terrific options for any iPhone owner. The cases for the 15 impressed us, and we're still fans here. They're well-priced, have a sleek and functional design, and now have a precise cutout for the iPhone 16's new Camera Control button. At the time of writing, they're available in black, blue or white colours, but we know limited editions (like the current Magma) will be available. It's also only available for the 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max.
There isn't anything essential missing from the Sport Case for us, though. We love the anodised aluminium buttons that are tactile and clicky, it has a soft microfibre-lined interior, shock-absorbing bumpers and a slim, pocket-friendly profile. It was one of the cases we kept coming back to during testing, and we like how the screen feels protected, but that the lip isn't so pronounced that it interferes with swipe gestures. The shades on offer feel sophisticated, and the design is minimal and smart overall.
If you're after more protection from Nomad, the brand's Rugged Case is also a good option, but it sacrifices the Sport Case’s slim profile for the extra durability.
MOFT Creator Kit
While we've previously tried and love the Peak Design iPhone cases as great options for a wider ecosystem of accessories, especially for photographers, we've got to say that we're really impressed by what MOFT has to offer.
You can buy the case on its own and add accessories as you see fit, or go for the MOFT Creator Kit. This all-in-one accessory bundle is designed for those who are productive or creative on the go, as the name suggests. It includes the Snap Phone Case, a Phone Lanyard, the Snap-on Stand & Wallet, an Invisible Tripod, and the Snap Notepad Stand. Each piece is fully MagSafe-compatible, so you just pop it right onto the back of the case.
The Snap Case itself feels durable and soft to hold with a good amount of grip, and powerful MagSafe support. It also has a good cutout for the iPhone 16 camera button, and those raised edges around the screen and camera that we're always looking out for. What takes it up a notch, though, are the accessories. Our favourites? The Snap-on Stand & Wallet – it can hold two cards and works as a stand and phone grip too. And the excellent Invisible Tripod – this has a clever folding design and extends to a great height for video calls, photography or vlogging.
Basically, if you're after an excellent phone case kit for multitaskers and content creators, this is the one we'd recommend. It's a bit of an investment, but they'll thank you for it.
Woolnut Leather Case
If your priority is finding a high-quality leather case with a precise Camera Control cutout and excellent clicky buttons, you don’t need to look any further than the Woolnut option. While we also tried rival leather cases from Nomad and Mujjo, this Scandinavian full-grain leather one gets our vote overall (but it’s worth saying that, for protection and leather, we’d still highly recommend the premium Mujjo Shield case, only available for the Pro phones).
The overall finish of the Woolnut case is fantastic, and we love that it comes in multiple colours that all look lovely. It has a soft microfibre lining, strong MagSafe support, and raised edges in all the right places to protect the screen and cameras. The aluminium buttons might be our favourite aspect of the case overall, but there’s loads to like, and the tapered cutout for the Camera Control is one of the most seamless of all the options we tested.
Wave Case (MagSafe Compatible)
If you like the idea of an affordable case made from biodegradable materials, we continue to recommend the options from Wave as the best pick for your new iPhone. The range offers inexpensive options that are constructed from biodegradable wheat straw.
We like how they come in a great range of colours, either with or without MagSafe, and they still feel strong and light while not being made of plastic – Wave says they’ve been tested with 26 continuous drops onto hard surfaces. They can be a tiny bit more slippery to hold than some rivals, so some extra grip would be nice, but it’s not a major downside if you like a minimal case.
And you get to pick from an extensive range of eight different vibrant hues, or you can go with the “etched” styles featuring plants, flowers or turtles.
Mujjo Shield
Yes, there’s yet another leather case worth considering. The Mujjo Shield is made with a natural leather back and grippy sides, plus a smooth microfibre lining and excellent clicky buttons, as well as a perfect cutout for the iPhone’s new capture button. It is, overall, a premium and well-designed case, although it is quite a bulky one. It’s also only available for the top-tier Pro and Pro Max iPhone 16 models.
In use, The Shield is excellent as a tough case, and we can’t think of any major downsides. It has drop protection from a five-metre height and is made with both high-grade leather from the Netherlands and shock-resistant materials. It has a useful attachment point for a wrist strap too, which is great for some added peace of mind if you’re anything like us and a bit worried that you might drop your phone when taking photos sometimes!
Do you need a screen protector on your iPhone?
The latest iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models both feature incredibly durable OLED displays with improved scratch and impact resistance, using Apple’s “Ceramic Shield” technology. However, while they’re tough, they’re not invincible. It’s still true that dropping your phone on a rough surface or carrying it with keys in your pocket can cause slight scratches.
We recommend getting a screen protector as an extra layer of defence. It will prevent minor wear and tear and help absorb impact from any accidental drops. While AppleCare+ covers damage, repairs can be inconvenient and may still come at a cost. You could also find matte screen protectors that improve glare reduction, or ones that add some extra privacy by making your screen hard to view at an indirect angle.
There are trade-offs if you opt for a cheap protector, like how hard it might be to apply or some very slight impact on image quality. But, if we’re honest, we haven’t noticed any usability issues with decent screen protectors from trusted brands. We recommend options from Spigen, Anker, ESR and Belkin,
Do new iPhones need a protective case?
Depending on the version you pick, the latest iPhone 16 models are either constructed with high-end titanium or aluminium frames and are very durable either way. It’s not possible to make them fully drop-proof, though. Even a small fall can lead to damage, depending on how your phone lands on the ground and whether one of its most vulnerable areas (the corners or cameras) is the zone of impact. Repairs for the edges, camera lenses or back glass can be pricey, even if you’re under warranty.
So, we recommend using a case. Yes, it can add a little bulk but it will protect your phone against drops, scratches and scuffs. It will also keep it looking its best and have the added benefit of preserving its eventual resale value if you trade it in or sell it for refurbishment in the future.
There are numerous case designs on the market, as you can see from this list, so it’s possible to find ones that are slim and sleek, personalised, subtle, colourful, or fully rugged and designed for tough environments. Apple also makes official cases that pair well with its iPhones too, and we particularly like the brand’s clear case for the iPhone 16.
You Might Also Like
