Now that the latest iPhones are out, you may want a case to go with it. After all, although the price increases predicted didn’t properly materialize, the iPhone is a valuable piece of kit.
Before you ask, last year’s cases don’t fit, and anyway, do you really want a year-old case on your brand-new phone?
Here are a dozen of the newest releases, and they come in varying styles, from wraparound wallets to high-protection sleeves. Choose from leather, Apple’s new TechWoven or a transparent case to show off the colorful phone within. Unless otherwise stated, all cases here are available for iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Look out for whether the case has an open section where the Camera Control sits, or a cover that still allows the pressure-sensitive and capacitive control to work.
The deals highlighted in this post were independently selected by the Contributor and do not contain affiliate links.
Smooth Leather Case
Nomad Modern Leather Case with Horween Leather
$75 from nomadgoods.com
Camera Control: Cover
California-based Nomad makes a wide range of products, including iPhone cases and a just-released Apple Watch Band. Horween leather is one of the options for the back cover of the Modern Leather case, though other leather options are also available, and are $20 cheaper.
Horween leather, especially, gains a unique patina the more it is used. The case is strong enough to survive an eight-foot drop, the company says. The bumpers are 2.2mm thick and they rise above the display at the corners for further protection. The edges have a concave finish, designed for extra grip.
Slim Protection
Pitaka Aramid ProGuard Case
$59.99 from ipitaka.com
Camera Control: Cover
Protection on the Pitaka cases partly comes from cushioning on the rear corners and partly from what’s described as aerospace-grade aramid fiber. The back is textured, to add extra grip.
Unlike some cases which have dealt with the complex needs of the Camera Control capacitive button, Pitaka has developed a cover that’s slim but responsive when you press or slide your finger on it.
Fashion-Forward Protection
Beats Rugged MagSafe Case
$79 from beatsbydre.com
Camera Control: Cover
Beats, the other brand that Apple owns, has a case that doesn’t look rugged. Rugged usually means bulky but the choice of colors, such as Sierra orange makes this case more style-focused. If orange is too much for you, Everest black and rocky blue will suit quieter tastes.
There’s a big lip over the edge of the display designed to keep it safe. The bottom half of the case, including the back and edges, is rougher to make it stay in your hand, while the top half is completely smooth.
Transparent Protection
Mous Clarity MagSafe
$69.99 from mous.co
Camera Control: Cover
Mous made its name with phone cases claiming to have exceptional protection – and the company’s stunts throwing phones high up in the air outside the Apple Store aimed to prove the point. It uses a proprietary shock absorption material called AiroShock which is in the corners of the case. The case is designed so that the top and bottom edges are raised for extra safety, but lower at the sides so it fits your face during calls.
The protective cover on the Camera Control requires a firm press to activate.
Apple’s New Material
Apple TechWoven case with MagSafe
$59 from apple.com
Camera Control: Cover
Colours: Blue, purple, sienna, green, black
Apple no longer makes cases and accessories from leather, citing environmental concerns. TechWoven is a bespoke woven fabric made from 100 per cent recycled polyester. It feels rough rather than smooth, unlike the smoothness of the leather cases Apple used to make, and has contoured edges. There are five colors to choose from: blue, purple, sienna, green and, the quietest of the lot, black.
There are also holes to allow compatibility with Apple’s latest accessory, the Crossbody strap, which holds the phone on an adjustable long strap.
Comfort-oriented Case
Native Union (RE)Classic Case
$59.99 from nativeunion.com
Camera Control: Open
Paris-based Native Union has a range of iPhone 17 case designs. The frame here is made with a 100 per cent recycled materials. The colors are black, navy and slate green which are muted, though the tan option is a bit brighter. The back and edges have a textured finish while the lining is soft. Unlike some cases, this is slim and light, adding little to the bulk of the phone.
Apple’s Clear Case
Apple Clear Case With MagSafe
$49 from apple.com
Camera Control: Cover
Some clear cases, like the Mous Clarity, have opaque panels on the edges. However, this one has completely clear sides and buttons, so the phone inside is fully revealed. The only non-clear button is the cover for Camera Control. Apple says the new case has a scratch-resistant coating and won’t turn yellow — that’s been true of previous Apple clear cases.
Note that the cases for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max have a white panel that exactly matches the glass rectangle on the phone itself, complete with its own logo. This is less noticeable on the silver iPhone, but more prominent if you have the cosmic orange or navy blue colorway. The regular iPhone has a fully clear back, apart from the MagSafe magnifying glass.
Colorful Case
Nomad Modern Case
$49 from nomadgoods.com
Camera Control: Cover
This is similar to the leather case from Nomad above, with the same side bumpers and metal button covers. It also has the same Camera Control cover. If you don’t care for leather, this case has similar attributes but has a satin PET backplate which is shiny and smooth.
As well as two quiet colors, Vulcan black and lunar grey, there’s also Volt which has a neon-bright quality to it.
Case With Kickstand Accessory
Beats Kickstand Case $59 from beatsbydre.com
Camera Control: Cover
This isn’t the only case with a kickstand but the way Beats has achieved it is novel. A lanyard in a contrasting-color is attached to the left edge of the case. The lanyard is short, long enough to slip your hand through — which may make some users feel they are holding the phone more securely in less salubrious surroundings.
At the end of the lanyard is a smooth plastic lozenge that slides open to reveal an adaptor which holds the iPhone in landscape orientation. There’s a magnet in the adaptor that connects to another in the edge of the case.
Card-Friendly Case
Smartish Wallet Slayer Vol. 1
$29.99 from smartish.com
Camera Control: Open
Smartish makes a range of cases and other smartphone accessories. The Wallet Slayer has an external slot on the back of the phone that holds up to four credit cards and cash. It is designed so that each card is held in place by a springy mechanism.
The flexible material has air pockets in the corners to act as shock absorbers — Smartish says it can protect the phone from a drop of six feet. Note that the card pocket means wireless charging doesn’t work with this case.
Case With Camera Panel Protection
Native Union Active Case
$49.99 from nativeunion.com
Camera Control: Cover
If you’re worried about scratching the panel where the cameras sit, this case has a black covering within the plateau, protecting everything except the lenses and sensor. This panel gives a darker look to the back of the iPhone. Unlike Native Union’s other case, above, this one has a cover for the Camera Control. Where the (Re)Classic has more recycled material, here it accounts for 40%. Native Union says it can survive a drop of 10 feet. Choose from apricot crush, black, sandstone or slate green.
Folio Cases
Lucrin Luxury Wallet
From $225 from lucrin.com
Camera Control: Open
Lucrin makes a dizzying variety of cases (and other leather goods). So along with the Luxury Wallet there’s also a sleeve, a sleeve with a pull-tab, a pouch with a pocket, a back cover, a zip wallet, a belt case and more.
Once you’ve decided on the form factor, there are different finishes: plant-based material, smooth leather, pebbled leather and crocodile style calfskin, for example. And the smooth leather comes in more than 20 colors. And that’s before you get to the personalization options. The Luxury Wallet has a sleeve for banknotes and three card slots, plus a magnetic flap to hold the wallet closed.
Snakehive Vintage Leather Wallet
$44.99 from snakehive.com
Camera Control: Open
UK company Snakehive makes leather wraparound folios from leather but at prices lower than many rivals. The leather has a suede-like finish on the outside and smooth, shiny leather inside. There is a sleeve for banknotes and space for three credit cards to nestle.
A small leather flap with magnetic closure keeps it all intact. The large camera panel on the Pro and Pro Max means there’s a noticeable amount of the TPU inner case visible.
Nomad Modern Leather Folio
From $75 from nomadgoods.com
Camera Control: Cover
Like the other folios here, the Nomad Modern Leather Folio has three card slots and a longer slot for cash. It also has a magnetic clasp but this one is optional: you slide it through a discreet gap in the edge of the case if you want to use it.
Colors vary according to leather and model. For iPhone 17, there’s regular leather and two colors, brown and black. For 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max there’s also a tan variant with regular leather. The Pro models also have Horween leather available ($109), in rustic brown, black and a limited edition called burgundy chromexcel.
Bluebonnet Executive Leather iPhone Wallet Case Folio
$95 from bluebonnetcase.com
Camera Control: Cover
There are only two card slots in this folio, plus the sleeve for cash. The Tuscan Tan finish uses full-grain calf leather but remains slim and has a magnetic closure. That closure lets Bluebonnet’s pale blue shine through — the same color is in the company’s cartoon images which sit inside the sleeve on the microfiber and cotton lining.
Bluebonnet says the color pays homage to the Texas state flower (the bluebonnet) — the company is based in Texas.
