Article updated on September 24, 2024 at 11:45 AM PDT
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David Carnoy Executive Editor / Reviews
Executive Editor David Carnoy has been a leading member of CNET's Reviews team since 2000. He covers the gamut of gadgets and is a notable reviewer of mobile accessories and portable audio products, including headphones and speakers. He's also an e-reader and e-publishing expert as well as the author of the novels Knife Music, The Big Exit and Lucidity. All the titles are available as Kindle, iBooks, Kobo e-books and audiobooks.
Expertise Headphones, Bluetooth speakers, mobile accessories, Apple, Sony, Bose, e-readers, Amazon, glasses, ski gear, iPhone cases, gaming accessories, sports tech, portable audio, interviews, audiophile gear, PC speakers Credentials
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We generally encourage people to spend the extra money for a Qi-enabled case because of the wireless charging capabilities associated with the product.
While the iPhone SE is not one of the latest iPhone models, it doesn't mean that it can't last without a case on it. However, screen protectors and protective cases are a great way to preserve device value, prevent scratches -- that are often gut-wrenching -- and keep dents away.
Unlike with cases for the iPhone 15, or even iPhone 14 cases, the number of options available for the iPhone SE is relatively small. Thanks to the newestiPhone 16 and iPhone 16 plus, there are fewer cases to choose from. Even with a smaller selection, it's always best to compare products before you buy.
What's the best iPhone SE case overall?
Whether you want a minimalist thin case, a classy leather case or a rugged silicone case, we found the best Apple iPhone SE case for every owner, offering great protection and keeping your phone looking like new. We love the Otterbox Symmetry Series for its excellent drop protection and relatively sleek design.
We've included a wide variety of options and emphasized cases that are also of good value. If you're in the market for a so-called value phone like the iPhone SE, chances are you don't want to spend too much on a case. Since some of these cases have been on shelves for a while, you will see some nice discounts on excellent iPhone SE cases. And some are even listed with special features, such as a built-in wallet or kickstand.
I've tried all the cases on this list, and tested many more over years of evaluating phone cases. My choices for the best case focus on features, grip and uncompromising style, so you can get the best all-around protection and find best iPhone SE case to fit your personal needs.
Speck makes several cases for the iPhone SE and you can find several on sale at Amazon for around $15. The two cases pictured here are part of the Presidio Grip Series, which comes in a variety of color options (prices vary by color).
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My two favorite Otterbox cases are the Commuter Series and Symmetry Series, both of which come in a variety of colors. The dual-layer Commuter Series is a little more protective and has a latch that covers the charging port. Prices vary by color.
Zagg's Gear4 cases for the iPhone SE are similar in quality to Speck and Otterbox cases. The Piccadilly is available in three colors and is selling for less than $10.
Spigen's Tough Armor cases have been around for a while and are notable for their circular cutout exposing the Apple logo and their built-in kickstand. They do offer decent protection and hold up fairly well over time, although not quite as well as some Otterbox and Speck cases. The Tough Armor is available in multiple color options.
Otterbox's Symmetry Series comes in a variety of color options, including a clear version with glitter. As I said, Otterbox's Commuter Series case offers slightly more protection, but you can't go wrong with its Symmetry Series cases.
Spigen Slim Armor CS comes in a variety of color options and has a slot that allows you to store a couple of credit cards (or a single credit card and some cash) inside the case. The only downside is that it's not compatible with wireless charging.
Urban Armor Gear offers a few different case designs for the iPhone SE in a variety of colors. I personally like the Plasma, but the Armor, Pathfinder and Plyo are also good, with the Plyo having the slimmest design. UAG's cases all feature good corner protection and meet military drop-test standards. Prices vary by style and start at $15.
Incipio's NGP case is a simple translucent case that offers decent protection in a slim package. The black version is currently $10 at Amazon. It's listed as being compatible with the iPhone 5 but will fit the iPhone SE, both 2022 and 2020 models.
LifeProof's Wake case is made out of recycled ocean plastic. I wouldn't call it super tough -- it isn't enclosed at the bottom -- it's rated for 6-foot drop protection and is attractively designed. Available in three color options, price varies by color.
Smartish makes three cases for the SE, the Gripmunk, Wallet Slayer Vol. 1 and Wallet Slayer Vol. 2 (the latter two are wallet cases). I'm slightly more partial to the Slayer Vol. 2, which comes in a couple of color options for the SE. It's a pretty basic case but offers a decent grip and can hold a couple of credit cards along with some cash. You can use your credit card as a kickstand by inserting it into the slot in the back of the case.
I bought a similar version of this case to use with a Samsung phone. It's a faux-leather wallet case that has a magnetic clasp with room on the inside for three credit cards and some cash. It also converts into a kickstand for watching videos.
Griffin's Survivor cases offer 6-foot drop protection with reinforced (and raised) corners that can help your phone avoid damage should it fall facedown.
Incipio's Organicore case is another eco-friendly case that Incipio says is 100% compostable. The oat-colored version is on sale for $6.
The third-gen iPhone SE has an IP67 water resistance rating, which means it can survive being dunked in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes. If you want an even more waterproof option, LifeProof's Fre case is the way to go. This once-popular case (before the iPhone got some waterproofing) is still quite expensive but it does offer maximum protection for your phone.
Available in a few colors, Raptic's Shield case costs less than an OtterBox case and offers similar toughness with 10-foot drop protection.
MagSafe Wireless Charging Support -- or not?
Because iPhone SEs do not have MagSafe capabilities, you'll want to decide how important wireless charging is to your daily lifestyle. If you're someone who would find the set-it-and-forget-it style convenient, consider getting a thinner phone case that would allow for the electrical currents to travel through. If you're fine with using the traditional Lightning cable, you'll be able to buy a phone case as thick as you'd like.
Thin or thicker?
Some people like minimal cases that add little to no bulk to their iPhones, but the majority of people are looking for a case that offers good protection -- or even maximum protection. I tell people to find a case that's not too thick and maybe even pretty slim and that offers at least 6-foot drop protection (and good corner protection).
Do you want a clear case?
Clear cases are popular because they show off your phone (and its color). Clear cases, especially cheaper ones, can become less clear over time and slowly start to yellow. Many case makers now add UV protection to their clear cases to prevent yellowing.
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Several of the cases on this list were available for previous models and we added them to the list based on our testing. Typically, we try to use the case on the phone for at least a day and make sure the buttons on the phone work properly with the case on. With some phone cases, we use them for several days or even weeks to see how they wear over time.
- Design: We evaluate the more superficial and cosmetic aspects of cases and consider how aesthetically pleasing they are because people sometimes buy cases solely for their colors and artwork.
- Durability: We look at how durable a case is, paying particular attention to corner and camera protection (raised corners on a case can help your phone survive face-down falls).
- Grip factor: We review the material the case is made of so we can talk about such factors as how grippy the phone feels in your hand and how protective the material is.
- Extra features: Some iPhone cases have extra features such as MagSafe, an integrated kickstand or grips, and, in the case of folio models, slots for storing credit cards and cash.
- Long-term testing: Although we don't do long-term testing for most cases, we do use some of the most popular cases for longer periods to gauge how they wear over time and see how well our phone holds up during accidental drops with the case on it. We don't do formal drop tests.
- Waterproof cases: Only a few fully waterproof cases are available, but If the case is supposed to be fully waterproof, we test it by submerging it in water.
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Torras cases: Torras makes several cases with integrated kickstands, but they each have their own style of stand. They include the Lstand which has a retractable kickstand ring around the camera, the Pstand which has a flip-out kickstand on the bottom of the case, and the Ostand which has a retractable ring around the MagSafe ring.
Inbeage case: Inbeage cases are made out of plant-based materials and are 100% biodegradable (over 3 years). They're not going to look and feel exactly like your typical silicone or hard plastic case and they are fairly basic. They offer decent drop protection and come in a variety of eye-catching designs. Better yet, they're affordable, costing around $19 and sometimes less (like now where there are some cases on sale 50% off) after you apply an instant coupon. Their one downside is they're not MagSafe-enabled (there's no built-in ring), but if you can live with that and are looking for an eco-friendly case, Inbeage is one of the best ones out there for the money.
Pitaka MagEZ Case 4 (Update: Out of stock): If you're looking for more serious protection from drops, this probably isn't the right case for you, particularly because it's rather expensive (between $60 and $70). If you're looking for a very slim, lightweight case, you should give it some consideration. It does come in a few different designs, some a little more eye-catching than others. All the cases are MagSafe-enabled using Pitaka's MagSafe SlimBoard technology.
Mujjo cases (Update: Out of stock): Mujjo has been making attractive vegetable-tanned leather cases for the iPhone for a while and its cases for the iPhone SE include its standard Leather Case with MagSafe, a Leather Wallet Case with MagSafe and its tougher Shield case with MagSafe.
SwitchEasy Roam M + Strap (Update: Out of stock): I haven't tried SwitchEasy cases for a few generations of iPhones but I got a chance to test a few of its new cases for the iPhone SE that come with a crossbody strap, including the Roam + Strap and Odyssey Ultra M + Strap. Both feature excellent drop protection, but the Odyssey Ultra has even more elevated corner protection. They're both available in a few color options.
Cyrill Leather Brick: Spigen's sister brand Cyrill makes a few different cases for the iPhone SE. I like the Leather Brick (it's "vegan" leather, not real leather), but all of Cyrill's cases are well-designed and decent for the money. The Leather Brick is currently out of stock on Amazon and Cyrill's website. For an alternative, you can check out Apple's leather iPhone SE case.
Watch this: 2022 iPhone SE Disappoints in Drop Test
09:05
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Is Lightning charging an issue with some cases?
With most phone cases, the cutout for the Lightning port is wide enough to allow you to use most Lightning charging cables. Some off-brand Lightning charging cables with particularly large heads may not fit certain cases. The Lightning charging cable included with the iPhone SE has a relatively compact head, so this shouldn't be a problem.
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How protective of an iPhone SE case should I buy?
I like cases that aren't too thick but offer decent drop protection, with a lip over the edge of the screen (sometimes referred to as a "screen bumper") and raised corners that help prevent your screen from cracking if your phone should fall face down. A folio case will more fully protect your screen.
The good news is that you don't have to buy a super-protective iPhone SE case like the OtterBox Defender to get good protection. Most cases are reasonably thin and still offer at least 6-foot drop protection. I did include one very thin case on this list for those who prefer minimal protection. Before you go with a case like that, just remember how much your phone costs -- but it is better than having no case at all. Make sure you get a sound-tempered glass screen protector for your iPhone SE model to prevent deep scratches and safeguard the screen.
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Should I get a MagSafe case for my iPhone SE?
The iPhone SE 2nd generation released in 2020 and 3rd generation released in 2022 support Qi wireless charging -- but not Apple's signature MagSafe, which offers faster wireless charging with compatible chargers. This means an iPhone SE will not support optional accessories -- including MagSafe wallets, mini wallets and various mounts -- that adhere magnetically to the back of your phone. MagSafe is only available on the iPhone 12 and newer models -- not including the SE.
If you'd like to charge your phone using Qi wireless charging, be sure to buy a phone case that is thin enough to allow the electrical current to flow. MagSafe accessories, cases and chargers simply won't stick to the back of the non-compatible iPhone SE.
If you already have a MagSafe iPhone -- or plan on buying MagSafe accessories in the future -- you'll want to get a MagSafe compatible case; it's a good option to have. With that in mind, the majority of the cases in this roundup are equipped with MagSafe.
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Are MagSafe cases more expensive?
In general, yes -- about $10 more. Some more affordable MagSafe cases cost around $20, but most cost upward of $30. We see cases from certain companies that are essentially the same but one has MagSafe and the other doesn't, and the MagSafe version usually sells for $10 more. So, it may turn out that you'll end up dodging an extra $30 on a phone case by using your iPhone SE -- without MagSafe compatibility.
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