Available colors: black, gray, various custom designs. Press down arrow to move through the drop down and press the tab key inside the drop down to go to the sub menus. LifeProofs Wake is primarily made of recycled plastic from the ocean, which is cool. Its also available as the non-MagSafe Influence Case. We found it easy to get the cards in and out as needed. Caudabes Sheath feels like an alternate take on the Gripmunk, with similar materials and design features. Both blind and foil stampings will appear in the approximate area shown. Flaws but not dealbreakers: Though the Gripmunk checks all the boxes, it isnt the most exciting case in the world. Interaction with MagSafe accessories will leave slight imprints. Flaws but not dealbreakers: Bulk! Weve updated this guide with new leather and wallet-style cases, which you can read in the Competition. Its a great case in its own right that happens to have special features that set it apart. Most people should at least try the Gripzilla first, but if that model isnt for you, check out one of the Symmetry models. The case quickly snaps into place and fits snugly over your iPhone without adding bulk. We find this one to be a little too pricey, but a solid option if you like the design. Like every Apple-designed case, it undergoes thousands of hours of testing throughout the design and manufacturing process. We also have cases for, Khaki Brown iPhone 13 Pro Max Leather Case, Peacock Blue & Ocean Blue iPhone 13 Pro Max Leather Case, Fossil Gray & Crow Black iPhone 13 Pro Max Leather Case, Ocean Blue & Pebble Gray iPhone 13 Pro Max Leather Case, Peacock Blue & Crimson Red iPhone 13 Pro Max Leather Case, Crimson Red iPhone 13 Pro Max Leather Case. Slightly ridged edges help with grip, and the buttons press well. 1 doesnt support it. We like the slightly rough texture on the back and the slim body. If youre getting one of the new phones, heres a look at our favorite cases of the 70 weve tried. We think its expensive for a basic case, but if youre concerned about your environmental impact, its worth a look. Designed by Apple to complement iPhone 13 Pro, the Leather Case with MagSafe is a delightful way to give your iPhone extra protection while adding style. If you dont want or need MagSafe, though, the Liquid Crystal is absolutely worth its low price. The Veil is almost identical to every other thin case but is less expensive. Flaws but not dealbreakers: Just as leather cases fall apart, transparent cases turn yellow. So the Apple Leather Case with MagSafe for iPhone 13 is once again our favorite with its combination of high-quality materials, all-around protection, clicky buttons, beautiful colors, and MagSafe compatibility, all of which adds up to make it the ideal leather iPhone case. The pebbly leather doesnt feel quite as nice as the material Apple uses and we wish there were more colors, but otherwise, its a good choice, especially if youre on a more limited budget. We think the Presidio2 Pro is a fine case, especially if you choose the MagSafe version, but its very hard to justify paying this cases full retail price when you can pay less than half that for similar protection from Smartishs Gripzilla. MagSafe accessories attach easily and securely. Why its great: Peak Designs Everyday Case is a top option whether you know you want to swap accessories on the fly or you think you might, or even if youre not concerned about accessories at all. But if youre just commuting to work, walking the dog, or scrolling TikTok on the couch, its overkill in terms of size, complexity, and price. Available colors: golden brown, dark cherry, sequoia green, midnight, wisteria. That difference, combined with the more deeply recessed finger ridges on either side that provide for an especially secure grip, make us confident that thanks to this case youll be less likely to drop your phone, and itll be in good shape a lot of the time if you do. The back is smooth, while the perimeter has a pebbly texture that, combined with three small grooves on the left and right sides, provides a noticeable amount of grip. With this case, you get extra thickness for extra protection, but you can still press the buttons and reach the Lightning port. A colourful family of accessories for easy attachment and faster wireless charging. The effect is generally pretty gradual, and you may not notice the change for a while, or until you put your case next to a newer clear protector. Its a single piece of totally clear TPU that fits perfectly, adds minimal bulk, and can survive some drops. The matte back shows grease from fingers, and theres no MagSafe support, but it otherwise works well. Its essentially the Gripmunk with a three-card wallet built into the back, which I find to be perfect for my license, a credit card, and my MetroCard. 2, like everything else in Smartishs lineup, starts with the Gripmunk at its core. 1, keep in mind that theres no option to leave the wallet segment behindeven when youre not carrying cards in the case, you have to deal with its extra thickness. We also found it difficult to get the cards out because you need to lift them from underneath, which we found particularly tough with freshly trimmed fingernails. Despite any number of claims of anti-yellowing technology weve seen over the years, weve never tested a clear case that hasnt become a little grimy looking over a few months. While we have a variety of recommendations across various styles, we consider all of the following criteria when making our picks: Were going to be testing many more cases, from many more companies, in the coming weeks and months. Although its reflective, it doesnt have the rainbow-y prismatic distortion we tend to associate with cheaper transparent cases. We like the hold that the Wallet Slayer Vol. Its compatible with Moments mounts, as well as with the companys lenses when paired with a $5 lens mount. The two-piece design is stuck in a time when iPhones were less protected from the elements out of the box, and the best you could do to prevent damage from water and drops was to use this kind of difficult-to-install, bulky case. The Ultra Compostable Case is more subtle about it, at least, with the logo pressed into the plant-based material rather than embossed in a contrasting color. The perfectly aligned magnets make wireless charging faster and easier than ever before. The Incipio Grip has uncomfortably hard Y-shaped protrusions all along its left and right sides. A credit-card-height slot sits along the right, and a smaller hole on the left lets you push the cards out. On the other end of the price spectrum, the Defender Pro XT with MagSafe is OtterBoxs most expensive caseyet it suffers from some of the same problems. It houses credit cards under a sliding plastic door on its back, but unlike Smartishs wallet cases, it can hold only two. If you like it but find that the solid colors dont do much for you, consider one of the various prints Smartish offers, or even your own custom design, which is available for a premium through the companys website. But the difference is really noticeable only when youre holding a Gripmunk in one hand and a Gripzilla in the other. Speaking of MagSafe, the Wallet Slayer Vol. Venas Legacy and vCommute both combine plastic, rubber, and faux-leather elements into thick wallet cases that double as stands. Its a different story with the iPhone 13series handsets and their huge camera modules. Why its great: Im looking forward to a wallet-free future where I can have Apple Pay, plane and concert tickets, hotel keys, my vaccine passport, and eventually my ID all available on my phone. High-quality leather, clicky metal buttons, attractive colors, and MagSafe make Apples leather case an easy pick. Just like the Gripmunk, the Wallet Slayer Vol. iPhone 13 Pro Leather Case with MagSafe - Golden Brown. Its most notable features are a dial over the mute switch and redirected audio, which the company claims makes your music 30% louder. Mujjos Full Leather Case is a less expensive, but not as nice, take on the Apple Leather Case. Most of Casetifys cases feature the brands name surrounding the camera, a design choice weve always found off-putting. Like the opaque version, the transparent Gripmunk supports MagSafe. Available colors: black, blue, purple, various custom designs. Its distinctive carbon-fiber-style design may appeal to some, but thats the main reason to choose it over any of the other models here. The matte finish is a little smoother than wed prefer, and it may show stains more readily than other materials or textures. The classic casewith its plastic frame, rubber exterior, and, yep, belt clipfeels like itll hold up at a construction site or as a hockey puck. Incipios Duo two-piece case is a bit harder to install than one-piecers but doesnt offer any material benefit. Weve spent hundreds of hours over the past few years testing hundreds of iPhone and iPad accessories to find the best ones. Protect your phone with our personalized leatheriPhone13 Pro Maxcase. If youre looking to ditch your wallet, this case holds as many as three cards firmly without sacrificing a nice design. Its ridged edges are easy to hold, and the buttons click well. The Veil, and the rest, dont have any sort of soft materials or air pockets for absorbing shocks, or button coverage. If you dig the general design, we recommend choosing the Presidio2 Grip with MagSafe instead, since it adds extra grip and MagSafe support. (Thats why its our basic pick.) Specks Presidio2 Pro relies on air cushions around the edges, rather than previous editions rubber-and-plastic layering, to help protect against drops. If you like folios, choose whichever model has the features that are more important to you. Pelicans Protector felt like a pretty generic plastic case with little to recommend it other than its branding. by Dan Frakes, Nick Guy, and Wirecutter Staff. Theyre clever, and we appreciate the originality in design, but we dont think either three-card case aesthetically appeals to a broad swath of people. Incipio also has a clear version, though the edges are solid-colored. We also provide expedited shipping for a fee. The Peak Design case easily attaches to a wide range of mounts, including those for your bike and car, through a combination of a locking clip and MagSafe-compatible magnets. Why its great: No one has come close to replicating the quality of Apples leather iPhone cases since the company started making them in 2015, especially not at the fairly reasonable (for leather) $60 price. This is a clear version of the basic case we like. It gets its extra protection from a bit of added bulk. But because this case is leather, you can break in the wallet portion over time. If youd rather have a more modular setup, consider pairing Apples Leather Wallet with MagSafe and a MagSafe case, which is an expensive combination but gives you more options. Theres now a version with MagSafe. The connection is strong enough that we have zero concerns about anything unintentionally falling out of place. Smartishs Gripzilla for iPhone 13 costs half that, and although we wouldnt throw it down the stairs just to prove a point, we wouldnt be too worried about the phone inside if we were to do that. Theyre better suited for adding some grip and preventing scratches on the iPhones rear glass than preventing breaks. So not only does it look great, its built to protect your iPhone from scratches and drops. The Leather Case has MagSafe support built in, so you can charge the phone or attach compatible accessories. Letter spacing might differ slightly from the preview due to the fixed width of copper die. Smartphone holders on lanyards and finely crafted phone rings complete the selection of statement mobile accessories. Caudabes case also has a tiny logo on the back, while the other two dont show any branding. The Wallet Slayer Vol. But weve never found a clear case that doesnt discolor to a noticeable degree after six to 12 months. Flaws but not dealbreakers: If you choose the Wallet Slayer Vol. And although we cant vouch for exactly how protective the air pockets in the four corners are, I can personally attest to the cases ability to withstand more than a few drops. The Spigen Ultra Hybrid and Spigen Ultra Hybrid Mag are the closest in look and feel to the clear Gripmunk, with similar hard-plastic backs and TPU borders. Spigen makes excellent clear cases that are worth considering if, for any reason, you dont like the Smartish Gripmunk. Moshis Arx Clear is expensive for a clear case, and we find the one long continuous button protector inferior to split coverage; its too easy to hit in the middle and accidentally do the opposite of what youre trying for. While its only about 0.02 inch thickerenough that the raised border around the camera is pretty minimalthe iPhone 13 version of the Gripzilla is about 0.1 inch taller and wider than the base Gripmunk case, with extended corners that offer even greater shock absorption. He once had the bright idea to build and burn down a room to test fireproof safes. The color options are also more limited than wed like. These stylish iPhone accessories are offered in a variety of sizes and signature materials, including models that recall the Houses trunk-making legacy. This case is made with high-quality, supple leather to protect your iPhone. 1 has the same thickness whether you have three cards or none stuffed inside. Why its great: There was a time when you had to pay $50 or more for a case that you could feel assured would take a licking and keep on kicking, with OtterBox leading the charge early on and defining the category. The extended corners on ESRs Air Armor with HaloLock seemed like overkill to us, but if you want the feeling of extra security, we otherwise like it as much as the companys Classic Hybrid. The Smartish Wallet Slayer Vol. It also has a small piece of blue elastic running halfway up the phones height that you can slip your fingers under for grip. That number spans multiple generations of Apple devices, including every iPhone since the iPhone 4 and every iPad. But after a year or so, especially if you tend to drop your iPhone a fair amount or if you have oily hands, youll likely notice discoloration and damage down to the plastic core. If you are concerned about this, we suggest you use an iPhone13Pro Silicone or Clear Case. Its plain, but its the best plain case there is. If you dont think youll take advantage of the modular accessory system, it may not be worth the higher price. With built-in magnets that align perfectly with iPhone 13 Pro, the case offers a magical attach and detach experience, every time. But the case itself doesnt justify its price tag, as that plastic is molded into a shell with minimal shock absorption and an exposed bottom edge. Its special feature is the 1.3-inch-diameter, 0.13-inch-deep divot in the back, which you use to connect the case to an ecosystem of mounts and accessories that twist and lock into place. The button covers are metal, and the contrasting material makes them easy to find by feel; they also click exquisitely. 1. And although some early leather cases from Apple left the iPhones bottom edge exposedadmittedly, a design that some people prefer when it comes to swiping from the bottomwere of the opinion that the full protection the newer versions offer is better because it means you dont have to worry about damaging exposed aluminum or steel. We prefer cases that cover the iPhones buttons but dont dampen the clickiness, which the Gripmunk thankfully gets right. If you prefer that entirely clear look and are willing to give up a bit of grip, we recommend going with one of these cases (or the kickstand-equipped Spigen Ultra Hybrid S, if you like it). Why its great: Ultrathin cases arent for everybody, and if you expect anything more than scratch protection, they shouldnt be your first choice. Its no surprise to see this case once again best the competition when it comes to the iPhone 13, especially now that Smartish has improved on the tried-and-true design by adding a MagSafe magnet for a small premium. Copyright 2022 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Apples Silicone Case with MagSafe costs more than twice as much as the Smartish Gripmunk, and weve found past versions of the case to be dust and lint magnets. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Survivors Endurance and the companys similar but MagSafe-less Strong both have a rather attractive design and feel like theyd survive a drop or two. To ensure quality craftsmanship, we use a traditional hand-operated hot stamping machine to imprint the leather cases with your initials, names or something special. The only difference is the raised back, which adds about 0.15 inch and makes the whole case only a little more than half an inch thick. Smartish also offers a version that forgoes the magnets, for those who want a totally clear case. A non-MagSafe version is available for $5 less, but its better to spend the extra Lincoln now rather than having to buy a whole new case if you decide you want to use MagSafe down the line. The Gripmunk leaves enough room for the speaker, microphone, and Lightning port. The hole on the left makes it easy to push your cards out as needed. 1 for iPhone 13, Smartish Gripzilla with MagSafe for iPhone 13, Smartish Gripzilla with MagSafe for iPhone 13 mini, Smartish Gripzilla with MagSafe for iPhone 13 Pro, Smartish Gripzilla with MagSafe for iPhone 13 Pro Max, Smartish Gripmunk Nothin to Hide with MagSafe for iPhone 13, Smartish Gripmunk Nothin to Hide with MagSafe for iPhone 13 mini, Smartish Gripmunk Nothin to Hide with MagSafe for iPhone 13 Pro, Smartish Gripmunk Nothin to Hide with MagSafe for iPhone 13 Pro Max, Peak Design Everyday Case for iPhone 13 mini, Peak Design Everyday Case for iPhone 13 Pro, Peak Design Everyday Case for iPhone 13 Pro Max, Bluebonnets iPhone Wallet Card Holder Case, Presidio Perfect-Clear Compatible with MagSafe, Presidio Perfect-Clear with Grips Compatible with MagSafe, The Best Qi Wireless Charger for iPhone and Android Phones, The Best Accessories for Your iPhone and iPad. 1, the Gripzilla is a variation of the basic Gripmunk case we recommend. Nomads Modern Leather Case is the next-best option after Apples.