The Best iPhone 17 Cases for Style and Protection: Tested and Approved
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The beauty of the Apple ecosystem is that you’re never at a loss for accessories, but that’s also the challenge. It opens up a lot of possibilities, but in a market flooded with generic plastic finding the right gift can be overwhelming. If you’re looking for a gift that actually matters, it’s important to find something that’s been put through its paces.
Over the last 15 years of reviewing iPhone gear, I’ve seen cases that yellow in a week and “rugged” shells that crack on the first drop. For this guide, I didn’t just look at spec sheets. I lived with each one of these cases on my cosmic orange iPhone 17 Pro Max for at least a week to evaluate their real-world durability, pocketability, and how they handle the new Camera Control button.
Today, in the first installment of our four-part holiday series, we’re looking at the best overall cases for protection and style. After all, you didn’t pick an iPhone with a cosmic orange or sage finish just to hide it under a slab of generic plastic.
The Last-Minute iPhone Gift Series
Part 1: Style & Protection (Live!)
Part 2: Wallets & Utility Cases (Coming Tomorrow)
Part 3: Charging & Power (Coming Monday)
Part 4: Car Mounts & Essentials (Coming Tuesday)
The Top Contenders: Hands-On Reviews
While I focused my testing on the iPhone 17 Pro Max, most of these designs are available for the standard iPhone 17, the Pro, and the ultra-slim iPhone 17 Air.
Rhinoshield: Rugged and Classy
Rhinoshield prides itself on mixing creative design with a strong focus on sustainability, and it’s new SolidX and ClearX styles continue that ethos with solid impact protection in an ultra-light design that it promises won’t yellow or fade. With even its most protective cases coming in at well under 40 grams, the company has mastered the art of the “lightweight tank.”
I tried out both the SolidX in Classic Black and the Clear in Gleam Rose, which have list prices of $45 and $47 (although they’re currently available for $5 off at Amazon).
The SolidX uses an eco-friendly material the company calls ShockSpread ECO that’s designed for high-impact absorption, with reinforced corners, raised edges, and full MagSafe passthrough. The plain black both looks and feels classy, and there’s coverage for all buttons, including the Camera Control, and a raised edge to offer better protection around the Camera plateau.
The SolidX mostly hides the iPhone’s finish, but Apple’s decision to go with a larger camera plateau this year allows that part to show through, and it actually made a nice contrast with the classic black case and the cosmic orange iPhone 17 Pro Max. The buttons are also responsive yet low profile, and it’s remarkably lightweight. Overall, it’s a durable, minimalist case that’s great when you want to give your iPhone a more subtle look without compromising protection, and it’s become one of my favorites of the bunch this year.
The Clear is a surprising contrast to the SolidX in more ways than just its transparency. Despite the name, the Gleam Rose complemented the cosmic orange iPhone very well, although there are more than a dozen other color and pattern options to choose from. The design is every bit as shiny as you’d expect from a clear case, but it’s also incredibly light — even more so than the SolidX, weighing in at just under 32 grams.
The sides and back also add minimal bulk, but that seems to have resulted in Rhinoshield extending the buttons a bit further. I personally feel they protrude a bit too much, making the case seem a bit bulkier than it really is. Of course, your mileage may vary; the buttons work well, they’re clicky, and you’ll be at no risk of missing them, but for me it detracted from a case that I really liked in every other way.
On the upside, Rhinoshield guarantees that the case won’t discolor, to the extent that it’s backing it with a lifetime anti-yellowing warranty, offering a free replacement if any discoloration occurs.
Smartish: Texture That Won’t Slip
While Smartish is best known for its Wallet Slayer (which we’ll talk about in the next installment on utility cases), the company also has the Gripmunk and Gripzilla lineups.
The Gripmunk is a nice but rather typical case that’s distinguished mostly by some fun designs. You get MagSafe support and textured sides for a solid grip, but the Camera Control remains uncovered on all but a slightly pricier black version, and unless you opt for a pattern like Very Cherry Blossom or Moving Mountains, the design is somewhat minimalist.
That’s not a bad thing, as some folks like simple and minimalist designs, and the $20 price tag is easy on the wallet. However, the Gripzilla series takes things up a nice notch, and the $35 Gripzilla Clearly Black is one of my top picks.
This more premium case offers strong drop protection with full button coverage and MagSafe support, but what I particularly liked was its namesake grippiness and clear back design. The sides are not only textured but also slightly contoured so it feels great in the hand, and the back features a matching black MagSafe ring that complements both the case design and my cosmic orange iPhone.
Casetify: Art Meets Armor
While many companies offer cases in fun colors and styles, if you’re looking for something that you can really tailor to fit someone’s personal style, than Casetify has you covered in more ways than one.
That’s because the company offers extensive customization options that let you put anything you want on your case, whether that’s a monogram, initials, or even a short quip in a variety of fonts and colors. While you probably won’t be able to get one of those done in time for Christmas, you can always select from their extensive collections, which include fun and creative prints, festive faves for the holidays and a ridiculously extensive collection of Co-Lab designs that cover everything from Batman and the Marvel cinematic universe to Harry Potter and the Smurfs. After all, this is the same company that built an AirPods case shaped like Darth Vader’s head.
Casetify’s cases don’t come cheap, but that’s because they don’t skimp on protection. Despite all the fancy customizations, they’re as durable as any other premium case out there, drop tested to withstand falls of 8 feet or more with MagSafe support and full button coverage.
I tried out both the Impact Case and the ultra-rugged Bounce Case, the latter of which promises up to 22 feet of drop protection that’s seven times greater than MIL-STD-810G. Both were the simple unpatterned versions: Impact in black (which has clear back), and Bounce in matte black (which doesn’t).
While Bounce is the ultimate in drop protection, you might find the “TesseLock” bounce corners a bit too much. I know I did. However, if you’re looking for a case for someone who loves the rugged outdoors, these not only offer increased durability, but plenty of ways to anchor the case to a lanyard or backpack.
Impact is a more typical case, but the “Ring Stand” version I tested has a more useful trick up its sleeve: a kickstand built into the camera frame. This offers extra protection for the camera plateau while also folding out to let you prop up your iPhone in landscape mode.
The downside is that it makes the camera area protrude even more than usual, so you should only opt for this upgraded version if you really want the stand, as it’s a noticeable tradeoff. Fortunately, Casetify also sells non-stand versions of the Impact, and you can choose whether you want one with or without MagSafe.
The company tells me that this year’s Impact Case has also been improved with what it’s calling “all-new Duo-Lock Technology.” This means that not only will it protect your iPhone from drops, but it will also help the case weather those tumbles better than previous versions did.
There’s also a fully clear version of Impact for those who want to really show off their iPhone colors, although I prefer the standard black version, which pairs a clear black with a black frame, although I’m not personally a fan of the white MagSafe ring, at least not against the cosmic orange iPhone back.
Still, the primary reason to opt for a Casetify case is the wide variety of patterns and designs available. The company has such a vast collection that it seems almost a waste not to take advantage of it, and $70 is a bit steep for a plain case.
Honorable Mentions: Two Industry Staples
I haven’t spent any time with these specific iPhone 17 cases yet, but based on their legacy and my time at recent press briefings, they’re safe enough bets for any gift-giver to be worth including.
Otterbox: From Rugged to Runway
Both companies have a long history, and I’ve both used and reviewed their cases for previous iPhone models over the years. I have no reason to believe their quality has diminished, so the iPhone 17 offerings will undoubtedly remain good choices; I just can’t vouch for them from personal experience.
For years, Otterbox has been known for its durable but rather plain cases. That’s changed with the iPhone 17 lineup, where the company now has Symmetry Series cases in fun holiday themes or a Gothic Revival Collection for those whose idea of a great holiday special leans more toward The Nightmare Before Christmas .
Otterbox has also added Cactus Leather Embroidery to the Symmetry Series, featuring organic nopal cactus leather with handcrafted heritage-style embroidery patterns that make it one of the most unique protective cases you can buy, as it still offers 3X military drop protection and all of the other great durability features that have become synonymous with Otterbox.
There’s also the Sole Series, which offers a sportier or more tactical look. As the name suggest, these designs were inspired by elite footwear, and feature a “tread-like” grip and sneaker-inspired aesthetics. Unlike the other designs, Sole Series is its own lineup, distinct from Symmetry, and offers even greater 5X drop protection. With over 130 drop tests and extensive abrasion and thermal testing, it should be just as durable as a quality pair of shoes.
Zagg: Graphene-Infused Strength
Zagg’s big story this year is Graphene — a material 200x stronger than steel but light enough for a phone case.
The Rainier Snap is their heavy hitter, offering 22-foot drop protection and an integrated kickstand. It’s bulky, but it’s also among the most protective cases you’ll find. Zagg has also uniquely wrapped the camera array in a more traditional square cutout that should be quite appealing to folks who find Apple’s new fully horizontal camera plateau a bit jarring.
If you’re looking for something a bit more transparent, Crystal Palace Snap offers a classic clear case that still incorporates Graphene to prevent cracking while keeping the profile slim, w itch a version that’s ideal for protecting the new iPhone 17 Air.
What’s Next?
A great case is the foundation, but it’s really just the beginning. Over the next few days, I’m going to be sharing the rest of my testing notes to help you round out the perfect gift or upgrade your own daily carry.
Here’s what’s coming up:
- Tomorrow (Part 2): Ditching the Wallet. I’ll be diving into the “utility” side of things. We’ll look at the famous Smartish Wallet Slayer that I mentioned earlier, along with MOFT’s clever modular systems. If you’ve ever wanted to leave the house with nothing but your iPhone, this is the guide for you.
- Monday (Part 3): Power for the Holiday Travel. A dead iPhone is a useless iPhone. I’ll be reviewing my favorite “stay alive” gear, including the TwelveSouth PowerBug and Mophie’s latest juice packs — the stuff I personally pack before heading away for the holidays.
- Tuesday (Part 4): The Finishing Touches. We’ll wrap things up with the “problem solvers.” I’ll be talking about ESR’s car mounts and the best high-value stocking stuffers like mounts, screen protectors, and skins, that make a massive difference in daily use.
