From professional fashion photoshoots to video calling across continents, smartphones can do it all.
The devices are so much more than just phones. We use them to commute across the city, read books, and book flights. The whole world is at our fingertips; all that is needed is a charger. And, of course, a phone case.
Naturally, the phone case game has steadily upped the ante over the years. Once merely a matter of giving the phone enough protection to resist the slightest slip of the hand, today some phone cases are practically bulletproof in their robustness, engineered to survive the most chaotic of souls and daily schedules.
Some phone cases include mini wallets on the reverse while others have built-in chargers. Others come with gadgets for superior selfies, and some are just as pretty as our main screen wallpapers. In a customise-everything society, why wouldn’t that extend to the essential tech in our pockets?
As the spectrum of phone case designs and abilities on the market continues to grow, so do our needs. Generally speaking, we all seek a case that marries lightness with maximum protection. But what colour, what brand, and even how many phone cases – some of us own several for different moods and occasions – will naturally differ. With millions of phone case designs on the market, there’s something for everyone.
What’s more, you don’t need the latest iPhone to have pioneering technology and craftsmanship in your pocket. Rather than upgrade your phone, perhaps consider upgrading your phone case, for an elevated phone experience that brings so much more than just your classic plastic case to the table.
To that end, we have put together a selection of phone cases for all kinds of phone users. You’ll find options for Apple and Android across a spectrum of prices and for a variety of purposes.
Best smartphone cases at a glance
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Mous Clarity 2.0
Best: overall
Basic doesn’t always have to mean rudimental. The Clarity 2.0 phone case, available for a range of iPhone, Google Pixel and Galaxy devices, is designed with impact-absorbing technology for the utmost protection against those scratches and drops of everyday life.
What’s more, the anti-yellowing and UV resistance features of the clear case gives it an edge over its competitors. It’s also available in a clear iridescent design, which is gorgeous.
Admittedly the price is on the higher end of the scale, but with a lifetime warranty, this phone case is a worthy investment.
Buy now £64.99, Mous
Feob Battery charging case
Best for: charging on a budget
Always living on single digits of battery power? Avoid the worst-case scenario (pun wholeheartedly intended) thanks to the Feob charging case, compatible across iPhone and Samsung Galaxy models.
Able to charge phones back up to 100 per cent, this phone case charges phones as soon as they’re installed in the case. This can be annoying if you’re already at full power, but you can stop the charge by pressing the case’s power button twice.
It’s perfect for long journeys and festivals when bringing an extra charging source is never a bad thing.
Buy now £22.91, Amazon
Mous Limitless 5.0 in Black Leather
Best for: professionals
Available in a range of colours and materials, the Mous Limitless 5.0 line offers the same patented technology as its Clarity 2.0 model for the iPhone 15 and various Samsung and Pixel phones. Yet what we like about the black leather phone case, aside from its subtly smart and sturdy design, is how well it matches with the company’s compatible Card Wallet 2.0 in black, with the accessory and case available in a bundle deal.
Buy now £54.99, Mous
Nillkin CamShield Pro Case
Best for: protecting the phone camera
What’s more annoying, a broken screen or a broken camera? While cameras are less likely to shatter than their screen counterparts, anyone who has experienced a cracked phone camera knows how frustrating – and expensive! – the ordeal is.
The Nillkin CamShield Pro Case is designed with a sliding cover upon the various camera lenses of the phone, meaning you can choose when to have and when not to have your phone camera lens exposed to the elements.
The case feels light and is equipped with other protective qualities too, like impact-resistant bumpers on the edges and a non-slip design on both sides of the phone.
Buy now £13.89, Amazon
Pula phone case
Best for: sustainability
Protect both your phone and the environment at large with smart phone case brand Pula, which claims to be the world’s first truly sustainable phone case.
Composed of plant-based materials for a final product tha’s fully compostable, the case itself is soft to hold and tough to crack. Available in a variety of iPhone, Samsung and Pixel fits, the website boasts a wide spectrum of colours and designs.
We like the Sage Green Watermelon Time Warm case for a design that reflects the eco-friendly qualities of the case.
Buy now £45.00, Pula
Mophie juice pack
Best for: those on the go
Another case that doubles as a portable charger, the battery-charging Mophie was a popular model for iPhone 7 and 8 users for its light feel and slim build. Back exclusively for the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Max, this phone case provides an extra 50 per cent battery life with LED lights that indicate the battery level for an extra dimension of battery awareness. With portable chargers and bulkier battery charging cases, charging your phone in your bag is easy; but with the slimness of the Mophie case design, being able to get that extra juice in your jeans pocket is a whole new level of usefulness.
Buy now £99.95, Zagg
Otterbox Defender Series XT
Best for: longevity
Otterbox has accumulated quite the fan base over the years for its tough and minimalist phone cases that are as smart as they are solid.
The Defender series, available for iPhone, Galaxy, and Pixel, offers excellent protection and a sturdy grip with its thick phone case, half of which is composed from recycled plastic. So confident is Otterbox of its product, that the company offers a seven-year warranty on their smartphone cases when purchased directly through their website.
Buy now £49.99, Otterbox
Spigen Tough Armor
Best for: Little fingers
Your little ones getting their paws on your phone is inevitable, but the ongoing anxiety of your phone being smashed to smithereens is not.
The Spigen Tough Armor case was not built purposely for parents. The case is built with technology to minimise impact shock, whereas the raised edges prevent scratches on the screen. Firm and solid to hold, perhaps the best feature is its inbuilt raised stand, enabling hands-free viewing. Which, of course, isn’t exclusively useful for children.
Buy now £29.99, Amazon
Arc Pulse in Gold
Best for: Making a statement
For a phone case that wouldn’t look out of place in a Bond blockbuster, look no further than the Arc Pulse.
Rather than encasing your entire phone, this pioneering innovation is instead a stylish and minimalist collection of two slide-on pieces; one to protect the top of the phone and the camera, the other for the bottom. The pieces, composed of aerospace-grade aluminium, hold onto the phone remarkably well. Available in several metallic tones across the Samsung Ultra line and various iPhones, the gold is particularly fabulous for those seeking a case that looks as fabulous as the protection it offers.
Buy now £100.00, Arc
Casetify Impact
Best for: Aesthetic seekers
Pressed flowers, cartoon characters, artist collaborations; with hundreds of different patterns available, there’s something for everyone over at Casetify. And yet as its loyal fanbase will attest, it’s more than just a pretty face.
The Impact model, available for Apple, Samsung and Google devices, is of a military-grade standard protection - it will survive drops of up to 8ft.
Buy now £61.00, Casetify
Verdict
The Mous Clarity 2.0 smartphone case is a classic and easy way to protect your handset. Sturdy and solid with a lifetime warranty of seven years, the success of including various protective inventions across the entire phone is heightened by the simplicity of the clear case.
