iPhone 5 case round-up: our top picks

Fancy getting Apple's latest super-phone? You're going to need a good case to go with it. Here's a few delightful ones.

Andrew Lanxon

Andrew is CNET's go-to guy for product coverage and lead photographer for Europe. When not testing the latest phones, he can normally be found with his camera in hand, behind his drums or eating his stash of home-cooked food. Sometimes all at once.

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Andrew Lanxon

Sept. 14, 2012 7:02 a.m. PT

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The iPhone 5 has finally been unveiled, ending months of wild speculation about what it will look like. If you're going to buy the latest, shiniest kit -- which has a longer shape than the iPhone 4S -- then you'll need a new case to protect it from the elements.

To help you on your quest, I've pulled together a few of my favourites. Flick through the image gallery above to take a gander. Please note that Gear 4 has temporarily taken its iPhone 5 cases off its site but will have them live next week, so do check back.

Gear 4 Wave £24.99
It's a standard clip-on iPhone case, keeping all the ports and buttons exposed for quick access. Importantly though, it looks smashing (pictured above).

Proporta iPhone 5 Leather Pouch £29.95
You're a classy man about town and you want everyone to know it. That's why you keep your six hundred quid phone in a smart leather case. Next stop, the cobbler's.

Gear 4 ShowCase Smile £19.99
"Hiya! Hey! Over here! Hellooo!" That's what this clip-on case shouts. Not literally, of course, it's only a case, but you can hold it up and bellow it yourself if it makes you any happier.

Cygnett UrbanShield Carbon £19.95
Carbon fibre is all over the best sports cars in the world so why on Earth would you not want it around your phone? Okay, so it's not real carbon fibre, but you don't have to tell your mates that.

OtterBox Defender Series £39.95
Do you live a rough and tumble life? Do you live in perpetual terror of getting your iPhone trapped under your Jeep? The Defender case adds a sturdy layer of rubber between your phone and your frankly dangerous lifestyle.

Dicota Lov Protective Sleeve £11.95
I thought this sleeve was rather attractive and I have no doubt you'll agree with me completely. It apparently has a business card slot too, but if you don't have any business cards, I'm sure you could cram an emergency fiver in there.

Gear 4 Angry Birds Classic £24.99
Did you really think I'd leave out our favourite furious flying friends? Shame on you. Keep the Angry Birds faith alive with this Red Bird clip-on case.

Cygnett Bulldozer £14.95
The Bulldozer is a rubber protective case that's not so massive as to make your slim new iPhone rotund. It's also got a pretty burly-looking tread pattern on it, which I'm sure you'll love.

Gear 4 Thin Ice £19.99
Don't fancy a crazy pattern on your sleek new phone? Fine, then maybe the Thin Ice is more your thing -- its totally clear so you can enjoy that classic iPhone look.

Griffin Animal Parade £19.99
What's better than having rubber animals wrapped around your phone? Nothing. Not only will the rubber protect your phone but the tiger and koala designs are just relentlessly adorable. They'll be on sale in the UK just in time for the iPhone 5.

What do you make of my top case picks? Like them? Hate them? Have you found any better ones? Or would you rather stick your phone in your pocket and get on with your day? Let me know over on our Facebook page or in the comments below.