Best Apple iPhone SE Case to Protect Your Phone in 2024
If you want to blend fashion and functionality to protect your iPhone SE, you may want to consider one of these gorgeous and budget-friendly cases.
Our Experts
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What to Consider
Thinner or thicker?
Clear case?
Qi Wireless Charging Support?
We generally encourage people to spend the extra money for a Qi-enabled case because of the wireless charging capabilities associated with the product.
Our Picks
What's the best iPhone SE case overall?
The third-gen iPhone SE -- better known as the iPhone SE (2022) -- is the only iPhone with Touch ID currently. It doesn't boast high-end specs, but if you're still rocking it in 2024, and would like to extend its life, you should consider getting a case for it. It's a phone worthy of a solid case to keep it in tip-top shape.
For the most part, companies will advertise their SE cases as being compatible with the iPhone 7, 8, iPhone SE (2020) and iPhone SE (2022). iPhone 7 and 8 cases will also fit the 2022 SE. Thanks to this backward compatibility, a portion of the iPhone SE cases featured on this list are ones we tested with earlier iPhone models and we can recommend them based on our previous experience using them.
I've included a wide variety of cases and emphasize cases that are also a 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. Some are listed with special features, such as a built-in wallet or kickstand.
Best iPhone SE Cases of 2024
Speck makes several cases for the iPhone SE and you can find several on sale at Amazon for less than $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).
Top Otterbox case
Otterbox Commuter
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.
Tough clear case
Gear4 Piccadilly
Zagg's Gear4 cases for the iPhone SE are similar in quality to Speck and Otterbox cases. The Piccadilly is selling for only $10. The Crystal Palace is very similar but completely clear and currently is the same price.
Tough case with integrated kickstand
Spigen Tough Armor
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.
Slim but tough
Otterbox Symmetry Series
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.
Affordable wallet case
Spigen Slim Armor CS
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.
Corner protection
Urban Armor Gear
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.
Simple and see-through
Incipio NGP
Incipio's NGP case is a simple translucent case that offers decent protection in a slim package. The black version is currently $16 at Amazon. It's listed as being compatible with the iPhone 5 but will fit the iPhone SE, both 2022 and 2020 models.
Eco-friendly case
LifeProof Wake Series
LifeProof's Wake case is made out of recycled ocean plastic. While 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.
Popular wallet case
Smartish Wallet Slayer Vol. 2
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.
Under-$10 wallet case
Moment Dextrad
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.
Solid and slim
Griffin Survivor Clear
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.
Compostable case
Incipio Organicore
Incipio's Organicore case is another eco-friendly case that Incipio says is 100% compostable. The oat-colored version is on sale for $6.
Fully waterproof case
LifeProof Fre
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.
Premium case for a little less
Raptic Shield
Available in a few colors, Raptic's Shield case costs less than an OtterBox case and offers similar toughness with 10-foot drop protection.
Stylish and affordable
Cyrill Leather Brick (Out of Stock)
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.
Factors to consider when buying an iPhone SE case
Qi 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.
How we test iPhone cases
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.
Other iPhone SE cases we've tested
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: 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: 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. They cost $50 to $60, although sometimes you can find them on sale for less on Amazon. They are currently on sale for $39 on Mujo.
SwitchEasy Roam M + Strap: 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.
