Coming in first place is the Spigen Slim Armor, a dual-layer case that sits comfortably between “too thin” and “too bulky.” It’s not the most heavy-duty case on the market, but we found the combination of its slim design and its robust drop protection to be a great fit for most users. (Note that we tested an older version of the case, so expect some incremental changes from one year’s model to the next.)
Getting your iPhone situated inside the case is a bit of an exercise, however, due to Spigen’s inclusion of a plastic kickstand attachment. The process goes like this: First, slip your iPhone into the case’s silicone inner-sleeve. Next, line the kickstand attachment up with its indentation on the back of the phone. Lastly, install the case’s outer layer around the kickstand—the kickstand is held in place via the marriage of the case’s two layers. Is it the most elegant system? Not really, but having a kickstand to lean on is a nice bonus.
Once the case was in place, I found the buttons to be springy and the edges to be grippy—the latter of which goes a long way in keeping your phone from tumbling out of your hand when you pull it out of your pocket awkwardly. My one beef with the Spigen Slim Armor’s design is its cutout for the iPhone’s silencer switch—there’s just not an ample amount of space for your finger to flip the phone’s ringer on or off.
As mentioned, the Spigen Slim Armor case isn’t the heaviest, thickest option around, but its drop protection meets military certification (MIL-STD 810G-516.6) and our test case survived the series of drops I put it through in our lab. If you’re hoping for a case with a bit more heft, you might be better off looking into something else, but for most people, the Spigen Slim Armor case is the sweet spot between simplicity and ruggedness.
OtterBox Defender Series
The OtterBox Defender Series is one of the more heavy-duty cases in our round-up. Unfortunately, despite the Defender Series’s three layers of protection, the case is fairly frustrating to use.
Right off the bat, I found the case’s relatively chintzy pieces to be difficult to open and then snap back into place—I almost ripped the skin off my fingertips trying to pry the thing open. To be fair, if you don’t foresee yourself removing your iPhone from its case very often, this shouldn't be an issue you encounter very often.
Once settled, the case’s built-in plastic screen protector put a distracting layer between my thumbs and the iPhone’s screen. On Amazon, users are split between those who don’t mind the plastic screen protector and those, like me, who can’t stand it. I understand the screen protector’s existence in theory, but I don’t think the minimal protection it offers is worth altering the look and feel of the iPhone’s display.
The OtterBox Defender’s overall design is tough to interact with, too. The buttons are far too firm, especially when the time comes to long-press the power button. The iPhone’s ringer switch is placed behind a plastic plug, and once you wrestle it open, the hole underneath is too small for your finger to easily switch the ringer on or off.
One thing the Defender Series has going for it, however, is its durability—I’m having a hard time imagining any casual drop or tumble that this case would fail to protect against. It’s a big, bulky, monster of a case that might not even fit in your pocket. If you’re so inclined, OtterBox includes a belt harness so you can clip it to your hip.
I’d recommend this case for folks who spend a good deal of time doing the type of activity that ordinarily requires some sort of hard hat or helmet. If you just want a moderate amount of protection, the OtterBox Defender Series is probably too much bulk. If you hike, work in construction, or just generally spend your days being outdoorsy, it’ll suit you well (provided you can get over the case’s design flaws).
Supcase Unicorn Beetle Pro Series Case for iPhone 15
Reviewers rave about this rock-solid iPhone 15 case from Supcase. The Unicorn Beetle Pro Series has been rated for drops from up to 50 feet in the air, and at least one verified buyer claims to have run it over with his truck and found the phone completely unscathed.
It’s nice and affordable, and you can get it in a number of different colors. It has a built-in kickstand for convenient video viewing, Zoom calls, and so on. Some shoppers aren’t big fans of the screen protector, however, saying it may have an iridescent smear in the plastic—or that it might not fit as snugly as the rest of the case.
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