Just purchased a new smartphone? The next step involves choosing the best phone case available on the market today to protect your expensive new device from the inevitable scrapes, bumps, and accidental drops.

If you’re the proud new owner of one of today’s best camera phones, there are plenty of options for keeping it protected and looking good as new - from ultra-slim cases designed to show off your phone's design features, to the thicker and more rugged cases that are slightly on the heavier side but offer super-protective 360 shells that can survive accidents and drops form hefty heights. 

We know that choosing the perfect phone case can be a pretty stressful endeavor, but don't worry as you're in good hands. We've done the hard work for you and become somewhat experts on phone cases (I have at least 85 in my garage) and adept at finding the most protective yet stylish cases that suit all budgets. 

WHAT SORT OF PHONE CASE DO I NEED?

It's especially important if you're a photographer and smartphone shooter to find a case equipped with raised edges that will protect your camera unit from any unwanted cracked or scratched lenses upon impact, and maybe even consider purchasing a separate camera lens protector for maximum peace of mind. 

As a bare minimum, you'll want a phone case that uses shock-absorbent materials, such as silicone or rubber, and it's also best to go for one that has corner and edge impact protection. Having said that, a more costly calamity for a camera phone is a cracked screen, so you may also want to equip one of the best screen protectors for 360-degree and full body protection for your device.

OUR TOP PICKS FOR PHONE CASES

We highly recommend cases that have been produced by OtterBox if you're looking for all-around protection for your new smartphone from a reliable manufacturer. OtterBox offers various fun features in its case ranges including holsters, card slots, pop sockets, waterproof cases, and fun marble designs. 

Other great cases come from the likes of Mous and Casetify, if you're looking for extreme protection then choose Mous - they've thrown phones off a rooftop before to prove the strength of their cases. Casetify, however, prioritizes the design and offers 2000+ artistic patterns to choose from, plus collabs with pop culture branding.

For photographers: You can't go wrong with Peak Design or Moment cases. These brands offer seamless integration with tripods, car mounts, and specifically Moment lenses which are some of the best lenses for camera phones on the market. 

The best phone cases in 2024

OtterBox is a renowned phone case brand that delivers only the best quality, and most importantly protective, cases on the market. When it comes to protective cell phone cases, the Otterbox Defender is considered a gold standard. The multi-layer design gives you dust, drop and scratch protection, while a reinforced polycarbonate inner and a thick silicone outer shell absorb impact. 

Port covers are also fitted on this case to block out any and all dust and dirt. The included holster clip on the resilient outer slipcover can attach to bags and rucksacks for convenience, and can also double as a kickstand for browsing movies and content. It's important to note that this case is not fitted with any built-in magnets, but OtterBox assures that it is still wireless charging compatible.

The Otterbox Defender series will add a fair bit of bulk to your phone, so this isn’t the best option if you like to keep your phone in your pocket or want to show off its form – and it isn’t waterproof, either. But when it comes to ultimate drop protection, this cell phone case is about as comprehensive as it gets.

CASETiFY has a 2000+ catalog of creative designs to choose from, created by a multitude of renowned artists. The Impact case is a best-seller from the company, and can supposedly withstand drops from up to 8.2 feet, and four times the usual military standard! As part of the company’s “Re/CASETiFY” upcycling program, the recyclable case can be returned to the brand by customers after use, in exchange for store credits.

These cases are designed with a 1.6mm raised bezel for screen protection, and a 1.1mm camera ring to protect your lenses. They are also wireless and MagSafe charging compatible, and super strong! The EcoShock™ material is plant-based and able to convert the kinetic energy of an impact into heat, while twister patterns dissipate it across the surface of the case.

Aside from being super pretty to look at, these cases offer a lot in a small package, and great customer service from Casetify means that any issues are dealt with swiftly. You'll not only bag yourself a cool custom case, but you're doing a favor for the environment and smaller businesses too by selecting designs. 

 

 

You can't go wrong with Peak Design, and it's recently introduced a new shade of Sage green with the launch of its iPhone 14 range of cases! One of the best Phone cases that money can buy, Peak Design is a company that caters to photographers and adventurers in every aspect. 

PD cases can connect to all of the company's accessories including everything from car and bike mounts to tripods and wireless charging stands and magnetic wallets, its Everyday range is the perfect choice for those wanting a more subtle style of case with a soft-touch feel. Everyday cases are also weatherproof, and Bluesign-approved, and the 'Loop Case' models feature a finger loop on the back for easy gripping.

Some key selling points of Peak Design cases include the rubberized full-surround shock-absorbing bumper fitted to protect your device from 6ft drops, as well as a protective lip housing the screen and camera lenses.  Need we say more?