The best iPhone 17 cases in 2025: keep your Apple iPhone 17 safe from harm

The iPhone 17 is currently the cheapest of this latest generation of iPhones, at least until the iPhone 17e comes along. Not that you can really call an $800 / £800 / AU$1,400 smartphone 'cheap'; it's still a significant investment, and the first thing you'll want to do after taking it out of its box is put it straight into a protective case.

Apple, of course, makes its own range of cases, but they are on the pricey side and, dare I say it, a little bit boring. But there are plenty of third-party options available, too, which tend to be a little more adventurous in their design.

Here's my pick of cases that I've personally tried and tested. These are all for the 'standard' iPhone 17, but most are available in variants to fit the iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Speaking of which, we also have dedicated buying guides to the best iPhone 17 Pro cases and iPhone 17 Pro Max cases.

Adam Waring

Guides Editor Adam just bought an Apple iPhone 17, so he's just the fellow to help you decide on the best protective case to put yours in…

The Quick List

Best budget iPhone 17 case

The GripMunk with MagSafe is Smartish's most basic iPhone 17 case (aside from the GripMunk without MagSafe), but there's little price difference between them, and I'd go for the version that is compatible with magnetic chargers every day of the week.

There may be cheaper cases than the GripMunk, but probably not at this level of quality. It is available in a wide range of colors, both opaque and translucent, with bold and striking designs that not only look great, but also provide great value.

Despite the low asking price, the case edges are gently contoured with finger-shaped indents for grip, and the case offers plenty of protection; Smartish says that it has 'drop-tested 50 times from a six-foot height'. I can't claim to have tried this myself with my own iPhone!

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Best slim iPhone 17 case

While your shiny new iPhone 17 demands protection from the rigors that daily life can throw at it, it can seem a shame to hide that sleek form factor with an overly bulky case. The Pitaka Ultra Slim Case aims to remedy that, with an incredibly thin and light construction; it's just 1mm thick and is a featherweight 20 grams.

It's crafted from aerospace-grade aramid fiber, a high-tech woven material that Pitaka says is five times stronger than steel, while being much, much lighter. It really, truly adds no noticeable size to the phone, and has a lovely, elegant textured feel. It's MagSafe compatible too.

A PitaTap Camera Control cover transfers full functionality to the Camera Control button it sits over, while preserving the sleek lines of the case, although none of the physical buttons are protected, but have cutouts instead. The Ultra Slim comes in a couple of attractive finishes: Moonrise has cool blue tones, while Sunrise has an orangey-red finish. For more sober types, there's a plain black version.

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Best iPhone 17 case for grip

A step up from the Smartish GripMunk case, the Gripzilla has more deeply contoured finger grooves and textured sides designed to help you grip the case firmly in hand. But should the worst happen, and you allow the phone to slip from your grip, this case offers an even greater level of protection, with raised corner bumpers and built-in air pockets to better absorb shocks from drops.

Unlike the GripMunk, the Camera Control is covered with a conductive strip, rather than being open, which still enables you to use the camera functionality. It's fully MagSafe compatible and comes in a range of bold and beautiful designs.

The enhanced protection does add a little bulk to the size and shape of the case, but it feels very well guarded. If you're accident-prone, this is the case for you!

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Best iPhone 17 case for video

The ESR Cloud Soft Magnetic Case has a soft-touch liquid silicone exterior that feels nice and grippy in the hand, yet maintains strong durability with a claimed 3x military-grade drop protection from up to 11 feet.

MagSafe compatibility is present and correct, and ESR says it is enhanced with a powerful 1,400g magnetic force for a secure and reliable hold on stands and chargers. It comes in five translucent colors that match and enhance the shades of your phone, and the iPhone's camera bump is surrounded by a sturdy metal lip for added protection.

Its party trick is that this lip is hinged to form a neat flip-out kickstand that props the phone up in horizontal orientation, and is just the job for watching movies, YouTube, or hands-free FaceTime calls.

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Best iPhone 17 case for carrying cards

Many of us use our iPhones to pay for everything these days, but it's wise to carry a traditional credit card for emergencies, not to mention other everyday fantastic plastic, such as a driver's license, key passes, and so on. The Wallet Slayer Vol. 1 can stash up to four cards in a slot at the rear, which are held firmly in place with a spring mechanism, but can be easily slid out via a thumb recess.

The front of the phone and rear camera are well-protected by raised bumpers, and air pockets provide additional protection against drops and impacts. The phone's Camera Control is exposed but deeply recessed to enable direct operation.

Mine came in a stylish 'Walnut Wood' finish, one of six available designs. It certainly adds less bulk than folding wallet-style cases, but the ability to stash cards in the slot around the back means this case forgoes MagSafe functionality.

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Best iPhone 17 case for sports

The Quad Lock iPhone 17 case is fairly nondescript-looking at first; it only comes in black, but has a nice rubberized feel with a chunky surround that should give you confidence should you accidentally drop the phone.

Not that that's likely, for around the back, in the middle of the MagSafe-compatible ring, is a recessed indent that forms the Quad Lock mechanism. This securely attaches the phone to all manner of mounts. There's a running armband, bike handlebar mounts, in-car kits, and a whole lot else. You simply slot the case onto the mount at a 45º angle and give it a twist, whereby it locks firmly in place until released by pressing a latch on the mount.

It's really rock solid and offers a much safer support than the strongest of magnets could ever muster; I trust it entirely when going out for a run, and it has the bonus that the front face of the phone is unobscured, so the touchscreen works, which I've found isn't the case with typical running straps. There is one problem, though; I found the Camera Control cover to be overly sensitive, opening the camera at the slightest touch, and then behaving erratically. However, Quad Lock has acknowledged this issue and is sending out replacements free of charge, so if you like to keep active, this is still your best bet.

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How to choose the best iPhone 17 case

I've tested these cases on the 'standard' iPhone 17, but there are variants for the Air, Pro and Pro Max too, so make sure you pick the correct one for your model of iPhone. While the iPhone 17's dimensions are broadly the same as the iPhone 17 Pro, the camera bump is much less obtrusive, neatly restricted to a small area around the pair of rear lenses, rather than taking the entire width of the rear of the phone.

And while the iPhone 17 looks very similar to the iPhone 16 that came before it, the dimensions are slightly different. You may just be able to squeeze your 17 into a 16 case, but the buttons and camera module won't line up properly and won't offer the optimum level of protection.

And a good level of protection should be your top priority. All the cases in this guide are from reputable manufacturers that claim to have proven the integrity of their products with drop and impact tests. I really would steer clear of cheap unbranded cases.

For many, MagSafe compatibility is a must; so many cases have a built-in magnetic ring that enhances the attachment properties of the phone to chargers and stands, while ensuring inductive charging remains efficient. Ensure your chosen case supports this feature if you plan to use MagSafe chargers or accessories.

Last but certainly not least, there's the look of the thing. You may prefer a translucent design that lets the beauty of your phone show through, sleek lines that show off its form factor, or bold patterns that mirror your personality.

How we test

I have personally tried and tested all the cases in this guide, checking for a snug fit, evaluating their grippiness and protective capabilities, ensuring that all the controls work correctly and MagSafe charging is not impeded, and reporting on their standout features and unique selling points.

But I also understand that a phone case is more than just a protective accessory; its look is important – after all, you don't want to encase your beautifully engineered smartphone into something that's boring to behold – so I'll tell you what I think of its design qualities too!

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