The iPhone SE is a great budget iPhone, but that doesn’t mean it’s disposable. We’ve checked out the best cases for your iPhone SE (that also happen to work with the iPhone 5 and 5s) so that it’s safe from scratches and damage, while still looking sharp.
After all, it’s so easy to drop your iPhone when out and about, or simply knock it into various surfaces to cause minor damage. No matter how careful you might be, it’ll inevitably happen at some point. A case minimizes the damage that can occur. Here’s our pick of the bunch.
Best Overall Case: Speck CandyShell Grip ($17)
Available in some fairly distinctive colors, what the Speck CandyShell Grip might lack in subtlety, it makes up for in all-around protection for your device. Its exterior is hard and able to withstand damage while the inside has a cushioned inner layer that absorbs shock from any occasional bumps or drops that may happen throughout the day.
Also, there’s a raised bezel that keeps your screen safe and pristine from any scrapes, along with rubberized shields for the buttons too. Textured finger pads not only help you keep a firm grip on your phone but offer an extra little bit of shock absorption and protection too. The CandyShell Grip is an all around great case line, and among the staff, we’ve easily purchased a dozen of them for different iPhones over the years.
Best Budget Case: JETech Case ($6)
A good case doesn’t have to cost a fortune to get the job done. This JETech Case is a slimline case that’s transparent, so it doesn’t get in the way of the original design of your iPhone. It has a scratch-resistant back, as well as UV resistance. What does UV resistance matter? Cheap clear cases are prone to severe yellowing so that extra bit of UV protection will keep your case crystal-clear longer.
A raised bezel protects the screen and camera, while the design of its four corners means it can absorb simple shocks too. There’s always easy access to ports as well as buttons too, so this is a case you can pop on and forget about.
Best Water-Resistant Case: LifeProof Fre ($42)
In need of a waterproof case? You can’t go wrong with the LifeProof Fre, a smart looking iPhone SE case that also happens to be very water-resistant.
It can be safely submerged up to 2m for an hour without water ingress. Also, it’s sealed from snow, ice, dirt, and dust particles, meeting or exceeding IP-68 Ingress Protection requirements. It’s also shockproof up to a 2m fall and exceeds relevant military standards there too.
