15 best iPhone 12 and 12 pro cases to help protect your precious device

Best: Overall

Rating: 10/10

• Shock absorption: High

Here’s why Mous cases are the best: the protection they offer is astonishing thanks to the careful use of rigid protective materials and a design that means that the iPhone should be just fine, even if dropped from a height.

The snug fit holds the phone tightly to prevent it from twisting if it falls, and the front edge creeps round to protect the handset if it lands face down. But the edge is also carefully shaped so that it’s dominant at the top and bottom but barely noticeable at the sides.

Mous has made clear cases before, though its bespoke system called “Airoshock” meant that the edges were previously black. Now, every bit of it is clear apart from the MagSafe ring and that comes in three variants – blue, “slate” grey and light grey. Mous has a range of cases, often with great extra details such as a slot for an extra sim card and that sim tray tool you otherwise lose on day one.

Best: Leather case

Rating: 9/10

• Shock absorption: High

There’s something irresistibly tactile about the back of this case –made from a smooth, appealing Horween leather, it looks great on day one and gains a special patina as time goes by, while continuing to feel very pleasant to the touch throughout. Additionally, it has impact protection in the edges so that you have peace of mind. This latest version has the MagSafe ring of magnets which make it compatible with the MagSafe charger.

Best: MagSafe case

Rating: 8/10

• Shock absorption: Medium

The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 pro each have a ring of magnets built in to help align a dedicated charging pad called the MagSafe charger with the back of the iPhone. New cases with similarly positioned magnets are also available which help the cases hold firmly in place with less force. The silicone case is a staple in Apple’s own-brand range and the latest model has a decent amount of grip to it – it won’t slide out of your hand easily. There are numerous colours to choose from, including black or white if you really want to play it safe. But there are more sultry options like eye-catching “kumquat”, “electric orange”, “sunflower” and a retina-searingly bright “pink citrus”. All are well-made and a perfect fit, of course.

Best: Apple case

Rating: 9/10

• Shock absorption: Medium

Apple’s leather case is, of course, an immaculate fit for the iPhone. Some cases have buttons that are too clicky or need to be pressed too hard to be comfortable, but not here. There’s a range of neat colours: “deep violet”, “baltic blue”, “saddle brown”, black, “Product(Red)” and, best of all, “California poppy”. Because the case is leather, it will change in appearance over time. If you use Apple’s MagSafe charging pad, the imprint of the magnetic circle will become visible eventually. Apple thoughtfully shows what this will look like on its website (hint: it looks fine).

Best: For design

Rating: 7/10

• Shock absorption: Medium

Mujjo’s simple but clever design is excellent, matching strong protection with the usefulness of a rear pouch for cards. The leather-clad buttons are responsive and attractive and the opening for the mute switch, for instance, is shaped to make it especially accessible. A microfibre lining means your phone is gently protected inside and the raised bezel means the screen won’t touch the surface when you put it face down.

Best: Luxury wallet

Rating: 9/10

• Shock absorption: Medium

Lucrin makes the classiest, most attractive leather cases for every model of iPhone. The wallet case holds the iPhone securely in a silicone bumper. There’s room for three credit cards and several notes. A magnetic clip holds it closed securely and other magnets mean it flips back on itself securely when in use, for instance during calls. And there’s the Lucrin range of colours and finishes – as well as smooth leather, there’s granulated, vegetable tanned, crocodile-style calfskin and even real ostrich leather, though this comes in at a pricey £239. The craftsmanship is outstanding.

Best: Clear case

Rating: 7/10

• Shock absorption: Medium

Apple’s clear case feels great in the hand and is completely see-through. Well, except for the ring of magnets which connect to the MagSafe charger. These sit in a ring that perfectly frames the Apple logo. There’s also a small NFC area which tells the iPhone what case you’re using and this sits underneath, like the handle to a magnifying glass.

Best: For versatility

Rating: 7/10

• Shock absorption: Medium

Pipetto’s range includes these “origami” cases, meaning the back folds in different directions, so you can prop up the phone for FaceTime calls or sit it on its side for watching a video. The design is very effective, so that it can even stand the way you want it to when it’s resting on a soft or uneven surface like your bed. It’s also good for shock protection thanks to a solid bumper all the way round. At a time when cleanliness is extra important, this case is made from antimicrobial and antibacterial materials that ensure bacteria can’t make a cosy home on the case. The front sits just proud of the display for extra protection. Choose from dark blue, black or “dusty” pink.

Best: For affordable impact protection

Rating: 6/10

• Shock absorption: High

Gear4 uses a remarkable material called “D3O”, which is a fantastic shock-protection system that adds no bulk or extra weight but works fantastically well. Soft, lightweight and completely pliable in normal use, it reacts to sudden impacts by instantly hardening for a brief period so the energy of the shock is dissipated. The D3O is in the top and bottom edges, plus the corners, and Gear4 says it can survive a drop of 10ft. It comes in a semi-transparent “smoke”, a discreet blue and an eye-popping saffron yellow. It also has antimicrobial properties to protect against bacteria.

Best: For photographers

Rating: 8/10

• Shock absorption: Medium

Moment’s cases have a removable piece – a lens interface – around the iPhone’s camera panel. Without it, it’s just a regular phone case and it works well as that. But with the lens interface in place, it is suddenly compatible with Moment’s range of brilliant lenses, which can transform smartphone photography. Options include telephoto, wide, macro and anamorphic lenses. When you launch the Moment app, the lenses radically change the shots you can take.

Best: Sleeve

Rating: 10/10

• Shock absorption: Medium

This sleeve is a perfect fit, holding the phone securely. Even so, you can still slide the phone out quickly when it rings, for instance. But Lucrin’s range is very wide – there are pouches with pull tags, a card pocket, a protective wallet, a classic back protector and even a belt case. Once you’ve chosen the style, your next task it to pick a colour. There are literally dozens, from the demure to the unmissable. You can also customise the colour of the thread and add a monogram. Not only does Lucrin likely have the kind of case you are after, more or less whatever that might be, but each one is superbly crafted, great-looking and soft to the touch.

Best: Value wallet

Rating: 7/10

• Shock absorption: Medium

Snakehive’s cases are high quality but still more affordable than many of those made by rivals. The soft nubuck leather has a suede feel to it that’s soft to the touch but solid and hard-wearing. The front cover of the wallet is held in place by a magnetic fastening. Inside the wallet, the phone is kept securely in place by a transparent casing that fits snugly. There are also three credit card slots and a side slot for cash. You can personalise it with two initials on the top right corner for an extra fee. Colours include a punchy teal and a slick navy.

Best: For a thin profile

Rating: 8/10

• Shock absorption: Low

Cases don’t come much thinner than this: it clocks in at half a millimetre. It’s like you’re using the iPhone naked, as it were, and it certainly adds no bulk or weight at all. The case doesn’t protect the display, though, so you may feel more at ease if you team it with a screen protector. The minimalist look of the Peel case, with no logo, is very pleasing and it comes in transparent, semi-transparent and opaque finishes. All look great, though the “jet white” colourway gives a cool, glossy finish.

Best: For slim protection

Rating: 7/10

• Shock absorption: Medium

Nudient pulls off an impressive balancing act, matching a slim, light profile with decent protection. It fits very tightly (you won’t want to be popping this on and off on a daily basis) while the finish is smooth and appealing to the touch, without being slippery. It’s not MagSafe but has its own magnet system and accessories, such as a slim credit card holder which attaches to the back more firmly than Apple’s own. There are plenty of colours, including “sangria red”, “misty green”, “sky blue” and an elegant “clay beige”.

Best: Tactile case

Rating: 8/10

• Shock absorption: Medium

This is a sensational transparent case thanks to a highly tactile soft finish, pleasing glossy shine and solid but easily removable design. The case creeps round to the front of the phone to protect the display, but is still very comfortable to use. While it doesn’t have the exceptional protection of cases like the Mous, this is effective at cushioning from impact if you drop the phone. The only downside is that you need to press the cover on the power button very firmly, unlike with Apple’s own cases, for instance.