The best cases we’ve tried for the new iPhone 16e

When it comes to cases that are precision-engineered for durability, we love the look and feel of the designs from Mous. They’re shockproof and robust, with a soft microfibre lining, excellent buttons, and raised corners around the display to protect the most vulnerable parts of the iPhone 16e. These cases are made with grippy materials on the sides, and side eyelets if you want to attach a wrist strap.

They come in a range of designs, like carbon fibre, walnut and black leather, but there are fewer options here than on the main Mous iPhone 16 range. This case may be a little pricier than some, but it’s worth it for the protective design. We also like how it has reliable MagSafe functionality, making it easy to connect to compatible wireless chargers, power banks and accessories.

Apple makes its silicone cases for the iPhone 16e in five different colours – fuschia, white, black, green, or blue – and they all pair well with the shades of the phone. They’re gripping and comfortable to hold, with decent protection and clicky buttons.

As this case comes directly from Apple, it fits perfectly, but there are a couple of downsides worth noting. It has no ring of magnets to restore the MagSafe functionality missing from the phone, and the silicone material ends up being a bit of dust and lint magnet, whether you’re carrying your phone in a bag or pocket.

We love the huge range of fun designs available from the Casetify site, including those made in collaboration with artists, ones that are subtle and discreet, or loud and attention-grabbing. We tested out a lovely floral case, along with a personalised one, as Casetify also offers you the ability to put your initials on a case, which may make them perfect as gifts.

For the other iPhone 16 cases, Casetify sells them in alternate styles with reinforced corners, but its iPhone 16e models are just made in the standard “Impact” design. This is still good for protection, with 2.5-metre drop protection, protection around the screen and camera, and shockproof materials. These cases also come with reliable magnets to restore MagSafe compatibility to the iPhone 16e.

The style of this case is perhaps a little bulkier than we’d usually pick, but it feels very sturdy in use, and we like the chunky buttons that feel very tactile. It also has built-in MagSafe magnets, in a way that the ring also doubles as a built-in phone stand. This makes it an ideal pick for a frequent traveller, who might want to prop up the case to watch films and shows on their journey, or for a FaceTime video call.

It is very pricey for a phone case, so you’d have to be sure you want to invest. We like how parts of the case are clear, to show off the colour of the phone, but that it’s also got a grippable surface all around the edges. UAG says it's been tested for drop protection from a six-metre height, and the sculpted corners provide extra impact resistance.

The clear Mous case, “Clarity”, offers many of the same protective benefits as the main “Limitless” design from the brand. That means it has grippy sides, tactile buttons, raised edges, reinforced corners and shockproof lining around the edges. It doesn’t have the microfibre lining, of course, because it has a transparent back, to show off your iPhone 16e’s design.

We’re fans of the slim design and durability benefits. The corners and camera housing feel sheltered from bumps and scratches. It is a shame it can’t be fully clear and features black detailing around the edges, but it’s a tradeoff that’s worth it for robust drop protection.

This case is the best we’ve tried for slipping on and off the phone, as it’s made from a flexible material that still fits the iPhone 16e perfectly. With its chunky, squared-off edges and lanyard eyelets on either side, it’s made to be a portable and rugged design.

UAG says it delivers “military standard” drop-test performance, and it comes with a “MIL STD 810G-516.6” rating, which we’ve learned means that it’s survived a test of 26 drops, on all sides.

We like the MagSafe compatibility of this case, and its magnets are strong for attaching the phone to all sorts of wireless chargers, power banks, stands and accessories. It also has raised protection for the rear camera, a lip around the display to keep all edges safe, and clicky buttons.

Burga’s cases are great if the style of the case is important to you, and you want it to stand out and complement other accessories. These cases are available in lovely prints and artistic designs, with hundreds of options on Burga’s site. You can also match them to other items from Burga, so you could create a coordinating look with an iPad case, MacBook case and ring grip that all feature the same design.

While there are a lot of different case patterns, the construction of Burga’s “Tough” case is a little different. These cases are made in a two-layer style, with a soft silicone interior and a fully removable hard shell exterior. We’re not quite sure why the case isn’t all one piece. They’re lacking a button over the action button too, instead having a cutout, and there are no magnets for MagSafe support. The case does have raised bezels to protect the screen and camera, though.