And the Best iPhone Case is…

If only it were that simple. With so many cases available finding the best iPhone case is a near impossible task, but as so many of you want to know which is the ultimate case to have, I thought I’d spend a bit of time working out just which is the best iPhone case.

It didn’t take me long to realise asking “Which is the best iPhone case?” is like asking “How long is a piece of string?” Speaking to people in the office, it became very clear that everyone looks for something different when it comes to choosing a case for their phone. So for that reason I decided to create a list of the best iPhone case for each of the different styles of case that are available. (Leather Cases, Skins, Heavy Duty, Designer etc…)

Listed below are the cases that I think are the best ones out there for the iPhone. This is based on a number of factors, customer reviews, sales/return rates and value for money. Categorising some of these cases was a bit tricky as some could easily go into multiple categories, so if you disagree with anything here, let me know using the comments form below.

The Best iPhone Leather Flip Case: Noreve Traditional Case for iPhone

Noreve Cases haven’t been around all that long, but are proving to be a very popular case for the iPhone. What I love about them the most is the way that they hold your iPhone securely but without having to slide the phone into a stitched pocket that can sometimes interfere with the light sensors or block the edges of the screen. The Noreve case looks excellent, is made from high quality leather and is surprisingly slim once it’s on your phone.

The Best iPhone Leather Book Style Case: PDair Leather Book Case

PDair are another popular brand of phone case, and this is one of their nicest for the iPhone. It does have a stitched leather pocket that you slide the iPhone into, but PDair have taken time to make sure that it doesn’t block any of the sensors and have kept the ‘straps’ that hold the phone in to a minimum. Unlike some, the pocket doesn’t cover the sides of the screen so using the touch screen is unrestricted. The case also has a Bank /Business Card holder on the inside of the cover which is a nice touch.

The Best iPhone Leather Pouch is: Apple iPhone Carry Pouch

This is the cheapest case on the list, and while it may not have the same designer styling of a Noreve or PDair case, it’s a great value case that protects all of your phone. It has stitched in belt loops, so if you want to carry your phone on your belt or bag strap you can, with no chance that the case can fall off. It has a velveteen lining that helps keep your iPhone fingerprint free.

The Best iPhone Skins are: Gelaskins

The term ‘Skins’ is a bit vague as there are a number of case styles that could be classed as a skin. For the purpose of this post I’m classing a skin as a sticker or film covering that protects some or all of the iPhone. Gelaskins are precision cut vinyl stickers that cover the back and sides of your phone. Gelaskins are more about personalising your phone than they are protecting it as they leave the corners exposed and don’t really offer any protection against knocks and drops, but they will stop the back of your phone getting scratched. To get the full effect, you can download a matching wallpaper to your phone using the Gelaskins iPhone app free of charge.

The Best iPhone Silicone / Gel Case is: SwitchEasy Capsule Rebel Case for iPhone

SwitchEasy Rebel Cases are great – and you don’t need to take my word for it, a quick search online will bring up a number of glowing reviews for this range of cases.

They’re made up of 2 parts, a soft silicone skin that absorbs minor knocks and bumps and a hard plastic ‘spine’ that protects the corners and back of your phone against damage. The case leaves all your buttons accessible and comes with a rubber seal for the dock connector that stops it getting clogged up with dirt and dust.They’re available in a range of colours and you can mix and match the skins and spines to really make your iPhone stand out.

SwitchEasy Cases also include 2 screen protectors to look after your display, a small stand to hold your phone in landscape mode (perfect for videos), an Apple universal dock adapter plate (so you can dock your phone without removing the case and a cleaning cloth.

The Best iPhone Hard Case: Seidio iPhone Innocase II Surface

The Seidio range of iPhone cases are tough, polycarbonate shells that cover the back and sides of your iPhone. I’ve voted these the best hard case as they are such a good fit to the phone and don’t block access to any of the buttons or connections on the phone. This style of case are usually made up of a front and back cover but I’ve always found that they tend to come apart easily when your phone is dropped. Seidio cases slide onto your iPhone from the top and bottom and there is little/no chance of it coming off when your phone is dropped. If you use an iPhone Dock, the bottom cover comes off quickly for charging, and if you only use the charging cable, then you won’t need to remove it at all.

The Best iPhone Heavy Duty Case is: OtterBox For iPhone Defender Series

I’ve seen hundreds of iPhone cases in my time, but this has to be one of the most robust one’s I’ve come across. Fitting it does take a little bit of time as it’s made up of several layers. Firstly there’s a thin membrane that protects and covers your screen, then there’s the tough ABS plastic Shell, and on top of that goes the soft touch, energy absorbing Silicone Skin. It comes with a belt hoslter that holds the iPhone securely with the screen facing in for the best protection possible. It does add some bulk to your phone so don’t expect to be carrying it around in the back pocket of your jeans, but if you work in a rough environment this will be the best purchase you can make for your phone.

The Best iPhone Designer Case is: Knomo Sleeve for iPhone

Knomo make wonderful luxury cases and bags for phones and laptops. All of their products are simply styled, made from the best possible materials and look great. The Knomo Sleeve for iPhone has a soft velveteen lining and a high grade leather exterior. It leaves your volume, silent and sleep buttons accessible while providing protection for the rest of the phone.

The Best iPhone Back Plates are: CaseMate Barely There

Back Plates are incredibly popular especially on touch screen phones as they attach to your phone securely, but don’t cover up any of the front of the phone. The CaseMate Barely There Chrome cover is a great way to give your phone a bit of a make over. It’s a high gloss chrome effect back cover, with a mirrored screen protector for front of the phone. Once fitted they completely transform the look of your iPhone.

The Best iPhone Sports Case is: XtremeMac Sportwrap Armband Case for Apple iPhone

There are loads of sports armbands out there for the iPhone and some are pretty awful. This one though is superb. It’s made using Lycra and Neoprene, is fully adjustable and is extremely comfortable to wear. The plastic window doesn’t interfere with using the touch screen and has an anti glare coating that makes it easier to see in direct sunlight. It will work with both the iPhone and the iPod touch and even has a storage area for your headphones.

The Best iPhone Travel Case is: SeatBuddy for iPhone

If you’re a regular traveller on planes or trains and enjoy watching films or TV shows on your iPhone then this is a must have. SeatBuddy is a unique new way to hold your phone when you’re on your travels. It has two flexible rubber straps that can be tucked into the fold down tray in seat backs or wrapped around headrests in cars. It’s a great little invention that means you can sit back in your chair and enjoy a film without the arm ache usually associated with holding your iPhone to watch videos.

The Best iPhone Slip Pouch is: Beyza SlimLine Vertical Leather Case

Slim touchscreen phones such as the iPhone are well suited to slip pouches, as their lack of physical buttons makes it much easier for them to slide in and out of. The Beyza Slimline vertical case gets my vote for this category mainly because of it’s size. It’s about as close to the size of the iPhone as you can get and adds very little to the size and weight of the phone. I’m forever wiping fingerprints off my iPhone and found that the combination of a neat fit and a microfibre lining on the case kept my iPhone clean and smudge free.

The Best iPhone Charging Case: iPhone Charging Leather Flip Case

If you forget to put your phone on charge at night, you could easily run out of battery the next day. A number of cases have started to appear that have a built in battery and these are a great way to make sure you don’t get caught short. They vary in style considerably though, from backplates with batteries in right through to leather flip cases. Of all of them, I prefer the Leather Flip Case At first glance ir doesn’t look like you’ve got an extra battery attached to your phone, and unlike some, the extra size and weight that it adds is minimal. Best of all, it gives me an extra 4 hours talktime and 36 more hours of listening to my music before I need to recharge.

Best iPhone Case overall?

This is a tough one. Each of the cases listed above are great for their own reasons, but for me I think the case that protects the phone the most, while keeping it easily accessible and not interfering with the touch screen or any of the buttons on the phone is the SwitchEasy Rebel. There are a number of reasons why I’d go for this one; the number of extra’s in the box, the fact that you can mix and match when you’ve got 2 or more cases and of course the protection that it offers for the phone. Considering the price, it’s great value too – especially when you consider that a screen protector on it’s own could cost you the same amount.