Choosing a phone case: MagSafe, book case or drop protection

Back cover, book case or sturdy case

• Back cover: the case wraps the back and sides. It is thin, and the phone stays much as it was. Versions come in silicone, TPU (soft plastic), hard plastic or leather.
• Book case: a flap that folds over the screen, often with slots for cards and a stand for watching video. dbramante1928 makes them in leather, for example, such as the Lynge Bookcase for the iPhone 17.
• Sturdy case: a thicker edge, raised rims around the screen and camera, and sometimes an extra inner layer. Examples are the OtterBox Defender and the UAG Trooper.

MagSafe and Qi2: magnets in the case

According to Apple, the iPhone 12 and later models have a ring of magnets in their back: MagSafe. The iPhone 16e is an exception: Apple lists it as a Qi phone without MagSafe. Chargers, car mounts and card holders snap onto it and line up straight away. An ordinary case sits in between and weakens that. A MagSafe case has its own magnet ring, so accessories keep sticking. Apple makes some itself, such as the MagSafe case for the iPhone Air.

Qi2 is the standard of the Wireless Power Consortium, the organisation behind wireless charging. Qi2 adds the same kind of magnetic alignment to the Qi standard, Android phones included. In product names it appears as "Compatible with MagSafe / Qi2", as with the Spigen Thin Fit MagFit and the OtterBox React. Samsung calls its own version "Magnet Case", such as the Clear Magnet Case for the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

If your phone has no magnets itself, a case with a magnet ring still lets you use those holders and chargers. dbramante1928 lists Qi2 for the Greenland Pro for the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Drop protection: read the claim

Many sturdy cases state a drop height or "MIL-STD-810G". Those figures come from the maker itself. Rhinoshield gives 3.5 metres for the SolidX, Dux Ducis 1.2 metres for the Aimo. MIL-STD-810G is a test standard of the US Department of Defense that describes how to test equipment, including with shocks and drops. Version 810G dates from 2008; the newer version 810H has existed since January 2019. It is not a mark anyone awards: the maker chooses which test to run and sometimes has a lab measure it. Ringke, for example, names method 516.6 for the Onyx Alpha Magnetic.

What you can see for yourself is whether the rim stands slightly proud of the screen and the camera. If the phone lands flat, that rim hits the ground first.

Book cases: cards and magnets

A book case with card slots, such as the Spigen Wallet S Plus or the Ringke Folio Wallet Magnetic, replaces a wallet. Two things to watch. Apple advises against putting cards between the iPhone and a MagSafe charger, as the magnets can damage a card's magnetic strip. And wireless charging usually works through the back of a book case, but cards between the phone and the charger can get in the way.

A flap with a magnetic clasp keeps the case shut. On some models the flap also works as a stand; the specifications say whether it does. Hama makes book cases too, such as the Daily Protect booklet for the Pixel 10.

Material and grip

Silicone feels soft and grips well, TPU is a little firmer and often clear, hard plastic is thin and smooth. Leather changes colour over time. If you want to show off your phone, a clear case such as the Samsung Clear Case is an option. Every model is under phone cases, with prices from several shops.