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These are the coolest cases you'll find for the Apple iPhone 5s. And they're all compatible with the iPhone 5 too.
ByWendy Sheehan Donnell Wendy Sheehan Donnell Editor-in-Chief, PCMag / VP of Content, Ziff Davis My Experience I'm the Editor-in-Chief of PCMag.com and the Vice President of Content for Ziff Davis, overseeing the editorial operations of PCMag and ExtremeTech.com, steering reviews and product coverage, news and features, and service journalism across the sites. Back when the first iPhone was released, I started at PCMag as a senior editor covering consumer electronics and mobile reviews. After that, I went on to head up the reviews team as executive editor. And most recently I served as deputy editor, managing PCMag's editorial team and day-to-day operations. I've covered more product releases and have edited more reviews, roundups, and buying guides than any human reasonably should, each and every one contributing to the noble pursuit of helping you find the right technology to fit your life. Read Full Bio &Eugene Kim
December 8, 2015
Though Apple has since moved on to the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6s, the iPhone 5s remains a solid smartphone that should appeal to those who want a smaller device. You get a still-speedy 64-bit A7 CPU with motion coprocessor, Touch ID fingerprint sensor, and an improved camera with a larger image sensor and aperture, dual LED flash, and burst shooting capability.
The design of the phone itself, however, remains largely unchanged from the slick aluminum iPhone 5. The screen, body dimensions, and overall look are pretty much the same.
If you forgo the iPhone 6 and are upgrading from an iPhone 5 to a 5s, your case should work with your new phone without issue as long as it doesn't cover the Home button (if you want to use Touch ID), and has a large-enough camera cut-out to accommodate the additional LED flash (most do). But if you're still carrying an iPhone 4s, there's a whole new world of cases available to add flair, personality, and most importantly, protection to your new iPhone.
We've done our best to round up the coolest iPhone 5s cases we've seen. Our selections span from inexpensive, unassuming transparent plastic cases that simply increase durability, to hand-carved wood cases that add a feeling of luxury to an already-luxurious phone.
We see new cases all the time (so we update this story often), but for now, here are our top picks for cases for your new iPhone 5s. And if you still have an iPhone 5, these will work too.
Have an iPhone 5c? Check out The Best iPhone 5c Cases. And if you're thinking about thinking about an even bigger upgrade, take a look at The Best iPhone 6s and iPhone 6 Cases
1.Belkin Ease-Fit Armband
If your iPhone doubles as your workout buddy, Belkin's Ease-Fit Armband will keep it safely at your side while you run, climb, lift, or, well, move. The armband itself is adjustable for a tight fit, but it's constructed from water-resistant material for moisture protection. It's also hand washable, should you need to de-sweatify it from time to time. The otherwise-similar Ease-Fit Plus integrates a key pocket for $10 more.
2.Belkin LEGO Builder Case
One of the most fun cases we've seen, Belkin's LEGO Builder Case turns your iPhone 5 or 5s into a canvas for building projects. The back panel of the case is a giant plastic LEGO, letting you attach standard LEGO bricks. Even if you don't build anything, the case itself offers a playful look, comes in three color combos (blue/black, blue/violet, and blue/red/yellow—pictured here), but still provides substantial protection with a raised front screen lip.
3.Belkin View
Belkin's View Case lets you show off the iPhone's sleek design, both front and back. A transparent polycarbonate panel with camera cutouts keeps your phone's backside (and Apple logo) in the picture, but still keeps it protected. A flexible, rubberized band wraps around the phone's edges and extends slightly over the screen to protect it. The band comes in black, white, or four other bright colors, like "Fresh," which is pictured here.
4.Boxwave Keyboard Buddy Backlit Edition
iMessage like a maniac? Abhor your on-screen keyboard? Wrap this case around your iPhone, and you've got a slide-out Bluetooth QWERTY hardware keyboard. The metallic, snap-on Keyboard Buddy isn't the slimmest case around, but you're getting five rows of raised, backlighted physical keys. Boxwave estimates a two-week battery life, and a micro USB cable is included for charging.
5.Case-Mate Pop! Case With Stand
Available in 11 fun color combos, the durable Pop Case With Stand has a thick lip to help safeguard your screen, and grippy texture on its sides, so your iPhone is easy to grab. The marquee feature, though, is a small kickstand that lets you prop the phone in either landscape or portrait orientation for movie watching, FaceTiming, or gaming.
6.Cygnett Lavish
One of a few genuine leather cases we found, the Lavish resembles an old-school reporters notebook. Flip it open, and there's your iPhone 5s, ready for action. The vertical-oriented, snap-in case features a magnetic closure and comes in black with a gray lining, or blue with a red lining (pictured here).
7.Cygnett Workmate Evolution
Cygnett's spiffy Workmate Evolution marries silicone, TPU, and rubberized corners for added durability and extra grip. Choose from all-black, or black with a blue, orange, red, or yellow back panel.
8.Dodocase iPhone Durables Wallet
Dodocase's iPhone Wallet is really more sleeve than traditional wallet. This handcrafted case provides a soft, cotton-lined pocket (in bright orange!) for your iPhone as it moves from place to place. The tan canvas exterior contains a mahogany leather wrap-around that adds a pocket on either side for cash, cards, and whatever else fits.
9.Griffin Reveal
If you can't bear case bulk and want to keep your iPhone's look intact, give the Griffin Reveal a try. It's a simple $20 transparent polycarbonate shell with a rubber surround that comes in seven colors.
10.Griffin Survivor
If you're rough on your electronics—or you plan on taking your iPhone 5s into active combat—Griffin's Survivor will keep it safe from dirt, sand, rain, shock, vibration, and more. Far from svelte, the Survivor consists of a polycarbonate frame wrapped in rugged, shock-absorbing silicone with a rigid, integrated screen protector and a removable belt clip. It's tested to meet the same standards the U.S. Department of Defense uses for its military equipment. You probably won't need that much protection, but with the Survivor, you've got it—in 15 color combos including two camouflage designs.
11.Grovemade Bamboo iPhone Case
The Bamboo iPhone Case is a simple, yet solid case made with renewable, hand-sanded bamboo. Choose from a black or white bezel to match your iPhone, and complete the classy look.
12.Hard Candy Neon Bubble
Want to add the bright colors of the iPhone 5c to your iPhone 5 or 5s? Check out Hard Candy's Neon Bubble . Available in blue, green, red, or orange, this cute, two-piece polycarbonate case features a semi-translucent dot pattern, and integrates a rubber liner for extra protection and flexibility.
13.Hex Stealth
This simple, minimal plastic case slyly hides a shielded internal compartment for your RFID-enabled credit cards. The result? You can just hold the case up to tap-to-pay devices and speed through checkout lines and subway turnstiles. Don't have any RFID cards yet? You can use the compartment inside the Stealth for your ID, cash stash, or anything else that will fit. The case comes in black or white with open side and top panels that let you easily access the iPhone's buttons.
14.iLuv Aurora
The stand-out feature of the iLuv Aurora is nothing more than it glows in the dark. If that's what you're into, the soft, flexible, grippy case has a padded interior and comes in three color combos including pink/light blue, white/light blue, and green/black (pictured).
15.Incipio Kicksnap
Incipio's rigid Kicksnap will keep your iPhone 5s safe, even covering its buttons. A kickstand around back pops out to prop your phone up for movies, video calls, or anything else that requires it to stand in either landscape or portrait mode. Besides the white/gray combo shown here, there's an all-black Kicksnap too.
16.Incipio LGND Premium Hard Shell Folio
Providing 100 percent coverage, the Incipio LGND is a folio-style case that encases your iPhone in either brown or black "vegan" (read: synthetic) leather. The textured front panel flips backward to prop your phone up at various angles for hands-free viewing.
17.Incipio Stashback
The Incipio Stashback flips open to reveal a secret slot that discreetly stashes up to three credit cards or IDs. The flip-up door also allows you to dock your iPhone without having to fully remove the case. The Stash, available in nine color combinations, is built from rigid "plextonium" and is lined with a soft shell for maximum impact resistance. You also get a clear screen protector in the package.
18.Joy Factory BubbleShield
H2O and delicate electronic circuitry don't mix, but the great (wet) outdoors provides some of the best photo and video ops. The Joy Factory BubbleShield pouch is designed to keep your iPhone (or any phone smaller than 5.1 by 2.7 by .39 inches) safe from moisture, while still allowing you to use its touch screen and camera. You can't keep your phone underwater indefinitely, but the pouch is IPX5-rated to protect against spills and brief submersion. Each pouch is reusable and you get five of them for $20. A small investment to keep your pricey new iPhone safe from the elements.
19.Kensington Portafolio Duo Wallet
Hence the name, Kensington's Portafolio Duo Walletis part wallet, part folio. You get slots for your ID, credit cards, and cash, along with a front panel that protects your screen when the phone isn't in use, but flips to create a stand that works in vertical and horizontal orientations. The case, which is crafted from leather-look material, is available in red, orange, or brown.
20.LifeProof frē
If you need an iPhone case you can beat the hell out of, but don't want to add the sheer girth that comes with, say, an Otterbox case, give the LifeProof frē a look. This tough case keeps your phone safe from water, dirt, snow, and shock, and while it's not thin, it adds less bulk than most other ruggedized cases. And it comes in 10 colors.
21.Luvvitt Clearview
One of the few cases that really lets the iPhone's minimal design shine through, Luvvitt's Clearview case is fully transparent with a hard, clear, scratch resistant back and flexible shock-resistant TPU sides that provide a nice thick lip to protect your screen from impact. If you're not for all clear, you can opt for a clear back with either black, blue, or pink sides.
22.Madewell Leather Wallet Case
The folks at Madewell bring you this classy, leather wallet case for your iPhone. Instead of a folio-style flap, Madewell puts the wallet flap on the back of the case, leaving your screen accessible at all times.
23.Miniot Book
Made in Holland, the Miniot Book is a slick wood folio for your iPhone 5/5s. This meticulously crafted case is carved from either wenge or walnut, each of which is accented by maple. A contrasting suede lining keeps your phone cushioned and magnets keep the cover intact when the folio is closed. At about 200 U.S. dollars, the Book costs almost as much as your on-contract 16GB iPhone 5s, but this case screams luxury. You can also engrave your initials or or a personal two-line message for free.
24.Mophie Juice Pack Helium
($59.95 at Amazon)
Love your iPhone, but scrambling for a power outlet by midday? One of the first battery cases with the Lightning connector to hit the market, Mophie's Juice Pack Helium ($59.95 at Amazon) , our Editors' Choice, sets the bar high, with a sleek, lightweight design that delivers hours of added talk time.
25.Mujjo iPhone 5 Sleeve
Straight out of Holland, newcomer Mujjo handcrafts leather accessories for your gadgets. For the iPhone 5s, this simple sleeve is sewn from top-grain, vegetable-tanned brown leather for a classy, minimalist look.
26.Otterbox Defender Series
Know for its tough-as-nails cases, Otterbox offers up four new ruggedized case lines for the latest iPhone. The top-of-the-line Defender Series will add some serious bulk to your svelte iPhone, but you get maximum protection from rubber-wrapped polycarbonate complete with an integrated screen protector and belt clip. Button covers and port doors block dust, and there's a cutout on the back panel for your phone's Apple logo. The Defender comes in eight color combos, plus a camouflage design that will cost you an extra $10.
27.Otterbox Symmetry
Otterbox has long been known for protection, but its latest Symmetry series focuses on adding some style to the equation. Offered in 28 playful, colorful new patterns, the Symmetry is a great choice for the style-conscious klutz.
28.Poetic Atmosphere
If you balk at blocking out your iPhone's beautiful design with a case that covers it up, the Poetic Atmosphere is durable, yet transparent, so all that gorgeous Apple design goodness shines through. You can choose from gray, red, or yellow accents.
29.Quirky Crossover
Not like your typical case, the Crossover from Quirky consists of two silicone straps that, hence the name, criss cross to create a shield to cover the back panel of your iPhone 5/5s. The straps connect to the corners of the phone, providing protection for all four while keeping your screen safe from impact. Choose among 12 colors to customize the color of each strap, and then slide your credit cards, ID, cash stash, or other small items under the straps so you can leave your wallet at home.
30.Scosche Reqkase Lightweight Bike Mount
With that new motion coprocessor and fitness and GPS tracking apps aplenty, your iPhone can make an ideal companion for a bike ride. Scosche's Reqkase is a mount that puts your phone front and center as you navigate the streets or trails on two wheels. The black silicone case integrates an adjustable strap with aluminum notches to mount the phone horizontally or vertically and fit any handlebar size. Just be sure to keep your eyes on the road, so you—and your iPhone—don't end up taking a spill.
31.SkinIt iPhone LeNu Case
Inject a little bit of your personality into your iPhone 5s with SkinIt. The LeNu case is simple, slim-line plastic, but you can choose from hundreds of designs in categories that include sports teams, colleges, art, photography, entertainment, animals, humor, and more. (To show you how vast the catalog is: There are 20 different Hello Kitty designs alone!) Even better, upload your own photo and the company will make a custom case for you. You can also put any design (including your own) on a vinyl skin that coats your iPhone for about $15.
32.Speck CandyShell
With its CandyShell , Speck joins a soft rubberized inner layer and a glossy hard plastic outer layer to provide a little style with a dash of safety for your iPhone. The CandyShell comes in 14 bright color combinations, each with a raised screen lip and rubberized button covers.
33.Speck CandyShell Grip
Taking the CandyShell a step further, the CandyShell Grip integrates textured, rubberized finger grips that add a fun pattern to the case, and also make your phone easier to grab. The CandyShell Grip comes in five color combinations, and Speck provides a one-year warranty on all of the cases it makes.
34.Speck CandyShell + Faceplate
The latest evolution in the CandyShell line, the CandyShell + Faceplate steps up the level of protection without adding unnecessary bulk. This Speck case is the first to meet military standards for drop protection. The faceplate protects the iPhone's screen from scratches, but leaves an opening for access to the new Touch ID fingerprint sensor.
35.Spigen Slim Armor
If you're seeking protection for your iPhone, but with a more sophisticated design, look no further than Spigen. The Slim Armor is a two-piece case that manages to stay fairly thin while wrapping your phone in rubbery, shock-absorbent TPU, and then layering a ribbon of polycarbonate. This creates a spiffy two-toned back panel that mimics the iPhone 5's design. Three metallic color combos add flair to both the black and white iPhone.
36.Tech21 Impact Band
Tech21's good-looking Impact Band is a transparent, but protective cocoon for your iPhone 5 or 5s. But what makes this case different is a back panel that's removable for when you want a slimmer profile. Choose from blue, orange, or pink bumper colors.
37.Truffol Signature Minimalist
True to its name, the Truffol Signature Minimalist offers sleek, unadorned protection for your iPhone. Crafted from anodized aluminum, the Minimalist complements the design of the iPhone very nicely.
38.Tylt Energi Sliding Power Case
The Tylt Energi Sliding Power Case is a battery case that adds more than 8 hours of talk time to your iPhone 5 or 5s when you need it, and a slim protective case when you don't.
39.X-Doria Defense 720°
The worst part about those sticky screen protector films are the pesky bubbles you can never, ever get out. With its Defense 720° X-Doria forgoes the film for a hard plastic insert, that despite its rigidity, allows full use of your iPhone 5s touch screen and fingerprint sensor. The screen cover portion of the case slides into a flexible, plastic frame with accents that come in black, blue, or purple to provide all-around phone protection.
40.Zagg Arsenal
The makers of the Invisible Shield want to wrap that protection around the whole of your iPhone 5s. The Arsenal includes screen protection, but also cushions your handset with a soft inner casing, while providing a hard-as-nails outer shell for protection from impact and spills. The Arsenal adds less bulk than many rugged cases and comes in six colors.
41.Zagg Invisible Shield
If want protection, but can't bear to defile the iPhone's design with an actual add-on case, Zagg's Invisible Shield is for you. It's a durable, flexible clear material that adheres to the surfaces of your phone to make it more grippable and protect it from scratches, dings, and other damage. According to Zagg, the Invisible Shield had its origins in the military, where it was used to protect helicopter blades from dust and debris.
You can choose from four levels of protection that include Original (Military-Grade Scratch Protection), Smudge-Proof (Fingerprint Resistance), Hi-Definition (Advanced Clarity and Glass-like Surface), and Extreme (Break Protection and Shock Resistance). And you can opt to cover the iPhone's front, back, and sides, just the front and back, or just the front. There's also a lifetime guarantee: If the Invisible Shield ever becomes scratched, torn, or damaged, Zagg will replace it for free.
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I'm the Editor-in-Chief of PCMag.com and the Vice President of Content for Ziff Davis, overseeing the editorial operations of PCMag and ExtremeTech.com, steering reviews and product coverage, news and features, and service journalism across the sites.
Back when the first iPhone was released, I started at PCMag as a senior editor covering consumer electronics and mobile reviews. After that, I went on to head up the reviews team as executive editor. And most recently I served as deputy editor, managing PCMag's editorial team and day-to-day operations. I've covered more product releases and have edited more reviews, roundups, and buying guides than any human reasonably should, each and every one contributing to the noble pursuit of helping you find the right technology to fit your life.
Before joining PCMag, I was the managing editor of Computer Shopper. I earned my master's degree in magazine journalism from New York University. (Nope, the irony of witnessing the deaths of both of the print magazines I've managed is not lost on me.)
Though I rarely have the opportunity to write these days, I still crave the rush that comes from crafting the perfect headline and enjoy nothing more than a spirited AP Style debate.
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About Eugene Kim
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Before joining the consumer electronics team at PCMag, Eugene worked at local news station NY1 doing everything from camera work to writing scripts. He grew up in Montclair, New Jersey and graduated from the University of Virginia in 2010. Outside of work Eugene enjoys TV, loud music, and making generally healthy and responsible life choices.
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