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The Best iPhone 12 Pro Max Cases

 & Chandra Steele Senior Features Writer

Our team tests, rates, and reviews more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.

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The iPhone 12 Pro Max is the most iPhone you can get for your money.

It takes the features of the iPhone 12 Pro, like three lenses and a LiDAR scanner, and puts them in a package that measures 6.3 by 3.1 by 0.3 inches (HWD) and weighs 8 ounces. It also has the largest display ever on an iPhone with a 6.7-inch panel.

It's accordingly priced more than other iPhones, at $1,099 for 128GB, $1,199 for 256GB, and $1,399 for 512GB. It makes sense to spend a bit extra for a case to protect your investment. We've got a few that should cover whatever scenario you and your iPhone 12 Pro Max find yourselves in.


Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max Leather Case with MagSafe (for iPhone 12 Pro)

Make your MagSafe experience as smooth as possible with Apple's own leather case. It comes in five colors, including this one, which is called California Poppy.

Bandolier Donna Side Slot Crossbody (for iPhone 12 Pro Max)

Your phone is your most constant companion, so make sure it never leaves your side with the Bandolier Donna Side Slot Crossbody. It's especially useful for errands where you just need your phone and a bit of cash.

Case-Mate Karat Marble (for iPhone 12 Pro Max)

Can't decide between a case that features the luxe look of marble or the glint of gold? The Case-Mate Karat Marble has them both. You don't have to think about drops either since it protects your phone from falls up to 10 feet.

Case-Mate Pelican Protector Sling (for iPhone 12 Pro Max)

Pelican products are created with protection in mind, and it's no different with the Pelican Protector Sling. Its angled edges and rubber lining work together to deflect the impact of drops, while a strap lets you hold onto it tightly from your hand or wrist.

Flaunt Opal Shell Square Case (for iPhone 12 Pro Max)

With its opalescent design, this Flaunt case is really living up to its name. The unique square corners provide extra cushioning at a common impact point, too.

Incipio Stashback Case (for iPhone 12 Pro Max)

Secret compartments are fun. If you want to get that feeling with your phone and, fine, some functionality, too, the Incipio Stashback is an ideal choice. It's got a slideout compartment that holds up to three cards, and a raised bezel to protect your screen, plus antimicrobial protection.

Moshi Altra Slim Hardshell Case With Strap (for iPhone 12 Pro Max)

The Moshi Altra Slim Hardshell Case With Strap is for those whose phones are never far from their hands (though that's all of us). When you do let go of it, there's a line of SnapTo products to hold the case on a car dash or a wall, and you can even snap a card holder to the back.

Nomad Rugged Case (for iPhone 12 Pro Max)

The Nomad Rugged Case offers a handsome Horween leather case and MagSafe compatibility. This iteration of the case also has a shock-absorbent bumper inside and outside.

OtterBox Aneu Series (for iPhone 12 Pro Max)

Despite its slim frame, the MagSafe-compatible OtterBox Aneu still has the rugged features the case maker is known for, like impact-resistance and raised edges around the screen and cameras.

Sonix Brown Tort MagSafe Compatible Case (for iPhone 12 Pro Max)

Tortoiseshell is a design classic, and Sonix somehow makes it look even better on this case. It will keep your phone safe from some serious falls and its surface won't pick up germs thanks to an embedded antimicrobial agent.

Speck Presidio Case (for iPhone 12 Pro Max)

With a new Space Jam on the way, everyone is going to be a hoops fan soon. Get ahead of them with the Speck Presidio in the pattern Off the Court. If you wear it to a pickup game, your phone should survive drops of 13 feet. And if you can jump that high, look into NBA tryouts.

Tech21 Eco Art Case (for iPhone 12 Pro Max)

You might not own an Italian villa with terazzo floors, but you can appreciate the aesthetic with the Tech21 Eco Art Case. Speaking of floors, your phone probably will hit a few, but this case should keep them safe from drops of 10 feet or less. When you move on to a new phone, the case is biodegradable.

Totallee Case (for iPhone 12 Pro Max)

The iPhone 12 Pro Max is already a behemoth of a phone. So if you don't want to add too much bulk, consider this case from Totallee. It's the thinnest you can get.

UAG Pathfinder Series Case (for iPhone Pro Max)

Urban Armor Gear cases can withstand a lot, and the Pathfinder Series is particularly rugged. If you and your phone like weekend "hikes" that are more like mountain climbs, this could be the case for you.

About Our Expert

Chandra Steele

Chandra Steele

Senior Features Writer

My Experience

My title is Senior Features Writer, which is a license to write about absolutely anything if I can connect it to technology (I can). I’ve been at PCMag since 2011 and have covered the surveillance state, vaccination cards, ghost guns, voting, ISIS, art, fashion, film, design, gender bias, and more. You might have seen me on TV talking about these topics or heard me on your commute home on the radio or a podcast. Or maybe you’ve just seen my Bernie meme

I strive to explain topics that you might come across in the news but not fully understand, such as NFTs and meme stocks. I’ve had the pleasure of talking tech with Jeff Goldblum, Ang Lee, and other celebrities who have brought a different perspective to it. I put great care into writing gift guides and am always touched by the notes I get from people who’ve used them to choose presents that have been well-received. Though I love that I get to write about the tech industry every day, it’s touched by gender, racial, and socioeconomic inequality and I try to bring these topics to light. 

Outside of PCMag, I write fiction, poetry, humor, and essays on culture.

My Areas of Expertise

  • Making incomprehensible tech news easy to understand
  • Expanding the boundaries of topics covered in the industry
  • Figuring out tips and tricks in apps and on devices and letting you know about them
  • Putting together gift guides for everyone in your life 

The Technology I Use

All that gadgets is gold for me: my iPhone 11 Pro, my fifth-generation iPad that I use only for streaming videos and music, my iPad mini 4 that I like to take with me whenever I carry a bag that can fit it, and my MacBook Pro. Why are they all different shades of gold, though? What’s going on, Apple? 

None of them quite live up to my two past loves: my LG Lotus LX600 phone and my Sony Walkman NW-E005 MP3 player. 

I've never given up wired earbuds so I was ahead of all those trend pieces. I use a Mangotek Lightning-to-3.5mm headphone jack adapter to connect them to my phone. 

I have had so many ebook readers, but I prefer paper to them all. Still, my Kindle Paperwhite is perfect for traveling or when I’m too impatient to wait for a book to be released in paperback.

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