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The Best iPhone SE 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 SE is back back back again. It borrows an A15 chip from the iPhone 13 and has an upgraded camera system that allows for Smart HDR 4, Photographic Styles, Deep Fusion, and Portrait mode. It also has 5G and runs iOS 15.

As for what's familiar, there's the phone's style itself, which looks the same as the 2020 model. That means it still rocks a Home button and Touch ID.

Best of all, the new iPhone SE starts at just $429, making it a truly midrange iPhone. To protect your rare possession of an affordable iPhone, you're going to want a case. We selected more than a dozen, from barely-there thin plastic to rugged outdoorsy cases, a combination wallet, and even a selfie case with integrated LED lighting. One of these is sure to cover your needs. 

BodyGuardz Trainr Pro (iPhone SE)

If your iPhone SE is your workout buddy, put it in a BodyGuardz Trainr Pro Case. The case itself is made from shock-absorbing thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), and the accompanying armband attaches easily.

Case-Mate LuMee Selfie Original (iPhone SE)

Whether you're video chatting or taking selfies, the Case-Mate LuMee Selfie Original guarantees that you look good without having to worry about a lighting setup. As for keeping your phone looking its best, the case is durable and has a raised bezel.

Casetify PP-0008 (iPhone SE)

Whether or not you and your phone are traveling the world, you'll look like it with the Casetify PP-0008 that's part of a collab with type foundry Pangram Pangram. If you choose the impact-resistant case shown here, five colors are available, or you can select a sleeker, slightly less-protective version that sprinkles in a little glitter.

Gear4 Battersea (iPhone SE)

The Gear4 Battersea can stand up to a battering. It's made of D30, which is used in military and sports equipment. The soft grip helps you hold onto your iPhone SE. It's still thin, though, and allows for wireless charging.

LifeProof Fre (iPhone SE)

If you and your phone lead an outdoorsy lifestyle, the LifeProof Fre has you both covered. It's waterproof, snowproof, and dirtproof. The case completely covers all the sides and even the screen (don't worry, you can still access all the features of your phone).

OtterBox Otter+Pop Symmetry Series (iPhone SE)

Forgetting popping a PopSocket onto your case, the Otter + Pop Symmetry Series has one built-in. This prevents protrusion and you can still swap out PopTop designs to change out the look.

OtterBox Universe Case (iPhone SE)

OtterBox's Universe Case is modular so you can swap in a Square card reader, a flash drive, a battery, and more.

Pela Case Honey Hive (iPhone SE)

You'll be helping the bees and the whole planet with the Pela Honey Hive Case. It's fully compostable and ships in minimal packaging. Of course, the important thing is that it protects your phone, so it's nice to know that it's been tested successfully at 20-foot drops.

Smartish Gripmunk (iPhone SE)

The Smartish Gripmunk has been receiving rave reviews for years. It's very light but super protective, and it has a pleasantly grippy surface all around so that your phone doesn't slip out of your hands.

Snakehive Vintage Leather Wallet (iPhone SE)

The iPhone SE is already slim, but if you want to lighten your load even more, combine it with your wallet in the Snakehive Vintage Leather Wallet. It carries cards and cash, has a magnetic closure, acts as a phone stand, and comes in seven colors.

Speck Presidio Perfect Clear (iPhone SE)

Get a clear view of your iPhone SE with the Speck Presidio Perfect Clear. You'll still get lots of protection because it's made of a cushiony rubber and has a raised bezel. The case also is embedded with Microban to battle bacteria and stains.

Speck Presidio2 Grip (iPhone SE)

The Speck Presidio Grip2 is one of the most reliable cases out there. Its back and sides are covered in no-slip grips, air capsules around the sides act like an airbag, and a raised bezel helps keep screens free of scratches and cracks.

Totallee Thin (iPhone SE)

You can't get any more minimalist than the Totallee Thin Case. It's millimeters thin and comes in totally transparent, matte frosted black, and matte frosted. While it won't protect your phone from big drops, it does prevent scratches and there's a raised lip around the camera.

UAG Pathfinder SE Series (iPhone SE)

UAG's Pathfinder SE Series has a strong shell and chiseled, bumpered corners to blunt the impact from falls. Its camo-and-rivet look is equally as tough.

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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