Last year Apple called its lower-cost current-generation iPhone the “XR,” but this year’s comparable model gets the dignity of simply being called the “iPhone 11.” Case makers already have a pile of cool cases ready to go mere minutes after Apple’s announcement, and here we’ve compiled some of the standout models we know about for your convenience.
One note: We haven’t actually had a chance to handle many of these cases, so we don’t know how well they fit. Prior to an iPhone launch, case makers are usually working with schematics or dummy units, so occasionally you’ll find buttons that don’t properly line up once you slip them on the bonafide phone.
After we get more of these in, we’ll retool this story into a “best of” article that identifies all our favorite models in each category. At the moment, this is just a list of good cases that we know are available, and we’ll keep adding to this as we learn about more.
Now that that’s out of the way, though, let’s jump in.
Spigen Liquid Crystal Clear Case (iPhone 11)
Price: $10.99
Colors: Clear
Highlights: If you want a clear case, but you don’t want to spend $39 on Apple’s own version, consider getting Spigen’s supremely affordable variety. The buttons are reinforced for quick responsiveness and the single, flexible piece of TPU used for the overall case is designed so it doesn’t slip out of your hands.
Smartish Kung Fu Grip Case (iPhone 11)
Price: $11.99
Colors: Black Tie Affair; Purple Reign; Blues on the Green; Nothin’ to Hide and Flavor of the Month
Most of the cases we’ve covered here are pretty pricey. But the Kung Fu Grip from Smartish? It’s only 12 bucks. And for that you’ll get a grippy textured exterior as well as protective air pockets that help cushion the corners of your device in the event of a fall. It’s a simple case, but it looks like a winner for the price. If you’re looking for more options, Smartish also has some affordable variations with built-in wallets or grippy edges.
Grip2ü Slim Case with grip band (iPhone 11)
Price: $24.99
Colors: Beetlejuice, West Point metallic, urban camo, charcoal, clear, ice
Highlights: Here’s a cool slim case that recalls Michael Keaton’s outfit from the 1988 movie Beetlejuice, although you can get it in five other designs as well. Grip2ü’s cases look stylish, but even better, they all have a built-in grip band on the back. Slip your hand through it, and you’ll be much less likely to drop your phone. The case is reportedly “light as a feather,” too.
Razer Archtech Slim Case
Price: $39.99
Colors: Black, quartz, and mercury
Highlights: Razer is known for its flashy PC gaming peripherals, but it’s extending its recognizable brand of neon-green style to the iPhone with this case. You might like the Arctech even if you’re not into gaming, though, as it uses Razer’s “Thermaphene” tech to cool off your phone when it’s getting too hot from playing graphically intensive games or running VR apps. It can also survive 10-foot drops! If you’re okay with going without the drop protection, though, you can get the Slim model for $10 less.
Totallee Ultra Thin Case (iPhone 11)
Price: $29
Colors: Transparent (soft), transparent (matte), frosted black, solid black, navy blue, red, black leather
Highlights: Totallee’s Thin iPhone 11 Case comes in seven different varieties that run the gamut from clear to leather, and I used the soft transparent iPhone 11 Pro Max version on my iPhone XS Max for a week before the latest announcement. (It fit fine, aside from some button misalignments.) And I loved it. It’s clear, but it’s also made of a grippy material that’s almost as satisfying to hold as one of Apple’s silicone cases. Also, my phone survived a tumble while wearing it, and that makes me totally happy.
UAG Pathfinder Case (iPhone 11)
Price: $39.95
Colors: Black, white, slate, olive drab
Highlights: UAG’s cases are tough, and they look like it. Consider the company’s Pathfinder cases, which have a military look to go with the way they meet military drop-test standards. Even with its “armor shell,” somehow the case still manages to be lightweight. The oversized tactile buttons are especially nice if you struggle with pressing the iPhone’s tiny volume controls.
Apple Clear Case (iPhone 11)
Price: $39
Colors: Clear
Highlights: Apple’s own clear case lets you show off your iPhone’s colors while still keeping it safe. Made from “a blend of optically clear polycarbonate and flexible TPU materials.” The back is study, but the sides are flexible.
Apple Silicone Case (iPhone 11)
Price: $39
Colors: White and Black
Highlights: Unlike its counterparts for the iPhone 11 Pro, Apple’s silicone case for the colorful iPhone 11 only comes in two colors. Still, I firmly believe this is one of the most pleasantly “grippy” cases out there—when it’s new, anyway—but the sad fact is that it might not hold up for a year.
Speck Presidio Grip Case (iPhone 11)
Price: $39.95
Colors: Black, marble gray, Bali blue, coastal blue, parrot pink
Highlights: Here’s a case that’s both pleasantly grippy and tough. Thanks to its two layers and “impactum cushioning,” this case can survive serious falls of up to 13 feet. The slightly raised ridges on the sides and back ensure that you’ll always have a secure grip. It’s also made with Microban antimicrobial material, which helps keep off bacteria and lessens the risk of stains or mold.
Case-Mate Tough Groove Case
Price: $39.99
Colors: Iridescent
Highlights: Case-Mate’s cases are always so fun, and this year is no different. Head over to Amazon, and you’ll find a large selection of new cases to choose from, but my favorite is this literally groovy iridescent model. Its vertical grooves help ensure that your phone won’t slip out of your hand, and its multicolored iridescent sheen should catch glances from across the room. Impressively, Case-Mate claims it can survive 10-foot drops, which is a better rating than some of the outwardly “tough” models we’ve listed here.
Nomad Active Leather Rugged Case (iPhone 11)
Price: $44.95
Colors: Black or mocha brown waterproof Heinen leather
Highlights: If you’re more interested in water resistance, you’ll want to pick up this variation on the Rugged Case above. It also comes with the TPU frame that offers six feet of drop protection, but it’s also able to shrug off water more easily with German Heinen leather. Just keep in mind that it’s in no way a waterproof case: The ports, screen, and speakers are still exposed. As with the Rugged Case, you’ll have slots for attaching a lanyard around the reinforced speaker ports.
Bella Fino Edition Wallet Case (iPhone 11)
Price: $79.95
Colors: Brown and blue, black and purple, black and gray, whiskey and blue, whiskey and green
Highlights: Pad & Quill’s full-grain leather Bella Fino case has always been one of the more attractive folio options out there, and this year the company shook up the design by adding elastic straps rather than the nylon ones it used in the past. These should last much longer, and you can even switch them out with another one of Pad & Quill’s straps if wish. The case also comes with five slots for cards, a lengthwise slot for cash, and a display window for your ID card.
Bellroy 3-Card Phone Case (iPhone 11)
Price: $75
Colors: Black, caramel, coral, graphite
Highlights: Bellroy has a unique take on the wallet case. Rather than just putting a couple of slots in the back of the case, this model has a handy single slot with a magnetic clasp that can hold up to three cards. The case itself is made from “environmentally certified” leather and polymer, and there’s a microfiber lining inside.
Pelican Protector EMS Recharge Phone Case
Price: $80
Colors: Black
Highlights: You say you like cases that support wireless charging? This tough case actually has a detachable magnetic battery on the back! It can also survive some hard drops, thanks to a rigid outer shell that’s combined with a shock-absorbing inner lining. As for EMS? That actually stands for “Easy Mount System”—it’s got an auto mount system built right in.