Finding the best iPhone X case means protecting your investment (and, let’s face it, modern smartphones aren’t cheap), providing peace of mind, and doing so in style.

The best cases take advantage of modern materials and technological advances to ensure that you don’t end up with a cracked screen and that the case itself remains free of unsightly scratches, scuffs, and other blemishes.

  • Our Picks
  • What to Look For in a Phone Case
  • About our Expert

Spigen, as a brand, has an excellent track record in mobile phone protection. Their Ultra Hybrid case is the flagship iPhone X protection case, and it comes in five colors: black, gray, white, tan, and burgundy. But the back of each case clearly shows the beauty of the iPhone X itself. They’ve even designed that transparent plastic layer with a specially engineered material that won’t collect dirt and yellow over its lifetime.

Best Overall

Spigen Ultra Hybrid iPhone X Case

  • Top notch protection

  • Slim single layer

  • Available in a multitude of colors

  • Divisive clear back

That protection includes drop and scratch resistance in a single layer (no need to add an exoskeleton to a soft rubber inner case). At the same time, the colored side bumpers offer air cushion technology for everyday drops. There are ports cut out to access your buttons and inputs, and the whole design is slim and non-intrusive.

Speck has been in the case game for a while now, and they’ve done so with a pretty slim product line, both in numbers and in profile on your phone. The Presidio line is the company’s flagship set, and they’ve been protecting iPhones for several generations with drop protection and a sleek look. This Grip iteration comes with matte rubber grooves on the back to prevent the phone from slipping out of your hands. The iPhone X version promises up to 10 feet of drop protection, a figure that was independently found and verified by a third-party lab.

Runner-Up, Best Overall

Speck Presidio Grip Case for iPhone X

  • Awesome drop protection

  • Sleek look

  • Celled Impactium material

  • Case wears somewhat more easily than others

They’ve developed a shockproof, celled material to build into their cases called Impactium, and there’s a raised bezel on the front to protect the screen from drops. They’ve put additional research into the design to create the slimmest, lowest profile dual-layer case they’ve ever made. You can get all of that in seven different colors, too, so there’s an impressive number of options for an equally remarkable case.

For a well-rounded mix of protection, design, and price, the Silk iPhone X case is money well spent. At less than $20, the Silk offers a modest level of durability, featuring shock-absorbent air pockets in each corner of the case — described as “airbags” for your phone. Additionally, its “Kung Fu Grip” texture keeps the device secure in your hand, preventing drops before they happen. Still, for 360-degree protection, the case’s “Base Grip” forms an elevated edge around your phone’s open surface, so even if it falls face-down, the screen won’t shatter on the hard ground.

Best Budget

Silk iPhone X Grip Case

  • Shock-absorbent air pockets

  • Grippy texture

  • Very slim

  • Raised case can make edge gestures difficult

Compared to other budget-friendly models, the Silk case is remarkably slim, fitting comfortably into the tightest jean pockets. The side buttons have been improved from past versions for a higher tactile response, and overall, the case provides satisfactory protection without impeding the phone’s general functions. The Silk iPhone case includes a free screen protector and is available in six colors: crimson red, blue jade, purple orchid, and gunmetal gray.

Available in many colors, this sleek, stylish case will not only shield your phone from big drops but also provides some storage to stash your cards and cash. It combines a hard PC cover with an impact-resistant shockproof soft rubber bumper to ensure your iPhone remains inviolate and has a slide-open case where you can securely stash a couple of cards.

Best Wallet Case

SAMONPOW iPhone X Case

  • Rugged TPU material

  • Microfiber padding

  • Pocket for cards

  • Side pocket is slightly too small

The thoughtfully designed borders ensure easy access to all the phone’s ports and buttons, with perfectly placed and fitted cutaways so you won’t have to apply any more pressure than to the naked phone. The SAMONPOW is so snug that it barely looks like you’ve added anything to your phone, but rugged enough to stand up to severe abuse.

The Alphatronix BXX battery case has a 4,200 mAh battery that is UL-certified, which gives you an extra 150 percent charge on the phone (more than doubling the charged life of your iPhone X). You can charge that battery (and pass it through to the phone itself) via the micro USB port on the bottom or with the built-in Qi wireless charging capability.

Best Battery Case

Alphatronix BXX Battery Case for iPhone X

  • Built-in battery

  • 360-degree protection

  • Tempered glass screen protector

  • Fairly heavy

The hard plastic exterior has 360-degree protection from scratches and drops. The front edges are raised with lips that protect the screen, and Alphatronix has even included a tempered glass screen protector to add to the safety. Finally, installation is simple with a two-piece design, including a standard slide-off section that frees you up to slide the phone into the case. It’s also protected by a factory warranty, for good measure.

If your iPhone X keeps running out of juice, the Swaller Battery Case is an excellent option to add battery capacity without turning your device into a brick. The case adds 4,000mAh of power, which isn’t as much as the 4,200mAh Alphatronix case, but it’s slimmer and more portable. The battery case doesn’t extend to the top of the phone, making it a bit easy to slip into your pocket, but it still retains 360-degree protection. The case is even compatible with the EarPods.

Runner-Up, Best Battery

Swaller Battery Case for iPhone X

  • Solid amount of extra charge

  • Supports wireless charging

  • Slimmer build than most cases

  • Not as much capacity as other case

The case can add 10 hours of talk time or 9 hours of web browsing. There’s a built-in Qi wireless charging coil, so you don’t have to sacrifice wireless charging for the extra juice.

Otterbox is one of the best-known brands in the business to offer durable, drop-resistant phone cases. That tends to add a lot of bulk, but the Otterbox Pursuit Series case for the iPhone X/Xs provides a great combination of toughness and size. It’s thinner and more pocketable than most other durable cases but still has seals, port covers, and a transparent mesh to protect the phone’s speakers.

Best Rugged

OtterBox Pursuit Series

  • Excellent durable build

  • Certified drop protection

  • Still pocketable

  • Expensive

Otterbox is so sure that the case will protect your iPhone X that it offers certified drop protection. Aside from that, the case is easy to install, consisting of a main case with an additional snap-on bumper.

What to Look For in a Phone Case

Durability - The most obvious factor when choosing a phone case is how well it will fill its primary purpose: protecting your phone from hazards. The best phones will shield the screen and the rear of the phone, whether they’ve got fold-over panels or not, and protect the phone from spills, shocks, dust, and a wide range of potentially disastrous incidents.

Form factor - Smartphones are best when they’re slim, sleek, and portable, so any case you add shouldn’t interfere with tucking your phone away in a pocket or purse. Luckily, cases no longer need to be massive and bulky to protect your phone. You need to pay attention to the materials that go into a case’s construction to ensure it’s up to performing its primary function.

Aesthetics - Phone manufacturers are now pouring millions of dollars into crafting electronic pieces of modern art, so swathing all that careful design work in an ugly shell is a terrible shame. Luckily, the range of options most modern smartphone cases provide means there are options as (or more) visually striking than the vanilla template.

About our Expert

Jason Schneider is an experienced tech journalist with more than a decade of experience under his belt. His background in computer science, including a BS from Northeastern University, reflects a lifelong passion for technology, and his expertise includes Apple products and accessories.