The Best iPhone SE Cases and Accessories
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The new iPhone SE might be Apple's cheapest iPhone, but it still has a glass front and back, which are no less prone to shattering at the first drop. Sure, it's small and easier to hold one-handed than Apple's pricier and larger phones, but using a case is a smart way to protect your investment. We've tested several, and these are our favorites. We've also rounded up a few accessories we like, especially since there's no charging adapter in the box.
Keep in mind that the iPhone SE 2022 shares the same dimensions as the 2020 iPhone SE and even the iPhone 8 from 2017, meaning there are a ton of cases available for them if you don't see one you like here. (You might even be able to use your old one!) Be sure to check out our other buying guides, including the Best iPhone, Best iPhone 13 Cases, Best iPhone 12 Cases, Best MagSafe Accessories, and Best Mobile Camera Gear for more.
Updated May 2022: We've added new cases from Incipio, Kate Spade, and Speck.
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- Photograph: Zagg
Best Overall
Gear4 Battersea CaseThe Battersea delivers adequate protection, doesn't cost too much, and looks pretty smart. The soft-touch polycarbonate back has a grooved design that I worry might attract some dust and lint, but it's easy to clean. The shiny and grippy thermoplastic polyurethane bumper is thick to absorb impacts, yet the whole package doesn't feel overly bulky. The buttons are still easy to press, and the camera on the back is safe from flat surfaces.
- Photograph: Spigen
Best Cheap Case
Spigen Liquid Air ArmorThis slim case from Spigen is sufficient to give your iPhone SE some basic protection from most everyday scuffs and maybe even small drops. The thermoplastic polyurethane material is pretty flexible and very thin, but it covers all the edges, the buttons remain clicky, and I love the textured pattern on the back. It feels great to touch.
★ Also great: Speck's Presidio2 Pro ($20) is a nice, affordable alternative. The edges are well protected with small bumpers, and the edges are raised quite a bit so there's decent screen protection too. The soft-touch finish feels nice, the buttons are easy to press, and the whole thing is thin. It's a smidge more protective than Spigen's option, but I'm a sucker for the texture of Spigen's case and its thinness.
- Photograph: LifeProof
An Eco-Friendly Case
LifeProof See CaseLifeProof's See series is my favorite from the company. The soft-touch bumper is thick enough to absorb shocks and feels grippy, plus the buttons remain clicky. You get a clear back so you can let the iPhone's design shine through. Best of all, the case is made from 50 percent recycled plastic, and for every purchase, LifeProof donates $1 to a water-minded nonprofit organization.
- Photograph: Spigen
A Kickstand Case
Spigen Tough ArmorThis case is an upgrade over the Liquid Air above, in that it's much more protective and comes with a kickstand, but it is a bit thicker. As the iPhone SE is a small and svelte phone, it still feels easy to use one-handed and remains quite pocketable. There's a thick bumper around the edges, and these edges are also decently raised around the screen. The buttons are clicky, and the mute switch is accessible. Best of all, there's a kickstand! It feels a bit flimsy, and it only keeps the phone upright in landscape orientation, but it does the job.
- Photograph: Totallee
Best Thin (and Clear) Case
Totallee iPhone SE Case (Clear, Soft)If you hate cases but want some type of protection against scratches and scuffs, there's no better choice than Totallee. Its cases are incredibly thin, if a bit flimsy, and it won't protect your phone from most drops. Out of the three types you can choose—Frosted Black, Frosted Clear, and Clear (Soft)—I recommend the latter. It's a bit more protective than the other two while still being very thin. It's also one of the best clear cases I tested; fingerprints aren't too visible, and it feels nice.
- Photograph: OtterBox
Two Protective Cases
OtterBox Commuter and Defender ProDropping your iPhone all the time? Get something more protective, like OtterBox's Commuter case. It's a dual-layer case, meaning you put on the soft inner first and then the hard outer layer over it. This is tricky, as the inner got squished by the outer case in some areas; a little finagling made it work. It feels protective and slim, with raised edges around the screen, though the buttons are a smidge tougher to press.
The OtterBox Defender Pro is more on the extreme end, with triple layers. There's the hard inner layer you need to put on the back and front of the phone and clip together. Then put the flexible outer cover over it. The top inner layer also has a clear membrane screen cover, and the mute switch and charging port are covered up too, so you really are getting full protection. The screen cover does make it tougher to use the iPhone, as you'll need to push down harder for your inputs to register. Thankfully, the physical buttons are all easy to press. But wait, that's not all! It includes a holster if you want to clip the phone to a belt, and the holster can also double as a kickstand.
- Photograph: Apple
Apple's Official Cases
Apple Silicone and Leather CaseApple's official cases are a bit overpriced, and I'm not a huge fan of the silicone version—it just doesn't feel all that great and attracts a lot of dust and lint. The bottom edge of the phone isn't protected too. If you want an Apple-made case, go with the leather version. Like the silicone case, there's a wonderful microfiber lining on the inside to protect the glass on your iPhone, and the whole thing is very slim.
Photograph: ZaggGreat Screen Protectors
Easy ApplicationTwo weeks with the iPhone SE and I've already noticed a tiny scratch on the screen. It's smart to cover up the glass on the front too. We prefer tempered glass, and all of these are easy to apply.
Spigen Tempered Glass Screen Protector for $14: It's nearly impossible to beat the value you get here with Spigen. You get two tempered screen protectors and a whole kit that makes it very easy for anyone to apply them. It will take some time to take out those air bubbles with the included squeegee though, so be patient.
Zagg Invisible Shield Tempered Glass XTR for $60: I tried three screen protectors from Zagg. They're all easy to apply, but I liked the feel of the XTR the most (sadly, its price is obscene). It also didn't bubble up as much and adhered to the screen better. Touching the screen still feels very responsive and smooth. Zagg claims there's better blue light filtration, but I didn't notice much of a difference.
- Photograph: LifeProof
A Waterproof Case
LifeProof Fre Series CaseGoing skiing? Or maybe kayaking? This LifeProof case makes your iPhone SE waterproof. Apple's phone is IP67 water-resistant, meaning it can be submerged in water up to a meter for about 30 minutes. This case lets you submerge the SE in water up to 2 meters for one hour. I snapped it on and put it in a bowl of water for a good length of time—after opening it up, there wasn't a single drop of water inside. The downside? The buttons are very hard to press, and because there's a tiny gap between the screen and the screen cover, touch interactions aren't as responsive. It's best used for short stints if you absolutely need your phone with you underwater.
- Photograph: Simon Hill
Cheap Wireless Chargers
Anker PowerWave Pad and StandThe iPhone SE is one of the few phones at its price to support wireless charging. The charging speed isn't fast, but it's convenient to just plop the phone down on a charger or pad with no cables involved. So get a wireless charger! Anker's chargers are available as either a stand or pad; both are plasticky, but they're dirt cheap and function fine. Check out our Best Wireless Chargers guide for tons of more options.
- Photograph: Apple
For Apple Lovers
Mophie 3-in-1 Wireless Charging StandGot an Apple Watch and AirPods with a wireless charging case? This handy dock from Mophie lets you charge all three at once. (You can charge the iPhone horizontally or vertically.) It's spendy and takes up a bit of room on a desk, but it looks spiffy and hey, you don't need to have multiple cables running to one adapter.
- Photograph: Anker
A Compact Charger
Anker Nano ProSpeaking of charging adapters, the iPhone SE doesn't come with one; you'll just find a USB-C to Lightning cable in the box. If you don't have a USB-C adapter lying around, this 20-watt charger from Anker will suffice. The plugs don't fold, but the whole thing is seriously tiny and easy to take with you anywhere. It also comes in some fun colors.
★ Also great: If you prefer having one charging adapter in your bag to juice up all your devices, get this Satechi 108-watt wall charger ($75). It has enough power to comfortably recharge your MacBook Air, iPad Pro, and iPhone SE at the same time, and I like that the prongs fold up. It's still compact enough to toss in any bag.
- Photograph: Nimble
A Better Lightning Cable
Nimble PowerKnit USB-C to Lightning CableApple's cables don't hold up well over time. If you're rough on your gear, it might be a good idea to upgrade the cable that comes in the box. The PowerKnit cable from Nimble is made from a knit fabric, and it feels like it can take a lot of abuse. It's made from recycled plastic and aluminum (and is BPA- and PVC-free). It's attractive, and you can choose from three lengths (1, 2, or 3 meters). They're rated to handle up to 60 watts, so you can use this to recharge your MacBook Air.
- Photograph: Nimble
Best Battery Packs
Nimble Champ Pro Portable ChargerA small phone means a small battery, and the iPhone SE will only last you about a full day (if not less). It's a good idea to pack a portable battery if you plan on being away from an outlet for most of the day. Nimble's Champ series is our favorite. The Champ Pro's 20,000-mAh capacity might be overkill, especially since the standard 10,000-mAh Champ can recharge the iPhone SE a few times over. There's a USB-A port to charge another device as well. But the reason we like Nimble over many others is that it uses bioplastics and plastic-free minimal packaging to reduce its environmental impact. Read our Best Portable Chargers guide for more.
Photograph: IncipioHonorable Mentions
Other Good CasesCases are endless. Here are a few more we like, but not as much as the options above.
Kate Spade New York Hardshell Case for $24: This iPhone case doesn't protect the bottom edge of the iPhone, and the buttons are tough to press, but it's cute! The sequins in the middle of the flowers are layered over the HollyHock Floral version, which is what I tried, and you can feel them individually—a nice touch. There are a few other designs to choose from.
Incipio Duo for $35: This case is nearly identical to the Speck Presidio2 Pro we recommend above. They look and feel like twins, with impact bumpers on the edges and a soft-touch finish. However, the Speck case's edges are raised more for better screen protection. It's also a tiny bit cheaper.
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