New iPhone, new case. Since you can’t take the case from past generations and snap it to your iPhone 16 Plus, a new purchase is in order, and below are the best options available now.
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Best Overall
Spigen Tough Armor MagFit
The Spigen Tough Armor MagFit Case for iPhone 16 Plus offers military-grade protection in a slim, lightweight design, ensuring durability without compromising on style. Its precise, chunky buttons and compatibility with MagSafe accessories and wireless charging make it a top choice for both functionality and convenience.
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Best Budget
Tauri 5-in-1 iPhone 16 Plus Case
$14 $18 Save $4
The Tauri 5-in-1 iPhone 16 Plus Case offers military-grade protection with raised edges to safeguard the screen and camera from drops up to 15 feet. Featuring a 9H-rated tempered glass screen protector and lens protector, along with anti-yellowing properties and a variety of color options, it provides both durability and style for your device.
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Promoted Pick
SUPCASE UB Mag
The SUPCASE UB Mag is a simple snap-on case that’s 15 ft drop test certified by MET Labs. The UB Mag is made of scratch-resistant polycarbonate with TPU bumpers. It’s MagSafe compatible and features include generous bezels to guard the lenses and display from damaging surfaces while the precise cutouts ensure seamless access to all ports and features.
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Best Wallet Case
Smartish Wallet Slayer Vol. 1 Wallet Case
$20 $30 Save $10
The Smartish Wallet Slayer Vol. 1 Wallet Case offers drop protection and convenient storage for up to three cards and cash, with a thumb cutout for easy access. Featuring a grippy, non-stick texture, chunky side buttons, and raised bezels for added screen and camera protection, it’s a sleek and practical wallet case.
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Best Rugged Case
OtterBox Defender Series Case (iPhone 16 Plus)
$50 $65 Save $15
The OtterBox Defender Series Case for iPhone 16 Plus offers military-grade, four-layer protection with a silicone shell, hard exterior, foam core, and reinforced corners to absorb shocks from drops. Despite its rugged design, it maintains a slim profile and features precise cutouts for easy access to all phone functions, making it an ideal choice for those seeking durability without bulk.
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Best Clear Case
Speck Clear iPhone 16 Plus MagSafe Case
The Speck Clear MagSafe Case for iPhone 16 Plus offers robust protection with impact-absorbing corners and a raised bezel, safeguarding your phone from drops up to 8 feet. Designed to resist yellowing and fully compatible with MagSafe accessories and wireless charging, it showcases your phone’s color while keeping it protected and functional.
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Best Thin Case
Spigen Rugged Armor MagFit
$23 $40 Save $17
The Spigen Rugged Armor MagFit Case for iPhone 16 Plus offers durable, lightweight protection with a mix of TPU, PC, and impact foam, adding only 0.08 inches to your device. Featuring textured sides and buttons for a better grip, it’s fully compatible with MagSafe accessories, including the Apple MagSafe Wireless Charger.
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Best Leather Case
Rumwot Leather Case
The Rumwot Leather Case for iPhone 16 Plus combines luxury with functionality, offering a sleek leather design and solid drop protection with a metal frame and raised bezels. Lightweight and slim, it provides a natural grip while safeguarding your phone from scratches and drops.
What to Look For in an iPhone 16 Plus Case
You shouldn’t be going without a case with such an expensive phone like the iPhone 16 Plus. It’s only a matter of time before it falls, but what will it be? From the table? Maybe you miss your pocket or purse? Or maybe someone else will bump into you.
Keeping that in mind, the best case for the iPhone 16 Plus has got to withstand the day-to-day wear and tear. You know, the scrapes and bumps it picks up along the way. Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and polycarbonate (PC) are the most common materials. If you get a case with a layer of both, that’s a great start.
Another feature to look out for is protection around the corners. Dropping a phone and landing on a corner first can cause substantial damage. Look for some impact absorption or the use of air channels to create cushioning. Military-grade drop protection is a plus!
Practically, it should also be a concern. Protection is important, but more of it results in a thicker case, like the ones from OtterBox. This is fine, but you could lose out on wireless charging and MagSafe accessories. Those features honestly aren’t as important if you need a more rugged case. A wired charger is still viable (and faster).
Lastly, while style should be your last priority, plenty of aesthetic iPhone 16 Plus cases blend color, durability, and functionality. You can even go clear and show off the phone’s natural color!
FAQ
Can I use my iPhone 15 Plus case on my iPhone 16 Plus?
No. The iPhone 16 Plus has minute differences that make them incompatible, such as the placement of the buttons and an entirely different dimension to the camera.
Can I use an iPhone 16 Pro Max case on my iPhone 16 Plus?
No. In addition to the cameras being different, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is notably larger than the iPhone 16 Plus. You’d need a new case.
How do I clean my iPhone case?
Whether it’s made of some kind of plastic or silicone, here’s what you need to clean your iPhone case:
- Two microfiber towels, one for cleaning and the other for drying
- A bowl of warm water
- Dish soap
- Toothbrush
Try to avoid dish soap that’s too harsh and the toothbrush is optional. If you do use a toothbrush, which I recommend, then stick to a soft brush. With your materials, here’s what you do to get the case sparkly clean:
- Mix dish soap with the warm water. Just a drop is good.
- Dip your microfiber cloth in the water, ring it out really good. You want it damp, not soaking wet or dripping.
- Gently wipe and scrub the case clean. Brush in circles and don’t press too hard.
- Dry the case with the dry, leftover microfiber towel.
Afterwards, leave your case to dry for an hour or so in a dry area, but keep it out of the sun.
What is the difference between the different iPhone 16 models?
The iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max are surprisingly similar to one another. Most of the features are shared between all four phones.
The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus use the same A18 chipset, the same number of GPU and CPU cores, even the same camera and SOS features. What separates them is the 16 Plus has a better battery life by five hours and a bigger display.
When you compare the 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max, the story is the same—bigger display and better battery life on the 16 Pro Max. Both use the A18 Pro chipset, with one more GPU and CPU core than the A18.
Lastly, the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max are also rocking a 48MP ultra wide camera and Dolby Vision, as opposed to the 12MP ultra wide camera and no Dolby Vision on the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus.