The Best iPhone 11 Cases We've Tried

Pelican's new, magnetic Easy Mount System, or EMS, is, fittingly, one of the easiest modular phone mount systems that I've ever used. The car mount is also a Q-certified charger. Simply pinch it onto one of your car's vent flaps, put your phone in a magnetic Protector case, and touch it to the base. The Protector case was designed for first responders and has a rubber lining to absorb more impact. Unfortunately, this means that whoever is riding shotgun and wants to mount their own phone will have to buy a Protector case as well.

This week, Mophie finally releases its popular Juice Pack for the iPhone 11 series. Just like the other Juice Packs, the Juice Pack for the iPhone 11 will come with a 2,000 mAh integrated battery (the iPhone 11 Pro Max's case will have a 2,200 mAh battery) that uses Qi charging to transfer power to the phone. It will also have an on/off button and a built-in USB-C input port (and we sure love our USB-C ports), as well as priority charging that will transfer power to the phone before recharging the case.

I own a weather-resistant, leather Bellroy All-Conditions wallet, so I know firsthand that Bellroy makes attractive, durable accessories that age very well. I liked how this case's 3-card slot was slim and integrated into the profile of the case. The magnetic closure flap also doubles as a kickstand and the leather is sustainably processed via Leather Working Group protocols.

I also tried a LifeProof Flip case, but the card flap stuck out way too far and kept coming open.

Advice: If you do get an integrated card case, you should know that wireless charging uses magnetic induction and might damage credit cards or security badges that have a magnetic strip or RFID chip. Read more about this issue on Apple's Support page.

In lieu of wearing a sling around my neck, I've found that a PopSocket is the best—and most useful and addictive—way to keep a grip on my oversized phone. Otterbox's Otter + Pop Symmetry case lets you pick and choose between your case and different PopTop colors and designs; you can switch out different PopTops for new looks or patterns.

Wireless Charging Note: I had to remove the PopTop to make it work with wireless charging. Otterbox also integrates a PopSocket into its popular Defender case.

Otterbox's Defender cases are some of the most popular rugged cases. But for something that looks a lot less burly, I like Incipio's slim Aerolite cases, which are made from a proprietary shock-absorbing material called FortiCore. It's been drop-tested from heights of up to 11 feet, which is one of the higher drop ranges that I've seen. It also has reinforced corners and interior ribbing to absorb even more drop force.

Best of all, it comes in an opaque white version that lets you see your phone. (If you're terminally butter-fingered, you might want to put a few grip stickers on your case, too.)

The launch of Apple Arcade means that even more people may start playing a lot of games on their phones. (Excuse me while I pause to take a quick Sayonara Wild Hearts break.)

Razer's Arctech cases sandwich a layer of a proprietary material called Thermaphene in between soft microfiber and the case's shell, which absorbs and redistributes heat away from your hard-working phone. It also has a vented back to further release heat. I liked the low profile of the Arctech Slim, but the Pro version has better drop protection.

I had to include at least one decorative case among the many review units that were sent to me. So my 4-year-old kid and I selected Kate Spade's Defensive case. It's made from a shock-absorbing plastic that has been rated for drops of up to 10 feet.

It also has interior bumpers along the sides and corners of the case for additional protection. It also has a scratch-resistant coating that has been effective for the few days that I used it, and the sparkling raised gems haven't fallen off with friction.

This is not technically a case, but since it comes with a dry bag I'm going to include it, anyway!

I look at my phone while biking all the time, to check my route or to fast-forward through a song that's playing on my JBL Clip 3. Delta Cycle's mount is easy to install and big enough to fit my iPhone 11 in a Pelican Protector case. Most importantly, it holds onto my phone like a tenacious crab claw even if I've accidentally set up my kickstand on a slope and my Surly Cross-Check falls down.