The 13 Best Protective Phone Cases, According To People Who Drop Them A Lot

If your phone is always crashing to the floor, we’ve got you covered.

As people who work in digital media, we’re on our phones a lot — and that means that some of us drop our phones a lot. On the pavement, down the stairs or in the kitchen trying to reply to an email while making dinner — you name it, we’ve done it.

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So the other day when the topic of screen protectors and phone cases came up in a group Slack channel, a list of great suggestions soon proliferated.

From colorful options designed by independent artists to budget-friendly grabs a fraction of the price you’ll pay at the Apple Store, these are the phone cases and screen protectors HuffPost staffers use on our own, personal cell phones, which I can assure you, get a lot of use. We also included a few reviewer-vetted options that we thought you’d appreciate.

Happy dropping — er, shopping!

1. Case-Mate's shockproof silicone case

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Lindsay Holmes, senior Life editor, recommends this Case-Mate shockproof silicone case, saying: "It's low profile and I can't tell you the number of times I've dropped my phone and it's been OK." 

Get it from Amazon for $44.99 (compatible with iPhone15 Pro Max).

2. A slim silicone case from Otofly

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Breaking news managing editor Mollie Reilly has this slim shockproof case in a couple of colors. "They are cheap but they work," she said. "I drop my phone all the time and it's been fine!" She used the Apple brand version in the past, which was nearly triple the price and broke immediately.

Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (compatible with iPhone 13 and available in 20 colors).

3. The OtterBox Symmetry case with raised edges

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When I finally got a new iPhone last spring, I was devastated to retire my cheetah Kate Spade iPhone 6 case I had found at a suburban HomeGoods in 2015. The pieces of my broken heart have been mended by my current case: this super lightweight Realtree Otterbox. (It comes in solid colors, too.) It's not heavy or clunky but it has a good raised edge around the around screen and the back camera, which has saved me so many times. I truly drop my phone screen on concrete daily, and (knocks wood) has yet to have an issue.

Get it from Amazon for $32.20+ (compatible with iPhone 15 and in 21 colors; also available for iPhone 13 and 14, iPhone 12, and iPhone 11 and XR).

4. The Incipio Duo case

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An anonymous HuffPost staffer who also drops their phone a lot recommends the Duo case from Incipio. The brand says it has drop protection up to 12 feet and is made with extra impact protection to reduce impact force.

Get it from Amazon for $5+ (compatible with iPhone 14 Pro and available in three colors; also available for iPhone 13).

5. The Otterbox Symmetry clear series case

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"I picked a mint green iPhone when I got a new phone a few years ago, so of course I wanted a clear case to show it off," said Shopping managing editor Emily Ruane. "I didn't think too hard about this purchase — it seemed like the best option out of a bunch of random ones at my local phone store — but it has held up incredibly well in the past three years and it still brings me joy to see my pistachio-colored phone shining through the transparent case. Between my two kids and my forgetful nature, my phone is treated pretty poorly and dropped constantly, but thanks to this case it lives another day."

Get it from Amazon for $39.84+ (compatible with iPhone 15 and also available in black).

6. The Otterbox Figura case with MagSafe

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Senior photo editor Chris McGonigal says he tried Apple's FineWoven case, but found it to "self-destruct" after a few months of use. He's settled on the Otterbox Figura series case with MagSafe saying it's not a "thick" heavy-duty Otterbox case that the brand is known for, but still offers plenty of protection. It's made from a flexible, soft-touch material.

Get it from OtterBox for $39.96 (originally $49.95; compatible with iPhone 15 Pro and available in four colors).

7. Anything from Casetify

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"Casetify has never done me wrong!" said HuffPost senior reporter Lydia O'Connor. "I drop my phone all the time and they have cute designs." Offering cases for your phones, tablets, wireless headphones and other devices, Casetify really has a strong selection of durable protective tech. Known for their customizable phone cases as well as their fun collaborations with artists, like this adorable pasta case from British illustrator Tess Smith-Roberts, you'll find a one-of-a-kind case that will last for years and years.

Get it from Casetify for $34+ (originally $42+; compatible with iPhone XR–15 Pro Max, Samsung Galaxy S20–S24 Ultra, and Google Pixel 6–8 Pro).

8. A slim, shockproof case that's under $15 and comes with a screen protector

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In our chat, O'Connor also revealed that "[h]ighly functional screen protectors are also shockingly cheap on Amazon with great reviews. I can't believe how much I used to spend on the ones from the Apple store." O'Connor used the screen and camera protectors that came with this clear, slim iPhone case, and said they worked great and lasted a long time.

Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (compatible with iPhone 12–15 Pro Max; also available in 16 additional colors and styles).

9. Or this set of three protectors for everyone in your family

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As a backup, O'Connor also ordered this budget-friendly set of three screen protectors, which equal less than $3 per screen. While she hasn't used them yet, she said the thousands of five-star reviews encouraged her to try them out.

Get a set of three from Amazon for $5.89 (compatible with iPhone 13 Mini–15 Pro Max/Plus).

10. An adjustable lanyard you can attach to most cases

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While it's not a case, this pair of adjustable cords stick onto your existing phone case to give you either a wristlet or detachable neck lanyard to carry your phone. Reviewers who spend time on the water say it gives them peace of mind, as well as phone users who feel unsteady while walking and worry about dropping their phones or who experience neuropathy in their fingers. The attachment works with most phone cases but be sure to check yours before you order.

Get it from Amazon for $8.99 (available in 10 colors).

11. A sleek but rugged case with two screen protectors

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Another option that comes with a screen protector, this case is thin and lightweight while still being super protective. It has extra impact cushion around the corners of the phone, a hard bumper around the front screen and comes with two screen protectors. Reviewers mention this case has prevented frequently-dropped phones from getting new cracks and has protected their phones even when falling on cement.

Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (compatible with iPhone 12 Mini–15 Plus and in 13 colors).

12. A clear acrylic case with shock-absorbing corners

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With a strong magnetic hold, this case will safely keep your phone supported on magnetic car holders or stands. It made from clear acrylic that's low-key and minimal with an outer border for a little color and extra protection. A reviewer who called themselves “clumsy” said it protected their phone despite a “half-dozen” falls and it has safeguarded against scratches and broken screens.

Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (compatible with iPhone 12–15 Pro Max and in 20 color combinations).

13. A full-body bumper case with a tempered glass cover

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Engulf your phone in a sandwich of protection with this two-part front and back phone case. They clip together with a protective bumper around the edge of your phone and come with an extra protector for your camera lens. One reviewer claimed this protected their phone from “numerous” drops and a number of reviews even mention driving over this case. (The case itself cracked, but still protected the phone.)

Get it from Amazon for $10.99+ (compatible with iPhone 14–iPhone 15 Pro Max and in 37 colors).

The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.