The best iPhone 6S, iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 cases in 2018
What's the best case you can get for an iPhone 6S, 7 or 8? We try out some of the leading brands to find out, including Casetify, Speck, Otterbox, Skinny Dip and Mous
All recommendations within this article are informed by expert editorial opinion. If you click on a link in this story we may earn affiliate revenue.
Considering iPhones usually cost North of £500 and it costs more than £100 to repair their screens through a network, it’s worth getting some protection for your phone.
With that in mind, we’ve tried out cases from the leading brands to find out what they’re like, how they perform and what the best case for your iPhone 6, iPhone 7 or iPhone 8 may be.
Skinny Dip snap case - £15
Skinny Dip has got hundreds of quirky designs in its selection, including the lovable crab model above (which was tested).
It’s a case of fashion over function, as the protruding googly eyes don’t feel particularly nice in your hand and they snag on your pockets.
That said, if you don’t mind minimal protection and a strange-feeling phone, the design is really good fun.
We'd buy this case despite its shortcomings because it looks brilliant, and at £15, it’s significantly cheaper than the other brands.
Update: Some of the googly eyes fell off the crab case after a few days.
- You can buy it .
Skinny Dip bendy case - £18
As well as its snap cases, Skinny dip has a range of bendy cases that look to provide a bit of protection from drops and scratches, and every case comes with a screen protector, which is important as the screen bezels won’t stop a smash if your phone drops face first.
The case feels nice in hand and your buttons are easily accessible when using it, but I wouldn’t expect the case to protect your phone from a big impact.
The real selling point is the designs, though, and there are tons of fun choices to be had on the skinny dip website.
If you want your phone to look fabulous, Skinny Dip is the way to go.
- You can buy it .
Speck Presidio - £19.95
For anyone who’s looking for a tough case without the bulky profile that comes with other shock absorbing cases, the Speck Presidio is a good option.
It’s slim, comes in a mixture of simple and decorative designs and is drop tested to 10 feet.
The bezels should prevent the screen shattering if you drop your phone flat.
And the smooth finish on this case type means it doesn’t snag on your pockets when you’re putting it away and taking it out.
The buttons are also very responsive, which isn’t a given with a lot of phone cases.
- You can buy it .
Incipio Esquire Series - £20
Incipio have some stylish designs for their iPhone cases which range from patterned plastics to interesting fabric numbers.
The Esquire Series I tested was blue fabric and felt nice in the hand and the buttons on the sides felt natural to use.
The protection around the back and sides seems decent with the hard shell protecting my phone from a few knocks.
But the bezels barely rise above the screen and I'd be worried about dropping my phone face down.
Maybe buy a screen protector with this one.
- You can buy it
Casetify: Classic Grip Case - £25
Casetify has a staggering number of designs for iPhone 6s/7/8. No matter how fussy you are, you’ll be able to find a design you like.
The model tested was the classic grip case for the iPhone 8 which seemed like it would be protective for small knocks and is drop tested to four feet.
Raised bezels protect the phone should it fall flat and it’s scratch protective as well.
The buttons are a little stiff and not quite as nice as the Speck Presidio’s, but it certainly isn’t unpleasant to use, and the sheer amount of choice you get in the design is a big plus.
Also, each case arrives in a beautiful box that makes them seem a little more special as a gift.
- You can buy it .
Casetify also makes glitter models of their cases which you can find .
And if you want to personalise a case, they have a range of options you can find - including uploading your own pictures and monogramming.
Snakehive flip case - £24.99
Snakehive produce a range of real leather phone cases at a very decent price.
Available for £24.95, you can buy this flip case in a number of different colours, all of which look pretty smart.
The plastic case within the wallet is pretty basic, but the leather exterior should protect your phone from most knocks.
The Snakehive range don't offer the highest spec protection, but they certainly look good.
- You can buy it
Otterbox Symmetry Series - £29.99
Otterbox has a reputation for making incredibly tough cases and equipment that will stand up to anything, and the Symmetry series case feels incredibly well made and solid.
It’s got a slim profile with nothing to snag on your pockets and has been through extensive drop-testing to ensure that it keeps your phone in one piece.
The designs range from plain and basic to clear and glittery along with some other funky designs, but these cases emphasise function over style.
The buttons are a little stiff and the design selection is limited, but I’d certainly trust the Symmetry to protect my iPhone from a tumble onto the pavement.
- You can buy it .
Mous Limitless - £29.99-£39.99
The Mous Limitless case feels premium from the moment you take it out its box and put it on your phone. That’s partly down to the materials used; you can get real leather (which I tested) along with real wood and a carbon fibre designs.
Simply put, the case it a delight to use. It feels excellent in the hand with responsive buttons and, judging by the testing videos, it should stand up to pretty much anything you throw at it - including being dropped from a 45 foot crane.
The black leather design looks very neat with its slightly curved bezels, although you can opt for a wood case if you’re feeling a little more quirky. It also comes with a hard-wearing screen protector to help avoid any scratches and scuffs.
The downside is the price: the leather case is £39.99, which is a lot to spend on a phone case any way you slice it (although, for what it’s worth, I think it’s worth it). The wooden models are currently on sale at £29.99 as is the carbon fibre model which feels a little more reasonable.
Buy it .
Otterbox Defender - £42.99
The Otterbox defender looks absolutely bomb-proof.
Not only does it have three layers of protection if you include the clip case, it’s also got a clever screen cover that still lets you use your fingerprint scanner.
This is the case for people worried about dropping their phone down a flight of stairs (which occurred in testing), or elsewhere.
It isn’t particularly good looking, but it seems damn-near indestructible.
- You can buy it .
The verdict
For me, the best all-rounder is the Speck Presidio. It's a tough case that can hold up to a beating, but it's slim and light with easy to use buttons and it has a decent range of designs for you to choose from - all at a great price.
My favourite case to use was the Mous Limitless, although I'd struggle to justify spending £40 on a phone case.
In terms of the best looking phone cases, I'd take the Casetify models. They've got a great range of designs and are better made than the Skinny Dip offering.
The most protective case we tested was the Otterbox Defender. If you plan on using your phone out in the elements or you drop things a lot, this is the case for you.