Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

iPhone 13 case - Struggling with choice

*nix

*nix

macrumors member
Original poster
Sep 29, 2012
80
28
I'm after a new case for my new iPhone 13 but I'm overwhelmed with the choice that's available. I'm open to leather and non-leather suggestions, but camera and screen protection (raised edges) is a must. I've come across these which seem good:
  • Spigen Mag Armour
  • Torras Shockproof and Ultra Thin
  • Caudabe Sheath
  • Mous Limitless 4.0
  • Apple leather
  • Otterbox Commuter
  • Caseology Nano Pop
  • LifeProof SEE
The cut-outs for the buttons on the Caudabe, Spigen and Mous cases put me off a bit as they might let dust and dirt particles in. Happy to hear other people's experiences of this and whether it's an issue.

Any suggestions would be gratefully received. I'm in the UK, so I'd have to factor in shipping costs if buying from the US.
 
Last edited:
I've bought Spigen Tough Armor for all my iPhones since the iPhone 6+. Dropped numerous times, including face down. All were like new when I ultimately gave them away to relatives or traded them in.

www.spigen.com

iPhone 13 Case Tough Armor

Protect your iPhone 13 with one of our best selling phone cases. The Tough Armor case is packed with the latest extreme impact foam under durable layers without losing the slimness and grip to protect from everyday drops. Shop online today!
www.spigen.com www.spigen.com
 
  • Like
Reactions: MikeTheBohunk, Hombre53 and *nix
elvisimprsntr said:
I've bought Spigen Tough Armor for all my iPhones since the iPhone 6+. Dropped numerous times, including face down. All were like new when I ultimately gave them away to relatives or traded them in.

www.spigen.com

iPhone 13 Case Tough Armor

Protect your iPhone 13 with one of our best selling phone cases. The Tough Armor case is packed with the latest extreme impact foam under durable layers without losing the slimness and grip to protect from everyday drops. Shop online today!
www.spigen.com www.spigen.com
Click to expand...

Thank you :)
 
The Spigen Tough Armour is growing on me. That's a nice case.
 
Daniel Narciso said:
Apple leather cases are pretty good, good fit, good texture and strong MagSafe. Only issue is the leather being of lesser quality when comparing to 11 and prior generations.
Click to expand...
I like the look of the Apple leather case. I'd buy Midnight to go with my Midnight 13.
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
Just looking at Spigen Tough Armour. There's MagSafe and non-MagSafe. The MagSafe is slightly thinner (not sure if the camera bump is thinner as well) but a bit more expensive. Both in stock at Amazon UK.

I really like the look of Spigen Silicone Fit, but not sure if it providers much drop protection.
 
UK here.

All the expensive or major brand cases I've found are absolute garbage. JETech's clear TPU one is about the best engineered and costs very little: https://www.amazon.co.uk/JETech-Compatible-6-1-Inch-Shockproof-Anti-Scratch-HD-Clear/dp/B09BTKNGN5

I've got the 13pro version of it on mine. Had the 12 version on my 12 and the XR version on my old XR. Dropped the phones multiple times (including down a chalk hill at Seven Sisters) and no damage. They were all mint after a year.

They have all the important features i.e they actually fit properly, have a lip around the edge and the cameras and the buttons all work perfectly through the protective covers.

The only negative is they go slightly brown after a few months but meh, doesn't matter. If it does, just buy another one!

Edit: I have their iPad Pro case as well. That's not so good :(
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
  • Like
Reactions: MikeTheBohunk and *nix
Danfango said:
UK here.

All the expensive or major brand cases I've found are absolute garbage. JETech's clear TPU one is about the best engineered and costs very little: https://www.amazon.co.uk/JETech-Compatible-6-1-Inch-Shockproof-Anti-Scratch-HD-Clear/dp/B09BTKNGN5

I've got the 13pro version of it on mine. Had the 12 version on my 12 and the XR version on my old XR. Dropped the phones multiple times (including down a chalk hill at Seven Sisters) and no damage. They were all mint after a year.

They have all the important features i.e they actually fit properly, have a lip around the edge and the cameras and the buttons all work perfectly through the protective covers.

The only negative is they go slightly brown after a few months but meh, doesn't matter. If it does, just buy another one!

Edit: I have their iPad Pro case as well. That's not so good :(
Click to expand...
Interesting. Tell me more about your experiences with major brand cases.
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
I've been using Spigen cases since 2016, and haven't had any issue with them. My wife tends to destroy phones and cases, and broke 2 phones that were in an Otterbox case, before I just bought her a Spigen case. It's done its job, and the phone hasn't broken since.

I have a spigen tough armor for my 13 mini, but replaced it with an Apple silicone case in red, so I could get the magsafe stuff. If Spigen made a tough armor case with magSafe, or a mag armor in a color other than black, I'd buy that instead though.
 
  • Like
Reactions: *nix
There’s only ONE case I’d use on any iPhone. It’s by far the best case made (I’ve found).
A Loopy Case.
None other compare by a long shot (because no other case has a finger loop).
 
  • Like
Reactions: *nix
*nix said:
Interesting. Tell me more about your experiences with major brand cases.
Click to expand...
Well it sort of went like this:

Apple one - really sticky. Difficult to get in and out of your pocket. Falls to bits easily. Also the capri blue one attracts bees which is bloody annoying when you're out somewhere. Not much front protection or lip.

Apple leather - not even slightly durable. Scratches up instantly, no protection at all.

Otterbox - too bulky. Difficult to use the hardware controls, shattered when I dropped it

Clone Apple one - actually better than the Apple ones but poor fit.

Another generic TPU one - had a large gap at the bottom. Collected pocket fluff like a hamster trying to build a nest.

A friend had a Mous case which was absolute garbage as well.
 
  • Like
Reactions: *nix
I’ve only bought Spigen for years and I’m a giant klutz and my phone has survived hundreds of falls. Their screen protectors are also amazing.
 
  • Like
Reactions: *nix
Bandaman said:
I’ve only bought Spigen for years and I’m a giant klutz and my phone has survived hundreds of falls. Their screen protectors are also amazing.
Click to expand...
Did you buy a particular model of case or various models over the years?
 
*nix said:
Did you buy a particular model of case or various models over the years?
Click to expand...
I usually buy the Spigen liquid crystal because I like seeing my phone but I’ve tried many of their cases and they’ve all protected my phones very well.
 
  • Like
Reactions: *nix
elvisimprsntr said:
Leather is not going to provide much, if any, drop protection. Nor does it provide much of a raised lip around the display.
Click to expand...
It does have a lip, even if you have a screen protector on, the case still wraps around the phone like 1 mm further. Definitely enough to stop the screen from touching the surface of wherever you might be putting it.

Can‘t comment on the drop protection though, I haven‘t dropped mine. I think it ultimately depends on a lot of factors, like where the phone impacts exactly.

If you‘re „planning“ to drop it, I guess there are better cases out there.
 
  • Like
Reactions: *nix
I don't plan on using MagSafe, so I don't need a MagSafe-compatible case :)
 
Last edited:
Just to add another suggestion:
get one from BreakCabke. Used one for my X and it served me well, have one for my 11 Pro which serves me too well. My phone once slipped out of my pocket while riding my race bike… nothing. Hit the concrete with one corner and sure, there is a small scuff, but apart from that it and the phone are fine. Really couldn’t ask for more.
 
  • Like
Reactions: *nix
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back