The iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are Apple’s most powerful and feature-packed phones yet. In addition to bringing the usual compulsory hardware upgrades, both of the new flagship iPhones arrived with a brand-new design with a sleek anodized aluminum chassis. Their exteriors are incredibly durable but somewhat susceptible to scratches and scuffs after a drop. Simply put, a case is a must on these phones, even more so than on the impossibly thin iPhone Air.
Thankfully, every iPhone always gets a ton of love from tech accessory makers, leading to the best selection of protective cases for consumer gear. Whether you are looking for a basic slim case or a rugged cover to make the iPhone 17 Pro indestructible, you won’t be short on choices that will safeguard your pocket-sized four-figure investment. Since the market is chock-full of great options, I've spent the past few weeks post-launch sifting through and testing 17 Pro and Pro Max cases to find the ones that keep your phone safe without sacrificing style or functionality.
Zagg’s Santa Cruz Snap case is often the first case that comes to mind when someone asks me how to cover their iPhone 17 Pro or Pro Max. The mostly clear design showcases the original color of your phone, while treating it to superb resistance against damage from scratches and drops. Manufactured using graphene — an incredibly strong, aerospace-grade material —it protected the phone from a 13-foot tumble without adding too much bulk.
The attention to detail throughout the Santa Cruz case is quite impressive. Its frame has textured sides to enhance the device’s handling, and the non-essential camera plateau aluminum surface is covered to prevent it from scratches. Best of all, the product comes with an integrated metal stand that is incredibly sturdy. It can hold the iPhone 17 Pro in both landscape and portrait mode.
Depending on your preferences, you can order the clear Zagg Santa Cruz Snap case with color accents of your choosing: Black, white, blue, pink, silver, and titanium. Manufactured with recycled materials, the case won’t lose its transparency over time.
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The elaborately named Spigen Ultra Hybrid T MagFit is the case to get if you want to safeguard your iPhone 17 Pro without overspending. This sub-$20 cover offers an amalgam of sleek design, price-defying ergonomics and tactility, and solid damage protection. Despite the impulse-buy price, it has useful protective details like tactile button covers, including one for the iPhone 17 Pro’s camera control key.
Featuring the accessory maker’s signature Air Cushion tech, i slim case can absorb impact from drops surprisingly well. I like that it also covers the device’s massive camera plateau to protect it from scratches and scuffs.
Spigen offers the Ultra Hybrid T MagFit case in transparent and semi-translucent finishes with a solid-color back that perfectly matches the iPhone 17 Pro hues. A matte black version is also available for those who want a more subdued color option.
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Impressively slim, the Mujjo wallet case is my favorite option for carrying cards and cash on my iPhone 17 Pro. The back pocket holds up to three cards, so it has just enough space for an ID and a couple of credit cards. Conveniently, the case is MagSafe-compatible when the cards come out, which is rare for a wallet case.
Like all Mujjo cases, this wallet offering is made with luxurious materials, including genuine leather and a recycled microfiber interior. Its metal button covers and camera rings complement the soft leather perfectly, similarly to the metal zipper and snap buttons of a fine leather jacket.
Mujjo offers the case in several colors. The brand also makes an elegant leather case with a slimmer profile if you don't need an all-in-one option.
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Nomad has, historically, made the best leather cases for the iPhone, and the brand's streak continues with these 17 Pro cases. Crafted using premium Horween leather, it gives your iPhone a refined look without compromising on drop protection. And, like all leather accessories, it gets better with age, as it will develop a unique patina over time. In a year or so, your case will look as distinctive as it does handsome.
I love the case’s aluminum button covers, especially the textured ones for the iPhone 17 Pro’s power and action buttons. Its protective camera ring is crafted from the same metal.
Nomad's leather case comes in black or rustic brown. The brand also makes a leather-clad rugged case if you are looking for enhanced drop protection.
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The Native Union (Re)Classic Case 3.0 is the best vegan leather option for protecting the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max. Its leather-like finish has a decidedly luxurious look. I really like the unique texture on the back and sides, which improves grip in addition to giving it a distinctive style.
Despite its slim build, the (Re)Classic provides robust damage protection, thanks to a recycled polycarbonate shell, soft microfiber interior, and raised edges that can help the device successfully survive a six-foot tumble.
The Native Union (Re)Classic Case 3.0 is available in black, navy, slate green, and tan. Every color option has matching metal button covers.
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The all-new Apple TechWoven case features a recycled polyester woven fabric with multi-color yarns, which gives it a distinctive look and feel. I loved how the grip fit in my hand, and the tactility of its metal button covers. And thanks to a TPU bumper, it also provides reliable protection against drops.
Best of all, the TechWoven case colors — black, blue, Sienna, and purple — are a great match for the iPhone 17 Pro's unique shades.
As always, Apple also offers clear and silicone cases for the iPhone 17 Pro. Both cost less than the TechWoven, but I think the feel of the weave and the metal button covers are worth the splurge.
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The Zagg Rainier case is my go-to for maximum protection if you're okay with a bulkier phone in your pocket. Its multi-layer build and USB-C port cover make the iPhone 17 Pro practically impervious to damage in the event of an accidental drop. According to the brand, the graphene case will protect a phone from a drop as high as 22 feet.
Unlike other rugged cases, the Zagg Rainier features an integrated metal kickstand, which can hold the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max in landscape and portrait mode. This feature is perfect for streaming video, gaming with a wireless controller, or scrolling through social media feeds during lunch breaks, among many other activities.
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The Rokform rugged case provides similar bulk and protection as the Zagg Rainier, but has an extra trick up its sleeve: The case uses industrial-strength magnets to establish an extra-secure connection when you stick it on a MagSafe charger or attach an accessory.
It also features an even sturdier hardware mount with a locking mechanism that pairs perfectly with Rokform's car, bike, and motorcyclemounts.
In a manner befitting its no-nonsense looks, the Rokform is exceptionally rugged. Its durability meets military-grade standards, and it comes with a camera plateau cover to keep the lenses safe.
The magnetic case has a black frame, with a choice of two back covers: carbon fiber or clear. The former has a matte finish, so it’s less prone to smudges.
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The Arc Pulse is made for iPhone lovers who would rather not use a case at all. Rather than a full shell, it's a pair of machined aluminum bumpers that attach to the top and bottom of the phone, leaving the phone's aluminum unibody, buttons, and ports exposed. Weighing only a tad over half an ounce, it is also incredibly light.
By covering the front and back edges, as well as the camera bump, the Arc provides optimized protection that works very well if you drop your phone on its most sensitive spots. Its dual-layer construction, with an impact-absorbing interior, helps the iPhone 17 Pro survive drops from up to 10 feet, so long as it lands on a corner, the top edge, or flat on its back. Things won't go quite as well if an edge or a rock hits it center mass.
I like the Arc Pulse because it makes me feel like I’m using the iPhone 17 Pro without a case while reliably covering its most vulnerable bits. It also comes in several eye-catching aluminum finishes — from matte black to polished gold. The range-topping Pulse is crafted from titanium with an onyx black finish.
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Urban Armor Gear's Monarch Pro cases provide a unique combination of distinctive, decidedly utilitarian design, superb drop protection, and, yes, a luxurious build made from metal and a choice of vegan leather, carbon fiber, or kevlar. The materials give the case a comfortable feel, while making other rugged cases look generic in comparison.
The Monarch Pro can protect the iPhone 17 Pro survive drops from up to 25 feet. That's a remarkable feat for a protective case that's noticeably slimmer than rugged rivals from other makers.
You can order the Monarch Pro in a choice of several materials, each paired with metal inlays in black, silver, orange, or red. If you don't care so much about the premium materials, the UAG Pathfinder is a great rugged option with a similar look, but a lower price tag.
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OtterBox has always been synonymous with uncompromising toughness, and its cases are always a solid choice for any new phone. For the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, I'd recommend the Symmetry Series case, which gives you the brand's signature durability in a slimmer, lighter form factor.
Despite its slim profile, the Symmetry Series exceeds military-grade durability standards several times, guaranteeing that it will reliably keep your phone damage-free if it drops. It lacks the port covers found on beefier OtterBox cases, but that's a fair compromise for a strong case with a thin build.
OtterBox offers the Symmetry Series case in a wide selection of designs. Those range from clear and semi-translucent options to solid colors, all the way to cases with playful patterns.
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I've tested every iPhone release for over a decade, which means I've also tested hundreds of cases along the way. Over the years, I've looked at options from the most prestigious accessory-makers to cheap imitators. This year, I handpicked a set of cases from Apple and proven third-party makers like OtterBox, Spigen, and Zagg, among others.
The cases I selected range from minimalist to rugged to something in-between. The price points are just as diverse, with the most affordable case starting below $20. I have dressed my iPhone 17 Pro or iPhone 17 Pro Max in all of the cases on this list, so I can vouch for their qualities and possible shortcomings.
A case should, above all, be able to withstand bumps, scratches, and drops. That said, there is a spectrum of options that balance protectiveness, managing added weight and mass, as well as aesthetics. The most rugged cases are, by and large, also the bulkiest. They usually include a separate layer tasked with absorbing the impact of a drop, sitting underneath a hardshell exterior.
Of course, that kind of case will naturally make an iPhone 17 Pro, and especially the 6.9-inch Pro Max, unwieldy and less than pocket-friendly. Thankfully, the materials used in many iPhone cases allow for impressively slim designs that can adequately absorb impacts and scratches, so you don't need to treat your phone too delicately. (A little bit, though, is just smart safety sense.)
That said, there is a time and place for dressing your phone in a bulkier rugged case. If your phone often tumbles out of your pocket or otherwise takes a beating, I'd recommend a rugged case. Likewise, if you mount your phone on a bike stand or find it frequently falling into the hands of children, protection should probably take priority over a slim profile. The extra bulk will be worth it on both occasions, trust me!
In general, I always look for my phone cases to have raised edges to safeguard the device’s screen and camera plateau. Some accessories also come with covers to fully protect sensitive spots, so seek them out if you are looking for extra peace of mind.
Textured grips on the back and sides, metal button covers, and an integrated kickstand are three essential features that I like to keep an eye out for when shopping for a phone case. The first two are particularly important, as they make your iPhone 17 Pro easier to handle.
Metal button covers are a must if you are splurging on a leather case, while the kickstand lets you set up your phone on a table when you want to watch videos or play games with a controller. I alwayslook for a stand that will prop up the iPhone in both landscape and portrait modes.
Stefan is an award-winning consumer technology editor with over a decade of experience in reviewing gadgets, particularly smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, desktop and laptop computers across multiple form factors and platforms, as well as accessories for them. He also covers televisions and audio equipment, including headphones, earbuds, wireless speakers, and soundbars. Since joining Hearst in 2015, Stefan has contributed to BestProducts, Popular Mechanics, and numerous other publications. Prior to his current role, he served as the US Editor for GSMArena.com.
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