The best iPhone Air cases may not have a lot of surface area to work with on Apple’s thinnest-ever iPhone, but their job remains the same: protect your new smartphone – and do it style. With the Phone Air joining the latest crop of Apple's new iPhones, a new set of cases have emerged that aim to safeguard your phone from any damage.
Mind you, Apple has made sure that the phone is pretty durable on its own, as we discovered when trying to bend the iPhone Air. But even with new Ceramic Shield 2 material reducing the chance of scuffs of scratches, an iPhone Air case can make sure your $999 device doesn't suffer any permanent damage from an unplanned drop.
In searching for the best iPhone Air cases, I'm not just considering damage control, but also cases that show off the device's slender 5.6mm-thin frame. And I've kept an eye out for special features like built-in kickstands, wallets, and lanyard attachments on the outside. Ultra-tough materials like graphene, aramid fiber, and polycarbonate are a bonus.
Here's what I found when tracking down the top case options for iPhone Air owners.
The best iPhone Air cases right now
Best case overall
Colors: Ash/ Titanium
Materials: Polycarbonate, rubber
Weight: 1.8 ounces
Wireless charging: Yes
+ Advanced shock protection
+ Built-in kickstand
+ MagSafe and lanyard compatible
- Premium price
- Only one color choice
As its name implies, the Urban Armor Gear Plasma XTE for the iPhone Air creates a barrier of insulation around your new phone, starting with reinforced TPU bumpers and advanced air-soft corners to absorb shock during dastardly drops and finicky fumbles. The featherlight construction also allows for a slick, sleek profile that doesn’t take up too much space, and a built-in magnet module for MagSafe accessories adds to the value of a fairly pricey accessory. I also appreciate the hands-free kickstand for switching between between landscape and portrait mode and the case's oversized tactile buttons.
Best alternative
Colors: Black Cherry Pink, Black, Sandstone Beige, Cobalt Horizon Blue, Sea Kelp Green, Smoke Black
Materials: Graphene, recycled materials
Weight: 1.6 ounces
Wireless charging: Yes
+ Reinforced with graphene
+ Raised bumpers add protection
+ Multiple color choices
+ Lifetime warranty
- Lanyard not included
Featuring dual-layer construction, shock-absorbing bumpers and an integrated camera control button, the Zagg Rainier Snap comes in six pleasing colors. Like UAG's case, you'll also find integrated kickstand on the back lets you prop your iPhone Air. The shock-absorbing bumpers have been tested on 22-foot drops, and the frame has been fortified with graphene. This MagSafe-compatible case supports wireless charging, with anti-yellowing technology in the outer shell to keep your case looking spiffy for years to come.
Best wallet case
Colors: Black Tie Affair, Blues on the Green, Walnut Woods, Moving Mountains, So Jaded, Very Cherry Blossom
Materials: Polycarbonate
Weight: 1.7 ounces
Wireless charging: No
+ Affordable
+ Solid drop protection
+ Can hold four credit cards + cash
- Not compatible with MagSafe or wireless charging
Drop-tested 50 times from 6 feet high, the Smartish Wallet Slayer Vol. 1’s built-in air pockets keep your iPhone Air safe during the occasional spill, but it also holds up to four credit cards (along with a little cash). Raised edges around the screen and camera lenses keep scratches away, adding less bulk than you might expect. While the star feature for the Wallet Slayer Vol. 1 is its ability to do double duty as a miniature wallet, this classy case is also compatible with a few other useful accessories from Smartish, including a phone grip and crossbody loop.
Best minimalist case
Colors: Clear, Frosted Clear, Frosted Black, Navy Blue, Green, Red
Materials: Polypropylene
Weight: 0.2 ounces
Wireless charging: Yes
+ Minimalist design
+ MagSafe-compatible
+ Multiple color choices
- Minimal drop testing
- No extra features
Weighing in at a measly 0.2 ounces and measuring just 0.02 inches thin, the Totalee Scarf is touted as “the world’s thinnest case,” and it’ll hug the iPhone Air like a custom-fit flannel neck gaiter. The raised lip around the camera adds a little protection for those lenses, but the real draw is that barely-there design that’ll slip in and out of your pocket, but not out of your hand. The Totalee Scarf may lack the extra features and ruggedness of other cases on this list, that’s kind of the point.
Best leather case
Colors: Basalt, Black, Tan
Materials: Velore leather, polycarbonate
Weight: 1.4 ounces
Wireless charging: Yes
+ Reasonably priced
+ Elegant leather design
+ Compatible with other accessories
- Limited color choices
The Mujjoo Full Leather Case adds an extra layer of panache to the already fashion-forward iPhone Air. Mujjo uses Gold Rated Danish calfskin leather and DriTan water-free tanning to craft its cases, along with recycled materials in the buttons, lining and shell. That makes for affordable, functional fashion statement that doesn’t forget about sustainability. The polycarbonate shell is complemented by a 1mm raised bezel to protect your screen and the base of the phone without obstructing the charging port.
Best aramid fiber case
Colors: Sunset, Moonrise
Materials: Aramid fiber
Weight: 0.7 ounces
Wireless charging: Yes
+ Minimalist design
+ Unique aramid fiber material
+ Compatible with other accessories
- Only two color choices
Available in two eye-catching color schemes, the Pitaka Ultra-Slim case is custom-crafted with aerospace-grade aramid fiber via the company’s Fusion Weaving process, which results in a silky-smooth texture designed to feel downright luxurious in the hand. At just 1mm thick, this case is as minimalist as it is strong, and it only adds an extra 20 grams of bulk to your phone. The aramid fiber finish is scratch-resistant, MagSafe-friendly, and wireless charging-compatible.
Best lanyard case
Colors: Real Quiet, Midnight Circuit, Fair Play, Xtra Hot
Materials: Polycarbonate, nylon fabric, thermoplastic elastomer
Weight: 1.4 ounces
Wireless charging: Yes
+ Built-in lanyard attachment
+ Raised edges to protect camera
+ Grippy, rugged finish
+ Solid drop rating
- On the pricey side
A lanyard case like the Otterbox Sole Series lets you strap your iPhone Air to your wrist at all times, so the phone stays close at hand. Otterbox's version comes with a lanyard bundled in, and this case strikes an excellent balance between fashion and function. The Sole Series features raised edges around the camera lenses and screen, built-in magnets to accommodate MagSafe accessories, and an integrated Camera Control button that gives you instant access to that awesome 48MP Fusion Camera.
Best eco-conscious case
Colors: 600+ different styles and designs
Materials: Flaxstic
Weight: Varies
Wireless charging: Yes
+ Sustainable manufacturing
+ Loads of designs choices
+ Grippy finish
- Premium price
If having an eco-friendly case is a priority for you, consider the Pela iPhone Air case, which is made from flax shive and a plant-based biopolymer, resulting in a product that's both compostable material and free of phthalates, BPA, cadmium and lead. Pela also offers a vast selection of unique colors and designs to choose from, like Electric Blue Backcountry Ski, which depicts the artistic sketch of a scenic mountainside. Looking for even more functionality? You can pair this case with the Pela Grip, so your phone never slips out of your hand again.
What to look for in the best iPhone Air cases
First things first: When shopping for the best iPhone Air case to fit your lifestyle, make sure you’re shopping for the right case model — especially since there are three more iPhones that just hit the market. What's more the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max are all different sizes with different camera arrays than the iPhone Air. If you buy a case meant for one of those models, it's not going to fit.
Expect to pay around $50 for an iPhone Air case, though we've included some less expensive options in our best iPhone Air case picks. (We've also found some cases that cost around $80, which is about the high end.)
Here are a few other factors to keep in mind on your search for the best iPhone Air case to match your needs, budget, and lifestyle.
- Build materials and drop protection: Whether the case is made out of silicone, rubber, polycarbonate, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), graphene, aramid fiber, or a combination of these shock-absorbing materials, look for a good drop rating to keep your featherlight iPhone Air protected from the occasional spill. Some smartphone cases are only meant to withstand drops of a few feet, while more hardcore competitors have a MIL-STD-810G-tested rating of 20 feet or more. Multiple materials (and layers) generally offer the best drop protection, but the toughest cases we’ve found are reinforced with graphene, rubber, and/or aramid fiber.
- Color/design options: Phone cases are an inherently mundane mobile tech accessory, but a variety of fashion-forward brands include textured designs, artsy skins, customizable shells, and built-in lanyard attachments to keep things interesting. Your phone is part of your identity these days, so why not choose a case that identifies with your own unique personality?
- Environmental impact: Smartphone manufacturers are continuing to emphasize the sustainability angle of their devices, and case makers are following suit. Look for iPhone Air cases driven by various green initiatives that use recycled plastics and other bio-friendly materials, such as the Flaxstic featured in Pela cases.
- Extra features: The primary purpose of any quality case is to protect the gadget inside it, but our favorite models include such premium features as lanyard or kickstand attachments; built-in port covers; hidden pockets; built-in magnets (for wireless charging), and other bundled accessories.
How we pick the best iPhone Air cases
We base our initial rankings on word-of-mouth and customer reviews, paired with our own comprehensive research into the new cases that come out every time someone releases a phone. In some instances, we may call in cases for additional hands-on testing, and we revisit our picks to see if any new cases have come along.
When evaluating each phone case, we consider overall protection; quality of build materials; color/design choices available from each brand; and any extra features that may be included. We also weigh all that against how much a phone case might cost. Because phone cases are such a personal choice, we also strive to include a variety of styles and brands to fit different myriad tastes and budgets.
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