Best iPhone 17 Pro Max cases

Pitaka Moment Aramid UltraGuard Case for iPhone 17 Pro Max
(Image credit: Pitaka)

The best iPhone 17 Pro Max cases have emerged to complement Apple's latest premium phone, which heads the iPhone 17 lineup unveiled by Apple. And there's plenty of reasons you're going to want to add some protection to your iPhone 17 Pro Max, starting with that phone's $1,199 starting price.

But there's more to the Pro Max than just a lofty price tag. As Mark Spoonauer found out in his iPhone 17 Pro Max review, Apple's latest premium device boasts some features worth protecting from an upgraded rear camera setup to a brighter display. Sure, you've got Ceramic Shield 2 on the front of the phone to protect from scratches, not to mention a backing coated with the original Ceramic Shield, but a case can still help you avoid catastrophic damage in the event of drop.

A quality phone case is exactly what you're looking for, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max cases I've found in my research come with drop protection as well as extra features in some cases, such as built-in kickstands, wallets, and lanyard attachments on the outside.

Read on to find the iPhone 17 Pro Max case to best fit your needs, lifestyle, and personal taste.

The best iPhone 17 Pro Max cases right now

What to look for in the best iPhone 17 Pro Max cases

First things first: When shopping for the best iPhone 17 Pro Max case to fit your lifestyle, make sure the case you're considering actually fits your iPhone. There are three different iPhone 17 models besides the Pro Max — that includes the brand new iPhone Air — and they're all different sizes.

What's more, the 6.43 x 3.07 x 0.34 inch iPhone 17 Pro Max is slightly larger than the iPhone 16 Pro Max and has a completely different back panel design, so the best iPhone 16 Pro Max cases won't work here. Make sure you're getting a case that specifies it's for the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

With that out of the way, you can expect to pay between $20 and $99 for an iPhone 17 Pro Max case, with most commanding around $60.

Here are a few other factors to keep in mind on your search for the best iPhone 17 Pro Max 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 high, 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: Several fashion-forward brands offer cases with 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 case companies driven by various green initiatives that use recycled plastics and other bio-friendly materials.
  • 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 17 Pro Max 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.

More from Tom's Guide

TJ Fink
Contributing Editor

As a freelance journalist, TJ has over a decade of multi-medium storytelling under his belt. Leveraging a quarter century of collective coddiwompling amid the ever-evolving landscape of wireless gadgetry, his unique editorial background allows him to explore a variety of tech-centric subsectors on this fascinating planet. When he's not field testing new gear in the Catskills, Adirondacks, or an actual field, he can be found sipping Negronis in his living room and crafting Dr. Seussian poetry inside a tattered moleskin.