Best cases for the iPhone 5

We round up 33 of the best cases for Apple's iPhone 5 in our regularly updated article


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If you own an iPhone 5, you'll probably want to keep it safe and protect it from scratches, cracks and other damage. There are hundreds of cases out there to help you with that, so here, we've collected the best of those iPhone 5 cases in one place, so you can choose the one that suits you most. Whether you're looking for all-round protection, a way to personalise your iPhone or sleek case that protects but doesn't disguise the iPhone 5's design, we've got something for you.

See also: Should I buy an iPhone 5 or wait for iPhone 5S, iPhone 6?

AND: Best place to buy an iPhone 5

iPhone 5 Shell cases

Shell cases protect the back and sides of the iPhone, but leave the front bare. They're among the most popular type of case, but it's worth highlighting that you might want to pair a shell case with a screen protector. Many shell cases come with a screen protector included, so check before buying to find out whether your chosen case does too.

Griffin Designer Series

Price: £19.50

Griffin's Designer Series features a wide variety of limited-edition cases from some of the company's favourite artists and designers, including Elizabeth Foster, Josh Shearon, Rachel Karr and Ian White.

Proporta & Ted Baker Collection

Price: £29.95

Proporta has teamed up with fashion house Ted Baker London to bring iPhone 5 owners a collection of stylish cases to protect the device. There are also iPad versions of the Ted Baker cases available.

Musubo Retro iPhone 5 case

Price: £34.99

The Retro's design intended to evoke the look of an old-fashioned microphone, but we didn't realise this at first; it seemed more like some sort of skeletal ribcage. It should certainly keep your iPhone protected against minor bumps, but if you're looking for something more minimal, you might want to look elsewhere. It does come with an adjustable plastic stand though, which is a nice added touch.

Read more in our full review.

Be.ez LA Cover Allure for iPhone 5

Price: £20

Be.ez's LA cover Allure for the iPhone 5 is a snap on precision fit case with transparent sides and a stripy design in either Allure Black,Allure Estival, Allure color, Allure Shibuya and Allure White.

Belkin View Case

Price: £19.99

Belkin's View Case has transparent design to show off the new back plate of the device while protecting it from bumps and scratches.

Cygnett Urban Shield

Price: £19.95

This smart-looking case is also tough enough to provide good protection. The sturdy polycarbonate frame has a rigid plate of aluminium mounted on the back panel to deal with knocks and scratches, but also has a smart brushed-metal finish to give it a touch of Apple-esque style.

Read more in our full review.

Scosche GlosSee

Price: £20

With a variety of colours available, this soft iPhone 5 cover wins points for its sleek profile, which lets you enjoy the contours of the iPhone while protecting its back.

Read more in our full review.

Griffin Survivor

Price: £34.99

You could opt for one of Griffin's lovely soft wool cases, but for more extreme pursuits it's the Survivor that will keep your iPhone 5 safe. Available in a variety of colours – and with models for the iPad and iPhone 4/4S too – the Survivor is designed to meet UK and US military standards.

Read more in our full review.

Otterbox Prefix

Price: $24.95

Otterbox’s iPhone 5 cases include the Prefix, a protective shell with a rubber outer layer and free screen protector.

QDOS Metallics

Price: £19.99

These shiny iPhone cases are stylish but affordable. There are several designs available, Union Jack versions and two Mirror Stripe designs.

Belkin's Lego Cases

Price: $39.99

Belkin has teamed up with Lego to launch thie Lego Builder Case for iPhone 5 – every big kid's dream. Turn your iPhone into a buildable brick while also protecting it from bumps and scratches.

Cygnett ICON Collection

Price: £19.95

The team at Cygnett has been working with various designers to create the ICON collection. Among the iPhone 5 cases in the range is the cute ICON – Haven case, featuring a ,design from the animator behind Scarygirl, Nathan Jurevicius.

Griffin KaZoo for iPhone 5

Price: £19.99

If you're looking for something a bit more fun, there's always Griffin's KaZoo series. The quirky cases are made from silicone with a pleasing matt finish, and are available in a Monkey or Elephant design. They don't quite match the iPhone's sleek design, though.

Read more in our full review.

Case-Mate Creatures

Price: £20

In keeping with the animal theme, Case-Mate's Creatures iPhone 5 cases include a monkey, panda, penguin, peacock, elephant, giraffe, tiger, flamingo and bear design.

Griffin Mustachio Case for iPhone 5

Price: £16

Check out this facial hair. It would make a Victorian brigadier proud. Griffin's Mustachio case is a fun way to keep nasty scratches away from your iPhone.

MediaDevil Grafikcase

Price: £19.97

If you fancy adding your own personal touch to your iPhone 5, MediaDevil allows customers to choose their own photograph to be transformed into a protective Grafikcase for £19.97. Despite being quite flimsy, here at Macworld, we've been using one of the Grafikcases on our iPhone for more than a year and still love having our very own photograph on the back of our device.

Read more in our full review.

Gelaskins HardCase for iPhone 5

Price: $34.95

Gelaskins has made its popular HardCase available for iPhone 5, so customers can choose their own photograph to be printed onto the case or pick from a variety of arty designs that have been pre-made.

Follow Ashleigh Allsopp on Twitter / Follow MacworldUK on Twitter 

Next Page: iPhone 5 flip cases, folios and other accessories

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Comments

What are your views on this subject? Use the form below to post a comment on this article up to 1000 characters.

Comments received


Asifali32 said on Fri, 19 Oct 2012

Was looking for a real leather case ever since i got my iphone 5, found one by Love Gizmo(website below), i think nothing beats leather plus it has card and cash compartments, i was sold.

Www.lovegizmo.co.uk

PeterHolt said on Fri, 23 Nov 2012

I really prefer aluminum cases but all of them kill my signal. Only one I have foud that does not block the antennas are from EDGE Design www.edge-design.com

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