The best iPhone SE cases to get in 2021
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Here's our full iPhone SE 2020 review
Thin, light, clear, rugged or leather – there are iPhone se cases from all major manufacturers, including Apple's official ones for your precious new iPhone SE 2020. Well, at $399, or $229 with an iPhone 8 trade-in, it is not that precious, but still.
The new gear may start from the rock bottom $399 for the basic iPhone SE 64GB, but goes up to $549 for the 256-gigger, so you might want to order a case to protect it. On the other hand, Apple's repair services that have risen in price for the past few years, are just $79 for the iPhone SE 2020, which is the price for a good case and screen protector.
That is why we looked at the best available wrappers for your new pride and joy, and boiled down our choice to a few tried and true lines, as well as some promising newcomers that will bear the brunt when your iPhone SE 2020 hits the ground and doesn't run. As we all know, it's not a matter of if, but rather when. First, the most pressing question:
Will my iPhone 8 case fit the iPhone SE 2020?
Yes. While Apple discontinued the iPhone 8 and took it off the market on its website, together with all the accessory mentions, the iPhone SE dimensions and buttons/camera positioning are absolutely identical with the iPhone 8, so you can continue using your old wrapper. The logo may sit slightly lower if the case has a cutout for it on the back, as its positioning is a bit different on the SE 2020 edition, and that's that.
The best iPhone SE 2020 cases
Peel iPhone SE clear case
As usual, Peel makes the most minimalistic, most elegant case you can clothe your tiny iPhone SE in 2020. We are giving the clear model as an example, as it takes the "barely there" case mantra to a whole new level, but the wrapper is available in every other color combo that the SE ships in.
Adding just 0.35mm, the Peel case is as seamless around your iPhone SE as they come, yet there is a raised lip around the camera lens and at the front for added protection of protruding parts.
There is no logo, no branding, nothing but the iPhone SE back clearly visible through the case itself. Getting out of the way is Peel's specialty, and we are all the more thankful to the brand for it.
Apple iPhone SE Silicone Case ($35)
If you want to buy something brand spanking new and designated for the SE 2020 from the get-go, though, instead of recycling your greasy iPhone 8 case, you can hardly beat Apple's official silicone one. While pricey at $35, the line is one of the most popular among official Apple accessories, not least because people just shop a case together with the phone on Apple's website and don't bother to look elsewhere. A lining protect the iPhone from drops, while the soft-touch cover provides that extra grip.
Apple iPhone SE Leather Case ($45)
Looking for a bit more class added to your iPhone SE 2020 compared to those silicone or plasticky cases that are in abandon all around us? Apple has you covered with a case made from tanned and exclusively finished European leather that will grow old with grace and dignity. For a steep $45 price, though the various colors and the feeling in your hand may be worth it.
Spigen Thin Fit for iPhone SE 2020
We promise, we are done with Apple's cool but expensive cases. Spigen offers some really nice cases and the Thin Fit case is one of them. This great iPhone SE case is made by hardened polypropylene - you know, the stuff that plastic shopping bags are made of, it would literally fit like a glove around the iPhone SE. It offers thin, stylish, and unassuming protection without obstructing the phone's curves or looks. Best of all, it costs $15 over at Amazon, and is often discounted, much less than the official Apple silicone case.
Case-mate Naked Tough case for iPhone SE 2020
Not all that glitters is gold, but the Naked Tough line of Case-Mate strikes the balance between a thin and light case that comes in various hues, including a clear model, and a more stringent approach to protection than "barely there" cases. You still get that light feel, but the wrapper offers military-grade protection, and is more adept at enduring bumps, drops and other adversities without relaying them to the phone inside. The cherry on the top? It comes in a variety of glittery and iridescent finishes to make for a cute iPhone SE case to spruce up your looks.
Spigen Tough Armor for iPhone SE 2020
Grading up in protection while still keeping the phone in your pocket relatively thin is Spigen's Armor series, which also offers a small integrated kickstand that comes in handy pretty often. It is done with dual-layer protection that Spigen calls Air Cushion - one more flexible and absorbent, and a tougher external layer, and offers sloping sides for an ergonomic grip, as well as a kickstand, not that you will be needing it much for the 4.7" display of the iPhone SE 2020.
Spigen Tough Armor for iPhone SE 2020
Otterbox uniVERSE for iPhone SE 2020
Otterbox is most famous with their Defender series of cases that come with triple-layer protection, including one for the screen, but they do add significant bulk to your handset, while the firm has a more intriguing line, uniVERSE, to boast with, too.
This iPhone SE case from Otterbox is still rugged, but more elegant, and comes with a rail system that allows you to fit in extra batteries, card readers, camera lenses, and other modules that make your phone more versatile while protected at the same time. An iPhone SE wallet case the modular system it is not, though.
Otterbox uniVERSE for iPhone SE 2020
Speck CandyShell Grip iPhone SE 2020 case
Speck's creation offers something much desired besides protection for your iPhone SE 2020 - namely traction in the hand. The thin but tough case offers rubberized ridges that make grasping and holding your phone much easier, and is available in several color combos - from stylish to jolly, including a pink/blue combo, fully complying with its CandyShell model name branding.
Speck CandyShell Grip iPhone SE 2020 case
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