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The best new Apple iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro cases: Protect your precious new tech in serious style
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It’s finally official: Apple debuted the new series of Apple iPhone 16 models (now up for preorder) during the “It’s Glowtime” event this week, showcasing devices with on-board AI features, better audio and video, new colors and much more. The new phone also includes the new A18 chip with 8GB of RAM that’s 30% faster than the previous iPhone 15 lineup.
The new Apple iPhone 16 is set to hit stores on September 20, with pre-orders starting on Friday, September 12. But don’t pre-order the new iPhone without also ordering a new case. You’re going to want to protect your new investment the second it arrives — breaking it on Day 1 would be a really expensive heartbreaker.
Whether you’re into a clear case that’ll show off one of the new phone colors or whether you need something rugged enough to handle serious drops, we found a handful of iPhone cases from trusted brands you’ll love using. Here are our top iPhone 16 case picks that you can get right now.
The best new iPhone 16 cases you can get now
We recommend protecting your new Apple iPhone 16 with a phone case from a reliable brand that’s guaranteed to fit your new phone. Lesser-known brands that do not partner with Apple may not offer cases that fit correctly at first.
Best iPhone 16 case: Casetify customizable Ultra Bounce case
Casetify
Casetify is known for its wide range of customization options on its cases, and its iPhone 16 options are no exception. When you choose an Ultra Bounce case for your iPhone, you get some of the best protection you’ll find for your new device. It features rubber bumpers on each corner of the phone, so if you happen to drop it the first night you bring it home and the next night after that too, you’re more than covered.
It comes equipped with an 10x military-grade drop standard and up to 32.8 ft of drop protection. It also covers your phone from all angles, as it encases your device in a multi-piece case. It’s meant to travel as well, with an added carabiner slot. It also comes with integrated lens protection and six layers to keep your phone safe. You can choose your favorite colors and features as well, so you can make it match your personality. It’s got everything you could need to keep your iPhone 16 as safe as possible, and you can’t beat the cool factor, either.
Best thin iPhone 16 case: Totallee Super Thin iPhone case
Totallee
If you’re not into bulky cases that don’t quite fit into your pocket, Totallee is the brand for you. This super thin case is a minimalist’s delight, with no bulk and no branding so your phone is left to shine on its own merits. It’s just 0.02″ thick, and incredibly light at 0.1 oz, made specifically to fit your iPhone.
Though it’s available without MagSafe, you can opt for a version that’s compatible so you can drop it on a charger and go. Plus, it has a raised lip around the camera array in case you have any drops or falls and your camera takes the brunt of it.
Keep in mind that it won’t offer the utmost protection like other cases will, but it’ll keep your phone thin and good-looking, and if that’s what you’re looking for, you can’t do any better than Totallee.
Best rugged iPhone 16 case: Urban Armor Gear Monarch Pro Kevlar iPhone case
UAG
This durable case is crafted from DuPont Kevlar fiber, which makes it a fantastic option if you’re looking to keep your brand new purchase in great condition. It boasts 25 ft. drop protection, with multiple layers between you and your phone hitting the pavement or other hard surface that could find its glass shattering, or its chassis getting banged up. Plus, its shock-resistant core absorbs and disperses the impact to minimize damage.
This case is all about safety for your device, and it shows in just about every facet, from the top-grain leather carbon fiber frame to the polycarbonate shear plate that adds a bit more rigidity. It also has lanyard anchor points so you can wear your phone or keep it close to you. All this, and it’s also MagSafe compatible as well. So if you’re serious about keeping your phone as close to new as possible, this is a case that can make it happen.
Looking for a slightly more affordable rugged option? Check out the OtterBox Defender Series for MagSafe designed for the new Apple iPhone 16. Available in six colors, the case features three layers of defense: a silicone cover, a rigid inner shell and memory foam backing. The all-over texture makes it easier to hold without dropping it. The case also features port covers that block dirt.
Find it at OtterBox for $65. You’ll save 10% when you buy a case and screen protector or power product together.
Best budget iPhone 16 case: Spigen Liquid Air case
Amazon
Spigen routinely offers a variety of affordable cases that you can count on for your different devices, and it’s already shown off quite a few iPhone 16 options. For under $20, you get an attractive thin yet grippy case crafted from TPU that can keep your phone protected from falls and drops. Its matte texture comes in five different colors, and it helps you keep your hand on your phone even when you get sweaty or if your phone somehow gets wet.
The case’s air cushion tech keeps it from getting too damaged by absorbing any impact that occurs as the result of a drop. Beyond that, the case has raised edges to protect both your screen and camera array. It’s a great set of features for a case you can get for less than a fast food meal these days for two people, and Spigen is a good brand to come back to if you need protection for your other devices.
Best leather iPhone 16 case: Mujjo full leather case for iPhone 16
Mujjo
Sure, you could go with something chic and thin, or you could get a huge, rugged case to protect your new phone. But if you want to go the cool and classy route, leather is always a good choice, and Mujjo is just the brand to get your leather iPhone case from. Crafted from Velore full-grain leather calfskin from the Netherlands, this is the real deal. It feels like butter and will develop a natural patina over time that you only get with the genuine article.
But this isn’t just a leather case that’ll do nothing to keep your iPhone 16 from splintering or shattering. It’s also paired with a metal rear camera bump to protect your lenses and a 1mm raised leather bezel to keep your screen from hitting rough surfaces. It replaces Apple’s selection of leather cases since they’re no longer available anymore, and Mujjo offers higher quality leather anyway.
Police arrested a man on murder charges this month, 14 years after he allegedly killed a man in Virginia, but the victim’s body has never been found.
Shane Ryan Donahue, a Virginia man, is presumed deceased, the Prince William County Police Department said Tuesday. He was last seen leaving his parents’ home in Nokesville, Virginia, on March 22, 2010. Donahue, 23, was headed to his house in Nokesville, but never made it there.
Donahue was added to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System after he vanished. According to records, Donahue did not have a car and regularly got rides from friends. He frequented Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Fauquier County, Virginia, and Northern Virginia.
The case stumped investigators, who followed a number of leads over the years. This spring, detectives reactivated the investigation and started looking at every detail of the case from scratch, officials said. They revisited people who had been interviewed during the initial investigation and reviewed “digital evidence in greater detail due to advances in analytical technology and modern police investigative practices,” according to a news release.
Officers said Donahue was last seen leaving his parents’ home with Timothy Sean Hickerson, now a 43-year-old Florida resident. Investigators connected Hickerson to a burglary at Donahue’s home that happened just days before the Virginia man disappeared.
Detectives got an arrest warrant this month and, with the help of Florida’s Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, Hickerson was taken into custody in Palm Coast, Florida. Hickerson was charged with murder and burglary, is now set to be extradited to Virginia.
Former President Donald Trump, an avowed proponent of tax cuts, is floating the idea of reversing a measure passed during his tenure in the White House that effectively raised taxes for many U.S. homeowners.
In a post Tuesday on Truth Social, Trump suggested he would scrap a $10,000 cap on deducting state and local taxes (SALT) that was passed as part of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act — a massive revamp that he has said boosted economic growth.
Now, in the run-up to the November election, Trump said in the post he would “get SALT back, lower your taxes, and so much more,” although he stopped short of offering details. Trump made the post ahead of a speech he’s giving Wednesday at the Nassau Coliseum on Long Island.
Trump’s new proposal for getting rid of his $10,000 SALT deduction cap comes as the presidential hopeful is pitching several additional tax cuts that would, if enacted, reduce taxes for major groups of voters. He’s also vowed to eliminate taxes on Social Security benefits, a pledge that could get support from the nation’s senior citizens, as well as to end income taxes on tipped workers and on overtime pay, ideas that would help lower- and middle-income Americans.
Yet Trump’s reversal on the SALT deduction has sparked skepticism from lawmakers as well as economists and policy experts.
“So … now Trump is against the SALT tax cap which *checks notes* is a key part of the — only — major piece of legislation passed during his administration?” noted Chris Koski, a political science professor at Reed College in Portland, Oregon, on X.
Rep. Tom Suozzi, a Democrat from Nassau, Queens, said in a statement on Wednesday that he is “happy that the former president is saying that he has finally reversed his devastating decision in 2017 to cap the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction.” He also urged Trump to convince Republican lawmakers to vote to restore the full deduction “if he is truly serious.”
The SALT deduction cap “has been a body blow to my constituents for the past 7 years,” Suozzi added.
Senator Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, wrote on X,”Donald Trump took away your SALT dedications and hurt so many Long Island families. Now, he’s coming to Long Island to pretend he supports SALT. It won’t work.”
Asked for details about Trump’s proposal to restore the SALT writeoff, a spokeswoman for the Trump campaign told CBS MoneyWatch: “While his pro-growth, pro-energy policies will make life affordable again, President Trump is also going to quickly move tax relief for working people and seniors.”
Here’s what to know about the SALT deduction.
What is the SALT deduction?
The state and local tax deduction allows taxpayers who itemize to deduct property taxes, sales taxes and state or local income taxes from their federal income taxes. Prior to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, there was no limit on how much people could deduct through the SALT deduction.
But the 2017 tax overhaul passed under Trump limited the deduction to $10,000 – a blow to many homeowners in states with high property taxes, many of which are Democratic leaning. At the time of the law’s passage, the Treasury Department estimated that almost 11 million taxpayers in high-tax states like New York and New Jersey would forfeit $323 billion in deductions.
Who benefits from the SALT deduction?
Homeowners with high property taxes, such as people in New York, New Jersey and California, were the biggest beneficiaries of the the full SALT deduction.
But some experts also noted that the SALT deduction primarily put more money in the pockets of higher-earning Americans. About 80% of the full SALT deduction had helped people earning more than $100,000 a year, according to the Tax Foundation.
What happened after Trump capped the SALT deduction at $10,000?
The limit has increasingly impacted middle-class homeowners across the U.S. because of rising property taxes and incomes. Some lawmakers have also sought to either repeal or increase the SALT cap, but none of those efforts have borne fruit.
Earlier this year, some lawmakers sought to double the SALT deduction cap to $20,000 for married couples, with the change retroactive for the 2023 tax year. But that bill was blocked in the House in February.
Won’t the SALT deduction cap expire anyway?
Yes, the SALT deduction cap is a provision that’s due to expire in 2025, as are many other parts of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, such as a reduction of the individual tax brackets. But Trump has previously indicated he wants to extend the provisions in his signature tax law.
How much would it cost the U.S. to repeal the SALT deduction cap?
It won’t be cheap, according to the the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a think tank that focuses on budget and policy issues.
Eliminating the $10,000 deduction limit “would increase the cost of extending the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) by $1.2 trillion over a decade,” the group estimates, adding that such a measure would be a “costly mistake.”
Extending the TCJA’s tax cuts would increase the nation’s deficit by $3.9 trillion over the next decade, the group estimates. By adding in a expiration or repeal of the SALT deduction cap, that would grow to $5.1 trillion, it added.
“Lawmakers should not extend the TCJA without a plan to – at a minimum – offset the costs of extension, but ideally the plan would raise revenues relative to current law and help put the nation’s debt on a better trajectory,” the group said in a statement.
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