You can find plenty of cheap generic iPhone cases on Amazon, and some of them, like those from Supfine, sometimes dip below $10 in certain colors. I bought the light blue version for $13, but the black version is currently $7. I don’t know how well it will hold up over time or just how protective it really is (the company says it gets 10-foot military drop protection), but it has a nice look and feel to it with a soft-to-the-touch finish, even on its frosted transparent backside. The corners of the case are raised enough so that the case should provide reasonable corner and screen protection should you drop your phone, though I trust Otterbox and other tougher cases more. Also, there’s a raised camera guard on the back. This makes for a good starter case and is a good alternative for those who don’t want to shell out for Apple’s Silicone case, which offers about the same amount of protection. The one advantage Apple’s case has is that it has a touch-sensitive integrated control button cover while the Supfine case just has a cut-out of the button.

Type of access to camera control button: Cut-out for the button that leaves the button exposed.

Beats is owned by Apple, so its cases are technically Apple cases, though they appear separately from Apple’s lineup of cases for the iPhone 17 on its website. I wasn’t so impressed with Beats’ inaugural case effort for last year’s iPhone 16, but these second-gen Beats cases are substantially better. There are three models: Regular, Kickstand and Rugged. The Regular and Kickstand are the same case (it’s a nice-looking hard plastic case with a matte finish), but the Kickstand comes with a removable lanyard that converts into a kickstand). I personally prefer the Beats Rugged case, which is a little thicker and has some grippy tecure on the sides and also fully covers the bottom of your phone. It’s pricier but more special and protective. The sierra orange may be a little too bright for some folks — I like it because it makes your phone easy to spot — but it also comes in rocky blue, alpine gray and everest black.

Type of access to camera control button: Touch-sensitive integrated control button cover.

I liked Rokform’s new Slim Magnetic for the iPhone 16, which was geared toward folks who find its highly protective Rokform Crystal and Rugged cases a little too chunky. That model was recently released for the iPhone 17 Series (it’s well worth checking out), but the Crystal and Rugged cases are the most tough and durable models in the line. I prefer the Crystal because it’s got more design flair than the utilitarian-looking Rugged model.

Both the Crystal and Rugged cases have Rokform’s RokLok twist system and are specially designed to work with the company’s various mounts, including bike and motorcycle mounts, that are sold separately. While the Rokform Rugged and Crystal cases have a center magnet that allows you to stick the case to any magnetic surface, they’re MagSafe-enabled and compatible with wireless charging if you remove that center magnet (as shown in the photo). I also like to point out that the MagSafe ring is equipped with very strong magnets, so MagSafe accessories — Rokform sells some of those, too — adhere quite securely to the case. The cases are expensive, but Rokform offers discounts to first-time buyers on its site.

Type of access to camera control button: Both Rokform’s Crystal and Rugged cases have touch-sensitive integrated control button covers, which are new this year.

RhinoShield makes a few different cases for the iPhone 17 series, including the Solid X (around $40), which is somewhat plain looking but is indeed solid, and its clear case. I liked its AirX model for the iPhone 16, but that isn’t available for the iPhone 17, though the Mod X, which is a bumper case, is. It comes in a variety of color options and also comes in a version that includes a clear backplate, should you decide you want some protection for the back of your phone. But most people who buy bumper cases like the back exposed. According to RhinoShield, the case offers 11-foot drop protection and BPA, BPS and BPF-free (those are industrial chemicals used to harden polycarbonate plastics), so it’s more environmentally friendly.

Type of access to camera control button: Touch-sensitive integrated control button cover (“carbon nanotube capacitive touch sensor”).

Since I get a lot of iPhone cases in for testing, I often end up giving away a fair amount of them. More often than not, when given a choice between a few different top case options, friends and family select a Mous case, and this blue Marine case (pictured) is a hit. Maybe it’sbecause they’ve seen ads for Mous cases on YouTube or social media, in which the company drops a phone from a helicopter and it somehow survives the fall. While Mous cases aren’t rated for 1,000-foot drop protection, they do offer excellent protection and are quite slim, with backs that incorporate bamboo, carbon fiber, and various other materials. While they’re pretty pricey, all Mous cases have a lifetime warranty.

Mous also makes more standard Magsafe-enabled clear cases that cost less, and I included its IntraLock case in our best bike phone mount list. That case snaps into a bike mount, and Mous makes a variety of other MagSafe accessories, including a wallet, phone grip with kickstand and magnetic car mounts.

Type of access to camera control button: Touch-sensitive integrated control button cover.

Nomad makes some of my favorite leather cases, and its lineup of iPhone 17 cases hasn’t changed too much from what it was offering for the iPhone 16, except that it’s now making trimmed-down leather cases for the iPhone Air that leave more of the phone exposed (it’s a great iPhone Air case, but expensive at $89). Once again, its “sustainably-sourced” leather cases come in two grades of leather: the standard variety and a higher-end Horween that costs $20 more. They both develop a “rugged” patina as the oils from your skin interact with the leather over time. Nomad’s Traditional Leather case starts at $69, while its Modern Leather Case ($59) is a little cheaper because it’s not completely wrapped in leather (its sides aren’t wrapped).

If you’re looking for maximum protection in a leather-styled case, you can opt for the Leather Rugged ($79), which has 15-foot drop protection compared with the Modern Leather’s 8-foot drop rating. Nomad doesn’t give a drop rating for its Traditional Leather case, so one can assume it isn’t as protective. I can attest to it having at least a 4-foot drop protection because I’ve dropped my phone from that distance and it survived just fine.

I also like the Modern Leather Folio wallet case, though I wish it converted into a kickstand like some wallet cases do, and the more affordable Sport case ($50) and Rugged case ($50 — without leather). They’re both not leather cases, but they do look pretty slick. It’s also worth noting

Type of access to camera control button: Most of Nomad’s iPhone 17 cases, except for its iPhone Air cases, feature a touch-sensitive integrated control button cover, which is new for this year (they had cutouts before). Its new iPhone Air cases leave the button fully exposed.

Available in a few different striking color options and patterns, Pitaka cases are very thin yet offer a little more protection than some other ultra-slim cases. That’s because they’re made from “selected 600D aramid fiber, which is widely used in aerospace and military applications,” according to Pitaka. Unlike carbon fiber, “this fine-weaved case will not interfere with the signal and it is non-conductive, offering long-lasting protection for your phone, and preventing color fading and daily scratches.” All Pitaka cases are MagSafe-enabled using Pitaka’s MagSafe SlimBoard technology, and this year’s models feature a touch-sensitive integrated control button cover rather than a cutout for the button. While this case doesn’t offer serious protection from drops, it’s still better than not having anything on your phone. If you’re looking for a very slim, lightweight case, it should be near the top of your list, especially if you want an ultra-slim case to cover the iPhone Air.

Back in 2023, Minnesota-based Pad & Quill, which used to make some of our favorite leather wallet cases, morphed into Burton Goods, which now sells very similar premium leather cases for various Apple products. Arguably, the best option from Burton is the Modern Pocket Book Wallet case ($90), which is actually two cases in one. It includes a standalone case that has a leather back stitched onto the TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) case and an outer leather-clad wallet folio cover. The MagSafe-enabled standalone case adheres magnetically to the folio cover (the magnets are strong) and is removable, so you can easily charge your phone wirelessly. Like other folio cases of this style, it’s a tad bulky but stores multiple credit cards and a bit of cash.

As far as non-folio cases go, the fully leather-clad Heritage Leather ($80) case comes in three color options and is one of the best leather cases out there. Burton previously made a Luxury Modern Pocket Book Wallet case that included a Heritage Leather case for $130, but that combo currently isn’t available for the the iPhone 17. Burton Goods also sells a couple of magnetic MagSafe Wallet Stands that adhere nicely to the back of the case. Note that Burton Goods only makes cases for the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max.

Type of access to camera control button: The case that’s included with the Modern Book Wallet case has a cutout that leaves the camera control button exposed, while the Heritage Leather case has a touch-sensitive integrated control button cover.