Best iPhone X cases: how to protect your nearly bezel-less iPhone

Updated: New cases have been unveiled so we've added 10 more of them to our list, giving you even more options.

With a starting price of $999 / £999 / AU$1,579 the iPhone X is a phone you’ll want to keep protected more than any other, especially with the glass back and lack of bezels potentially making it more susceptible to damage than previous models.

Fortunately, there’s no shortage of ways to keep it safe, with dozens if not hundreds of cases already available, suiting just about every budget, style and need.

There are a lot of good ones out there, and a lot which aren’t so great, so we’ve selected some of our favorites to get you started. These cover a wide range of prices, looks and materials, so there should be something here you’ll like.

TechRadar has yet to use any of these cases in real life though and we've just put this collection together so you can see the different looks, features and designs of the cases on offer.

We'll be adding more cases to this list as time goes by and as we see more options appear on the market, too.

Note: we've ranked these from cheapest to most expensive according to prices at time of writing.

Here, you can check out the best iPhone 8 cases

With the JETech Protective Case you’re getting a lot of case for not very much money at all. It’s a black TPU case – so far so basic, but it has a carbon fiber design, giving it a bit of flair, and a textured frame for extra grip.

This JETech case also has a built-in metal kickstand, so you can prop your iPhone X up for hands-free viewing, while air cushion technology gives you more drop defense than you might expect.

Ultimately it’s a fairly plain case, and you can get more protection elsewhere, but it looks to strike a good balance between features and price.

TOZO claims this is the world’s thinnest hard-shell case for the iPhone X and while we can’t be sure whether that’s true or not, it’s certainly very slim at just 0.35mm thick.

That makes it a great choice if you don’t want to add any bulk to your fancy new phone, especially given the low price of this case, which should make it all the more appealing if your bank balance is hurting after buying the iPhone X itself.

However, while it will offer some protection against scrapes, we’re not confident that a case this thin will do much to protect your phone from drops.

This is one of the cheapest iPhone X cases on the market right now and it should protect your phone from the odd scratch.

We don't think it'll be able to do much to protect your device if you drop it though and the gel material probably won't feel as comfortable on your palms as the glass that's on the back of the iPhone X.

Sometimes the simplest option is the best option, and the Spigen Ultra Hybrid iPhone X case is certainly simple.

It’s available in a range of colors, but they all include a transparent back, so you can see your iPhone X in full while keeping it protected.

It’s just a simple polycarbonate hard case, but it’s slim, has pronounced button covers so the buttons are easy to find and press, large cut-outs that can fit most cables, and it’s made from a non-slip material, so you’re less likely to drop your phone.

If you do still drop it though the case sports air cushioned corners, which should help keep your iPhone X in one piece.

Most of the options we’ve covered so far have been fairly plain, but the ESR Marble Pattern cover really stands out, with a marble design in black, blue, grey or white.

Beneath the surface it’s a thin and light TPU case, and there’s nothing clever going on here, so you’re only getting basic protection, but it includes a smooth, anti-scratch and anti-fingerprint finish, raised lips to protect the screen and camera, and a low price tag.

Desmay claims to be selling one of the very thinnest iPhone X cases.

In fact, it's thin enough that you'll still be able to use wireless charging, and the company claims this case will also give you "maximum protection", so hopefully this will protect your phone well.

If plastic’s not doing it for you, consider the Snakehive Walnut Wood case. This uses real walnut on the back, and there are other versions available which use different types of wood, including bamboo, rosewood, maple and cherry wood.

The use of wood gives the case a stylish, high-end and slightly unusual appearance which is sure to turn more heads than the average iPhone X case.

As the case uses real wood each one is also unique, and though this isn’t a wallet case there’s a handy credit card slot hidden away on the inside.

It’s also cheaper than you might expect. The only downsides we can see is that it won’t deliver as much protection as some of the bulkier cases, and although the back is wood the sides and phone holder are plastic, but that’s almost always the case with a wooden cover.

This one may be one of the best looking cases we've seen for the iPhone X so far and the super thin design means the case shouldn't make your phone much bulgier in your pocket.

It's uncertain how protective that vertical camera cut-out will be, but here you'll get the choice of a variety of colors including a bold blue and green. Those aren't colors you can buy the new iPhone X in.

This is perhaps the most protective case we've seen for the iPhone X so far. It looks to have a sturdy design that will ensure if you drop your phone it won't break.

That said, this isn't the most attractive case as you will lose the premium glass-backed design we've been excited about on the iPhone X.

Snakehive's premium leather iPhone X case comes in a variety of colors and uses matching stitching, which is different depending on what shade you opt for.

The listing for the Snakehive premium leather case does suggest it'll provide access for a 3.5mm headphone port, which the iPhone X famously doesn't have, so we're uncertain if there will be a few unnecessary gaps in the bodywork of the case.

That said, it looks great, plus you'll have three card slots and there's an even larger compartment so you can use your new iPhone X case as a wallet too.

Unlike the choice above, the Tech21 Evo Tactical won't protect the screen of your iPhone X, but you can always buy a screen protector to ensure you don't scratch up that 5.8-inch bezel-less display.

The design of this case should help protect it from drops, but it's currently uncertain if you'll be able to wirelessly charge your phone while it's in this case.

Combining style and protection, the X-Doria Defense Lux case has an anodized aluminum frame with built-in air pockets to absorb shock.

In fact, the case exceeds military drop test standards, so it should keep your iPhone X safer than most, but it also looks good, not just thanks to the aforementioned metal frame, but also because of the back, which comes in a choice of ballistic nylon, black leather, carbon fiber or wood.

That’s an interesting selection of materials, each of which will give the X-Doria Defense Lux case a quite different appearance to most other iPhone X covers.

You might understandably want to put protection first when buying an iPhone X case, and if so the Urban Armor Gear Feather-Light Rugged Case should make for a good option.

It combines a hard outer shell with a soft, impact-resistant core, plus skid pads on the back, which add up to a case that can meet military drop test standards.

It also sports a visually striking – albeit rather rugged – design, and as the name suggests it’s surprisingly light, thanks to a honeycomb structure which also aids its drop protection.

Wireless charging and contactless payments also work through the case, so you’re not losing any functionality.

This case is slim once again, but it's made of metal and has a magnetic clasp on the side to ensure your phone screen won't easily get scratched up.

It also has a military-grade drop protection certificate, so you can be certain this case will protect your iPhone X the time you inevitably drop it.

The Gear4 Battersea iPhone X case comes with the company's D30 impact protection, which should allow you to drop the phone without having to worry about it smashing.

There won't be any protection for your phone's screen while it's in your pocket - so you may want to buy a screen protector - but it comes with an attractive and comfortable soft touch finish on the rear and edges.

The OtterBox Statement Series Case at once wants to show your phone off and show itself off, as you can tell from the back, which is mostly transparent but has a large section of colored leather at the bottom.

This gives the case a far more distinctive, high-end look than your average transparent case, and being from OtterBox you can trust that it’s well-built. In fact, it’s passed over 24 tests lasting more than 238 hours to ensure it offers maximum protection.

This leather case won't take away from the bold look of the iPhone X's almost bezel-less screen, as it just sits around the back and edges of the phone.

The Nodus Collection Shell case gives easy access to the lightning port as well as the silent switch on the side, while raised leather parts will allow you to change the volume easily.

If you want a high-end case for your high-end phone you could consider an Ullu SnapOn case, as these are made from real leather and have a classy, expensive look.

This is also a case that’s available in a wide range of colors, from fairly normal blacks and browns, to pink, tangerine and even one with an army camouflage design.

Being a leather case, it doesn’t have all the high-tech drop protection of something like the Urban Armor Gear case elsewhere on this list, but it will provide some protection and look good doing it.

How about one of the most premium leather iPhone X cases on the market? The Greenwich Horo leather folio case looks phenomenal, but is a very expensive choice.

If you want to protect your phone and keep the high-end look of the iPhone X, this looks like it will be one of the best options money can buy.

This official Apple case is perhaps unsurprisingly one of the most expensive, but it goes some way to justifying the price tag, as it’s crafted from French leather, and unlike the Ullu case above it covers the front of the phone as well as the back, with a wallet-like design.

That means you get more protection and Apple’s also made use of the flap on the front by adding a couple of slots, which you can use to hold cash and cards.

The case will also wake your iPhone X up when you open it, and put it to sleep when closed, and it doesn’t prevent the phone from being wirelessly charged.