Best iPhone XS & iPhone X Cases 2020: Folio, Rugged, Shell Cases & More

We’ll start in the most obvious place, and that’s Apple.

This is by far the most expensive option directly from Apple for the iPhone XS. Apple no longer offers it for the iPhone X, although you might be able to find a third-party seller on eBay. 

The folio case gives you the additional protection of a front cover (which the other Apple cases surprisingly don’t have), and there is space for cards and notes, too.

The Leather Folio case covers the sides of the iPhone XS as well, thanks to an inner portion of the case that secures your iPhone in place.

The cheapest of Apple’s cases is the iPhone XS Silicone Case. You can find cheaper options from other brands, but you can’t get much of a better fit than a case made by Apple itself, and this one includes the Apple logo on the back, too.

Like the Leather Folio case, the iPhone X version is not available from Apple directly, but you can get it on Amazon instead US$29.99, which translates to roughly £23.76. 

There is a slightly raised edge on the front of Apple’s Silicone case to offers some protection to the screen, but it’s minimal so a screen protector might be wise.

And if you want to keep your screen as safe as the rest of the device, check our our round ups of the best screen protectors for iPhone XS and iPhone X.

Nodus has some gorgeous iPhone cases, including the Shell Case that fits both the iPhone XS and iPhone X. Available in brown, dark teal (pictured), taupe and grey, it’s made with leather for a premium finish and offers built-in magnetic docking. In fact, it comes with the Micro Dock too, which allows you to mount your iPhone XS/X virtually anywhere.

The magnetic docking feature originally caused some issues with wireless charging, but Nodus tweaked the design to resolve that issue.

Noreve crafts high quality premium leather cases for iPhone and a number of other devices. We had a look at its wallet case which can fit up to two cards and has a slot for cash as well. The case felt sturdy and light at the same time.

We especially like the finish of the leather, which was soft to the touch, and padded on the front cover for additional comfort. The only thing the wallet case doesn’t do, which we’ve seen in similar designs, is fold into a viewing stand, but that’s hardly a deal breaker. 

Noreve also allows you to choose from a number of colours and leather finishes, like grained leather, smooth, suede and more. Prices start at £43.61/$46.69 if you opt for synthetic leather.

The Pitaka Magcase is a super-slim carbon fibre case that includes metal plates for magnetic phone mounts, without any interference with wireless charging. It’s available for both the iPhone XS and iPhone X.

It’s sleek minimalist design is among our favourites for the phone, and if you’re worried about the screen, fear not: Pitaka also makes tempered glass screen protectors.

If you want to dress your iPhone X up in something fun, youthful and eye-catching, Velvet Caviar makes excellent options that are not only nice to look at but have a solid, premium feel.

We had a look at the stunning Holo Moonstone Marble case – it’s not real marble so you can be relieved knowing it is lightweight and not bulky.

Velvet Caviar’s cases are also compatible with wireless charging.

Moshi is another favourite of ours. You can expect well-designed cases that are both stylish and effective.

The clever loop strap and buckle design on the Capto is particularly impressive – you can use the fabric loop for additional grip when holding the case, while the metal buckle doubles as a multi-angle stand when once locked into one of the slots concealed under the strap.

You can also use the buckle to fasten the strap down when not in use. Excellent design thinking.

Casetify, like Velvet Caviar, offers a wonderful range of colours and exciting designs for the iPhone XS and iPhone X.

It recently launched a Pokemon Collection, which are selling out quickly. You can also customize your own case with Pokemon characters here.

We also like the Adeline Florals design (from £25/US$35) which glams the iPhone with a super high quality print on a transparent cover. The case is durable and solid with rubber grips on the side, which allows additional drop resistance.

You can even choose from different finishes and embellishments (like a glitter fill that swirls underneath the pattern).

This superbly well made card case for the iPhone XS and iPhone X is one of our favourites. It’s design is pretty unique, with a magnetic flap concealing room to slide in three cards of your choice.

While it adds a slight bump to the back of the phone it’s not too fat to still put in your pocket. There’s also gaps for a spare SIM and SIM tool if you need to swap over to your business number from time to time.

The build quality is excellent, and it comes in a range of attractive colours including this fetching navy blue.

This is a smart solution if you like carrying cash and cards with your phone all in one pocket.

jimmyCASE makes it easy with a cool wooden design with a slim elasticated pocket that can be as thin or as packed as you want – it’ll fit about three cards comfortably.

The rest of the case doesn’t cover the screen, but all round protection other in a case that turns your iPhone X into a wallet is great.

Ted Baker makes some stunning iPhone X cases that we think you’ll love, and they’re surprisingly well priced too.

There are simple shell cases starting at £25/$32, or folio cases that range up to £45/$55.

We particularly like the Mirror Folio case ($47/approx £37) which includes a mirror on the inside cover for practicality in addition to protection and style.

See the full range of cases here.

The Carbon Series from Proporta includes the iPhone X/XS Carbon Ultra, which is simple and sleek (it’s only 2mm thick) but thanks to the carbon-fibre design is also light and durable.

Despite only being available in black, it’s very affordable at just £8.10/US$7.49.

Another simple, clear case we like is Tech21’s Pure Clear, which features protective bumper edges and a double layer that is designed to protect from drops up to two metres.

Unfortunately, the version for the iPhone X is no longer available. 

We love the iPhone XS/X collections from Snakehive, which come in a gorgeous range of colours and styles at great prices. We’re sure you’ll find something to suit you.

From the Vintage Collection, for example, Snakehive’s Leather Wallet will protect both the front and back of your new iPhone. It has a magnetic clasp to keep the case securely fastened in transit, and doubles as a handy stand, too.

The case comes in a variety of colours, including Vintage Plum (pictured).

Other collections from Snakehive include the Pastel Collection, Wilderness Wood Collection and Slimline Wallet Collection.

Snugg’s Vision Series case for iPhone X lets the design of the phone itself shine through the clear TPU back, which has reinforced edges and a dual layer design to protect from bumps and knocks.

The bezels are raised to add protection to your iPhone’s display, too.

It’s available in a variety of colours and is brilliantly affordable. You can buy it now from Amazon.

Mous, one of our favourites, has a series of iPhone XS and iPhone X cases in a selection of different attractive finishes.

Choose from Walnut, Bamboo, Shell, Leather or Carbon Fibre designs, all of which allow access to ports and buttons and come with a free screen protector.

Olixar’s ExoShield is a hard shell iPhone X case with non-slip coating that should protect from bumps and scratches. It’s a bit thicker than some of the other cases listed here, but it does offer more protection and is still transparent to allow the iPhone’s design to shine through. Plus, it’s only £12.99/US$12.99 so it’s one of the cheapest cases you can buy.

There’s also a version for the iPhone X for £9.99/$5.99.

We really like this leather case from Mujjo, which offers a similar design to Apple’s offering but at a more affordable price point. It’s available in a few different stylish colours too.

The Mujjo case wraps around the back and sides of the iPhone XS/X really neatly, with a snug fit that feels nice and secure.

The inside of the case is lined with microfibre for an extra layer of scratch protection. Overall, it’s a sleek, simple and effective case that we really like. Bravo, Mujjo.

If you’ve got a bit of extra cash to splash, you might enjoy the luxury of the Greenwich iPhone XS/X cases. They are handcrafted from genuine leather, and include card slots for extra convenience.

The Blake Folio is among our favourites, and is now available at half its original price. You can buy it here.

Available in a huge range of colours and styles, Urban Armor Gear’s iPhone X cases offer top-notch protection with reinforced corners to save your phone from bumps and knocks.

Speck cases, such as the Presidio series, offer a great balance between style and security, combining attractive design with some of the sturdiest build quality we’ve found in any iPhone cases.

The Presidio Pro case (pictured) offers anti-microbial protection and withstands drops up to 10 feet. There’s also the heavy duty Presidio Ultra case for even better protection. 

You can see a few options on Amazon, but if you head to Speck’s site you can find even more styles, colours, and finishes.

Speck’s Clear + Print Presidio range is also worth checking out if you’re after a case with a bit more character. You get military grade, 8-foot drop protection packed into a lightweight, gorgeous case.

Available directly from Speck for £34.95/$44.95 or on Amazon.

Plenty of cases are designed to be minimalist, to avoid distracting from the phone itself, but the Evo Tactical from Tech21 features a surprisingly attractive angular design across the back that’s welcome in its own right.

This model should fit both iPhone X and the XS, but you can find tonnes of other styles specifically for the iPhone XS on Tech21’s site and on Amazon.

There’s still solid 3m drop protection and a durable design, but the Evo Tactical looks the part – along with a tactile grippy feel that means it feels the part too.

This is the toughest iPhone XS case that Caudabe makes, pairing a flexible polymer bumper with a rigid rear to offer very solid protection in a slim design.

We like this version with a transparent back, but you can also get versions in solid colours. It’s available for the iPhone X for the same price. Caudabe offers free international shipping.

HereThere are plenty of tough iPhone X cases, but Poetic’s Revolution offers a built-in screen protector.

It’s actually built into the two-part frame, rather than simply included in the box, so it’s very sturdy – but bear in mind that means it isn’t quite as snug a fit to the screen as with other screen guards. The whole case is also a little tricky to take off, but we can’t complain too much when it offers this much protection at such a low price.

Stockholm-based brand 15:21 makes minimalist phones cases from cork – that’s right, cork. The brand aims for environmental sustainability, and cork is a great alternative to plastic. It’s natural, recyclable and biodegradable and helps maintain clean air (read 15:21’s 8 Facts About Cork).

The case itself is incredibly lightweight and fits the iPhone X/XS effortlessly. Its cutouts leave all buttons accessible too. Plus, it looks super stylish. Cork ships worldwide for free.

Here’s another unique case for your iPhone X: the Incase Lite. Its mesh design is lightweight, while adding grip. You can also expect shock absorption and a raised lip to keep your screen protected.

The sides cover the buttons (except the power button), which keeps out grime, but you do have to push a little harder on the volume rockers.

Available directly from Incase for €24, which translates to around £21/US$27.