The Apple iPhone 12 mini is the smallest, lightest 5G smartphone. It suits even the smallest hands and has the same super-powerful processor as the other new iPhones. Oh, and it costs less than the other iPhone 12 models. So, now that you’ve decided it’s the phone for you, how are you going to protect it? Below, you’ll find the best Apple iPhone 12 mini cases available.
There are designs to excite, more modest colors if you’re feeling discreet, wallets to carry your cash as well as your smartphone, and chunky cases to ensure no harm comes to your new gadget. One new element to consider is MagSafe. It’s a ring of magnets inside the iPhone 12 mini and means that if you use a special MagSafe charger, sold separately, that your iPhone clicks safely on to the charging pad. But it also has ramifications for cases, as Apple has built these magnets into its new cases as well, and other manufacturers will follow suit.
Best iPhone 12 mini Cases For Impact Protection
Casetify Ultra Impact
Casetify makes a very wide range of cases, with great designs and strong extra features like protection. Some have strong shock absorption but this is what Casetify says is its ultimate protection. The ridged corners give a clue to that and make sense of the company’s claim that you can drop it from a height of almost 10 feet with no ill effects. It also has a bezel that creeps round to the front to offer protection there, too
Casetify’s green credentials are on show, too: the case is made out of 50% recycled materials. Casetify has a distinctive design, with its brand name around the camera panel. You can customize the case with a monogram or initials.
Mous Bamboo
Mous makes astonishingly good protective cases, with a special material called AiroShock built in that has seen phones successfully survive drops from huge heights with no bad effects. Though I’m really not suggesting you try this yourself. The case has neat extra such as tiny slots inside where you can store the sim card tool that you’ll otherwise lose straight away, or space for an extra sim card.
There are plenty of cool materials on the back, from bamboo to walnut, aramid fiber to black leather. Mous cases fit extremely tightly, so you won’t want to keep swapping it on and off. As well as the effective AiroShock material, the corners and edges are subtly curved to provide protection for the display without being noticeable as you use the phone.
Gear4 Crystal Palace
Gear4 cases use an amazing shock absorbing material called D3O which is soft and pliable until it gets hit and it instantly hardens and dissipates the impact energy before returning to its normal state. It is lightweight, thin and incredibly effective. You can drop it from heights of 13 feet and it contains antimicrobial material so the phone stays fresh and safe.
This is one of the few cases where the shock protection is transparent, and it looks fantastic. The soft-feel finish is very nice to the touch and the slim design adds very little bulk to the phone.
Otter + Pop Symmetry Series Case
So you know you want a case for your iPhone but you also want a Pop Socket. Wouldn’t it be great if it could somehow be integrated? This Otterbox case offers great protection but also has a dip in the back where the Pop Socket sits perfectly. It screws in to fit so you can change the look easily by attaching a different PopTop design. The case still works for wireless charging, though you may need to remove the PopTop for this.
It’s a chunky case but the curved edges mean it’s comfortable in the hand. Not only is the case great protection for the phone but the raised edges protect the screen at the front and the camera on the back.
Best iPhone 12 mini MagSafe Cases
Apple Clear Case with MagSafe
The iPhone 12 mini comes in five colors, so maybe you’d like to show it off a little? Well, a transparent case will do that. Apple’s own clear case is, of course, a perfect fit. It has a smooth but not too slippy feel and looks great.
It is entirely clear—apart from the magnets which exactly correlate to the circle of MagSafe magnets inside the phone. And that bit just south of the circle? That’s to hold it neatly and—here’s the clever bit—to tell the iPhone what color case you are putting on to the phone. As you do so, the lock screen will flash the color of the case. The screen flashes white for the clear case.
Apple Silicone Case With MagSafe
Apple’s Silicone Case feels great and comes in a bunch of colors. So, even if you chose the black iPhone mini, you can jazz it up with a bright case like the demure Cyprus Green or the punchy Kumquat. Other shades include a businesslike Plum, bright Pink Citrus, safe Black, modest White or brighter-than-you-might-think Navy (all adjectives are writer’s own, these aren’t brand names!). Whichever you choose, the MagSafe feature means it holds in place easily but is exceptionally simple to slide on and off the iPhone mini.
Otterbox Symmetry
Apart from Apple itself, only Otterbox makes MagSafe compatible cases. The Symmetry case, available in Navy Captain Blue, Spring Snow Beige, Tea Petal Pink and Black, looks great. The benefit of the case being held securely by magnets is that it can be slim and lightweight, not to mention effortless to slide on and off the phone.
The Symmetry is sleek and attractive, with big button-covers that are satisfying to press. There are cheaper cases in the Otterbox range but this one is great thanks to extra features such as a silver additive which blocks microbial growth and offers the drop protection for which Otterbox is famous.
Best iPhone 12 mini Wallet Cases
Lucrin Wallet Case
Lucrin’s range of leather cases is top-notch and extremely wide. Every kind of case, from a sleeve to a pouch with a pull tag, from a rear case to a belt case are all here. The wallets are particularly attractive and come in a staggering number of colors and several leather finishes including ostrich, if you really want to splash out.
The build quality is about the best you will come across, and the long-lasting quality is impressive. You can also customize the stitching or add engraving. Stunning design and build.
Nomad Rugged Folio
Nomad’s folio wraps protectively around front and back in Horween leather which will change how it looks as time passes and the vegetable tanned leather ages. The front panel includes pockets for cards and cash. The rugged in the name refers to a new internal bumper designed to absorb shocks if it’s dropped from up to 10 feet and works with the exterior TPU bumper to save the phone if it takes a fall.
Greenwich Blake Leather Case
Another deluxe case here, with soft leather that attaches to a back shell made with an electroplated finish. Inside the leather front cover is a slot for cards, with a helpful cut-out so you can push the cards out easily. Greenwich’s cases are known for great attention to detail and the case here is elegantly and strongly built. There’s a series of great colors including tan, Beluga (that’s black), Fireglow (red), Seal (which is gray) and Sage. As well as leather there’s a model that is clad in Alcantara.
Best iPhone 12 mini Thin Cases
Peel Super Thin
This is the best super-thin case around, I’d say, measuring less than half a millimeter. It really almost feels like you’re using the iPhone without a case in the way and certainly adds no bulk at all. The case doesn’t protect the display, though, so you may feel more at ease if you team it with a screen protector.
The minimalist look of the Peel case, with no logo, is very pleasing and it comes in transparent, semi-transparent and opaque finishes. All look great, though my personal favorite is Jet White, which is a cool, glossy finish that looks sensational.
Nudient V3
Nudient’s cases aren’t as super-thin as Peel can manage but they are still thin and they look and feel fantastic. The soft, smooth but not slippery finish is tremendously tactile and the fit is perfect. That’s partly because the fit is so tight, so you won’t want to keep putting it on and off. It’s not a MagSafe case but it has its own magnets inside which mean accessories like a slim credit card case can attach seamlessly and firmly to the back.
Colors include a warm and enjoyable Saffron Yellow and handsome Clay Beige, though there’s also Dusty Pink, Ink Black, Midwinter Blue, Sangria Red and Pine Green to choose from.
Best iPhone 12 mini Clear Cases
Speck Presidio Perfect-Clear
Clear cases look great, until they start discoloring. Speck says its case won’t yellow and will replace it if it doesn’t stay perfectly clear. It also has Microban, an anti-microbial product protection which is exclusive to Speck. And although it’s clear, there’s protection here enough to shield the phone from a 13-foot drop. The bezel creeps round to the front of the phone to protect the screen, too. It isn’t as slim as the thinnest cases here but this is certainly not a chunky case.
Mous Clarity
This case looks and feels great—the clear material has a real stick-in-the-hand feel to it—and has superlative protection to boot. The edge is black, which looks great and contains the unique AiroShock material that can save the phone from a high fall. It also has anti-yellowing features to keep it clear and scratch resistance to help keep it looking like new.Like the other Mous case above, the bezels are perfectly shaped to protect the display without you being aware of extra stuff when you use the phone.
Moshi Vitros
The Vitros is a superb transparent case thanks to its soft but resilient feel, and the fact that it looks so good. The design and technology guard against yellowing or watermarks so it should stay looking good for a long time. I’ve tested this case over recent years and it looks as good months down the line as on day one.
There is some impact protection, though it’s not on the same scale as the Mous. Even so, this is a solid, attractive case that’s a real pleasure to use. Moshi is a brilliant company that makes stylish and elegant electronic cables and power banks, and even an extremely comfortable face mask. Its next product will be a UV sanitizer, which is timely.
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