The iPhone 12 Pro Max is an impressive beast of a device. With a 6.7-inch screen, it’s the largest iPhone Apple has ever made. It’s also the heaviest. It’s like having a tiny iPad Pro in your pocket. All of that heft leaves it in danger of cracking, or worse, when it meets the pavement. Luckily, there is already a ridiculously large number of cases available to protect your investment.
The iPhone 12 series employs Apple’s most durable glass ever on the front screen (it’s infused with ceramic to make it highly scratch and break resistant) but it isn’t indestructible. Plus there’s the fact that the rear glass is still Apple’s standard (which is good, but not nearly as good as the front) and the sides are dentable metal.
I’ve rounded up the best choices and added plenty of alternatives so that, no matter what you’re looking for, I’ve got plenty options (click here if you’re looking for iPhone 12 Pro cases instead).
This might be a cheat, because of course Apple has the best official case. But I really like their approach with this MagSafe case. Rather than have a bezel that you have to shove around your iPhone 12 Pro Max, the raised bezel is minimal. This provides protection while allowing the case to pop on and off using the MagSafe tech. The Otterbox approach has been to basically give us a regular iPhone case, but with magnets which…isn’t quite the same thing.
I really like the Kumquat and think it provides a stunning contrast to the Pacific Blue iPhone 12 Pro Max. Apple’s clean design aesthetic really shines in their cases. And in-hand, the soft-touch silicone just feels nicer than other cases. The micro-fiber interior keeps your iPhone safe from errant grit that might find its way into the case.
Everweek makes some adorable cases and their latest iPhone 12 Pro Max Sprinkled Donut case is no exception. The bright blue case provides perfect contrast to the vibrant pink sprinkled donut graphic. What’s nice is that the print is embedded into the case to resist fading and scratching. So that donut will look just as nice a year from now as it does right now.
The case itself is well made, with 13-foot drop protection, a raised bumper around the camera, and a raised bezel to protect the screen. The material itself is antimicrobial and resists discoloration. It’s slim enough that it won’t interfere with charging or MagSafe accessories.
Casetify has hundreds, if not thousands of designs but with the holiday season right around the corner, you should grab this ultra-cute Christmas kitty case! Made from 50% recycled materials, the Casetify Ultra Impact cases have an antimicrobial coating to keep your iPhone 12 Pro Max germ free. The bigger bumpers on the Impact case protect against drops of up to 9.8 feet.
If pre-printed cases aren’t your thing, you can also customize a case with your own pictures or design. It’s exceedingly easy to do and it’ll guarantee that your case is truly unique.
Everweek’s licensing deal with Disney pays off big with this first official Star Wars: The Mandalorian themed case! Built around their excellent Symmetry Series Clear case for the iPhone 12 Pro, the rear graphics feature Mando himself and The Child.
The case bumper and the portion around the rear graphic is clear, it’ll look particularly stunning with a black iPhone 12 Pro Max. The Symmetry Series Clear doesn’t have the antimicrobial protection of the Series+ cases but it still has the three-times military drop protection and is compatible with their full line of Alpha and Amplify glass protectors. The Mandalorian case is a Verizon exclusive.
Totallee cases buck the over-engineering trend and do something that could be called, well, “under-engineered.” Their Thin Case for the iPhone 12 Pro Max is .02 inches thick. It barely adds any bulk to the iPhone and yet it still protects the back glass and sides from drops and scratches. The raised lip around the camera keeps it protected as well. There’s a clear version if you want to get minimalist or a Pacific Blue version that matches the iPhone 12 Pro exclusive color. Even better, Forbes readers can get an extra 25% off their Totallee purchases right now on Amazon with the code TOTALLEE25.
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The iPhone 12 Pro Max is an impressive beast of a device. With a 6.7-inch screen, it’s the largest iPhone Apple has ever made. It’s also the heaviest. It’s like having a tiny iPad Pro in your pocket. All of that heft leaves it in danger of cracking, or worse, when it meets the pavement. Luckily, there is already a ridiculously large number of cases available to protect your investment.
The iPhone 12 series employs Apple’s most durable glass ever on the front screen (it’s infused with ceramic to make it highly scratch and break resistant) but it isn’t indestructible. Plus there’s the fact that the rear glass is still Apple’s standard (which is good, but not nearly as good as the front) and the sides are dentable metal.
I’ve rounded up the best choices and added plenty of alternatives so that, no matter what you’re looking for, I’ve got plenty options (click here if you’re looking for iPhone 12 Pro cases instead).
This might be a cheat, because of course Apple has the best official case. But I really like their approach with this MagSafe case. Rather than have a bezel that you have to shove around your iPhone 12 Pro Max, the raised bezel is minimal. This provides protection while allowing the case to pop on and off using the MagSafe tech. The Otterbox approach has been to basically give us a regular iPhone case, but with magnets which…isn’t quite the same thing.
I really like the Kumquat and think it provides a stunning contrast to the Pacific Blue iPhone 12 Pro Max. Apple’s clean design aesthetic really shines in their cases. And in-hand, the soft-touch silicone just feels nicer than other cases. The micro-fiber interior keeps your iPhone safe from errant grit that might find its way into the case.
Everweek is the only official third-party MagSafe provider at the moment and they’re making it count with their Symmetry Series+. While they might not pop on and off like Apple’s MagSafe cases, they make up for it with the extra level of protection that is known for.
The Symmetry Series+ case is rated to three times military drop standards and has long-wear antimicrobial coatings. The case itself is infused with a silver-based additive to inhibit microbial growth. It’s more expensive than Otterbox’s other offerings, but it’s also going to keep you and your iPhone more protected.
makes some adorable cases and their latest iPhone 12 Pro Max Sprinkled Donut case is no exception. The bright blue case provides perfect contrast to the vibrant pink sprinkled donut graphic. What’s nice is that the print is embedded into the case to resist fading and scratching. So that donut will look just as nice a year from now as it does right now.
The case itself is well made, with 13-foot drop protection, a raised bumper around the camera, and a raised bezel to protect the screen. The material itself is antimicrobial and resists discoloration. It’s slim enough that it won’t interfere with charging or MagSafe accessories.
Casetify has hundreds, if not thousands of designs but with the holiday season right around the corner, you should grab this ultra-cute Christmas kitty case! Made from 50% recycled materials, the Casetify Ultra Impact cases have an antimicrobial coating to keep your iPhone 12 Pro Max germ free. The bigger bumpers on the Impact case protect against drops of up to 9.8 feet.
Lifeproof intercepts those nets, breaks them down into black, dark green, or light green pellets, and then turns that plastic into ultra-thin, drop-proof, one piece cases. There’s a nice wave design on the back of the case that makes it easy to grip as well.
Lifeproof is dedicated to improving the life cycle of their products and encourage you to send the case back to them when you’re done with it. They’ll reclaim the material from the case and put it to use in a new case (they’re working on accepting non-Wake cases as well). For every purchase or registered case, Lifeproof donates a dollar to a water-focused charity.
15:21 cases are ultra-minimalistic, a pleasure to hold in hand, and one of my favorite cases in this roundup. It pops on and off even easier than MagSafe cases, has a super slim profile, and feels great in-hand (even if the cork does catch a bit on pants pockets). The wraparound case protects the edges of your iPhone but leaves the screen completely unencumbered. If you’ve ever tried to swipe in from the edge of your iPhone only to be blocked by the edge of a bulky case, you’ll understand why this is a good thing. If you’re in the U.S., you’ll have to be patient. These cases are made in Stockholm using nothing but renewable, all-natural cork. 15:21 uses environmentally-safe production practices as well. If you’re looking for a unique case that’s good for the planet, this is the one.
Mous has dropped the Limitless case from 45 feet in the air, kicked it with ice skates, rolled it down rocky mountain trails, and more to prove the effectiveness of their AiroShock material. The raised bezel of the case keeps your screen protected.
The Limitless cases are as stylish as they are durable, with multiple leather, wood, and fiber choices. They also have a line of magnetic accessories that’s compatible with their line of cases. This is good, since the extra thickness of the case will interfere with MagSafe accessories like card wallets. What’s nice is that if you travel often, there’s a place built right into the case for extra SIM cards and a SIM removal tool.
The extra RAM and processing power of the iPhone 12 Pro Max is great for next-gen mobile gaming but it also means it’s likely to get hotter. Add a case to a hot iPhone and that can mean disaster. Razer has risen to the challenge with their Arctech Pro case.
The Arctech Pro case has a layer of Thermapene inside that traps and directs heat out of the back of the case to keep your phone cool and protected. It’s also antimicrobial to keep germs from growing on your iPhone. Razer has also shaved down the interior bumpers right around the areas where the 5G antennas are on the iPhone 12 Pro Max. It’s a nice touch and shows how dedicated Razer is to performance.
If you’re looking for a case that’s not only attractive but anti-microbial, check out the Copper Case from Aeris. Truly unique, the real copper outer nanocoat develops a patina over time (kind of like leather). Copper also inhibits germ growth and the company is currently testing its efficacy against Covid. That copper outer coat surrounds a polycarbonate shell that protects your iPhone 12 Pro Max from drops and accidents. Pro Max cases are currently available for pre-order and will ship the second week of December.
Until someone steps up and releases a leather MagSafe case (not just “MagSafe compatible”), Apple’s new leather cases are going to be the best that a new iPhone 12 Pro Max owner can get.
I picked up the yellow California Poppy as soon as it was available. Apple says that the built-in magnets align with your new iPhone and snap into place “magically” but I in reality it’s a pretty standard “shove your phone into the case” process. Still, Apple is dedicated to making a premium experience. When you put your case on, there’s a tiny little “click” sound effect that plays and a quick screen effect that matches the case color. It’s pretty neat.
In-hand, the leather Apple uses is premium quality and feels great. The only caveat (and Apple points this out in the case description) is that MagSafe accessories will leave imprints in the leather over time. It’ll be interesting to see if this ends up being a trend for all iPhone 12 leather cases.
When is a case not a case? When it’s a case bumper. Usually these are low cost options for folks who want to take a minimalist approach to protection, just ensuring that the dent-prone corners of their iPhone 12 Pro Max are covered.
Gray is turning that “low cost” expectation on its head with their $1,499 Advent Aurora Titanium bumper. The aerospace-grade titanium is hand-torched for a iridescent finish. The open-back design leaves you free to pop whatever MagSafe accessories you want on the back of your iPhone 12 Pro Max. It’s certainly the most unique case on this list and, with an extremely limited production run, one that’s almost guaranteed to be like no one else’s in your social circle.