Best iPhone 7 Plus cases: ways to protect your older iPhone

Best iPhone 7 Plus cases

If you bought an iPhone 7 Plus, you'll definitely want to keep your investment safe and uncracked. The best thing to protect your purchase is keep it wrapped in a case to ensure its metal body stays unscathed and that its screen is safe from shattering.

A regrettable number of smartphone owners find out the hard way that all it takes is one bad drop for your iPhone 7 Plus' screen to splinter into a cracked mess of sharp glass shards. Sure, the phone could still function, but it’s better to just get an iPhone 7 Plus case and avoid those tragedies altogether.

Here are our recommendations to keep your iPhone 7 Plus safe and sound for a long life of service, especially now that it's been updated with iOS 13 and should continue to get updates in the foreseeable future.

These are products that we haven't had in our test labs, but based on our experts' opinion and knowledge of the most reputable brands around, we think these are worth looking at.

Our selections, ranked with newer additions at the top, take into account online reviews, brand reputation, product capability, or unique features, to help you pick through the maze of choices available to you.

1. Dockem Synthetic Leather Sleeve

Only on when you need it

Reasons to buy

+
Good value
+
Doesn’t hide your phone

Reasons to avoid

-
No protection when using phone
-
Not real leather

The only thing better than a case is no case, at least until you drop your phone, and this Dockem sleeve aims to combine the best of both worlds, by giving your iPhone 7 Plus a cosy case when you’re not using it, and leaving it naked and free when you are.

The inevitable downside of this is that your phone also has no protection when in use, but if you’re more concerned about your phone’s safety when it’s out of your hands than in them this could be a good option, and it doesn’t hurt that it looks suitably classy too.

2. Torras Slim Fit iPhone 7 Plus Case

Barely bigger than the phone itself

Reasons to buy

+
Ultra-thin case
+
Simple, elegant look

Reasons to avoid

-
Almost surely won't protect as well as thicker cases

The Torras Slim Fit case is perfect for those who want a simple, inexpensive case that won't glitz up their iPhone 8. It won't have the multi-stage protection of an OtterBox, but buying one of these is certainly better than keeping your phone naked, and this is the next closest thing: aside from a 1mm lip around the camera, the Torras Slim Fit is only fractionally larger than the phone itself. 

This is the case for those who want a no-frills case that will fit in pockets and small bags. Get it for $11 (£8, AU$15) on Amazon here.

3. YFWOOD Wooden Cover

Style in three colors

Reasons to buy

+
Real wood
+
Multiple wood tones

Reasons to avoid

-
Middling protection
-
Plastic edge

Wooden cases are arguably among the most stylish around, and definitely among the most unusual. This YFWOOD case mixes things up further though by using three different shades of wood for a distinctive patterned finish.

Like most other wooden cases the edges are still plastic, which slightly spoils the look when viewed from an angle, but viewed from the back this is a stunning case and one that won’t break the bank.

4. Spigen Tough Armor iPhone 7 Plus case

Decent protection at a low price

Reasons to buy

+
Layered protection
+
Integrated kickstand

Reasons to avoid

-
May not be as protective as pricier cases

The Spigen Tough Armor [2nd Generation] case offers decent protection for a low price. It has a flexible TPU body that wraps around your phone, plus a polycarbonate plate to cover the backside. The latter includes an integrated kickstand if you enjoy watching media on your iPhone 7.

The case retails for just under $16 (£12, AU$22) on Amazon here.

5. Cygnett UrbanShield

A premium finish without a premium price

Reasons to buy

+
Good price
+
Premium finish

Reasons to avoid

-
Basic
-
Average protection

Simple and classy, the Cygnett UrbanShield is the kind of case we can get on with. This year Cygnett has dumped the cut-out for the Apple logo too, and the case looks a lot sleeker as a result.

It’s a basic case - a clip-on plastic shell designed to avoid dings to your iPhone’s aluminum frame, but it has some sweet finishes tailored to match the classic pink, silver and black colors.

The two silvery versions have a thin plate of brushed aluminum on the back, while the black uses carbon fiber, and the pink a panel of silicone for a soft-touch feel.

6. X-Doria Defense Gear

A surprisingly slim tough case

Reasons to buy

+
Tough
+
Slimmer than most tough cases

Reasons to avoid

-
Rugged design
-
Still slightly chunky

We’ve shied away from featuring too many super-tough iPhone 7 Plus cases, because they tend to add so much girth to the already-large phone’s thickness and width. However, the X-Doria Defense Gear is one of the slimmest cases to boast of having ‘military-grade’ protection.

What this means in practice is that you can drop the phone case’d-up from a height of 6 feet 6 inches and it should survive.

The case is made from a mixture of rubber, hard plastic and anodized aluminum. The special sauce is what X-Doria calls DropShield. Like most advanced materials used in cases, this hardens on impact, a state change that absorbs a lot of energy.

7. Knomo Snap-on Case

A leather case that undercuts Apple

Reasons to buy

+
Real leather
+
Five color choices

Reasons to avoid

-
Partly plastic
-
Plain appearance

If you want a simple leather case but don’t want to be an iSheep and buy Apple’s own one, take a look at the Knomo Snap-on case. It looks great and is much cheaper than Apple’s, partly because the leather is just an inlay in a fairly standard polycarbonate shell.

It’s still real leather, however, and this means the parts that will take the brunt of abuse will be plastic, which don’t rip as a leather veneer can after serious mistreatment.

Knomo makes the Snap-on case for iPhone 7 Plus in five different shades, ranging from a pretty eye-popping orange to a much more interior design-inspired “lido” blue-gray.

8. Torro Stand Case

A multi-purpose leather case

Reasons to buy

+
Stand and pouch
+
Genuine leather

Reasons to avoid

-
Middling price
-
Average protection

Torro makes funky-looking leather flip cases that double as stands, and a stand comes in particularly handy with an iPhone 7 Plus, with its big screen just begging to be used for a bit of movie-watching while you’re bored on a long plane or train journey.

The case is made of real leather, and there’s neat stitching along the sides for a hand-made look. The black version has red stitching, while the tan one uses thread that blends into the leather much more.

Other notable features include a magnet to stop the screen cover flapping about, and a pouch on the front that’ll hold a travel or debit card.

9. Cygnett UrbanWallet Flip

A smart and stylish leather flip case

Reasons to buy

+
Smart appearance
+
Covers the screen

Reasons to avoid

-
Only comes in black
-
Plastic shell

If you want your iPhone to look serious and professional, you can’t go far wrong with a Cygnett UrbanWallet Flip. It’s a simple folio case that uses a real leather ‘lid’ and a plastic shell into which your iPhone 7 Plus clips.

There’s a metallic finish on this part that holds your phone, in a semi-successful attempt to trick your eyes into believing the shell is actually metal. The main draw here is that it’s a flip case, though, and a fairly smart-looking one at that.

10. Belkin Air Protect SheerForce

A slim case that's tougher than it looks

Reasons to buy

+
Slim
+
Absorbs shocks

Reasons to avoid

-
Plastic
-
Plain

The tricky part of designing a case is to find ways of sucking up impact damage without effectively wrapping the phone in bubble wrap.

Belkin’s Air Protect SheerForce tactic is to use arches in the case's bumper sides, creating little compressible air pockets that absorb force rather than transmitting it to the aluminum sides of the iPhone.

It’s a cheap, low-bulk way of protecting the phone. This is a deliberately low-key case, with a transparent or translucent finish. The non-clear ones are tinted to match the various colors of iPhone too. This is a good pick if you want protection without lots of bulk or weird style influences.

11. Speck Presidio Grip Case

A grippy case to help you hold onto your iPhone

Reasons to buy

+
Lots of color choices
+
Grippy

Reasons to avoid

-
Odd design
-
Fairly expensive

The Spec Presidio Grip case doesn’t just to try to make dropping your phone no big deal, it wants to stop those drops in the first place. As well as some basic protection, this slimline case makes your iPhone much grippier, using embossed strips of rubber across its back.

If you do drop your iPhone 7 Plus a layer of - don’t laugh - Impactium will reduce the force transferred to the phone. This compressible material, which sounds like it was nicked from the Marvel universe, sits underneath a hard polycarbonate exterior.

12. OtterBox Symmetry Case

A strong case with a slim fit

Reasons to buy

+
Fairly thin
+
Decent protection

Reasons to avoid

-
Plastic construction
-
Pricey

OtterBox is best known for its ultra-protective cases. But unless you have hulk-like hands, you’re not going to want to live with a brute of a case on your iPhone 7 Plus. It’ll just be too much of a handful.

The OtterBox Symmetry does its best to find a middle ground. It’s a slim-ish case, but one with a chunky lip above the screen and dual rubber and plastic construction, to put more layers between the pavement and your iPhone. It comes in a selection of finishes, including the funky pattern you see here.

13. Apple Leather Case

A high-quality Apple product

Reasons to buy

+
Comes in several shades
+
Real leather

Reasons to avoid

-
Expensive
-
Could provide more protection

One of the classic iPhone cases is Apple’s own leather model. On the surface, it seems as simple as they come, a clip-on cover that keeps the phone’s aluminum exterior looking good as new without downgrading the look. Leather is as classy as aluminum, right? There are some touches that deserve a mention, though.

First, the finish is real “French” leather rather than a synthetic alternative. This means it’ll wear and age naturally rather than starting to peel off six months in.

The case also has its own buttons, sitting on top of those on your iPhone, and has a microfiber lining that hugs your phone. It comes in a whopping seven colors too.

14. OtterBox Stada case

Premium protection

Reasons to buy

+
Elegant look
+
Complete coverage

Reasons to avoid

-
Pricey without discount

The Otterbox Stada case for the iPhone 7 Plus does an excellent job combining a high level of protection with a premium design. It uses multiple layers to defend the phone from scrapes and drops, while the folio cover can protect the display from damage.

On the outside, the Strada case is actually made with leather, which gives it a wonderful look and feel. If you're going to cover up all of the iPhone, it may as well be with a case that looks almost as good.

See the Otterbox Stada iPhone 7 Plus case at Amazon here.

15. Lifeproof Fre case

When protection is all that matters

Reasons to buy

+
Adds water protection
+
360-degree defense

Reasons to avoid

-
Goodbye iPhone design

If you don't mind covering your iPhone 7 Plus from head to toe in a case, then the Lifeproof Fre is a great option. It covers all sides of the iPhone, even with a display cover. That protects your phone from a lot more than just the occasional ding.

Lifeproof claims the case will offer your iPhone protection in up to 6.6-feet of water for an hour. And, that's on top of dust, dirt, and snow protection. Not many other cases try to raise the bar that high, but it comes with the trade-off that you won't see much of your iPhone's original design.

See the Lifeproof Fre iPhone 7 Plus case at Amazon here.

OtterBox Defender iPhone 7 Plus

(Image credit: OtterBox)

17. OtterBox Defender iPhone 7 Plus

Simple yet robust

Reasons to buy

+
Robust design
+
Belt-clip holster

Reasons to avoid

-
Replacement buttons

Offering 3 layers of robust protection means that the OtterBox Defender is a pretty great case if you're liable to dropping your iPhone 7 Plus. It's able to withstand scratches, drops and knocks, with a built-in screen protector and raised lip that means your screen is well catered for too.

Independent buttons aren't always ideal for everyone but we'll forgive it thanks to other features. That includes a belt-clip holster that doubles as a kickstand plus some useful port covers for keeping dust out. 

You might also want to check out the best iPhone 8 cases and iPhone 8 Plus cases, the best Apple Watch screen protectors, and the best iPhone screen protectors.

In addition, check out the best iPhone SE cases, and best iPhone 12 Pro Max cases.

Andrew Williams

Andrew is a freelance journalist and has been writing and editing for some of the UK's top tech and lifestyle publications including TrustedReviews, Stuff, T3, TechRadar, Lifehacker and others.