Skip to main content

Best white iPhone 5 cases

If you have the white version of the iPhone, you may have noticed that it’s a little bit harder to find cases for it that look as good with your shiny Apple gadget. Our idea for this article came from personal experience — we have a few white iPhones around the office, and liking the minimal look, we have leaned toward clear or white cases that show off the phone’s design. Much to our disappointment, many of the cases we tried ended up filthy after just a few days use, or even after just a few minutes in the pocket of a pair of jeans in one such case. Discouraged by the number of cases that are now sitting in our desk drawers looking like they were used for a whole year, we thought it important to give our readers a fair warning and show off a selection of cases that we do like for the white iPhone 5. 

Haven’t upgraded yet? Make sure to check out our picks for the overall best iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S cases.

Speck CandyshellSpeck Candyshell in white, $35

The Speck Candyshell is for those who want to preserve the look of the iPhone but still want superior protection. The Candyshell’s hard outside case and soft silicone inside makes this one of the best cases to protect against drops and falls. It’s a little on the bulky side because of this, but perfect for folks worried about dropping their phone. The case is available in white with various accent colors. 

Mod-3 RadiusThe Mod-3 Radius, $70

If you find yourself torn between protecting your iPhone and preserving it’s looks, check out this ultra-minimalist case from Mod-3. Born out of a hugely successful Kickstarter campaign, the Radius consists of nothing more than a thin aluminum X that protects the back of your phone, and four small corner brackets. Made out of precision-engineered 6061 aluminium, the entire enclosure only weighs 4.4 grams.

Pad & Quill Pocket Book
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Pad & Quill Pocket Book, $60

There’s something about a white phone surrounded by birch wood and brown leather that just looks classy, and while we’re definitely suckers for good form, we also appreciate function. This handcrafted case from Pad & Quill doubles as a wallet, but still allows access to all device ports including the charger, headphones, on/off buttons, volume controls, mute switch, and the camera.

Belkin View CaseBelkin View Case, $20

Prone to dropping your phone, but don’t want to cover up its gorgeous exterior with a bulky cover? Check out the View from Belkin. We mentioned earlier that most of the clear cases we’ve tried tended to get filthy pretty quick, but this is one effectively keeps out grime and dirt. 

Incipio KicksnapIncipio Kicksnap, $35

We like Incipio’s kicksnap case because it has a lot of the same qualities as the iPhone itself. It’s slim, sleek, and highly functional. In addition to protecting your device, this case features two snap-out kickstands that can be used to prop up your phone. 

Urban Prefer Take 5Urban Prefer Take 5, ~$27

As long as you have some spare change or a credit card (or anything thin, really), Take 5 can become a stand for your phone. The case is constructed from a solid piece of rubber with crisscrossing gashes of varying thickness in the back, so no matter what angle or position you need your phone to stand in, there’s a way to do it.

Ballistic Shell Gel SCBallistic Shell Gel SC, $35

The white of the phone really makes colors pop, so if you’re up for it, go for something bold and bright. Ballistic makes this same case in a variety of different colors, but we really like the way this purple and aqua case looks on a white phone. Also, with a mixture of uber impact-absorbent gel and a hard plastic backplate, this case is one of the most effective protectors we’ve seen.

What do you think of our picks for the best white iPhone cases? Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments.

Multiple members of the Digital Trends staff contributed to this report.

Editors' Recommendations

Drew Prindle
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Drew Prindle is an award-winning writer, editor, and storyteller who currently serves as Senior Features Editor for Digital…
iOS 18 is official. Here’s how it’s going to change your iPhone forever
Screenshots of new features in iOS 18.

It’s been a long time coming, but it’s finally here: iOS 18 has just been announced at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024 keynote. And, like the rumors have been saying, this is a very big, juicy update for your iPhone.

There's been a lot of anticipation for iOS 18. Rumors and leaks for the new update have been particularly intense this year, more so than iOS 17 rumors last year. So, was the hype worth it? Here's what's coming to your iPhone with iOS 18.
Home screen changes

Read more
5 reasons why you shouldn’t buy the iPhone 15 Pro
iPhone 15 Pro in Natural Titanium held in hand in rose garden archway.

Apple’s iPhone 15 series came out last September, including the base model iPhone 15, the larger iPhone 15 Plus, the higher-end iPhone 15 Pro, and the top-of-the-line iPhone 15 Pro Max. These are Apple's latest offerings, at least until the iPhone 16 comes out later this year.

I got my iPhone 15 Pro on launch day, and it’s been my daily driver ever since. I picked a Pro model over the standard one because I like having the triple-lens camera system and the new Action Button. But I only went with the smaller iPhone 15 Pro instead of the Pro Max because I prefer more compact phones.

Read more
Here’s how iOS 18 is going to overhaul your iPhone’s email app
An iPhone showing the home screen in someone's hand.

We're just days away from Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC 2024), which means we're about to get our first look at iOS 18. The new iPhone operating system is expected to get RCS texting in the iMessage app, more customization options for the home screen, and maybe a significant design change overall. Now comes word that changes will be made to the native Mail app.

According to AppleInsider, the Mail app is about to undergo a significant transformation. It's getting a powerful new search tool, Smart Replies, automatic sorting for different email types, and more. But the real excitement lies in the app's expected integration of AI functionality, a feature becoming a hallmark of iOS 18.

Read more