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The Spigen Slim Armor iPhone case Credit: Reviewed.com / Michael Desjardin

The Best Rugged iPhone Cases of 2023

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The Spigen Slim Armor iPhone case Credit: Reviewed.com / Michael Desjardin

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Editor's Choice Product image of Spigen Slim Armor Case For iPhone 8 Plus
Best Overall

Spigen Slim Armor Case For iPhone 8 Plus

The Spigen Slim Armor's comfortable shape and outstanding drop protection make this an easy choice for active iPhone users. Read More

Pros

  • Military-grade drop protection
  • Neither bulky nor too thin
  • Built-in kickstand

Cons

  • Makes it hard to silence when ringing
  • Can be hard to slip your phone into
Product image of OtterBox Defender Series iPhone 8 / 7 Case

OtterBox Defender Series iPhone 8 / 7 Case

The OtterBox can be a pain when it comes to more complex tasks, or when trying to remove it, but it's perfect for somebody with a construction job. Read More

Pros

  • Built-in screen protector
  • High durability

Cons

  • Difficult to open
  • Buttons are hard to press
Product image of Supcase Unicorn Beetle Pro Series Case for iPhone 11

Supcase Unicorn Beetle Pro Series Case for iPhone 11

Reviewers rave about this rock-solid iPhone 11 case from Supcase, which has been rated for drops from up to 50 feet in the air. Read More

Pros

  • Drop tested for up to 50 ft
  • Available in 6 colors
  • Extra affordable

Cons

  • So-so screen protector
Product image of Otterbox Commuter Series case for iPhone 8 Plus

Otterbox Commuter Series case for iPhone 8 Plus

This heavy-duty, 2-piece iPhone 8 Plus case is perfect for someone looking for a rugged case with a boat-load of protection. Read More

Pros

  • Heavy-duty protection
  • Fairly affordable
  • Not super bulky

Cons

  • Can't sustain a wireless charge
Product image of OtterBox Defender Series Case for iPhone 8 Plus / 7 Plus

OtterBox Defender Series Case for iPhone 8 Plus / 7 Plus

Overall, we found the OtterBox Defender a bit too awkward and expensive to recommend. Read More

Pros

  • Heavy-duty protection
  • Comes in a variety of colors

Cons

  • Frustrating to use
  • Awkward screen protector

We've tried dozens of iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X cases. Noticeably absent in these round-ups were the type of cases you'd expect to find in the backpacks of folks on a camping trip or attached to the belts of blue collar professionals. Instead, we opted to put all of these heavy-duty iPhone cases into their own hard-hitting round-up. This one's for people who want a little extra peace of mind when it comes to protecting their iPhone. After narrowing down a list of some of the most popular and promising cases, we took careful note of each case's durability and overall design quality. Our pick for the overall best rugged iPhone case is the Spigen Slim Armor (available at Amazon) , thanks to its military-grade drop protection and its super-thin profile.

All of the corresponding product information listed below will be for iPhone 8 Plus case variants. That said, some of these cases are also available in different models, such as the iPhone 8 and iPhone X, so be sure to direct your attention to whichever version suits your phone. And if heavy-duty cases aren't your cup of tea, be sure to check out our round-ups for slim- and wallet-style iPhone 8 cases, iPhone 8 Plus cases, and iPhone X cases.

Editor's Note:
The recommendations in this guide are based on thorough product and market research by our team of expert product reviewers. The picks are based on examining user reviews, product specifications, and, in some limited cases, our experience with the specific products named.
Spigen Slim Armor iPhone 8 Plus Case
Credit: Reviewed.com / Michael Desjardin
Best Overall
Spigen Slim Armor

Coming in first place is the Spigen Slim Armor, a dual-layer case that sits comfortably in between "too thin" and "too bulky." It's not the most heavy-duty case on the market, but we find the combination of its slim design coupled with its robust drop protection to be a great fit for most people.

Getting your iPhone situated inside the case is bit of an exercise, however, due to Spigen's inclusion of a plastic kickstand attachment. The process goes like this: First, slip your iPhone into the case's silicone inner-sleeve. Next, line the kickstand attachment up with its indentation on the back of the phone. Lastly, install the case's outer layer around the kickstand—the kickstand is held in place via the marriage of the case's two layers. Is it the most elegant system? Not really, but having a kickstand to lean on is a nice bonus.

Once the case was in place, I found the buttons to be springy and the edges to be grippy—the latter of which goes a long way in keeping your phone from tumbling out of your hand when you pull it out of your pocket awkwardly. My one beef with the Spigen Slim Armor's design is its cutout for the iPhone's silencer switch—there's just not an ample amount of space for your finger to flip the phone's ringer on or off.

As mentioned, the Spigen Slim Armor case isn't the heaviest, thickest case around, but its drop protection meets military certification (MIL-STD 810G-516.6) and our iPhone 8 Plus survived the series of drops I put it through in our lab. If you're hoping for a case with a bit more heft, you might be better off looking into something else, but for most people, the Spigen Slim Armor case is the sweet spot between simplicity and ruggedness.

Pros

  • Military-grade drop protection

  • Neither bulky nor too thin

  • Built-in kickstand

Cons

  • Makes it hard to silence when ringing

  • Can be hard to slip your phone into

Product image of OtterBox Defender Series iPhone 8 / 7 Case
OtterBox Defender Series

The OtterBox Defender Series is one of the more heavy-duty cases in our round-up. Unfortunately, despite the Defender Series' three layers of protection, the case is fairly frustrating to use.

Right off the bat, I found the case's relatively chintzy pieces to be difficult to open and then snap back into place—I almost ripped the skin off my fingertips trying to pry the thing open. To be fair, if you don't foresee yourself removing your iPhone from its case very often, this shouldn't be an issue you encounter very often.

Once settled, the case's built-in plastic screen protector put a distracting layer between my thumbs and the iPhone 8 Plus's screen. On Amazon, users are split between those who don't mind the plastic screen protector and those, like me, who can't stand it. I understand the screen protector's existence in theory, but I don't think the minimal protection it offers is worth altering the look and feel of the iPhone's display.

The OtterBox Defender's overall design is tough to interact with, too. The buttons are far too firm, especially when the time comes to long-press the power button. The iPhone's ringer switch is placed behind a plastic plug, and once you wrestle it open, the hole underneath is too small for your finger to easily switch the ringer on or off.

One thing the Defender Series has going for it, however, is its durability—I'm having a hard time imagining any casual drop or tumble that this case would fail to protect against. It's a big, bulky, monster of a case that might not even fit in your pocket. If you're so inclined, OtterBox includes a belt harness so you can clip it to your hip.

I'd recommend this case for folks who spend a good deal of time doing the type of activity that ordinarily requires some sort of hard hat or helmet. If you just want a moderate amount of protection, the OtterBox Defender Series is probably too much bulk. If you hike, work in construction, or just generally spend your days being outdoorsy, it'll suit you well (provided you can get over the case's design flaws).

Pros

  • Built-in screen protector

  • High durability

Cons

  • Difficult to open

  • Buttons are hard to press

Product image of Supcase Unicorn Beetle Pro Series Case for iPhone 11
Supcase Unicorn Beetle Pro Series Case for iPhone 11

Reviewers rave about this rock-solid iPhone 11 case from Supcase. The Unicorn Beetle Pro Series has been rated for drops from up to 50 feet in the air, and at least one verified purchaser claims to have run it over with his truck and found the phone completely unscathed.

It’s nice and affordable, at about $21, and you can get it in six different colors. It has a built-in kickstand for convenient video viewing, Zoom calls, and so on. Some shoppers aren’t big fans of the screen protector, however, saying it may have an iridescent smear in the plastic—or that it might not fit as snugly as the rest of the case.

Pros

  • Drop tested for up to 50 ft

  • Available in 6 colors

  • Extra affordable

Cons

  • So-so screen protector

Product image of Otterbox Commuter Series case for iPhone 8 Plus
Otterbox Commuter Series case for iPhone 8 Plus

This heavy-duty, 2-piece iPhone 8 Plus case is perfect for someone looking for a rugged case with a boat-load of protection.

Available in several fun colors (including indigo, pink, and black), this sturdy case offers all of the heavy-duty protection one would expect from OtterBox. At around $24, it's not the most affordable case on the market, but we recommend it for active, on-the-go people who routinely put their phone in dangerous situations. Although it's not as bulky as the OtterBox case we listed for the iPhone 8, you probably won't be able to sustain a wireless charge while your iPhone 8 Plus is encased in this one.

Pros

  • Heavy-duty protection

  • Fairly affordable

  • Not super bulky

Cons

  • Can't sustain a wireless charge

Product image of OtterBox Defender Series Case for iPhone 8 Plus / 7 Plus
OtterBox Defender

The OtterBox Defender Series is one of the more heavy-duty cases in our round-up. Unfortunately, despite the Defender Series' three layers of shock absorbant protection, the case is too frustrating to use and too costly for most users.

Right off the bat, I found the case's relatively chintzy pieces to be difficult to snap into place. Once settled, the case's awkward plastic screen protector put a distracting layer between my thumbs and the iPhone 8 Plus's screen. On Amazon, users are split between those who don't mind the plastic screen protector and those, like me, who can't stand it. The model we tested fits both the iPhone 7 Plus and iPhone 8 Plus. It's available in a number of color options black, two slightly different blue combinations, beige/blue, blue/mint, orchid/purple, agave green/maritime blue, and plum/rose gold.

Pros

  • Heavy-duty protection

  • Comes in a variety of colors

Cons

  • Frustrating to use

  • Awkward screen protector

Meet the tester

Michael Desjardin

Michael Desjardin

Senior Staff Writer

@Reviewed

Michael Desjardin graduated from Emerson College after having studied media production and screenwriting. He specializes in tech for Reviewed, but also loves film criticism, weird ambient music, cooking, and food in general.

See all of Michael Desjardin's reviews

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