The iPhone 12 Pro Max is tough, but if you want to keep it looking new and prevent any damage, you should invest in a case.

Investing in an iPhone 12 Pro Max is an exciting move, especially if you appreciate slightly larger smartphones that boast exceptional cameras. However, Apple products aren't known for particularly budget-friendly pricing, so once you've purchased your new iPhone, you'll want to protect it.

To keep your iPhone 12 Pro Max looking new, you should definitely consider a protective case. From lightweight, simple designs to built-in kickstands and wireless charging support, there's a phone case that suits almost every requirement.

Here are the best iPhone 12 Pro Max cases available today.

The Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max Silicone Case with MagSafe is the best iPhone 12 Pro Max case to consider if you prefer to invest in Apple-branded products. It's been designed to fit the 12 Pro Max, thus it ensures any ports are accessible, and all buttons are responsive, despite the phone being protected in a case. The silicone material is soft to touch, comfortable to hold, and offers plenty of grip.

The Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max Silicone Case with MagSafe is available in 11 different colors, allowing you to choose the case that's right for you. While there aren't any special features to note like a kickstand or hidden section for credit cards, this case is shock-absorbent and lightweight, so your phone will be protected without any added bulk.

Since the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max can be charged wirelessly, this case comes complete with MagSafe, which means the hidden built-in magnets will work perfectly with a suitable MagSafe charger, allowing you to charge your phone without having to remove the case.

Read our full Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max Silicone Case with MagSafe review.

The Spigen Slim Armor CS is a great iPhone 12 Pro Max phone case if you prefer to ditch the wallet and want a little extra convenience added to your life. The total depth of the case is just 0.53 inches with your phone in it, allowing you to store up to two credit cards to take along with you. Better yet, the easy slide opening doesn't add any extra bulkiness to the case.

Available in three colors, the Spigen Slim Armor CS is surprisingly stylish despite its functionality. It's been crafted with dual layers for added protection and features Air Cushion Technology, which essentially means the corners of your iPhone 12 Pro Max will be cushioned in case you drop your phone or it falls out of your bag or pocket.

The raised edges around the camera are certainly a welcome feature; if you drop your phone on its back on a flat surface, your phone's cameras won't be damaged, yet they're still fully functional.

Read our full Spigen Slim Armor CS review.

The Crave Dual Guard Case is an affordable iPhone 12 Pro Max case that's available in six colors. Its dual-layer design will protect your phone from minor drops or falls while offering a lightweight solution using TPU and PC materials. The rubber grip is a sensible addition since it will prevent your phone from slipping out of your hands or pockets, easily.

If you make use of the iPhone 12 Pro Max's wireless charging capabilities, you'll be pleased to know the Crave Dual Guard Case is wireless charging compatible. You won't have to remove the case in order to charge your phone, making it more convenient. Despite its budget-friendly price tag, this case is also shock-resistant and scratch-resistant, keeping your phone in the best shape it can be.

While the Crave Dual Guard Case won't win any innovation awards, it does really well at what it's been designed for; protecting your iPhone 12 Pro Max. However, if you spend a substantial amount of time outdoors, it might be worth investing in a more rugged case since this case is best for day-to-day use in and around the home.

Read our full Crave Dual Guard Case review.

The Spigen Tough Armor iPhone 12 Pro Max case is a solid choice if you're looking for protection, affordability, and convenience rolled into one. It features a built-in kickstand that easily pops out of its small indentation on the case, making it easy to watch videos or use your phone without needing to hold it.

Granted, it's not the most stylish phone case, but it does a good job at protecting your iPhone from dents, knocks, and scratches. In fact, it's passed military-grade standard tests, coupled with Air Cushion Technology, to ensure your phone doesn't get damaged through daily use or occasional accidents.

While there isn't much choice in terms of colors or design, the Spigen Tough Armor is definitely worth investing in if you're looking for a basic iPhone 12 Pro Max phone case that's easy to install and comfortable to hold.

Read our full Spigen Tough Armor iPhone 12 Pro Max review.

The Spigen Ultra Hybrid Case for iPhone 12 Pro Max is a transparent case that's available in four variations; Crystal Clear, Matte Black, Navy Blue, and Red. The clear design allows you to see your iPhone while keeping it protected.

Around the case, there are raised lips to protect from surface scratches that can easily happen when you place your phone down. The cushioned bumpers around the corners help to absorb shock, whether you drop your phone or it comes into contact with other objects in your bag or pockets. The material is extremely grippy, ensuring your phone doesn't slide out of your hands when using it.

And, with all this protection, the Spigen Ultra Hybrid Case for iPhone 12 Pro Max is compatible with wireless charging, so you'll only need to remove the case to clean it once in a while.

Read our full Spigen Ultra Hybrid Case for iPhone 12 Pro Max review.

The ESR Metal Kickstand Case shows off your iPhone 12 Pro Max in its truest form with its lightweight clear material. The built-in kickstand allows you to place your phone horizontally or vertically, meaning you can view your favorite content, hands-free. It's also adjustable up to 60 degrees, making it one of the most versatile kickstands available on an iPhone case.

Despite the added features, this iPhone 12 Pro Max phone case supports wireless charging. Although you can't use it on a charging stand, you can place it on a wireless charging base, perfect for adding that little bit of extra battery juice when you need it.

To protect your phone from drops and impact, the ESR Metal Kickstand Case has been designed with Air-Guard corners. This absorbs any shock ensuring your phone doesn't get damaged if you drop it. The raised bezels also help to keep the cameras on your iPhone safe, making it a great case if you're accident-prone.

The totallee Thin Case is one of the best iPhone 12 Pro Max cases if you want to protect your phone while being able to appreciate its exceptional design. As one of the thinnest iPhone cases around, this case is surprisingly protective, boasting raised lips to protect your phone's camera in case of accidental drops or falls.

Once the totallee Thin Case is installed, it adds just 0.03 inches of thickness to your phone, making it a great choice if you prefer to keep your phone in your pocket and don't want to carry around extra weight or bulk. The transparent TPU material doesn't yellow quickly over time, so you won't need to replace it very often.

What's more, this phone case supports wireless charging too, so you can pop it on your wireless charger with ease, without having to worry about removing the case. It's a simple case that does what it's supposed to do, but at this price range, it would have been nice to see some extra features included.

Many of the best iPhone 12 Pro Max cases are crafted using plastic materials like polycarbonate or TPU. However, Apple's Silicone Case with MagSafe clearly sets itself apart from the other cases. Silicone is a much softer type of plastic, offering plenty of grip and a smoother feel. This is perfect for people who tend to lose grip of their phones or are sensitive to certain textures.

On the other hand, silicone is much less hardy, marks easily, and doesn't withstand drops and falls as well as polycarbonate or TPU does. That's why most iPhone 12 Pro Max cases use tougher plastics with the hope they'll last longer and protect against damage.

Most iPhone cases won't weigh a great deal, but when you consider the iPhone 12 Pro Max already weighs 8.03oz without a case, you won't want to add too much more bulk to it.

The lightest iPhone 12 Pro Max cases we tested were the Spigen Tough Armor and the Spigen Ultra Hybrid Case. Both of these cases weigh less than 2 ounces; a quarter of the weight of the iPhone 12 Pro Max. The Spigen Tough Armor increases the depth of the iPhone by just 0.16 inches, whereas the Spigen Ultra Hybrid increases it by just 0.11 inches. These are by far the slimmest and lightest iPhone cases if you're looking for a lighter load.

Although it's important to protect your iPhone, it's also nice to be able to enjoy the slimline design that Apple is becoming well-known for. The Spigen Ultra Hybrid Case not only adds little weight to your iPhone, but it also shows off the sleek design, and bold color (if you've opted for something other than black, silver, or white).

Some iPhone cases include additional extras that seamlessly integrate with the case to make them more functional. The Spigen Tough Armor and ESR Metal Kickstand Case both have built-in kickstands. These are especially handy if you enjoy watching videos or making video calls on your iPhone, and don't always want to hold it in your hands.

Both of these cases do well to keep their kickstands somewhat hidden, making it easy to flip the kickstand out when needed. However, the ESR Metal Kickstand Case is a little more versatile as it can be used horizontally or vertically.

Whether you're catching up with friends and family on FaceTime or watching your favorite YouTube videos in bed, you can keep your iPhone 12 Pro Max in place, and leave it on charge.

But, for those who aren't interested in a kickstand, the Spigen Slim Armor CS adds another (but different) useful component—a hidden wallet compartment. Adding just 0.24 inches of depth to your iPhone, this case boasts an exterior card slot, with room for two cards. Traveling light has never been so easy! The only disadvantage of this design is that it doesn't support wireless charging in order to protect your credit cards.

Aside from utility, the main reason why people invest in a phone case is to protect their phone from accidental damage, knocks, or drops. From working on a building site to living in a household with children, it's unlikely your phone won't be exposed to minor damage at some point during its lifetime. That is unless you invest in a protective phone case.

Now, while many of you might be tempted to splash out the cash on an expensive iPhone 12 Pro Max case, it's not always the premium cases that offer the most protection. The Spigen Ultra Hybrid Case is one of the cheapest cases we've reviewed, yet, it offers exceptional protection, featuring Air Cushion Technology that's been military-grade tested.

That's not to say, however, that official iPhone cases like the Apple Silicone Case with MagSafe aren't worth investing in. In fact, it's our premium pick, offering protection against most scratches and drops thanks to its silky silicone exterior and microfibre lining to prevent unwanted damage to your iPhone 12 Pro Max. Better still, you can use MagSafe wireless charging without having to remove this case from your phone.

Yes, absolutely. If you want to protect your iPhone from accidental falls, knocks, or damage, you should invest in a phone case. This will prevent scratches, damage to the cameras, and chips in your phone's outer layer.

No, the iPhone 12 Pro Max is a different size from the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro. You'll need a case designed for the iPhone 12 Pro Max to ensure it fits properly.

There are plenty of cases that are compatible with the iPhone 12 Pro Max. You just need to decide what features you want to be included, like a built-in kickstand, wallet case, card holder, and so on.

We hope you like the items we recommend and discuss! MUO has affiliate and sponsored partnerships, so we receive a share of the revenue from some of your purchases. This won’t affect the price you pay and helps us offer the best product recommendations.

Georgie is MakeUseOf's eCommerce Editor. She has a degree in Psychology from the University of Gloucestershire, UK, but spent her childhood growing up in Central London. When she escaped the big smoke, Georgie pursued her passion for technology and became a freelance writer.

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