Hard and Slim Cases

Protection you hardly notice

A slim case is for people who like the size and feel of the phone as it came, but do not want scratches on the back and sides. These cases are thin shells that add very little to the size or weight of the phone, so it still slides easily into a pocket and sits flat on a desk. The cases here are mostly for iPhone, with cut-outs for the buttons, ports and camera.

The kinds of slim case

• Hard shells are polycarbonate, often shortened to PC: a rigid, light plastic that can be made very thin. They snap on and come in clear gloss or a matte frosted finish that hides fingerprints.
• Ultra thin soft cases are thin, flexible silicone or TPU, clear or coloured, for a softer feel in the hand.
• Slim magnetic cases are thin hard shells with magnets built in, so MagSafe-compatible chargers, wallets and mounts click on. More are in magnetic phone cases.
• Frameless cases leave the edge round the screen open, for the cleanest look from the front.

What a slim case does, and what it does not

A thin shell stops scratches and scuffs, and a hard one spreads a knock across the whole case. What it cannot do is cushion a big drop: there is too little material to absorb it, and a frameless case leaves the screen's edge open. Hard shells can also be slippery, and glossy ones show scratches of their own. So pair a slim case with a tempered glass screen protector and camera lens protectors, and if your phone takes real falls, look at tough and shockproof cases or bumpers instead.

Questions people ask about slim cases

How do I make sure a case fits my phone?

Choose your exact model from the options on the product page. Phones that share a name are often different shapes: an iPhone 16 and an iPhone 16 Pro take different cases, and so do a Galaxy A05 and a Galaxy A05s.

Is a hard case hard to take off?

A tight hard shell can be. Start at a corner near the camera and ease it away from the phone a little at a time, rather than pulling at one side.

Do slim cases work with wireless charging?

Yes. Being thin, they let wireless charging through easily, and the magnetic ones hold a magnetic charger in place. The guide Wireless and magnetic charging explained has more.

How long does delivery take?

Delivery is included in every price and tracked to your door. Each product page says when it usually arrives.

More to look at

• Clear cases
• Silicone and soft cases
• Magnetic phone cases
• Tempered glass screen protectors
• Camera lens protectors
• Guide: Phone case materials: silicone, TPU, polycarbonate and leather
• Guide: How to choose a phone case: the UK buying guide