Tough and Shockproof Cases

Built for the phone that gets dropped

A tough case is for the phone that leads a hard life: dropped on pavements, knocked on site, carried in a work bag with tools, or handed to a child. The cases here are armour-style cases for iPhone and Samsung Galaxy phones, built in layers so that a drop is absorbed and spread rather than passed straight to the phone. They are bigger and heavier than an everyday case, and that is the point.

How a tough case works

Each layer does what it is best at. A soft inner layer of TPU or silicone sits against the phone and absorbs the shock. A hard outer shell, usually polycarbonate, spreads the force across the whole case. On top of that come thick corners, which is where a phone lands most often, and a lip that stands slightly proud of the screen and the camera, so the glass stays off the ground when the phone lands flat.

• Two-layer armour cases pair a hard PC shell with a TPU liner.
• Metal armour cases have an aluminium frame over a silicone inner case, some with a tempered glass back.
• Armour cases for Samsung Galaxy cover the S and A series in a range of colours.

What "military grade" means on a case

Many tough cases say "military grade" or "tested to MIL-STD-810". That is a United States Department of Defense set of test methods, not a certificate. Its drop test is 26 drops from about 1.22 metres, or four feet, onto a hard surface, and those drops may be shared across several units. Nobody issues an official pass for phone cases: makers test their own or pay a laboratory. So treat the phrase as a sign the case was designed for drops, and judge it by its layers, corners and lip. The guide How to choose a phone case has more.

Questions people ask about tough 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.

Will a tough case stop wireless charging?

It can. Apple says a thick or metal case can stop or slow wireless charging, and suggests taking the case off if that happens. For a magnetic car mount or charger, look at magnetic phone cases instead.

Do I still need a screen protector?

Yes. The lip keeps the screen off a flat floor but cannot stop a stone. Add a tempered glass screen protector and camera lens protectors.

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

• Bumpers
• Protective cases
• Kids' cases
• Stand and ring cases
• Tempered glass screen protectors
• Camera lens protectors
• Guide: How to choose a phone case: the UK buying guide
• Guide: Phone case materials: silicone, TPU, polycarbonate and leather