Courtesy
I got my first iPhone in 2014. It was an iPhone 5c that checked the “budget" and “handy” boxes for a freshly-minted high-schooler. Since then—and not that I’m bragging—every phone I’ve owned has been an iPhone, all the way onto the
newfangled, all-attitude 14 Pro. While I always skipped a generation in between, I did not miss the beat at getting an
iPhone case for each model—an iPhone wallet case, to be exact.
It was a level-headed decision: an iPhone is a daily essential you use with hands, cards are also daily essentials you use with hands. Get it? They’re practically the same thing (I'm reaching, I know)! Why keep them separate when I can use a phone wallet case that both safeguards my device and carries a few cards? Need I really be up against the world with a chunky bifold that’ll bulge out my pant's pocket, and then stuff a six-inch gizmo in there too? I’ve got to condense!
-
The Budget Pick
Spigen Slim Armor CS Spigen
Read More
-
The Best Overall
3-Card Phone Case Bellroy
Read More
-
-
The Value Pick
Wallet Slayer Vol. 1 Smartish
Read More
-
The Durable Case
Stashback Case for iPhone Incipio
Read More
So, save some space, man. Not everyday is a bring-your-bag-outside kind of day. And these 17 best iPhone wallet cases, from the slim to the folio to the bag, will help you travel light. We’ve also researched iPhone model compatibility and what to look for so you don’t have to. Go ahead. Condense.
The Budget Pick
Spigen
Spigen Slim Armor CS
| Up to 2 cards |
| No |
| Dual layers and air cushion |
The Best Overall
Bellroy
3-Card Phone Case
| Up to 3 cards |
| No |
| Eco-tanned leather and polymer |
The Most Stylish
Mujjo
Phone Cases
| Up to 3 cards |
| Yes |
| Raised camera and screen edges |
The Value Pick
Smartish
Wallet Slayer Vol. 1
| Up to 3 cards plus cash |
| No |
| Extra grippy sides |
The Durable Case
Incipio
Stashback Case for iPhone
| Up to 3 cards |
| No |
| 14-foot drop protection |
the leather folio
Nomad
Modern Leather Folio
| 3 card slots and 1 cash slot |
| Yes |
| 10-foot drop protection |
The Durable Folio
OtterBox
Strada Folio Series
| 2 card slots and 1 cash slot |
| Yes |
| Military-grade drop protection |
Most Convenient
Onetop
Wallet Case with Card Holder
| 2 card slots and 1 cash slot |
| No |
| Shock-proof PU leather |
The multifunctional one
VENA
vCommute Wallet Case
| Up to 3 cards |
| Yes |
| Military-grade drop protection |
Best Leather
Bullstrap
Portfolio iPhone Case
| Up to 2 cards |
| Yes |
| 1.5mm-thick protective layer |
The High-end one
Tumi
Magnetic iPhone 13 Case & Folio
| Up to 3 cards for case, 5 card slots for folio |
| Yes |
| Leather |
The Designer Wallet Case
Bottega Veneta
iPhone 13 Pro Wallet Case
| 1 card slot |
| No |
| Rubber silicone |
The Phone Wallet
Paul Smith
Leather Phone Wallet
| As many cards as it can fit |
| No |
| 100% leather and flap closure |
The all-in-one
Bandolier
Mila MagSafe Charging Crossbody Wallet Case
| Up to 8 cards |
| Yes |
| Pebble leather |
The Designer Phone Holder
Off-White
Binder Diag Saff Phone Holder
| 1 card slot |
| No |
| Calf leather/polyamide |
The phone sling
Dagne Dover
Mara Phone Sling
| As many cards as it can fit |
| No |
| Neoprene and performance air mesh |
Best Accessory for iPhone Cases
Leather Wallet with MagSafe
| Up to 3 cards |
| Yes |
| N/A |
What to Look for in Wallet Phone Cases
- MagSafe Compatibility: If you insist on using MagSafe accessories or any newer-gen device equipped with Qi-enabled charging, keep in mind that a wallet case might get in the way of your wireless experience. But thankfully, quite a few iPhone card holder cases in our list do not interrupt with MagSafe's magic and thus pave way for wireless charging even with the case—and cards—on. But for others, those magnets are just too big for both, and you’ll have to detach the case for wireless charging, or just charge with a cord, which isn't that repulsive of an idea.
- Card Slot Capacity: Some manufacturers straight-up provide a limit as to how many cards you can put in there, and some just tell you the amount of card slots for you to test the limit.
- iPhone Model: Apple insists on the most subtle twists for each of its new release—a decimal difference in dimension or camera bump. That's something we just have to put up with. Hence, never be so innocent and think you can just carry your iPhone 13 wallet case over to an iPhone 14. Always check the size in each model—you'd be surprised by how they're often a small world apart.
Get Unlimited Access to Esquire's Gear Recommendations