If you’ve clicked on this article, you’ve probably either already ordered an iPhone 12 mini or are on the precipice of doing so (if not, we admire your passion for phone cases). Seeing as not having an iPhone 12 mini case is like dangling a $700 porcelain vase off a balcony, your next thought should have been “what kind of case am I going to get?”
It used to be that the only way to properly protect your iPhone was to encase it in so much rubber and plastic it looked like an 80s Transformer. It’s 2020, though, and having a case that combines rugged protection with a slim and stylish design is no longer a distant dream for future generations. To that end, we’ve collected ESR’s 8 best cases for the iPhone 12 mini to help both new fans and returning customers learn a little more about what’s on offer.
iPhone 12 mini CLOUD Soft Silicone Case for $25.99
The iPhone 12 mini CLOUD Soft Case lives up to its name by being as smooth and soft as a cloud (if a cloud were a solid object and not a suspension of microscopic liquid and crystals). Made of injection-molded liquid silicone rubber, the CLOUD may be one of the softest cases you’ve ever felt, but when it comes to the protection it’s anything but soft. The CLOUD absorbs shock like a champ while adding virtually no extra weight. Don’t worry about the case scuffing up your phone like other silicone cases; the CLOUD Soft Case has an ultra-soft inner lining to keep your iPhone looking as good as new.
Also on offer is a HaloLock™ version of the CLOUD Soft Case compatible with MagSafe charging and ESR’s line of HaloLock™ magnetic wireless chargers.
The CLOUD iPhone 12 mini Soft Case is currently available in Orange, Black, and Navy Blue.
What makes it great:
- Soft inner lining
- Sleek and slim
- Ultra-soft hand-feel
- Precise cutouts
iPhone 12 mini ECHO Tempered-Glass Hard Case for $25.99
Old ESR fans will know this case as the Mimic, but it’s since been renamed the ECHO to better reflect the triple-reinforcement of its tempered-glass back. Thanks to said premium tempered glass, the ECHO iPhone 12 mini Tempered-Glass Case stands up to scratches, is highly shatter-resistant, and feels just like your original iPhone 12 mini.
Like a perfect chocolate-vanilla soft-serve swirl, the glass back is paired with a flexible polymer frame with Air-Guard corners. The frame not only enhances the case’s shock resistance even further, it also makes the case super easy to put on (imagine the nightmare of trying to put on an ALL glass case).
The iPhone 12 mini ECHO Tempered-Glass Case comes in Navy Blue, Clear, and Frosted Black.
What makes it great:
- Shock-absorbing corners
- Scratch-resistant back
- Looks and feels like your phone
iPhone 12 mini HALO Clear Case for $24.99
Switching to a colored frame was one of the best design choices Apple has made in recent years. While we do think the mono-color design is slick as heck, we also think that you can never go wrong with a classic two-tone look. Combining an ultra-clear back and a stylish metallic frame, the HALO iPhone 12 mini Clear Case lets you pair the original color of your phone with another eye-popping color.
The HALO’s frame may look shiny and metallic, but the case is 100% soft and flexible, making it not only easier to put on your phone than your favorite sweater but also soft-to-the-touch (also like your favorite sweater, maybe). The back of the case is almost completely transparent except for a strategic layer of tiny microdots that keep the case from clinging to the back of your phone.
The iPhone 12 mini HALO Clear Case is available with Navy Blue, Black, Gold, and Silver frames.
What makes it great:
- Lightweight but tough
- Colorful metallic frame
- Crystal-clear back
iPhone 12 mini Metal Kickstand Case for $18.19
Anyone who’s tried this all-time classic case will understand why it’s routinely our best seller. As its name suggests, the Metal Kickstand Case comes equipped with a US-patented kickstand that supports a portrait mode and adjustable landscape mode. The aluminum alloy stand is lighter than ever, but thanks to its sturdy hinge it still keeps your iPhone 12 mini perfectly stable while you watch Netflix or FaceTime your friends/family/colleagues/D&D party members.
As always, the iPhone 12 mini 5G Metal Kickstand Case is fully compatible with wireless charging pads. Like most ESR cases for the iPhone 12 mini, it’s also been upgraded with a unique “sloped” camera bezel that protects the camera from drops and scratches.
The iPhone 12 mini Metal Kickstand Case is available in Clear and Frosted Black.
What makes it great:
- US-patented stable kickstand
- Wireless charging compatible
- Enhanced camera protection
iPhone 12 mini PROJECT ZERO Slim Clear Case for $16.99
The PROJECT ZERO is the case for people who would really rather not have a case at all. Think the HALO minus the frame, which leaves you with an ultra-light and slim iPhone 12 mini case that’s crystal clear from top to bottom and left to right. It may be practically invisible, but it’ll still protect your iPhone from the travails of everyday life courtesy of the shock-absorbing polymer and raised screen/camera bezels. Like all our clear polymer, the iPhone 12 mini PROJECT ZERO Clear Case is yellowing-resistant and equipped with microdots to prevent watermarking.
What makes it great:
- Keeps your iPhone’s original look
- Shock-resistant
- Comfortable grip
- Light and slim
iPhone 12 mini METRO Premium Leather Case, for $35.99
Flex on your coworkers in your next Zoom call with this boardroom-ready real-leather iPhone 12 mini case. The METRO is made with real, premium leather that will even develop a patina (that beautiful sheen you get with aged natural leather) over time. The premium leather is wrapped around a light but tough polycarbonate shell for added protection against shocks and drops.
Like the CLOUD Soft Case, the METRO is lined with an ultra-soft fiber on the inside, keeping the back of your iPhone 12 mini free of scratches and scrapes. Unique among ESR cases, the button covers are made of metal, for a wonderfully clicky feeling.
The iPhone 12 mini METRO Premium Leather Case is available in Navy Blue and Black.
What makes it great:
- Variations in the leather make each case unique
- Completely smudge and fingerprint resistant
- Ultra-lightweight
iPhone 12 mini LIQUID SHIELD Slim Case, for $24.99
Possibly our slimmest case yet, the LIQUID SHIELD isn’t actually liquid (that would be of questionable effectiveness) but it IS as smooth as well-aged whiskey. Featuring a matte fingerprint-resistant finish, the LIQUID SHIELD stays securely in your hand but slips easily in and out of the tightest pants pockets.
Despite its super slim and light design, this case also provides a fair amount of protection for your phone’s body, screen, and camera thanks to a reinforced bottom edge and raised bezels.
The iPhone 12 mini LIQUID SHIELD Slim Case is available in White, Black, and Navy Blue.
What makes it great:
- Perfect cutouts for your charging port and speakers
- Lightweight but tough
- Smooth and smudge resistant
iPhone 12 mini SHIMMER Sparkly Slim Case for $18.99
One of our brand-new case series for the iPhone 12 mini, the SHIMMER Clear Case is like having a star-filled sky on the back of your phone. Like the PROJECT ZERO the SHIMMER is made entirely of an ultra-clear flexible polymer, but with the addition of gorgeous sparkles embedded in the back that enhance the original look of your iPhone 12 mini.
Being made with our premium flexible polymer with built-in microdots, the iPhone 12 mini SHIMMER clear case also absorbs shock, resists yellowing, and won’t cling to your phone.
What makes it great:
- Watermark-free
- Beautiful sparkles
- Sleek and light
- Showcases and enhances your iPhone’s original look
While getting a case for your iPhone 12 mini is a no-brainer, picking what KIND of case can be difficult. With one of the ESR cases listed below, you won’t have to choose between protection and usability; it’s just a matter of your tastes and preferences.
