While it’s possible to use iPhone 5/5s cases for iPhone SE — check out our top iPhone 5/5s cases here — that certainly isn’t stopping companies from introducing new cases for Apple’s newest 4″ iPhone. VRS Design recently shipped us Crystal Bumper ($33), High Pro Shield ($33), Layered Dandy ($35), and Thor ($28) for iPhone SE. We’ve seen all of these cases already for iPhone 6/6s and iPhone 6/6s Plus, so although we had a pretty good idea what to expect from the shrunken version of the cases, we still gave them a close look.
Crystal Bumper is a clear soft shell case with a plastic bumper that goes around the sides.
Again, these aren’t our favorite cases — we have concerns about the long-term durability of these thin plastic bumpers — but they’re thin, light, and provide proper button coverage. Unlike its 6/6s cousin, the SE Crystal Bumper makes it easy to access the ringer switch.
High Pro Shield is an extremely similar case, with a faux brushed metal back. If you want a clear back to show off your iPhone, pick Crystal Bumper.
If you prefer High Pro Shield’s look, go in that direction.
Layered Dandy is a faux leather wallet folio case. It has two card slots that can fit one card each, and a small pocket for cash. The interior shell offers no protection for the volume buttons or sleep/wake button, and a magnetic strap keeps the case closed.
Thor — also known as Hard Drop — is the most protective of the bunch, pairing an inner TPU shell with a hard plastic back.