Which Phone Case is Actually Best? Otterbox vs Mous vs ESR ($1,300 Phone Ruined!)

A new iPhone 17 Pro Max can cost well over $1,000, so choosing a case is not a small decision. This review tested 16 cases, from a budget $7 option to an $85 premium model, against button pressure, drops, corner impacts, screen clearance, case grip, MagSafe strength and wireless charging.

Key takeaways

• Mous won overall, with the best average result across the main tests.
• ESR offered the strongest impact protection, despite costing much less than several premium cases.
• Rokform was built for serious use, especially in harsh or industrial conditions.
• The Ridge and ESR tied for third overall in the final comparison.
• Cheap cases were better than using no case, but several struggled with major drops.
• Button design matters: some protective cases made everyday phone use surprisingly stiff.

The cases tested ranged from $7 to $85

The review compared cases designed for the iPhone 17 Pro Max. The range included budget brands such as FNTCASE, MKK, ORNARTO, SUPFINE and TOCOL, as well as well-known names including Spigen, ESR, Apple, OtterBox, Caudabe, dbrand, TORRAS, Rokform, Ridge and Mous.

Price alone did not decide the result. Some cheaper cases protected the phone better than more expensive options, while a few premium designs were let down by weak corner protection or poor button response.

For Australian buyers, it is worth checking that a case is made for the exact phone model. New Case stocks cases for major brands including Apple, Samsung and Google, with options ranging from slim styles to rugged defender designs. That makes it easier to match protection to the way you use your phone, rather than simply buying the most expensive case available.

Button response varied more than expected

The tester measured how much force was needed to press the side and volume buttons. Without a case, the buttons required about 9–10 ounces of force. Some cases barely changed that, while others made the buttons feel hard and unresponsive.

Case	General button performance
Mous	Best overall, adding only about 1 ounce of total force
TOCOL	Very responsive cut-out design
Ridge	Light, responsive aluminium buttons
TORRAS	Smooth and easy to press
OtterBox	The stiffest buttons in the test

The Mous case came out on top here, helped by its carefully designed camera control and button system. The TOCOL, Ridge and TORRAS also performed well. In contrast, the OtterBox required far more force than the bare phone, which could become annoying during everyday use.

This is a useful reminder that protection should not come at the cost of basic usability. When comparing cases at New Case, details such as raised edges, button covers and slim designs are just as important as appearance.

Side-impact testing favoured ESR

The first major drop test used a side impact. An unprotected phone suffered severe damage from relatively low drops, while almost every case provided some improvement.

The standout performer was the ESR case. It showed very little damage after the higher drop and finished first in this category. The dbrand case came second, followed by Rokform. Mous, Ridge and TORRAS also performed strongly, with no broken glass in the higher-impact tests.

The budget cases were not useless, but the results were mixed. SUPFINE offered noticeably better protection than the first few low-cost cases, while FNTCASE and MKK showed more damage. The Apple case also performed below expectations, finishing near the bottom of the ranking despite its $50 price.

Corner impacts separated the strong cases from the rest

Corner drops are especially damaging because the force is concentrated in one small area. In this test, the phone cases were pushed even harder, with drops reaching 30 inches and beyond.

ESR and Rokform tied for first place in the main corner-impact test. Both phones remained in excellent condition after demanding drops. When tested at 36 inches, ESR continued to perform extremely well, and it still looked surprisingly good at 42 inches. Rokform also held up strongly, although it showed more damage at the highest drop.

Mous finished fourth in this test, ahead of dbrand and Caudabe. A budget Miracase also performed far better than expected, finishing third in the final corner comparison.

At the other end, OtterBox struggled more than expected, with its corner folding under pressure. TOCOL, ORNARTO and the cheaper FNTCASE also suffered serious damage at the higher heights.

Screen clearance and case grip also matter

A raised bezel can help keep the screen away from the ground during a face-down fall. ESR offered the largest gap, at about 1.52 mm. Mous and OtterBox followed, both providing more than 1.1 mm of clearance. Ridge and Apple offered almost no extra buffer in comparison.

The test also measured how much force was needed to pull the phone out of the case. ORNARTO had the strongest grip, followed by FNTCASE and Mous. OtterBox was the easiest to dislodge, requiring only about 4.3 pounds of force.

These features are easy to overlook when shopping, but they can make a real difference. A case should hold the phone securely while still allowing charging, camera access and comfortable handling.

MagSafe and wireless charging results

Most of the cases supported wireless charging. The main exception was OtterBox in this test. For MagSafe strength, SUPFINE ranked first, with Spigen close behind. Ridge and Rokform also produced strong results.

Mous was not the strongest MagSafe case, but its holding power was still considered sufficient for normal use. If you regularly use magnetic car mounts, wallets or stands, this is one area worth checking before buying.

Which case is best?

The overall winner was Mous, thanks to its combination of responsive buttons, solid drop protection, a useful screen buffer and a secure fit. It was not the strongest in every single test, but it was the most consistent across the full review.

For maximum protection, ESR is the best value choice. It won the side-impact test, tied for first in corner protection and costs far less than Mous, Rokform or some other premium options.

Rokform is a strong choice for people who are especially hard on their phones or need mounting options for bikes and vehicles. Ridge is slimmer and easier to handle, while still offering good protection.

The main lesson is simple: a $7 case is better than no case, but the best protection often comes from thoughtful construction rather than price alone. Australian customers can browse New Case for protective cases across Apple, Samsung and Google devices, with practical styles for everyday use and rugged options for tougher environments.