When it comes to protection, clear phone cases are generally not that different from their opaque counterparts; thicker cases offer more protection but dilute your iPhone’s slender feel, while thinner cases offer less protection but give you the feeling of holding a sleek, high-end device in your hands.
We only suggest cases from companies whose products we have used and believe in. There are clear cases for older iPhone models as well, though our list focuses on the iPhone 14 and 14 Pro.
Apple Clear Case with MagSafe
Apple’s own iPhone 14 Clear Case is a slim-to-medium thick model made with polycarbonate and flexible materials that’s not as protective as some thicker models here. In its favor, it’s the only clear case with a cutout on the bottom edge that doesn’t interfere when your thumb swipes up from the bottom of the screen to unlock your iPhone or return to the homescreen.
Apple’s Clear Case has raised edges to help protect the screen. It also has minimally raised edges for the cameras, which is standard for most cases. It doesn’t have raised bumpers on the rear, so the iPhone wobbles when you use it on a flat surface thanks to the camera bump.
Clear cases gaining a yellow tint over time is a common concern, and I can attest from experience that Apple’s clear case isn’t affected after using one for over a year.
Otterbox Symmetry Series+ Clear Antimicrobial with MagSafe
Otterbox is known for producing extremely protective cases. The medium-thick class includes the Otterbox Symmetry Series+ Clear Antimicrobial with MagSafe for iPhone 14. To be slightly flexible and more impact-absorbent, it is made of synthetic rubber and harder polycarbonate plastic.
The case has slightly raised edges for the camera as well as raised edges to help protect the screen. It lacks bumpers on the back to keep it from swaying.
With just one Otterbox name branding on the right edge beneath the power button, the Otterbox is one of the least offensive non-Apple cases.
One of the two cases here with antimicrobial technology is the Otterbox Symmetry Series+ Clear Antimicrobial with MagSafe for iPhone 14. Otterbox does not guarantee that this case will actively shield you from common bacteria, though.
It’s also important to note that, of all the cases I tried, the Otterbox one provided the best experience for pressing the buttons, even better than Apple’s. The buttons have a clicky feedback sound and are not overly difficult to press.
Spigen Ultra Hybrid (MagFit)
Spigen’s Ultra Hybrid with MagCase is medium-thick, like some of the cases we’ve seen. It has an advantage for protection because it is made of plastic that is both flexible and harder but softer than Apple’s case. According to Spigen, blue resin has been infused into the case to prevent it from fading over time.
Raised edges for the camera and the screen are also present on the Ultra Hybrid, though they aren’t very noticeable. In order to prevent wobbling, it also has raised bumpers on the back around the corners.
There is a lot of extra branding and marking on the Ultra Hybrid. The company name is printed on the case’s bottom left edge, which is acceptable. But “air cushion technology” is written in capital letters along the top right corner of the case, with an arrow pointing to the corner. Also etched on the bottom right edge of the case is a random sequence of numbers.
Totallee Transparent Case
The Transparent Case firmly falls into the slim-thickness category; Totallee is known for producing thin cases without any markings. Due to its lack of branding, it is among the sleekest and most attractive of the group.
Slimmer cases sacrifice some protection for a sleeker appearance, but the thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) construction of the Totallee Transparent case makes it more shock-resistant than an iPhone that is not protected.
Only the soft version of the Transparent case features a raised lip to help safeguard the screen, and its softer construction will more effectively withstand impacts than the hard version. There is a small lip for the camera on both versions.
The Transparent Case from Totallee claims to be thin enough to allow the iPhone’s MagSafe magnets to function, but the MagSafe’s power is slightly reduced. For the full MagSafe strength, Totallee also offers its MagSafe Frosted Clear case; while it is not completely transparent due to the frosted matte texture, your iPhone’s color will still be visible.
The iPhone 14 series cases from Totallee are currently only available for preorder; the cases will ship and be fully released on October 31.
Read: 7 Best iPhone 8 Cardholder Cases: Stylish & Secure
Incipio Duo for MagSafe
Since I unintentionally ran over a Galaxy S9 wearing an Incipio case with my car in 2018 and the phone was unharmed, I’ve personally grown to have a greater sense of confidence in Incipio cases.
The Duo for MagSafe case from Incipio is a medium-thick two-piece design with a flexible softer interior layer for a more forgiving impact on hard surfaces. It has anti-microbial qualities just like the Otterbox.
Out of all the cases presented here, the Duo for MagSafe is the least “clear.” The sides have a hexagonal pattern, while the back appears to be slightly hazy. The bottom edge of the case clearly displays “Made in China” underneath the right speaker cutout, along with a haphazard collection of numbers and letters underneath the left speaker cutout, which devalues both the case and your iPhone.
The case has slightly raised edges for the camera and raised edges on the screen. The few bumpers on the back corners don’t do much to stop the iPhone’s wobbling.
BONUS!! Peel Super Thin Case
I had to invent the new “near-naked thickness” category in order to classify the thickness of Peel’s case. With unparalleled thinness, Peel cases surpass Totallee’s slim cases.
This also means that Peel cases are the least protective option here; they are more for scratch protection and may only slightly improve drop protection compared to an iPhone that is not protected at all.
The screen and camera are protected by a small lip on Peel’s Super Thin Case. Peel also offers a MagSafe version to ensure the strongest magnetic connection with MagSafe accessories despite its thinness, which doesn’t interfere too much with the MagSafe connection strength.
Peel is the case option that comes closest to achieving the bare iPhone look because, like Totallee, it doesn’t add branding or markings to its products. It’s also one of the more affordable cases in this area.
