Holiday Gift Guide 2016: The Best iPhone 7 Cases

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If you have someone who scored a new iPhone from Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) on your shopping list here are a few great gift ideas: five of the best iPhone 7 cases currently on the market.

2016 Gift Guides, best cases for iPhone 7

Source: Brad Moon

Apple made the iPhone 7 tougher than ever, including long-awaited water resistance, so why bother with a case?

This is a mobile device that slips in a pocket, goes everywhere and is subjected to bumps, drops, rain and other indignities. A device that starts at $649. An iPhone 7 Plus with 256GB of storage hits $969. It still makes sense to protect this valuable device.

Not only that, but as you’ll see from our gift guide, the right case also offers the ability to customize the look of an iPhone, and even to add new capabilities.

Practicality, customization, easy switch-ability and an affordable price make cases some of the best gifts for iPhone 7 owners.

Holiday Gift Guide 2016 (The Best iPhone 7 Cases): Leather Case by Nomad

gift guide 2016 best iphone 7 cases, Nomad

Source: Nomad

Nomad is a company that specializes in crafting premium accessories for Apple devices.

It has a relationship with Chicago’s Horween Leather Company and the results of this partnership are some of the best-looking accessories on the market, including the leather case.

Available for the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, in a choice of brown or gray Horween leather, this case not only offers protection, but is the ultimate in a personalized look. After a few months of use, the leather develops a unique patina. Scuffs and scrapes won’t hurt the iPhone and only make the Leather Case look better.

Starting at $39.95 Nomad’s Leather Case is also surprisingly affordably priced.

Holiday Gift Guide 2016 (The Best iPhone 7 Cases): Oaxis InkCase

gift guide 2016 best iphone 7 cases, InkCase

Source: Oaxis

The Oaxis InkCase lands in our gift guide because it’s one of the best gifts you can buy an iPhone 7 owner who wants to add all-new functionality to their smartphone.

The back of the InkCase is an independently powered 4.3-inch E Ink display similar to those used by Amazon.com, Inc.‘s (NASDAQ:AMZN) Kindle e-reader.

It connects to the iPhone using Bluetooth and can be used to display photos and notifications that can be seen without having to fire up the iPhone. Even better, the glare-free E Ink display can be used to read e-books, even in the sun.

It’s pretty cool.

The iPhone 7 version is currently on pre-order. However, the cases are a proven technology (Oaxis is several generations into the InkCase) and to make up for the fact that it won’t arrive in time for Christmas, Oaxis is currently knocking the price down to $99 and throwing in a free Hybrid case that will get there for the big day.

Holiday Gift Guide 2016 (The Best iPhone 7 Cases): Dog & Bone Wetsuit

gift guide 2016 best iphone 7 cases, Dog & Bone

Source: Dog & Bone

The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are water resistant. So why would anyone want something like the Wetsuit protective case?

The iPhone 7 is IP67 certified water resistant. That means it’s able to withstand being submerged in up to three feet of water for 30 minutes — so basically wading pool depth. The rubber gaskets don’t guarantee protection against sea water or other liquids. The iPhone 7 can also be easily damaged by drops.

The Dog & Bone Wetsuit offers upgraded water resistance: IP68, while still keeping the display unobstructed. With this case, an iPhone 7 can withstand being in up to 6.6 feet of water for two hours. You can also take it to the beach. And despite being thin for an impact-resistant case, it exceeds Military standards for drop protection from 6.6 feet.

The Dog & Bone Wetsuit — which starts at $79.95 — also adds a soft rubber bumper making it easy to grip an iPhone 7 in wet conditions.

Holiday Gift Guide 2016 (The Best iPhone 7 Cases): UAG Monarch

gift guide 2016 best iphone 7 cases, UAG Monarch

Source: Urban Amor Group

The Monarch case for iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus from Urban Armor Gear — or UAG — is a cool combination of style, protection and bad-ass looks.

The case, which starts at $59.95, is made of premium materials including top grain leather, metal alloy, polycarbonate and rubber.

They’re put together in a design that looks high tech and stylish, while doubling the protection needed to pass Military standards for drop testing. The case is slim and lightweight, but put together so well it carries a 10-year limited warranty.

Holiday Gift Guide 2016 (The Best iPhone 7 Cases): Nodus Shell Case

gift guide 2016 best iphone 7 cases, Nodus Shell case

Source: Nodus

Finally, another premium leather case, but this one has a twist.

The Nodus Shell case is covered with high quality, ethically sourced, vegetable-tanned Italian leather. Inside is microfibre lining and a polycarbonate core for impact resistance. So the Nodus Shell case looks good and protects a new iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus from bumps and bangs.

What sets it apart is a magnetic shield and metal plate incorporated into the shell, and an included magnetic “Micro Dock.” The tiny Micro Dock can be attached to surfaces (like a car dashboard) using included removable tape. The iPhone 7 in the Nodus Shell Case can then be securely held in place by the magnet for convenient, hands-free operation.

The handcrafted Nodus Shell case is available in multiple colors starting at approximately $70 for the iPhone 7 version. Additional Micro Docks go for $25 each.

As of this writing, Brad Moon did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.

Brad Moon has been writing for InvestorPlace.com since 2012. He also writes about stocks for Kiplinger and has been a senior contributor focusing on consumer technology for Forbes since 2015.


Article printed from InvestorPlace Media, https://investorplace.com/2016/12/holiday-gift-guide-2016-best-iphone-7-cases/.

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