The Week in iPhone Cases: Precious

In this edition of our weekly iPhone-case roundup, we bring you a case that’s precious, several that are tough, and many that are fashionable—all designed to keep your iPhone safe while adding a bit of your personality.

The Mother of Pearl (iPhone 5; $150) features a backing plate made from genuine mother of pearl inlaid in a high-grade, brushed-aluminium frame.

The case is available in black, silver, or gold.

The AL13 (iPhone 5; $80) is a bumper made entirely from aircraft-grade aluminium. It mounts right on top of your iPhone’s outer frame, providing extra protection without compromising the handset’s look and feel.

The AL13 weighs a mere fourteen grams, and it comes in black, grey, red, silver, or blue.

The Dots (iPhone 5; $35) is one of several models of this Snap series, which feature a hardshell construction for maximum protection and a snap-on design that makes installing it a breeze.

In addition to the black-and-white-polkadot theme, the case comes in a variety of colours and patterns such as hearts and stripes.

The Stashback (iPhone 5; $40) features a semi-rigid, impact-resistant construction that keeps your iPhone safe, along with a special compartment that pops open to reveal enough room for up to three credit or ID cards.

The case comes in white/green, black/black, black/blue, grey/dark grey, or grey/pink.

The Fre (iPhone 5; $80) is water-, dirt-, snow-, and shock-proof, and it can be submerged down to two meters for up to half an hour.

The case meets military specifications and is compatible with a variety of optional accessories, including mounts and holsters.

The Retro Game Series (iPhone 5; $30) protects your handset from bumps and scratches, but it also features one of several old-school mini-games at the back.

Actual, physical mini-games, that is, with mazes and little tiny ball bearings like the ones you’d find as prizes in cereal boxes many years ago. The three available models feature three different color schemes: blue/red, pink/orange, and blue/green.

The New York (iPhone 5; $36) helps protect your iPhone from the vagaries of everyday life with a slice of the Big Apple.

The back of the case, which is made from hard plastic with a rubber insert for added safety, features a number of landmarks from the city that never sleeps, rendered in a style that will make you feel like you’ve just been teleported into an old Al Hirschfeld caricature.

The SnapShield (iPhone 5; $18) protects your handset with a lightweight material that keeps the handset safe from bumps and scratches without adding significant bulk.

The case comes in a wide range of colours and motifs, from polka dots to checkers, designed to fit right in with your fashion sense.

The SmartFlex Shine (iPhone 5; $35) features a raised edge to help protect your screen from falls and scratches, and a low profile that adds minimal bulk to your device.

The case’s exterior is coated with a special metallic finish and features a glossy veneer for a unique look that is available in white, green, or pink