Can anyone point me toward the absolute best rugged cases for the iPhone 17e right now?
I'm finally upgrading from my beat-up iPhone 12 (the battery life has gotten so bad I basically live next to a wall charger haha), and since I'm pretty clumsy, I need something heavy-duty from day one. I've been doing some looking around online—mostly checking out OtterBox Defender series and some of the Spigen tough armor options. While those seem solid, I keep reading conflicting stuff about whether they add way too much bulk to the 17e's specific form factor, or if the port covers get annoying after a while.
My main priorities for this upgrade are battery (hence the new phone) and keeping the size manageable, even with a case on—I really don't want a brick in my pocket. My budget is around $40-$60 max.
Wait, I almost forgot to mention—I also need something that doesn't completely block wireless charging.
So yeah, what are you guys actually using for rugged protection without making the phone massive?
> I need something heavy-duty from day one... don't want a brick in my pocket. Grab the Spigen Tough Armor iPhone 17e. It uses air cushion tech in the corners for drop protection without needing a massive foam-filled shell like the OtterBox, keeping it well under your $60 budget at around forty bucks. The clever backing design also leaves just enough thickness for seamless MagSafe and wireless charging to pass right through without overheating.