I like cases that aren't too thick but offer decent drop protection, with a lip over the edge of the screen (sometimes referred to as a "screen bumper") and raised corners that help prevent your screen from cracking if your phone should fall face down. A folio case will more fully protect your screen. The good news is that you don't have to buy a super-protective iPhone 15 case like the OtterBox Defender XT to get good protection. Most cases are reasonably thin and still offer at least 6-foot drop protection. I did include one very thin case on this list for folks who prefer minimal protection

All the iPhone 15 models are equipped with Apple's MagSafe feature, which offers faster wireless charging with compatible chargers. It also supports optional accessories -- including the Magsafe wallet, mini wallets and various mounts -- that adhere magnetically to the back of your phone. Like the iPhone 14, the iPhone 15 has "an array of magnets" (Apple says they're recycled) embedded around a charging coil that can pull up to 15 watts of power. If you want to use those MagSafe accessories without taking your phone out of its case, you need a phone case that's equipped with MagSafe support. T

In general, yes -- about $10 more. Some more affordable MagSafe cases cost around $20, but most cost upward of $30. We see cases from certain companies that are essentially the same but one has MagSafe and the other doesn't, and the MagSafe version usually sells for $10 more. It may seem like a little too much to pay for something that doesn't seem like much of an upgrade, but in time MagSafe compatibility may command less of a "tax."