Best water resistant cases for iPhone SE

With the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, Apple finally embraced a feature that various competing smartphones already had for some time: dust and water resistance. But Apple's other phone introduced this year, the iPhone SE, does not offer any protection against the elements. This means that, if you have an iPhone SE and you want to make it water resistant, you have to buy a special case for it.

Fortunately, there are several water resistant cases that can do a great job protecting your iPhone SE against both water, and dust. Before presenting them to you, we must note that, despite the names that their manufacturers may be using, these cases are not literally waterproof, they're just water resistant - up to a certain depth and a certain amount of time. All the cases listed below - in alphabetical order - provide access to the screen, TouchID, camera, buttons and ports (though the ports are obviously sealed).

Gear Beast Case for iPhone SE

This iPhone SE case from Gear Beast is the cheapest on our list, and, to be fair, its design doesn't scream premium, though it's not terrible, either (for a water-resistant case). Being IP68-certified, the case - with your iPhone SE in it - can resist up to 1 hour at 6.6 feet (2 meters) under water. The case has its own screen protector, and, according to Gear Beast, its polycarbonate frame allows it to survive drops from up to 5 feet (1.5 meters).

Ghostek Atomic 3 Series case for iPhone SE

The Ghostek Atomic 3 Series for iPhone SE looks pretty cool (thanks to an aluminum frame and a transparent rear shell) and comes in six color variants. It includes a scratch-resistant screen protector, but it's not as water resistant as the other cases on this list: it will protect your iPhone SE only if you submerge it in up to 3.2 feet (1 meter) of water for up to 30 minutes. That's still not bad, especially since the case comes with lifetime warranty.

LifeProof Fre case for iPhone SE

The LifeProof Fre is one of the most popular water resistant cases for the iPhone SE and iPhone 5 series. Unfortunately for those on a budget, it's also among the most expensive ones, but that's because it really is a premium case. Made out of a combination of materials (polycarbonate, polypropylene, silicone and synthetic rubber), the LifeProof Fre case is IP68-certified and can survive up to 1 hour in up to 6.6 feet (2 meters) of water. The case features a very thin, barely noticeable screen protector, and is built to withstand drops from up to 6.6 feet (2 meters).

Wildtek Repel case for iPhone SE

The Wildtek Repel case seems to strike a balance between affordability and quality. It's IP68-certified, being able to protect your iPhone SE up to 2 meters under water for up to 1 hour, and it's also shockproof and drop-proof. Wildtek doesn't say what kind of drops the case can withstand (i.e. from what heights), but it does offer lifetime warranty for the product.

Special mention: Kona Waterproof Case