Quick Answer
Very few iPhones share a case. The only true matches are iPhone 12 and 12 Pro (same body; most cases list both), iPhone 13 and 14 (same width and height; a 14 case fits a 13, but a 13 case is tight around the 14 camera), and iPhone 15 and 16 (identical dimensions, but a 15 case blocks the 16’s Camera Control button and camera layout, so only flexible cases cross over). Every Pro model since the 13 Pro has its own case, the 15 Pro and 16 Pro differ in size, and the iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max and iPhone Air all need new cases. The chart below shows every pairing from iPhone 12 to iPhone 17.
Key Takeaways
- Matching height and width is not enough; the camera bump, button positions and thickness decide whether a case fits.
- Apple’s Action button (15 Pro onward) and Camera Control (16 series) broke compatibility with every earlier case.
- Plus and Pro Max models never share cases, even in the same year, because the camera modules differ.
- Soft silicone and TPU cases are more forgiving across near-identical models than rigid or MagSafe hard cases.
- The iPhone 16e has the iPhone 14 body, so 14 cases physically fit it, but the single camera leaves an oversized cutout.
Buying a case for the “same size” iPhone is one of the most common ways to waste money, because Apple changes camera modules and buttons more often than it changes the overall footprint. This chart lists every iPhone from the 12 series to the 17 series with its dimensions, then shows which pairs are genuinely interchangeable, which fit with compromises, and which never will. Use it before you reuse an old case or buy one labelled for a neighbouring model.
iPhone Dimensions by Model (12 to 17)
| Model | Height × width × depth (mm) | Rear cameras | Buttons / port |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 12 / 12 Pro | 146.7 × 71.5 × 7.4 | 2 diagonal / 3 + LiDAR | Mute switch, Lightning |
| iPhone 12 mini | 131.5 × 64.2 × 7.4 | 2 diagonal | Mute switch, Lightning |
| iPhone 12 Pro Max | 160.8 × 78.1 × 7.4 | 3 + LiDAR | Mute switch, Lightning |
| iPhone 13 / 13 Pro | 146.7 × 71.5 × 7.65 | 2 diagonal / 3 + LiDAR (larger) | Mute switch, Lightning |
| iPhone 13 mini | 131.5 × 64.2 × 7.65 | 2 diagonal | Mute switch, Lightning |
| iPhone 13 Pro Max | 160.8 × 78.1 × 7.65 | 3 + LiDAR | Mute switch, Lightning |
| iPhone 14 | 146.7 × 71.5 × 7.8 | 2 diagonal (slightly larger) | Mute switch, Lightning |
| iPhone 14 Plus | 160.8 × 78.1 × 7.8 | 2 diagonal | Mute switch, Lightning |
| iPhone 14 Pro | 147.5 × 71.5 × 7.85 | 3 + LiDAR (large) | Mute switch, Lightning |
| iPhone 14 Pro Max | 160.7 × 77.6 × 7.85 | 3 + LiDAR (large) | Mute switch, Lightning |
| iPhone 15 | 147.6 × 71.6 × 7.8 | 2 diagonal | Mute switch, USB-C |
| iPhone 15 Plus | 160.9 × 77.8 × 7.8 | 2 diagonal | Mute switch, USB-C |
| iPhone 15 Pro | 146.6 × 70.6 × 8.25 | 3 + LiDAR | Action button, USB-C |
| iPhone 15 Pro Max | 159.9 × 76.7 × 8.25 | 3 + LiDAR | Action button, USB-C |
| iPhone 16 | 147.6 × 71.6 × 7.8 | 2 vertical | Action button + Camera Control, USB-C |
| iPhone 16 Plus | 160.9 × 77.8 × 7.8 | 2 vertical | Action button + Camera Control, USB-C |
| iPhone 16 Pro | 149.6 × 71.5 × 8.25 | 3 + LiDAR | Action button + Camera Control, USB-C |
| iPhone 16 Pro Max | 163 × 77.6 × 8.25 | 3 + LiDAR | Action button + Camera Control, USB-C |
| iPhone 16e | 146.7 × 71.5 × 7.8 | 1 (single) | Action button, USB-C |
| iPhone 17 | 149.6 × 71.5 × 7.95 | 2 vertical | Action button + Camera Control, USB-C |
| iPhone Air | 156.2 × 74.7 × 5.64 | 1 in plateau | Action button + Camera Control, USB-C |
| iPhone 17 Pro | 150 × 71.9 × 8.75 | 3 in full-width plateau | Action button + Camera Control, USB-C |
| iPhone 17 Pro Max | 163.4 × 78 × 8.75 | 3 in full-width plateau | Action button + Camera Control, USB-C |
iPhone Case Compatibility Chart
| Case made for | Also fits | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 12 | iPhone 12 Pro | Yes | Identical body; most cases are sold as “12 / 12 Pro” |
| iPhone 12 Pro | iPhone 12 | Yes | Camera cutout is slightly oversized on the 12 but fits |
| iPhone 12 Pro Max | iPhone 13 Pro Max | Mostly | Same footprint; 13 Pro Max camera is larger, so only cases with a big cutout work |
| iPhone 13 | iPhone 14 | Tight | Same height and width; 14 is 0.15 mm thicker with a slightly bigger camera bump |
| iPhone 14 | iPhone 13 | Yes | Cutouts are larger than the 13 needs; fits well |
| iPhone 13 Pro | iPhone 13 | Yes (loose cutout) | Same body; the 13 Pro camera hole is bigger than the 13 needs |
| iPhone 13 | iPhone 13 Pro | No | 13 Pro camera module does not fit the 13 cutout |
| iPhone 13 Pro | iPhone 14 Pro | No | 14 Pro is 0.8 mm taller with a much larger camera |
| iPhone 14 Plus | iPhone 14 Pro Max | No | Different width and camera |
| iPhone 14 | iPhone 16e | Mostly | Identical body; the 16e’s single camera leaves an empty cutout and the Action button sits where the mute switch was |
| iPhone 14 Pro | iPhone 15 Pro | No | 15 Pro is smaller, thicker, and has an Action button |
| iPhone 15 | iPhone 16 | Flexible cases only | Same dimensions, but the 16 has vertical cameras and the Camera Control button on the right edge |
| iPhone 16 | iPhone 15 | Mostly | Fits, with an open Camera Control slot and a mismatched camera cutout |
| iPhone 15 Pro | iPhone 16 Pro | No | 16 Pro is 3 mm taller and 0.9 mm wider |
| iPhone 16 Pro | iPhone 17 | No | Same height and width but the 17 is thinner with a different two-camera layout |
| iPhone 16 Pro Max | iPhone 17 Pro Max | No | 17 Pro Max is thicker with a full-width camera plateau |
| iPhone 17 / Air / 17 Pro / 17 Pro Max | Each other | No | All four 2025 models have different bodies and camera designs |
Why “Same-Size” iPhones Still Need Different Cases
Three details override matching height and width. First, the camera module: Pro models carry a larger three-lens array than the standard model of the same year, and since the iPhone 16 the standard models moved to a vertical layout, so cutouts rarely line up across generations. Second, buttons: the Action button replaced the mute switch on the 15 Pro and all 16 and 17 models, and the Camera Control button added a capacitive pad on the right edge of 16 and 17 series phones that older cases cover completely. Third, thickness: the Pro models have grown from 7.4 mm on the 12 Pro to 8.75 mm on the 17 Pro, so a rigid older case either will not clip on or leaves the screen edge exposed.
The Pairs People Ask About Most
iPhone 12 and 13: same height and width, but the 13 is 0.25 mm thicker and its diagonal camera bump is larger, so a 12 case is tight on a 13 and often lifts at the corners. A 13 case fits a 12 with a loose cutout. Our test of whether an iPhone 12 case fits an iPhone 15 shows how far the newer models have moved on.
iPhone 13 and 14: the closest pairing in the lineup. A 14 case fits a 13 cleanly; a 13 case fits a 14 but can press on the camera bump. Many case makers list one SKU for both.
iPhone 15 and 16: identical dimensions, so silicone cases stretch over either, but a 15 case on a 16 blocks Camera Control and leaves the vertical cameras partly covered. Hard and MagSafe cases do not cross over. See will an iPhone 15 Pro case fit the 16 Pro for the Pro version of the question.
iPhone 16 Pro and 17: they share the same 149.6 × 71.5 mm footprint, which fuels the rumour that cases swap, but the 17 is thinner and has two vertical cameras where the 16 Pro has a three-lens square, so the cutouts do not match. Treat every 17-series model as needing its own case.
How to Check Before You Buy
- Compare the three dimensions in the table above; a difference of more than 0.5 mm in any direction usually means a poor fit for rigid cases.
- Compare the camera layout: diagonal two-lens, vertical two-lens, three-lens square, or full-width plateau.
- Check the right-edge buttons: a 16 or 17 series phone needs a Camera Control cutout or capacitive pass-through.
- Read the case listing for an explicit model list rather than a “fits most” claim, and prefer sellers who name both models when a pair is genuinely shared.
- For MagSafe cases, remember that the magnet ring position differs slightly between standard and Pro models of the same year, so mismatched cases can weaken the hold even when they clip on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which iPhones use the same case?
iPhone 12 and 12 Pro share a case. iPhone 13 and 14 are close enough that a 14 case fits a 13 well. iPhone 15 and 16 have identical dimensions, but a 15 case blocks the Camera Control button on the 16, so only flexible cases cross over.
Does an iPhone 15 case fit an iPhone 16?
Only soft silicone or TPU cases, and even then the Camera Control button and the vertical camera layout are partly covered. Hard and MagSafe cases made for the 15 do not fit the 16 properly.
Does an iPhone 14 case fit an iPhone 16e?
Physically yes, because the 16e has the iPhone 14 body. The 16e single camera leaves an oversized cutout and the Action button sits where the mute switch opening is, so the fit is functional but not neat.
Does an iPhone 16 Pro case fit the iPhone 17?
No. They share the same height and width, but the iPhone 17 is thinner and has two vertical cameras instead of the 16 Pro three-lens square, so the camera cutout does not match.
Can Plus and Pro Max cases be swapped?
No. In every generation the Plus and Pro Max models have different camera modules and slightly different widths or thicknesses, so their cases are not interchangeable.
Conclusion
Across the iPhone 12 to 17 lineup only three pairs genuinely share a case, 12 and 12 Pro, 13 and 14, and (for flexible cases) 15 and 16, while every Pro, Plus and Pro Max model and all four 17-series phones need a case made for them. Check the dimensions, the camera layout and the right-edge buttons against the chart before reusing an old case, and when in doubt buy the case listed for your exact model.
