Will Apple’s iPhone Cases Do More Than Just Protect?

It seems that future official iPhone cases might not only protect smartphones but also add extra features. Reportedly, Apple is working on cases with a touch layer.

How this will be implemented and what features will be introduced remains unknown. It’s also unclear when to expect the first of such cases. Insider Instant Digital simply states the following:

In future, Apple will actively invest in official protective cases, transforming them from simple decorative elements into “second touch interfaces” for the iPhone, making the iPhone Pro even more “professional”.

We see a mention of iPhone Pro models aimed at certain professional tasks. However, some insights can be found in relatively recent Apple patents. Notably, in a patent application filed by the company in 2024, a “case with input capability for an electronic device” is described, outlining a protective iPhone case designed for use as an input surface. Simply put, the case could be turned into a work surface for using a stylus. The document describes touch areas integrated into the case that can trigger actions usually performed by the phone’s physical buttons. When the case is worn, the iPhone recognizes it and redirects button behavior so that presses, slides, or swipes on the case activate system functions. Here the focus is not on a stylus but on duplicating button functions.

It’s worth noting that according to various leaks, Apple is prepping a brand new iPhone for its 20th anniversary, which will lack any physical buttons. Instant Digital has previously accurately reported on the yellow iPhone 14, the ability to record spatial video on the iPhone 15 Pro, and features of the Apple Watch Series 9.