Only cases made for the iPhone 13 Pro Max fit it properly. That sounds like the easy answer everyone gives you. The useful part is why, and it is not what most people think.
Three different iPhones have the exact same body size as the iPhone 13 Pro Max. Their cases slide on. The camera hole is what stops them working.
Here is the full answer, with the numbers.
Quick Answer: Which Cases Fit
| Case made for | Body fits? | Camera fits? | Use it? |
| iPhone 13 Pro Max | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone 12 Pro Max | Yes, very tight | No, hole too small | No |
| iPhone 14 Plus | Yes, exact match | No, wrong shape | No |
| iPhone 14 Pro Max | No, 0.5 mm narrow | No | No |
| iPhone 13 Pro | No, far too small | No | No |
| iPhone 11 Pro Max | No, too short | No | No |
| iPhone 15 Pro Max | No, too small | No | No |
So the short version is this. Buy a case made for the iPhone 13 Pro Max. But if you already own a 12 Pro Max or 14 Plus case, keep reading, because the reason it fails is worth knowing.
The Numbers Behind the Answer
Look at the body sizes first.
| iPhone model | Height | Width | Depth | Rear camera |
| 13 Pro Max | 160.8 mm | 78.1 mm | 7.65 mm | Triangle, 3 lenses |
| 12 Pro Max | 160.8 mm | 78.1 mm | 7.40 mm | Triangle, 3 lenses |
| 14 Plus | 160.8 mm | 78.1 mm | 7.80 mm | Diagonal, 2 lenses |
| 14 Pro Max | 160.7 mm | 77.6 mm | 7.85 mm | Triangle, 3 lenses |
| 11 Pro Max | 158.0 mm | 77.8 mm | 8.10 mm | Triangle, 3 lenses |
| 13 Pro | 146.7 mm | 71.5 mm | 7.65 mm | Triangle, 3 lenses |
Notice the first three rows. The iPhone 13 Pro Max, 12 Pro Max and 14 Plus are all 160.8 mm tall and 78.1 mm wide. Identical.
That is why so many people think the cases swap. On the front, they do. The problem sits on the back.
The Camera Bump Is the Real Blocker
Apple made the rear camera much bigger on the 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max. The lenses got larger sensors, so the raised square around them grew too.
AppleInsider measured the camera opening on Apple’s own silicone case for the iPhone 13 Pro. It came out at roughly 38 mm by 37 mm. On the iPhone 12 Pro the opening is clearly smaller.
That difference decides everything. A case hole cut for a 12 Pro Max camera is simply not big enough for a 13 Pro Max camera.
Here is what happens in real life. Reviewers who tried it found the phone did go into a 12 Pro Max case, but the fit was very tight, and getting the phone back out again was hard. In some cases the camera would not clear the opening at all.
Apple also shifted the side buttons very slightly between the two models. So even where the case goes on, button presses can feel stiff or off centre.
Model by Model, Answered
Does an iPhone 12 Pro Max case fit the iPhone 13 Pro Max?
No, and this is the closest call of them all.
The body is the same size. The 13 Pro Max is only 0.25 mm thicker. On a soft case you will not feel that.
The camera hole is the problem. It was cut for a smaller camera. Your lenses will press against the edge of the opening, or sit half covered. Pressing glass lenses against hard plastic is how you scratch them.
• Verdict: It goes on. Do not use it.
Does an iPhone 14 Plus case fit the iPhone 13 Pro Max?
No. This one surprises people, because the body match is exact. Same height. Same width. Only 0.15 mm difference in thickness.
But the iPhone 14 Plus has two lenses set on a diagonal. The iPhone 13 Pro Max has three lenses set in a triangle.
So the case hole is the wrong shape entirely. Your third lens ends up sitting under solid plastic. The case will cover part of your camera.
• Verdict: Perfect body fit. Completely wrong camera. Do not use it.
Does an iPhone 14 Pro Max case fit the iPhone 13 Pro Max?
No. The 14 Pro Max is 0.5 mm narrower and 0.1 mm shorter.
Half a millimetre sounds tiny. On a moulded case it is not. The case will be too tight across the middle, and the corners will not seat properly. The camera opening is also a different size.
• Verdict: Too small. Do not force it.
Does an iPhone 13 Pro case fit the iPhone 13 Pro Max?
No. Not even close.
The 13 Pro is 146.7 mm tall and 71.5 mm wide. The 13 Pro Max is 160.8 mm by 78.1 mm. That is 14 mm shorter and 6.6 mm narrower.
The names look similar. The phones are not. Pro and Pro Max are different sizes every year.
• Verdict: Will not go on. Check the word Max before you buy.
Does an iPhone 11 Pro Max case fit the iPhone 13 Pro Max?
No. The 11 Pro Max is 158.0 mm tall against 160.8 mm. It is 2.8 mm shorter and it has curved sides rather than flat ones.
The 13 Pro Max will not slide in, and the camera opening is far too small.
• Verdict: No.
Does an iPhone 15 Pro Max case fit the iPhone 13 Pro Max?
No. The 15 Pro Max is 159.9 mm by 76.7 mm. It is both shorter and narrower than the 13 Pro Max.
A newer case does not mean a bigger case. Apple made the Pro Max smaller in 2023.
• Verdict: No. Too small in both directions.
One Thing Almost Nobody Mentions
Screen protectors do not swap either, and for a different reason.
The iPhone 13 Pro Max has a smaller notch than the 12 Pro Max. Apple also moved the earpiece speaker right up to the top edge. On the 12 Pro Max it sits lower, inside the notch area.
So a 12 Pro Max screen protector will cover your earpiece or leave a gap in the wrong place. If you are replacing a case, check your glass protector too.
Also read our latest guide about: What is the best phone case for protection
How to Check Any Case Before You Buy
Use these four checks. They take about ten seconds each.
1. Look for the word Max. iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max are completely different sizes. This is the single most common mistake.
2. Count the lens holes. You need three holes in a triangle. Two holes on a diagonal means the case is built for a 14 Plus or a standard 13.
3. Check the listing says 13 Pro Max on its own. A listing that says “fits 12 Pro Max and 13 Pro Max” is usually cutting corners on the camera opening.
4. Confirm MagSafe if you use it. The 13 Pro Max supports MagSafe. A case without built in magnets weakens the hold on chargers and car mounts.
What Goes Wrong If You Force It
People do try. Here is what it costs.
• Scratched lenses. Glass rubbing against a plastic edge every time you put the phone down.
• A camera that will not focus properly, because part of the lens is blocked.
• Buttons that need extra force, or stop clicking at all.
• A case that pops off in a drop, because the corners never seated correctly.
• A phone that is very hard to get out again, which is when most people crack the back glass.
Rear camera glass and back glass are both charged separately from the screen at repair shops. A wrong case is a false saving, and our guide on how much a phone case should cost shows what a properly cut case actually costs.
Getting the Right Fit
The iPhone 13 Pro Max came out in 2021. Plenty of shops have stopped stocking cases for it, which is why people start hunting for something that almost fits.
You do not have to settle. At Smart Case Design every case is cut for one exact phone model, and the 13 Pro Max is still in our list. You can also design your own case with your own photo and pick your exact model at checkout.
If you want more protection than a slim case gives, our shockproof cases use a hard outer shell with a soft inner layer, and they are cut for the same exact models.
Frequently Asked Questions
What phone cases fit the iPhone 13 Pro Max?
Only cases made specifically for the iPhone 13 Pro Max. The iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 14 Plus share the same 160.8 mm by 78.1 mm body, so their cases slide on, but the camera openings are the wrong size or shape and will block your lenses.
What are the exact iPhone 13 Pro Max dimensions?
The iPhone 13 Pro Max measures 160.8 mm in height, 78.1 mm in width and 7.65 mm in depth, and weighs 240 g. It has a 6.7 inch display and three rear lenses in a triangular layout.
Can I use a slightly loose case anyway?
It is not worth it. A loose case shifts on impact and can pop off in a fall, which removes the protection you bought it for. A tight case risks scratching the lenses and cracking the back glass when you remove the phone.
Do iPhone 12 Pro Max screen protectors fit the 13 Pro Max?
No. The 13 Pro Max has a smaller notch, and Apple moved the earpiece speaker to the very top edge. A 12 Pro Max protector will not line up correctly.
Does the iPhone 13 Pro Max support MagSafe?
Yes. If you use a magnetic charger, wallet or car mount, choose a case with magnets built in. A case without them weakens the magnetic hold.
Are iPhone 13 Pro Max cases still available?
Yes, though fewer shops stock them now. Look for sellers that let you choose your exact phone model at checkout rather than grouping several models into one listing.
The Bottom Line
The iPhone 13 Pro Max shares its body size with the 12 Pro Max and the 14 Plus. That is why the confusion exists.
But a case has to match two things, not one. The body and the camera. On the 13 Pro Max, the camera is where every other model fails.
Check for the word Max, count three lens holes in a triangle, and make sure the listing names your exact model. That is all it takes.