10 surefire picks from our case connoisseur

Put a case on, your Galaxy S23 is naked and afraid in this concrete jungle

No matter your style, your stability, or your luck, carrying around a naked Samsung Galaxy S23 is asking for trouble. And when you’re carrying one of the best Android phones around in your pocket, it deserves all the extra purchase and protection you can give it. From thin and grippy to ruggedly handsome, there’s a Galaxy S23 case out there that will speak perfectly to your tastes — and your budget!

Source: Amazon

Spigen Liquid Crystal for Galaxy S23

Editor’s Choice

Source: UAG

UAG Metropolis LT Pro for Galaxy S23

Premium Pick

Source: Poetic

Poetic Neon for Galaxy S23

Best Value

Source: Amazon

i-Blason Armorbox for Galaxy S23

Promoted pick

dbrand Grip for Galaxy S23

Ruggedly handsome

Source: Amazon

Caseology Parallax for Galaxy S23

Mesmerizing grip

Coach Protective for Galaxy S23

Simply irresistible

Source: Amazon

Caseborne V Series for Galaxy S23

Best rugged case

Source: Amazon

Snakehive Leather Wallet for Galaxy S23

Best wallet case

Source: Amazon

Spigen Liquid Air for Galaxy S23

Great thin pick

Source: Casetify

Casetify Ultra Impact Series for Galaxy S23

Ultra protective

Mous Limitless 5.0 for Galaxy S23

Material magic

Ringke Fusion Card for Galaxy S23

Extra convenience

Source: Bellroy

Bellroy Leather Case for Galaxy S23

Lithe leather

Source: Incipio

Incipio Grip for Galaxy S23

Grip and grin

Source: Amazon

Spigen Liquid Crystal for Galaxy S23

Editor’s Choice

Spigen has made many styles of clear cases over the years, but I will always and forever point you toward the Liquid Crystal series for three reasons. First, it’s easier to get on and off as needed while still being nice and secure while on your Galaxy S23. Second, it’s grippier in hand than the Ultra Hybrid. Third, and best of all, it comes in a glitter option that’s tasteful while still obscuring any smudges, oil buildup, or device damage you suffered before getting a case put on, you fate-tempter.

Source: UAG

UAG Metropolis LT Pro for Galaxy S23

Premium Pick

MagSafe is the hot Android case trend for 2023, and UAG is getting in on the action with the Metropolis LT Pro. There’s also a Monarch Pro, but this one is prettier and much more comfortable. The Metropolis still boasts 18-foot drop protection, but with Kevlar covering almost the entire back for a more sophisticated, less menacing design. This is the case I keep coming back to on my own Galaxy S23 between evaluating other cases.

Source: Poetic

Poetic Neon for Galaxy S23

Best Value

After winning our hearts last year, the Neon is back and curvier than ever. With more traditional rounded edges, the Neon looks comfier to grip while offering the same durability as Otterboxes and UAGs twice its price. Seven color choices, including two greens and two blues, also give you more than twice the choices and allow for unique combos for each Galaxy S23 colorway. I wish the hard plastic side brackets were textured like the TPU sections, but it’s easy enough to keep ahold of.

Source: Amazon

i-Blason Armorbox for Galaxy S23

Promoted pick

In partnership with i-Blason

We traditionally expect big, heavy-duty cases from Supcase rather than style-centric sister brand i-Blason, but after the better part of a decade, the UB Pro can feel a bit stale. The ArmorBox offers a more octagonal design while still using the same two-piece construction with a kickstand, a dust plug for that precious USB-C port, and the choice of a front frame with or without a screen protector. Considering the Galaxy S23 UB Pro only comes without a screen protector, it’s nice to see i-Blason pick up the slack.

dbrand Grip for Galaxy S23

Ruggedly handsome

Dbrand’s skins are the biggest name in phone skins on the market. But for those of us who insist on wearing a case because we are clumsy and concrete is unforgiving, Dbrand makes an excellent case, too. The skins available for the grip case vary from graphic designs to leathers to these new holographic skins that look so cool in different types of light. One warning: getting the phone out of the case can take some elbow grease.

Source: Amazon

Caseology Parallax for Galaxy S23

Mesmerizing grip

The Parallax case is sturdier and offers more grip than the Caseology Nano Pop, so it’s a better Galaxy S23 case overall. The eponymous pattern across the back adds to its grip while still shallow enough for a Popsocket. We get only three colorways this year, but that’s for the best; a light-colored version would’ve stained more easily, and the Burgundy and Midnight Green look great with the Cream Galaxy S23.

Coach Protective for Galaxy S23

Simply irresistible

I am 100% not the kind of woman to flock to fashion brands, and even though I did not request a case sample, I’m glad Incipio sent it anyway. The Coach Protective Case was one of my early favorites for the Galaxy S23, mostly for how this case’s transparent designs interact with the Lavender S23. The purple petals complement the phone’s color, while the yellow accents add some much-needed contrast. It’s also quite thin, so you can avoid bulk.

Source: Amazon

Caseborne V Series for Galaxy S23

Best rugged case

You’ll know a case maker believes in the product when it repeatedly asks random strangers to throw their phones onto concrete and asphalt. Caseborne’s V Series is heavy, even among heavy-duty cases, but with a 21-foot drop rating, that trade-off could seem more than worth it. The built-in kickstand is a gem, but the camera cutout design might turn some heads. Rather than the precision fit camera cover being built into the case, you apply it separately with adhesive.

Source: Amazon

Snakehive Leather Wallet for Galaxy S23

Best wallet case

For sounding like a Harry Potter villain, Snakehive makes heavenly real leather folio cases. Available in six colors with an almost suede-like feel, each Snakehive will look different after months of use depending on how you hold it or carry it in your pocket, purse, or leather holster. Bottle Green has been a fan favorite since the Note 10 days, but my favorite is Teal, which seems exclusive to Snakehive’s website at launch.

Source: Amazon

Spigen Liquid Air for Galaxy S23

Great thin pick

After a few years of Spigen’s Android cases only coming in black or clear, it’s nice to see them creeping back into the coloring set. Midnight Green is the darker side of forest green, but I’ll take it. The texturing across the back and sides is “love it or hate it,” but it’s a case that I find myself coming back to year after year.

Source: Casetify

Casetify Ultra Impact Series for Galaxy S23

Ultra protective

While Casetify’s Co-Lab designs and hundreds upon hundreds of artist styles are nothing new to the Galaxy series, we’re finally getting a beefier Galaxy S23 case in the Casetify Ultra Impact Series. With bumped-out air cushion corners, EcoShock lining for impact absorption, and a claimed 11.5-foot drop rating, the Ultra Impact Series is as heavy-duty as it is stylish. You can also see how a given design/base color combo will look with each S23 colorway to ensure nothing clashes.

Mous Limitless 5.0 for Galaxy S23

Material magic

Most cases only come in one material, but Mous gives us a wide variety, from carbon fiber to leather to fabric and multiple variations of wood. Better still, hiding under those premium materials is a magnetic ring, so you can use MagSafe chargers, grips, and accessories. Though I must warn you: any cube or rectangular accessory can block the 3x zoom camera, while most curved MagSafe items should work seamlessly.

Ringke Fusion Card for Galaxy S23

Extra convenience

Card slot cases usually turn your shiny new phone into a bulky brute, but the Ringke Fusion Card keeps things light and clear, with your student ID or driver’s license easy to show when needed. You can only fit one card and a bill or two hidden underneath, but this card slot case isn’t bulky or unwieldy like its big brothers. If you want to show off your phone’s color without showing off your credit card number or DL info all the time, an artfully placed sticker adds style and security.

Source: Bellroy

Bellroy Leather Case for Galaxy S23

Lithe leather

Samsung offers its own leather case, but Bellroy offers better colors for slightly less money. Only the S23 Ultra got a super-pretty Evergreen, but Terracotta and Bluestone look quite fetching. Also, the microfiber lining inside my Bluestone case is softer and plusher than the leather outside. You’ll definitely still feel the leather on the outside, but it’s a very thin layer, so those who prefer more suede textures might be disappointed. Smooth leather fans should be satisfied, though.

Source: Incipio

Incipio Grip for Galaxy S23

Grip and grin

Drop resistance is one of the biggest indicators of ruggedness you can go by — after all, every case and its grandmother claims to be Military Standard 810G or 810H. The 14-foot “drop protection” for the Grip is higher than most, and the iconic cross-hatched sides should help you keep a solid grip so that you never need to test the claim. The lack of multiple pieces makes it easier to install and minimizes the places where dirt or pocket lint can hide.

The best Galaxy S23 cases balance style and security

When your phone is as small as the Galaxy S23, you don’t feel the bulk as much when you opt for a heavy-duty case like the i-Blason Armor Box or the Caseborve V Series. These cases also have the benefit of building in a kickstand, which can double as a phone grip when you need it. And some offer built-in screen protectors so that you can be completely, 100%, ALL THE DEGREEZ protected with a single purchase. Those built-in screen protectors can be a double-edged sword, though, as they have only that fingerprint sensor circle completely adhered while the rest of the screen has a small gap that can sometimes throw off gaming or intricate tapping.

The vast majority of us, though, would prefer a slimmer case that adds grip, moderate impact resistance, and some flair. The Spigen Liquid Crystal — especially the glitter version — checks all those boxes and more. The Poetic Neon, Incipio Grip, and Casetify Ultra Impact Series split the difference as medium-weight cases with flamboyant styles and sturdy protections. I accept that the Casetify will seem ludicrous at its starting price, but the Co-Lab designs that will arrive in the coming weeks and months should help me overcome the sticker shock and pick up some adorableness. Once you have a good case, it’s time to hunt for a good S23 screen protector to go with it.