anning on gifting a smartphone? Great! Consider a protective case to give along with it. Though most Android phones are built pretty well, they’re still not immune to bumps, scratches, cracked displays. A case can help.
There are a lot of different Android phones on the market, we can’t cover them all, but these cases are available for the hottest Android phones this holiday season. Here are some of our favorites.
OtterBox has become one of the leading names in protective cases for smartphones, for good reason: They offer multiple layers of protection to keep your phone safe in a variety of emergencies. The Defender Series is rugged without being too bulky much lighter than other cases in the OtterBox family. It has four parts that clip together around your phone for all-around protection—a silicone outer layer to absorb shock, a polycarbonate inner layer for stability, a screen protector to keep your display scratch-free, a belt-clip holster for convenience.
Don’t worry: Under all this armor, all of the phone’s buttons ports are accessible, though hidden under port covers. Most importantly, it gives peace of mind knowing that your phone will most likely survive a fall or two.
Availability: Samsung Galaxy S4, Samsung Galaxy Note 3, HTC One, several other Android smartphones (OtterBox has a full compatibility list.)
en it comes to the Motorola Moto X, you’ll want a case that shows off the unique design you customized in the Moto Maker tool. Incase’s Snap Case fits the bill: It’s available in a completely clear plastic with a glossy finish. (It has a second, all-black option if you opted for a Moto X with a more subtle color palette.) The Snap Case is super thin, easy to install, provides an extra layer to keep your Moto X looking (almost) br new.
Availability: Motorola Moto X
The Incipio Feather has long been a favorite for iOS devices, thanks to its super slim “feather light” profile. But Android users aren’t left out in the cold. Incipio’s Feather Shine, which has an ever-so-slight aluminum sheen finish, is available for a hful of Android smartphones. It barely adds any bulk to your device, so the Feather Shine is the best option for someone who wants just the bare minimum of protection. It comes in a nice variety of solid colors, too.
Availability: G2, Optimus G o, Motorola Moto X, HTC One, Samsung Galaxy S III, Samsung Galaxy S4, Samsung Galaxy Note II, Samsung Galaxy Note 3.
th larger “phablets,” a multi-functional case is a nifty solution for a device that straddles both sides of the mobile fence. Case-mate’s Slim Folio for the Galaxy Note 3 is an elegant solution for a phone with big bones. This understated folio keeps the Note 3 fully covered when not in use, the front flap folds flat behind your phone when you need to access its display. It also has built-in st functionality, so you can prop your phone up if you’d like to read or watch a video.
To install it, use the Slim Folio’s included SmartGrip adhesive. I was skeptical about it at first—I didn’t want to put anything sticky on the back of the Note 3—but it didn’t leave any gross residue behind when I removed it.
Availability: Samsung Galaxy Note 3
epare for a little competition, gold ione 5s. Spigen SGs Slim Armor case gives select Android phones a champagne gold finish. This stard hard-shell case is a step up from the Incipio Feather Shine when looking at protection: It’s sturdier, yet still slim. The Slim Armor has a two-part design, with a solid black T liner a hard polycarbonate shell that snaps around it.
Availability: Nexus 5, Samsung Galaxy S4, Samsung Galaxy Note 3, G2.
reGear’s Kickst Case Holster is like a multi-tool for your smartphone. It consists of two pieces: A hard-shell case that wraps around your ione, a separate holster that can clip to your belt or hbag. On the back of the hard-shell case lies a kickst, which rests flat when not in use. Two finger grips on each side of the kickst allow you to pinch pull up to click it into place. It’s not the most attractive case of the bunch, but it’s simple, lightweight, extremely useful.
Availability: HTC One, Samsung Galaxy Note II, Samsung Galaxy S4, Nexus 5, Motorola Moto X.
Some cases do more than just keep your phone safe: This one gives a power boost when your battery is low. Mophie’s ice ck is one of our favorite battery cases, thanks to its unobtrusive size. Many battery cases seem to overpower the phone add a lot of weight, but the ice ck feels only slightly bigger than the phone itself. The ice ck plugs into your phone’s charge port to refuel its battery, then you charge the case up by plugging it into a wall adapter or B port. You control when you want to power the phone by toggling a button on the case itself. Depending on your phone, the ice ck adds 80 to 100 percent more battery life.
Availability: HTC One, Samsung Galaxy S4, Samsung Galaxy S III.
A sleeve, like Dodocase’s Durables llet, is perfect for those who prefer to use their phones without a case, but want to keep its screen covered when not in use. The Durables llet is a well-crafted little pouch made of leather waxed canvas. It has a pocket on each side to hold a few cards or some cash (I use mine to store my metro pass, it’s super hy), fits your phone well enough that it shouldn’t slip out without some effort.
Availability: Motorola Moto X, Nexus 4, HTC One, Samsung Galaxy S III.
The case market is flooded with options, if you’re unsure what you’re looking for, Speck’s CyShell series is an excellent place to start. The CyShell provides a little bit of everything: It’s lightweight, easy to hold, protective without being too bulky. A thin raised front bezel helps protect your screen from coming into contact with other surfaces that might damage it. It features a matte, impact-resistant, hard polycarbonate plastic cover that’s designed to easily slide in out of pockets. True to its name, the CyShell line offers a wide variety of color combos designs to boot.
Availability: Samsung Galaxy S4 & S4 Mini, Samsung Galaxy Note 3, HTC One, Motorola Moto X, G2, several other Android smartphones. (Speck has a full compatibility list.)
To keep your phone’s touchscreen scratch-free, try a screen protector. These clear adhesive films stick to your display without limiting your phone’s touchscreen functionality. Though they can be a pain to apply—bubbles really love to get in the way—Moshi’s iVisor goes on smoothly. The secret is in its frame. Instead of applying the adhesive directly to the touchscreen, the iVisor has a thin adhesive frame that runs along its outer edges of the screen. The frame sticks to the edge of your phone, leaving the cover bubble-free reusable in case you need to readjust it.
Availability: Samsung Galaxy S III, Samsung Galaxy S4, Samsung Galaxy Note II, Samsung Galaxy Note 3, HTC One.
anning on gifting a smartphone? Great! Consider a protective case to give along with it. Though most Android phones are built pretty well, they’re still not immune to bumps, scratches, cracked displays. A case can help.
There are a lot of different Android phones on the market, we can’t cover them all, but these cases are available for the hottest Android phones this holiday season. Here are some of our favorites.
