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Your Pixel 4a has been a good phone, right? Its unflashy exterior may not be much to write home about, but for the price and pocketability — which is a real selling point given today’s expensively gigantic devices — it’s an undeniably endearing handset, even in 2021. If you’re looking to hold onto your Pixel 4a for another year or so, you should really consider wrapping it in one of our favorite cases below.
Times have changed since the era of the $349 Nexus 5 and $499 Nexus 6P; instead, practically every flagship smartphone nowadays, Google's included, costs at least $800. The $800 Pixel 4 and the $900 Pixel 4 XL feel pretty great in the hand caseless, but if you don't want to risk damaging your shiny new gadget, a case is a must. A screen protector would be good to have, too.This roundup will feature a wide variety of cases (and some screen protectors). Each review will contain the pros and cons, a few paragraphs on the experience, and a verdict. We will continually update the list as more cases come in. If there's a case you'd like to see reviewed, let us know in the comments section and we'll try to get a sample for review.
If you thought the Pixel 2 and 2 XL were expensive, you probably weren't very happy when you saw the Pixel 3's $799 and Pixel 3 XL's $899 MSRPs. The Pixel 3 XL received a modest $50 jump in price from the 2 XL, but the Pixel 3 went up by a whopping $150 when compared to the Pixel 2. In other words, those who've purchased a new Pixel, regardless of the model, are probably going to want to protect it.Like last year's, this roundup will feature a wide variety of cases from several different manufacturers. For each case, we'll start off with some pros and cons and finish with a verdict on whether or not it should be considered. Screen protectors and any other pertinent accessories will also be featured.We plan to continuously update this post with new reviews as more cases come in. If there's a particular case you'd like to see reviewed, let us know in the comments section and we'll do our best to get one in for review. These are alphabetically listed for easier perusal; the order does not in any way reflect our preferences.
Every new phone deserves to be protected, especially when you have an all-glass Samsung S8/S8+. I owned the much more fragile S7 Edge with its steeper curved display. There wasn’t a day where I wouldn’t have the phone in a case unless I was briefly taking it out for a cleaning. Since Samsung opted for an elegant, unique design with the S8, the display is costly to replace. I haven’t seen the official cost to repair the phone's display yet; although I’d imagine it’s more than the $250 for the S7 Edge. No case will guarantee 100% protection for your phone, but it will provide significantly more protection than no case at all.I will include numerous types of cases in this roundup from different companies. Feedback is always welcome, along with any questions. If there is a certain case you would like to see, drop me a comment below, and I’ll do my best to add it.My S8+ has a screen protector installed with all the reviews. I opted for a simple wet install film after experiencing the many failures of glass screen protectors during my S7 Edge and now S8+ ownership. So far, I have found the case-friendly versions of these films work with most cases. If there happens to be an issue, I’ll do my best to note it where applicable.
Phone protection is something that is either done by habit or is not cared for; I am a person who does the former. On a day to day basis, your phone is subjected to all types of abrasive materials, hard surfaces, accidental spills, random things in your pocket/bag etc. It is for this very reason that I simply must have a case on my device at all times.Let’s look at phone protection from another perspective: When you purchase a device, it is an important investment. This phone will at some point or another be sold, given to a family member, or no longer used after a period of time. If you’re like me and tend to go through many devices, then you want to keep them as pristine as possible. I generally sell my devices when I’m done using them, otherwise I would accumulate a ton of them and spend more on new ones. Phones that are kept in better condition will always sell for more money, effectively saving you from paying as much for your next device.If you’ve read any of my many reviews that have been posted over the years on XDA, you certainly know how much I enjoy phone cases. I tend to go through a variety of styles, companies, and protection levels just to find the perfect ones. I work in the energy sector, which is probably the worst field if you want to keep your devices in good condition. I routinely go out to field locations during less than ideal weather, with tons of dirt, chemicals, and other things that could be my phone's worst nightmare. When I’m not out in the field, I don’t want to carry around a gigantic brick of a case. I usually aim to have something a little more practical for the office.
If you aren't familiar with the controversy over Samsung's decision to make the S6 and S6 Edge's batteries non-replaceable, you probably don't follow Android news very much. Because you can't just swap out another battery, more people have gotten interested in figuring out how to ensure they have an operating phone after a long day. One method that owners of many smartphones have been using for years is the battery case. While there are tradeoffs involved in putting a case on your phone that is big enough to house a battery, there is a payoff too: no need to find an outlet or juggle wires when your device would normally be running out of juice.MOTA's offering stands out, if nothing else, for its price. On Amazon right now, it sells for just under . Competitors like Mophie check in at and above $100, which makes a big difference when weighing costs and benefits. The key here is whether MOTA's offering is solid enough in other areas to be worth buying at all. Overall, my take is that it depends. If you want an always-on, everyday case, I'm not sure you will want to stick with this one or any battery case at all.Still, the MOTA battery case does everything it is supposed to do without any true problems. There are things about it I would change, but they all fall on the side of user preference. Here's a rundown.
Android devices are a little under-represented in the area of high-end accessories, and when it comes to cases, you can't get much more high-end than Portenzo. But the Nexus 7 has carved itself a nice little niche, and the American case maker has extended its full line of book-style protective coverings to the Nexus 7 2013. With three case styles ranging from $35 to a whopping $145 (more than half as expensive as the base model Nexus 7 itself), these accessories are not for the feint of heart or the light of wallet. The old adage "you get what you pay for" is in full effect.
Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 Book Cover Review: Very Nice And Too Expensive, Just Like The Tablet Inside
I picked up Samsung's official first-party cover for the Galaxy Note 8.0 shortly after getting the tablet itself, because Samsung's plastic body doesn't
I picked up Samsung's official first-party cover for the Galaxy Note 8.0 shortly after getting the tablet itself, because Samsung's plastic body doesn't inspire confidence, because all tablets scream out for an easy freestanding solution, and (not least) because it was the only option right after release. The case hits all the high points: good protection, a built-in stand, and a magnet to activate the screen's sleep feature. The only major downside, like the tablet itself, is the price.
When I first got my Nexus 7, I ran it naked. Not because I had no other choice, but because I wasn't interested in any of the cases that were available at the time. Then, at the Big Android BBQ, I happened to see the new Active cases from Seidio ($35-45, SeidioOnline). I really liked the Active case for the Galaxy Nexus back when I reviewed it, and Seidio's offering for the Nexus 7 looks equally as protective and comes with a nifty cover/stand. Needless to say, I was intrigued.
A few weeks ago, I reviewed the Poetic Slimline Portfolio case for the Nexus 7, after buying it for my personal use and finding it to be a good choice with a great value proposition. After seeing the review, the folks at Poetic decided to send us some more, in the hopes that I'd give some of their other options for the Nexus 7 a good rundown. The whopping four cases they sent me are all based on the same design (a pouch and cover combo, with magnetic closures and wake/sleep functions), each with slight variations.
When my fellow Android Police writers and editors finally talked me into getting a Nexus 7, I set out to find a case immediately. The Nexus 7 is tough, but I've lost too many phones and tablets to cracked screens and water damage to take chances. At first I investigated Asus' official Nexus 7 case available on the Google Play Store, but a plastic build with no stand turned me off, as did a lack of magnetic sleep function. After wading through quite a lot of options on Amazon, I settled on the Poetic Slimline Portfolio case as a (hopefully) ideal mixture between price, finish, and function.
Cases for my devices fall into two camps: there are cases that are merely "there," and cases that "do." The cases in the first camp usually don't serve any other purpose besides scratch/scuff prevention, and the latter group add some utility, usually in the form of bells and whistles. However useful they are, though, is typically offset by one fact: they usually look like ass.
[Update: Winners!] Review/Giveaway: SPIGEN SGP Ultra Capsule And Neo Hybrid Cases For The Samsung Galaxy Nexus
SPIGEN SGP Ultra Capsule And Neo Hybrid Cases For The Samsung Galaxy Nexus
[Review] Incipio Feather, NGP, And Silicrylic Cases For The Galaxy Nexus
Incipio Feather, NGP, And Silicrylic Cases For The Galaxy Nexus
I've been on some sort of Galaxy Nexus case-review-a-thon for the past several weeks, but there are so many options out there, it's hard to pick just one. And of course, if you're on a budget (and who isn't?) you probably don't want to buy ump-teen different cases to snag the perfect one. That's what we're here for, after all - to help you make the best purchase decision possible.
[Review] SPIGEN SGP Crumena Case For The Galaxy Nexus: The Perfect Case For People Who Hate Cases
SPIGEN SGP Crumena Case For The Galaxy Nexus
We've taken a look at a few different cases for the Galaxy Nexus over the past several weeks, but they've all been the same type of case: ruggedized. However, not everyone wants a case that is constantly attached to their device.
[Review And Comparison] Seidio Surface, Convert, And Active Cases For The Galaxy Nexus
Seidio Surface, Convert, And Active Cases For The Galaxy Nexus
It's not much of a secret that I don't actually like cases for my devices. I appreciate the added protection, but I've found that most cases either hinder the device's overall use, deduct from the natural sleekness, or are just flat-out ugly.
In the world of mobile phones, cases can be something of a contentious issue. There are those who insist that putting a case on anything so beautiful as a high-end Android phone is pure blasphemy, and anyone who does so is sullying the experience of owning high technology. Others recognize that they are walking around with $500 worth of slippery glass and plastic, opting to cover that shit up. Personally, I am on the fence. I alternate between the two options, revelling in the hard work of the designers at HTC on some days, and others I want to shake up the look and maybe get a little extra protection.