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Whether you are reading this article on a shiny new S21, or you are still waiting for your device to appear in front of your door, chances are you need a case to protect your investment. Fortunately, there are many great options available, as long as you know where to look. These are our five best favorite cases for the Galaxy S21, S21 + and S21 Ultra.
Best personalized case: dbrand Grip (featured)
dbrand’s Grip continues to be an AP favorite for the dozens of ways you can make your phone say “this is my phone” without saying an unfortunate meltdown. We have the iconic (literally) limited edition of the icons on our purple Galaxy S21 here, and it’s a subtle cheat in matte black. But dbrand has numerous options to suit your individual taste, and you can even order the abundantly protective Grip bag solo, should you prefer it. However, let’s just say: this case looks best with a skin, and these are kind of brands thing.
The most robust but not unpleasant big deal: Otterbox Symmetry
If you’re concerned about ruggedness (and if you’re protecting a $ 1200 phone, we do not blame you), Otterbox is one of the first names in the industry to come to mind. Although their super aggressive and boxy cases are not for everyone, Otterbox does make a line that is definitely scaled down from their traditional offering: the Symmetry. I’ve generally been a fan of this thing for a while now, and it looks particularly good in this shade of greenery on the S21 Ultra. It feels super robust without feeling bulky, and the buttons feel surprisingly good for such a solid case.
Best Eco-Friendly Case: Incipio Organicore
We like the idea of a good, environmentally friendly cause, but it’s not always the best to actually use. In Incipio’s Organicore, there are two things I think most “green” cases do not: it’s underemphasized and it fits really well. The compostable materials that the organic product is made of feel fairly sturdy, and the case wraps reassuringly well around our Galaxy S21 Ultra review unit. I wish there were a few more color options, but this black bag will please most people. It also fits the black on the S21 Ultra nicely.
Cyrill is one of the sub-brands of Spigen, and it’s a brand we like. But Cyrill tends to market more ‘feminine’ styles for his business, which I think has been unfairly ignored by most of the world. There is nothing feminine about this dark gray Color Brick for the S21 Ultra, for one. To another it looks really nice and I love the contrasting yellow power and volume tests included in the box, as a little extra (you exchange it yourself)
Best leather case: official Samsung leather cover
I use Samsung’s official saddle brown leather case on the S21 Ultra, and I’m really digging it out. Not only is the pace impeccable, wear the leather and get a real patina. It’s an attractive color of brown Samsung that was chosen, and the large camera module cover was slightly above my eyes at first, but it actually grew a lot on me. It’s certainly not cheap, but it’s also not what I would call too expensive: it’s just a real leather bag.
Which one belongs on your phone?
If you’re looking for customization, it’s hard to beat dbrand’s abundant Grip Case skins (although the S21 Ultra version is currently on a new order). There is also something to be said about premium simplicity, in which case Cyrill’s mysterious dark Color Brick option will definitely impress. To be honest, only our favorite cases from the mountain we tested made it onto this list so you really can not go wrong with any of these.