Best Samsung Galaxy S23, S23 Plus and S23 Ultra Cases for 2023
David Carnoy Executive Editor / Reviews
Executive Editor David Carnoy has been a leading member of CNET’s Reviews team since 2000. He covers the gamut of gadgets and is a notable reviewer of mobile accessories and portable audio products, including headphones and speakers. He’s also an e-reader and e-publishing expert as well as the author of the novels Knife Music, The Big Exit and Lucidity. All the titles are available as Kindle, iBooks, Nook e-books and audiobooks.
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Tough but relatively slim S23 cases
Speck Cases
Best Galaxy S23 case with grip and stand built-in
Clckr Stand and Grip cases
Tough clear Galaxy S23 case with magnetic connector
Urban Armor Gear Plyo case
Slim, stylish protective S23 case
Gear4 cases
Always a safe bet
OtterBox cases for Galaxy S23
MagSafe-compatible Galaxy S23 case with its own accessory ecosystem
Peak Design Everyday case
Best Samsung-branded S23 case
Samsung Clear Gadget case
Value kickstand S23 case
ESR Kickstand case
Modular wallet case for Galaxy S23
Samsung Frame case
Top leather case for Galaxy S23
Samsung leather case
MagSafe-compatible Galaxy S23 case
Mous magnetic-connection cases
Wide assortment of Galaxy S23 cases
Incipio cases
Rugged mountable case
Rokform S23 Rugged case
Samsung’s Galaxy S23 is currently one of the most popular Android devices on the market. The S23 lineup is Samsung’s flagship series for 2023, which means these phones come with a hefty price tag. If you have any of the three devices, you’d want to protect such an expensive purchase from scratches and other damage. The best way to do that is to opt for a Galaxy S23 case or cover. There are lots of Galaxy S23 cases to choose from, and we’re now seeing some manufacturers add magnetic properties to their cases so you can use them not only with Apple MagSafe accessories but also with non-Apple magnetic accessories like wallets, batteries and stands.
Finding a case that fits your budget is important, but you should also consider the features. For example, Galaxy S23 Plus and S23 Ultra owners may want a case with an integrated kickstand, because they’re larger phones (the Ultra in particular) that you’ll want to prop up while watching videos. Case choice also comes down to personal taste, which is why I’ve tried to include a variety of styles in this roundup, all of which CNET editors have tested on one of the S23 series models.
The cases below are listed at the starting price for the line, so make sure you’re buying the case that matches your S23. The same goes for tempered glass for extra protection — match the size to the specific model of your S23, whether that’s the Ultra, Plus or base model.
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Best Samsung Galaxy S23, S23 Plus and S23 Ultra cases
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Leading case-maker Speck brings a selection of protective case options to the Galaxy S23, including the Presidio2 Grip (shown in blue), Presidio Perfect-Mist and Presidio Perfect-Clear.
All the new models have very good drop protection (from 13 to 16 feet, depending on the model) as well as Speck’s Microban antimicrobial coating. The cases start at around $40 in various color options, and Speck frequently offers discounts to first-time buyers on its site.
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Clckr’s cases feature a built-in kickstand and grip strap that folds out and clicks into place on the back of your phone. Clckr sells just the stand/strap accessory to stick on the back of your phone (or on a case), but the Galaxy S23 Clear case with the integrated kickstand accessory is better and also comes in a Textured version if translucency is not your thing. I wouldn’t say the cases are super protective but they’re sturdy enough, with raised edges to protect the screen.
With the stand clicked in place, you can use your device hands-free in either portrait or landscape mode. Note that you can wirelessly charge your phone with this case on, though you have to be more careful about placing it in the right spot on a wireless charging pad for it to work.
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Urban Armor Gear offers several case options for the Galaxy S23 models in a variety of colors. I like the Pathfinder series, but am highlighting the new Plyo Pro, which features a built-in “magnetic module” that looks a little like a MagSafe module and allows you to use magnetic accessories with the case.
UAG’s cases all feature good corner protection and meet military drop-test standards, with the Plyo Pro rated for 16-foot drop protection.
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British case-maker Gear4, now owned by Zagg, makes cases that are right there with those from OtterBox and Speck. They’re all lined with the company’s D3O shock-absorbing material and feature beveled edges to protect your phone. For the Galaxy S23, I like the Denali with Kickstand (pictured — 16-foot drop protection) and the Everest with Kickstand precisely because they have built-in kickstands and are also protective and feel good in hand. The Milan (13-foot drop protection) and London (13-foot drop protection) also have eye-catching designs.
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If you’re looking for a cheap, clear case for your new Galaxy S23, Spigen’s Ultra Hybrid is a good value at around $16 to $19, depending on the version you get. I like the Ultra Hybrid Zero One that has an imprint of the innards of your phone, which makes it look like the back of your phone is open and exposed when it really isn’t.
I also like the Ultra Hybrid S ($20), which is a clear case with a built-in kickstand. The Neo Hybrid ($20) is a fairly basic case, while the Cryo Armor is a $21 triple-layer “gaming” case that’s designed to “absorb and dissipate heat from your phone during hours of gameplay.”
No drop rating is listed for these Samsung phone cases, but most Spigen cases, except for the slimmest models, offer reasonable protection. If you want a tough case with decent protection, get one of its Armor models.
Note that a lot of these cheaper clear cases have a habit of turning yellow and degrading over time, which makes them less translucent. But they’re cheap enough that you probably won’t mind shelling out for a replacement if and when that happens.
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The company’s super-protective Defender series case is available for all the Galaxy S23 models, but most people want something less bulky. I like the Symmetry series cases — they’re slim with beveled edges, making them a good mix of sleek and protective. That said, I’ve come to like the more protective Commuter Series better, thanks to the grips it has on the back and sides, as well as having raised edges on the front that should help protect your screen. The raised bezel acts as a screen protector to keep your screen scratch-free, and the camera module gets the same treatment.
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Otterbox
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