The Best Samsung Galaxy S20 Cases
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For the longest time, I've refrained from putting a case on my phone. A case ruins the look and (sometimes) hides a fun color scheme! Then I dropped a phone hard enough to shatter its glass and immediately reconsidered my stance.
Smartphones are expensive, and it's wise to protect them. Samsung's latest phones, the Galaxy S20, S20 Plus, and S20 Ultra, start at $1,000 and go up to $1,400. Drop one of these glass slabs and you'll end up forking over a few hundred dollars to repair it. Why take the risk when a relatively affordable case could prevent disaster?
I've spent many weeks playing around with more than 40 cases from 15 brands, and I've slotted each of Samsung's new phones into all of them. Below are my favorites. We've linked to the Galaxy S20 Ultra by default but you can find links to the S20 and S20 Plus cases just above the buttons.
Updated for April 2020: We've added four cases from Moment, Incipio, Samsung, and Olixar.
Word to the Wise
Photograph: SpigenA Screen Protector Can Help, Too
Unless you invest in a big, bulky case with heavily raised edges around the display, your phone's screen is still bare and likely to shatter in the event of an accidental drop. The back of the S20, which is also glass, benefits the most from a case, and you'll keep your phone free of scratches, but full protection involves getting a screen protector.
I like this one from Spigen ($25) (S20, S20 Plus), which was easy to apply on the Ultra (I followed this tutorial). InvisibleShield also has a few options, though I haven't tried them. Screen guards don't guarantee absolute protection when paired with a case, but the combo is as good as it gets. Another thing to consider is to sign up for Samsung's Premium Care service, which covers accidental damage and extends your warranty for $12 a month. That's still cheaper than replacing an S20's screen at an authorized repair shop.
Reliable and Slim
Spigen has a strong lineup of cases, but my favorite is the Liquid Air. It's made of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), and there's a nice texture on the back that makes it feel nice to the touch. The edges are a little grippy, and the button cutouts fit perfectly, so pressing them isn't a hassle. It's also thin, barely adding any extra weight, but don't expect it to protect the screen because the edges aren't raised much.
I also like Spigen's Tough Armor case ($45). It's also made of TPU but adds polycarbonate for strength, and impact foam inside adds an extra layer of protection. The buttons are still perfectly accessible. There's a kickstand on the back, too, but it's a little flimsy and only works when you put the phone in landscape orientation.
Another Solid Case
Incipio is yet another tried-and-tested case brand, and the DualPro is a no-frills offering with two layers: a polycarbonate outer shell that feels nice and a shock-absorbing inner rubber slipcover. It's a little thick, but that's what helps make it a little more durable, and the buttons around the phone are just as clicky. It ships in 100 percent recyclable packaging.
Made from Plants
I also like Incipio's Organicore eco-friendly cases, which I first saw at CES 2020. The company claims 6-foot drop protection, but the cases are also made from plants with 100 percent compostable material. The packaging is 100 percent recyclable and you get a 1-year warranty on the case, too.
As for the case itself, it has a slim profile and the top and bottom edges stick out a little but not enough that it will completely protect your screen. If feels smooth to touch with a slightly grainy feel that adds some nice texture. The buttons are still easy to click, the cutouts for the ports and speakers are in the right places, and it doesn't add much weight or bulk to the phone. The cases also come in a few earthy, muted colors.
Colorful and Eco-Friendly
Tech21's Evo Check and Clear Cases are solid alternatives offering decent protection, but I appreciate the more bombastic colors of its Studio Colour line. The company claims 8-foot drop protection, but considering how thin the case is and the fact that the edges around the screen are barely raised, don't expect much. It'll do the job for everyday scratches though. There's also "microbe-fighting" protection for a cleaner case, but I wouldn't rely on that alone—in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak or not, you should always wash your hands and your phone regularly.
Not only does it come in a range of colors, but the case is also made from plant-based materials and ships in 100 percent recyclable packaging that uses zero plastic. It's always nice to see manufacturers go the extra mile to make products more sustainable.
Ultra Skinny
If you want the protection a case affords but not the bulk, this is your best bet. It's just 0.02 inches thick, and with a weight of 0.1 ounces it hardly felt like I added anything to the phone when I snapped it on. I also like that there's no visible branding. (The last thing you want is another brand's name all over the back of your $1,400 phone.)
Such slight construction means the case is not going to offer your S20 much drop protection, but it should suffice to keep scratches off the body. There's a two-year warranty on the case should anything happen to it.
A Secure Grip
We love PopSockets here at WIRED, but they can have issues when you attach them to a case, or the adhesive can lose strength over time. But when a PopSocket is built into a case, the combo works perfectly, adding a strong grip while also satisfying fidgeters like me. In my time with this one, I haven't stopped spinning the phone on a table or randomly pushing and pulling on the grip when bored.
The grip is removable too. You can buy other PopTops to switch up the design or to replace the default one if it gets damaged. It can also snap onto PopSockets' car vent mount. The case is a little thick, but the buttons remained clicky, and I was able to wirelessly charge the S20 Ultra with the case on the phone. The whole package is pricey, so if you just want the PopSocket, you can buy one for as little as $8 and attach it to any case.
A Step Up
I like this case because it feels like a good middle ground. It's not too bulky, but it's also not soft and bendy like the Totallee case above. There are two pieces: a soft, synthetic rubber slipcover and a polycarbonate shell on the exterior. Otterbox claims this mix of materials should deflect and absorb impacts. You also get a cover for the USB-C charging port to keep schmutz out of there, and the edges around the screen are raised much more than what you'll find on Spigen's Tough Armor case.
Otterbox's slimmer Symmetry case ($51) is also nice, but for more protection, grab the Defender ($61). It's thicker and heavier, with raised edges, and comes with a belt clip.
Stylish and Protective
There are a lot of ugly cases , but I'm quite fond of this green case from Griffin. It's really thin and has a bumper around the screen that feels fantastic, not to mention very sturdy. Griffin says the bumper should absorb and disperse shock, protecting the S20 from 10-foot drops. (I did not test this claim.) The back is transparent (which means it does snag some fingerprints), and it comes in a fully clear case or in black.
A Luxurious Case
I love fabric cases. They go against the grain of using traditional materials and surprise you with something that's fantastic to touch and gorgeous to look at; Samsung and Danish brand Kvadrat has a case that meets both these qualities. It's made from re-purposed 500 ml plastic bottles, and the resulting polyester yarn is supposedly formed in an eco-friendly process that "consumes less energy and preserves oil resources." It's also 100 percent compostable.
You can get it in an attractive red, green, or gray. It doesn't offer much protection for the screen (the lips don't jut out enough), but the buttons are still clicky and the rubber edges offer some grip. Plus, if you're like me, you won't stop touching the fabric.
Only available for the S20 Plus
For More Lenses
The main reason you might want a case from Moment is so you can attach the company's high-quality smartphone camera lenses to it. They add greater versatility to your mobile photography. There are quite a few lenses you can get (they're separate purchases), from a macro lens to an anamorphic for cinema-like videos (my favorite is the fisheye 14 mm), and all of them take less than a second to attach thanks to a simple twist mechanism.
This case is super thin and doesn't add much weight to the phone; it's also all-black. The edges at the top and bottom pop out some, but not enough to provide ample drop protection for the screen. It'll keep the phone clear of scratches, though. The back has a nice texture, but the grooves easily collect dirt and lint so you'll want to clean them regularly.
A Folio Case
If you want to leave the wallet or purse behind, here's an option. It doesn't automatically put the screen to sleep when you close it and you're not getting real leather, but you do get a magnetic clasp to keep the whole package closed and two slots on the inside to house about four cards. Sadly, there's no good place to store some cash.
It does look and feel nice (in black or brown), and the case can transform to act as a kickstand, propping your phone up so you can watch YouTube easier. The phone itself is suspended in its own little shell, and it should manage to survive most falls with all this material around it. It's not the highest-quality case around, but hey, it's certainly cheap.
Add a Kickstand
I'm not going to lie, this two-layer case is pretty ugly. But what it lacks in style it makes up in utility. There's a kickstand on the back that feels a little sturdier compared to the one on the Spigen case above, and it props the S20 up in both landscape and portrait orientations.
The bumper is thick, and the top and bottom edges are decently raised for extra screen protection. The buttons are easily accessible as well, and you get a cover for the USB-C port. It's also dirt cheap.
Honorable Mentions
Photograph: SpeckOther Good Cases
I like these cases, but they didn't particularly stand out over the rest. They're still good buys.
Ringke Fusion for $10: These cases are simple but effective. They slot into the S20 phones perfectly and don't hamper button presses. The packaging is biodegradable, which is always nice, and the cases are extremely affordable. (S20, S20 Plus)
PureGear Slim Shell for $30: This case has metal button caps, adding a bit of class to an otherwise simple case. It's made with a mix of rubber and polycarbonate, and the top and bottom edges are slightly raised for some extra protection. I'm not a huge fan of the branding on the back, which sticks out. (S20, S20 Plus)
Speck Presidio Grip for $40: Speck, like other case makers in this list, claims its case offers 13-foot drop protection as well as antimicrobial protection. I'm not thrilled with its looks, but I liked this case more than Speck's other options because it's a good deal grippier. (S20, S20 Plus)
Gear4 Holborn for $45: The soft-touch back on this pricier option makes it feel nice, and it looks sleek in all black. The antimicrobial case is also quite slim, and it's wrapped in D3O, a polyurethane material that supposedly offers better shock absorption than regular plastic. (S20, S20 Plus)
What I Didn't Like
Photograph: LifeProofAvoid These Cases!
There's only one case I really didn't like, and it's the LifeProof Next, which also costs a ridiculous $81. It was difficult to put on and painful to remove, and I had to exert a lot of force just to push the buttons. That being said, it does feel like it can live up to its claims of not letting in dirt, dust, snow, or debris. But the entire Galaxy S20 range is already IP68 dust- and water-resistant, so unless you're trekking in extreme environments, this bulky case is overkill.
When Looking for Cases
Photograph: Maksim Kocarenko/Getty ImagesSome More Tips
There are a ton of cases out there. A quick search on Amazon will reveal dozens of brands you may have never heard of. Try to stick to established companies with a track record of making cases, like the ones mentioned in this guide. If you fancy something else, make sure you check the reviews carefully (some of them are obviously fake), and do some research on the brand.
You'll likely also come across the term MIL-STD-810, or Mil-Spec, which is a US military standard. Ignore it. It's far too easy for a company to do its own testing, loosely following some of the specification's guidelines, and slap this sticker on products it has deemed to pass or fail. There's just no consistency in Mil-Spec testing, so the rating doesn't mean much.
