Photo Gallery 1/1
Pros
Cons
Material Thermoplastic Polyurethane
Wireless charging compatible? Yes
Drop Rating Military-Grade
ESR makes a few affordable cases for the Galaxy S24 that have an integrated kickstand, a useful feature for those of us who like to watch video on our smartphones (or just video chat). The standard ESR kickstand case is about as affordable as you get at around $25, but for a little more you can nab this Boost Flickstand case, which also has a magnetic ring that lets you attach various magnetic accessories, including batteries and wallets. The case comes in clear, black and frosted black.
Photo Gallery 1/1
Pros
Cons
Material Polycarbonate, Thermoplastic Polyurethane
Wireless charging compatible? Yes
Drop Rating No rating
If you're looking for an inexpensive case for your new Galaxy S24, Spigen's got several models that sell for less than $25 and some that sell for less than $20. Some of its models, including the Ultra Hybrid Metal Ring MagFit (pictured), feature an integrated metal ring so you can attach magnetic chargers to your phone just like you can with Apple's MagSafe system.
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 -- some have integrated kickstands.
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 that happens.
Photo Gallery 1/1
Pros
Material Thermoplastic Polyurethane
Wireless charging compatible? Yes
Drop Rating 20 feet
Urban Armor Gear offers several case options for the Galaxy S24, in a variety of colors. I like the Plasma and Pathfinder series, but I'm highlighting the new Plasma XTE, which features a built-in kickstand.
UAG's cases all offer good corner protection and meet military drop-test standards, with the Plasma XTE rated for 20-foot drop protection. This case costs $60 but other UAG cases cost less.
Photo Gallery 1/1
Pros
Material Polycarbonate
Wireless charging compatible? Varies
Drop Rating Varies
Otterbox is back with its usual assortment of cases for the Galaxy S24, including the superprotective Defender series. Though I'm a fan of the company's Symmetry series cases -- they're slim with beveled edges -- I've come to like the slightly more protective Commuter series better, thanks to the grips it has on the back and sides, as well as the raised edges on the front, which 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.
Photo Gallery 1/1
Pros
Cons
Material Silicone
Wireless charging compatible? No
Drop Rating No rating
Samsung's Standing Grip case has an integrated strap grip that converts into a kickstand. The case comes in three colors and has a soft-to-the-touch silicone finish.
Photo Gallery 1/1
Pros
Material Graphene-infused Thermoplastic Polyurethane
Wireless charging compatible? Yes
Drop Rating 16 feet
British case-maker Gear4, now owned by Zagg, makes cases that are right there with those from Otterbox and Speck. I liked the Denali with Kickstand for the Galaxy S23 and also like it for the Galaxy S24 (I do like the kickstand feature). Its Everest and Santa Cruz cases also come in versions with kickstands.
Zagg says the Denali is strengthened with graphene and is made out of 96% recycled material. It also has antimicrobial protection.
Photo Gallery 1/1
Pros
Cons
Material Polycarbonate, Thermoplastic Polyurethane
Wireless charging compatible? No
Drop Rating No rating
Cyrill is a sub-brand of Spigen, and like Spigen, its cases generally sell for less than $25. Cyrill doesn't have quite the same selection for the Galaxy S24 as it does for the iPhone 15, but it does offer its UltraColor case, which has a soft-to-the-touch finish. I also like that it has a raised frame on the back that provides some extra protection for the camera lenses. The corners of the case have a raised lip as well.
The case comes in the camouflage colors shown here, as well as some solid colors.
Photo Gallery 1/1
Pros
Cons
Material Polycarbonate, Thermoplastic Polyurethane, Nylon canvas
Wireless charging compatible? Yes
Drop rating 6 feet
Peak Design's Everyday case is available for all the S24 models. It's actually compatible with Apple's MagSafe accessories and other magnetic MagSafe-compatible accessories, including wireless charging batteries, wallets and more. But the case has Peak Design's own built-in magnetic locking system -- the company calls it SlimLink -- that connects to a wide assortment of Peak Design's mobile mounts and accessories. That includes bike mounts, charging stands, tripods, car mounts and more. The only Peak Design accessory I don't recommend is the wallet, which doesn't lock onto the case and doesn't stick to it that securely.
When you combine Peak Design's accessories with all the MagSafe accessories out there, you certainly get a lot of accessory options to choose from. The case is relatively slim, with a 6-foot drop protection rating, though note there are more protective cases on this list, with a little better corner protection. The case comes in black or dark blue and is compatible with the S Pen.
Photo Gallery 1/1
Pros
Cons
Material Polyurethane
Wireless charging compatible? No
Drop Rating No rating
If you're looking for a case that covers the Galaxy S24's screen, Samsung's S-View Wallet case is a decent option. The small screen view (the little window) allows you to see notifications, answer calls and quickly see what time it is. A hidden slot inside the case stores only a single credit and a couple of bills of cash, but that's all the storage some people need. The S-View Wallet case is available in multiple colors for every Galaxy S24 model.
Photo Gallery 1/1
Pros
Cons
Material Vegan leather, Polycarbonate
Wireless charging compatible? No
Drop Rating No rating
Samsung used to sell leather cases for its Galaxy phones, but it's moved on to faux or vegan leather, which is probably a good thing. Available in black, taupe and dark violet, Samsung's vegan leather case offers a smooth yet grippy feel with decent edge protection in a slim package. Alas, there's no kickstand, but if you're looking for a clean, elegantly designed case, this Samsung-branded vegan leather case is worth considering.
Photo Gallery 1/1
Pros
Cons
Material Thermoplastic Polyurethane
Wireless charging compatible? Yes
Drop Rating Varies
Incipio usually has a wide variety of cases for Galaxy phones, but at launch, it's released just a handful of models for the Galaxy S24 line, including old favorites like the sturdy Duo (12-foot drop protection), the flashy Forme (pictured), which has 10-foot drop protection, and the Cru, which comes in a canvas and leather finish (no drop protection rating is provided for the Cru). At $35, the Duo is the most affordable of the bunch, with the Forme carrying a list price of $45 and the Cru at $50.
Photo Gallery 1/1
Pros
Cons
Material High-Impact Polycarbonate and Thermoplastic Polyurethane
Wireless charging compatible? Yes
Drop Rating 6 feet
Rokform has been making tough smartphone cases for years, and aside from their durability, their key feature is the ability to use them with various mounts -- including bike, car and motorcycle mounts -- that are sold separately.
Rokform's cases have removable magnets and they're compatible with wireless charging if you remove the included center magnet. "With the lower magnet still intact, you can still wireless-charge while utilizing magnetic mounting and all of our mounts," Rokform says. The case is expensive at $70, but Rokform does offer a 20% discount to first-time buyers.
Photo Gallery 1/1
Before anything else, you'll want to figure out how much you're willing to spend on a Galaxy S24 phone case. Value-priced cases continue to improve, so you can find a decent wireless charger for less than $15. But if you're looking for a more premium model, you'll likely have to pay more than $50 and even more for Qi-enabled cases.
Most Android phones since the Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge models introduced in 2015 offer inductive wireless charging. Android's standard for these phones is called Qi, and power banks that are fully Qi compatible offer faster charging speeds for Android devices with speeds capped at around 7.5 watts for iPhones. In all cases, you'll need to make sure your phone case is thin enough to allow inductive charging through the back of the phone.
You can save about $8 to $10 by getting a case that doesn't have an integrated metal ring. I generally encourage people to spend the extra money for a Qi-enabled case because of the number of magnetic accessories on the market, some of them quite useful.
Some people like minimal cases that add little to no bulk to their Samsung Galaxies, but the majority of people are looking for a case that offers good protection -- or even maximum protection. I tell people to find a case that's not too thick and maybe even pretty slim and that offers at least 6-foot drop protection (and good corner protection).
Clear cases are popular because they show off your phone (and its color). Clear cases, especially cheaper ones, can become less clear over time and slowly start to yellow. Many case makers now add UV protection to their clear cases to prevent yellowing.
Show more
Several of the cases on this list were previously available for the Samsung Galaxy S23 models and we added them to the list based on our previous testing with the S23. Typically, we try to use the case on the phone for at least a day and make sure the buttons on the phone work properly with the case on. With some phone cases, we use them for several days or even weeks to see how they wear over time.
Show more
Clckr Stand and Grip cases: 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 S24 Clear case with the integrated kickstand accessory is better and also comes in a Textured version if translucency is not your thing. 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.
Urban Armor Gear Plyo Case:Urban Armor Gear offers several case options for the Galaxy S24 models in a variety of colors. The new Plyo Pro 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.
Peak Design Everyday case: Peak Design's Everyday case is available for all the S24 models and is actually compatible with Apple's MagSafe accessories and other magnetic MagSafe-compatible accessories, including wireless charging batteries, wallets and more. But the case has Peak Design's own built-in magnetic locking system -- the company calls it SlimLink -- that connects to a wide assortment of Peak Design's mobile mounts and accessories. That includes bike mounts, charging stands, tripods, car mounts and more.
Samsung Frame case: Samsung's new Frame case for Galaxy S24 is an interesting concept. In the box you get a "frame" (we used to call this a bumper case) and two interchangeable backplates -- one clear and one card slot -- so you can go with a wallet-style case or plain case. Needless to say, you'll also be able to buy other backplates with different designs to give your case a new look if you get bored with it.
Samsung Clear Gadget case: Samsung's Clear Gadget Cover has a built-in ring kickstand that allows you to prop the phone up horizontally. You'll also be able to attach other optional accessories to the case. The Gadget case is available for all three S24 models but makes more sense for the larger Plus and Ultra models.
Samsung Leather case: Available in black, green and camel, Samsung's leather case offers a nice, smooth yet grippy feel with decent edge protection in a slim package. Alas, there's no kickstand, but if you're looking for a clean, elegantly designed case, this Samsung-branded leather case fits the bill.
Show more
The short answer is no, the Samsung Galaxy doesn't need a case, and yes, some folks prefer to keep their Galaxies uncovered. It is risky, as one drop on the wrong surface (like pavement) could mean a cracked screen or cracked back or dented corner. You can pay for insurance for your phone -- it's fairly pricey -- so you can get it replaced or fixed cheaply should something happen to it.
I never get insurance and just buy a decent case instead. Having a case on your phone won't prevent you from losing it but it does greatly reduce the risk of damaging it.
Show more
I like cases that aren't too thick but offer decent drop protection, with a lip over the edge of the screen (sometimes referred to as a "screen bumper") and raised corners that help prevent your screen from cracking if your phone should fall face down. A folio case will more fully protect your screen.
The good news is that you don't have to buy a super protective Samsung Galaxy case like the OtterBox Defender to get good protection. Most cases are reasonably thin and still offer at least 6-foot drop protection. I did include one very thin case on this list for those who prefer minimal protection. Before you go with a case like that, just remember how much your phone costs -- but it is better than having no case at all. Make sure you get a sound-tempered glass screen protector for your Samsung Galaxy to prevent deep scratches and safeguard the screen.
Show more
There are a lot of cases that are very durable and are rated for drop protection for up to 10 or even 14 feet. If I had to pick the most durable case, I'd say the Lifeproof Fre, which is fully waterproof and has a layer of plastic that covers your screen, is certainly near the top.
The Otterbox Defender Pro Series case is also protective and comes with a belt holster so you can shield your screen when not using it. Over the years, it's been a favorite of construction workers.
Show more
All the Samsung Galaxy S24 models are equipped with Qi Wireless Charging, which offers faster wireless charging with compatible chargers. It also supports optional accessories -- including stands, wallets and various mounts -- that adhere magnetically to the back of your phone. Like the Galaxy S23, the Galaxy S24 has magnets built into the back of the phone to power this feature.
If you want to use those accessories without taking your phone out of its case, you need a phone case that's equipped with Qi support. The Qi magnetic circle is visible on clear cases, but it's embedded on the inside of the case so if it's nontransparent, you'll only see it from the inside.
If you already have a magnetic accessory -- or plan on buying magnetic accessories in the future -- you'll want to get a Qi-compatible case; it's a good option to have. With that in mind, the majority of the cases in this roundup are equipped with magnetic charging.
Show more
In general, yes -- about $10 more. Some more affordable magnetic cases cost around $20, but most cost upwards of $30. We see cases from certain companies that are essentially the same, but one has wireless charging capabilities and the other doesn't. The Qi-enabled version usually sells for $10 more. It may seem like a little too much to pay for something that doesn't seem like much of an upgrade, but in time, Qi compatibility may command less of a "tax."
Show more
Source: cnet.com