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| Credit: Spigen |
Your smartphone is one of the most used products on any given day. It features glass, plastic, metal or ceramic builds, and keeping them free from damage can be quite tricky. So you may want to protect it from whenever you lose your grip and watch your device hit the ground and get scratches, dents or screen/back panel get shattered. So we all know how important it is to protect our device and keep it safe.
That is why a durable phone case is an essential phone accessory. If you’re looking to buy a case, you’ve got lots of options from lightweight, slim cases to extremely rugged cases. You might be curious to know what types of cases are out there or what are the best phone case brands out there. Then this guide will make it easy for you to select the best phone cases for your smartphone from the best phone case brands out there.
Types of Cases Available
There are different types of phone cases, ranging from slim/thin, hybrid, rugged, tough, folio/wallet and battery cases. Ultimately picking the right case comes down to knowing what kind of protection and features you need.
Slim or Basic Cases
Thin cases are minimalistic and what most people would prefer. However, they offer the least degrees of protection. They are generally single-layer covers made with either TPU or polycarbonate. It will safeguard against scratches, and they won’t provide much protection from drop damage. If style outweighs protection for you, then you’ll find a lot of good-looking thin cases out there.
Slim/thin cases offer a basic level of protection, and they aren’t for anyone who isn’t careful. There are exceptions of course, like the Spigen’s Rugged Armor or Liquid Air, KAPAVER Rugged Case, Dbrand Grip, which are both excellent cases.
If you opt for clear TPU cases, they usually become yellowish within a month or two and will need to be replaced frequently, So we do not recommend a clear TPU case. If you are into Translucent backs, you will get better options in Hybrid cases, and they will be a one-time investment.
You’ll find the biggest range of collection in different styles and colours in this category because they are incredibly cheap. You can get slim/thin cases from ₹50 to very expensive kevlar thin cases priced around ₹2000-₹3000 Rupees.
Hybrid Cases
Hybrid cases are the best bet for most smartphone owners, and it is my go-to case type for years. They offer a lot of protection despite being thin and light as well. Hybrid cases include anything that uses a combination of materials, like a polycarbonate back and a TPU bumper or a relatively thin dual-layer case. They usually have a lip or some protection on the front in case your phone lands face down.
There are a lot of excellent options out there. Most of them come with the same MIL-STD 810G-516.6 certification for impact resistance as rugged cases. Ringke cases are the most popular in Hybrid cases. Other brands like UAG, Spigen, Supcase also make excellent Hybrid cases.
Tough Cases
If you want a case that doesn’t add too much bulk or entirely forfeit style and will survive a drop, then you probably want to check one of the tough cases out there.
Tough cases usually have a layer of hard polycarbonate with an inner layer of something softer, like silicone, to absorb shock.
Tough cases add some grip to reduce the chances that you’ll drop. they shouldn’t stop you from accessing everything on your phone and will have a lip or some protection on the front like hybrid cases. Also, keep an eye out for the military drop-test certification like MIL-STD 810.
We have tough cases from Urban Armor Gear (UAG), Spigen, etc. in India. Some brands like Speck, Incipio are famous for Tough cases, but they are still not officially available in India. You should expect to pay anywhere from ₹800 to ₹3000
Rugged Cases
Rugged cases are another option out there. They will ensure that your phone can survive almost anything, but keep in mind that they are going to be bulky and heavy. Rugged cases have air pockets and reinforced corners and should cover every angle, including the buttons and the touchscreen, which can make buttons harder to press and reduce touchscreen sensitivity.
Extremely heavy-duty rugged cases are meant for those who work in harsh environments and need to survive your device from anything, even though it can make it a little harder to use your phone.
Folio Cases
Flip-open folio or wallet cases are great for anyone that wants the convenience of it. It can be stylish, can carry cash and cards and often doubles as a kickstand. The folio cover also helps keep the display safe without needing a screen protector. But they vary when it comes to drop protection. Some include a shell-type case inside while others offer virtually no coverage on the sides or corners.
Folio cases will typically support the sleep-wake function, so your device should come to life automatically when you open the cover and go to sleep when you close it. They come in different materials. The vast majority of folio cases are made from PU (polyurethane), which is sometimes marketed as “vegan leather.” PU is good, but it can smell strong, especially at first, and it is prone to cracking over time. Genuine leather wallet cases are a touch expensive, but look fantastic.
Battery Cases
Battery cases are always bulky and heavy; they have a built-in battery to charge your smartphone for extra battery life. A lot of battery cases are not designed to offer much in the way of protection. There are also some creative designs out there that combine a lightweight case or bumper with a removable battery component.
Best Phone Case Brands in India
Here you can find some of the most popular and recommended case manufacturers available in India and what are their popular series of cases available to buy.
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Spigen
Credit: Spigen
Spigen is one of the most popular case makers out there. They make cases in pretty much every style and type we mentioned earlier. They tend to be a perfect blend of affordability and reliability. There are rarely issues with Spigen cases, and they tend to be very good at protecting our phones
They also do a pretty great job as far as phone selection is concerned. You will find a Spigen case if you have a flagship phone. That said, they also offer cases for several mid-rangers and even some entry-level devices from Samsung, Xiaomi, Motorola, etc. Spigen cases are also relatively cheap, with the price of the different types of cases usually between ₹400 and ₹3000
These are the different series of Spigen cases: Rugged Armor, Thin Fit, Air Armor, Liquid Crystal, Liquid Air, Ultra Hybrid, Neo Hybrid, Tough Armor, etc.
BUY SPIGEN CASES: AMAZON | FLIPKART
Ringke
Credit: Ringke
Ringke is my favourite case maker out there. They are very popular due to its support for a large number of devices and the value they offer. Ringke doesn’t have too many varieties of case types to choose from; they produce cases in thin/slim and Hybrid types. They are mainly known for their hybrid Fusion series.
Apart from the popular flagships, you can find Ringke cases for most mid-range and entry-level devices from popular phone makers that other case makers don’t cover. Ringke cases are relatively cheap too, considering they are a one-time investment. I have a Ringke case which is about four years old that still looks like a fresh one. Their prices range from ₹300-₹2000, and most of them sit at ₹1000-₹1100 price segments.
These are the different series of Ringke cases: Fusion-X, Fusion, Air-S, Onyx.
BUY RINGKE CASES: AMAZON | FLIPKART | OFFICIAL WEBSITE | PAYTM MALL
Kapaver
Credit: Kapaver
Kapaver is an Indian accessory brand which makes excellent slim military-grade standard cases at a very affordable price. Their pricing ranges from ₹400 to ₹800, which is too cheap, considering the value they offer.
The one thing that differentiates kapaver from the rest of the others in this list is they are more concentrated on budget and mid-range phones, unlike others who concentrate on premium devices. So kapaver offers cases for Xiaomi, Realme, Oneplus, Samsung, Apple, etc. kapaver is one of the few high-quality case makers which supports Realme devices.
These are the different series of Kapaver cases: Rugged Case, Impulse transparent Hybrid, TPU polycarbonate, Hard PC Transparent, Hard PC frosted Transparent, stark rubberised, rugged solid, real wood.
BUY KAPAVER CASES: AMAZON | FLIPKART | PAYTM MALL
Nillkin
Credit: Nillkin
Nillkin offers various types of slim/thin cases in India for wide ranges of devices with very affordable prices to expensive price segments. Their cases didn’t provide much protection, like others mentioned in this list. Nillkin cases are for people, who don’t drop their phones frequently and are looking for high quality slim/thin cases.
As a Chinese brand, you can find nillkin cases for many Chinese devices, along with all major smartphones manufacturers in the world.
These are the different Nillkin case series: Super frosted shield, CamShield cover, Qin series leather, bumper leather, striker sports cover, etc.
BUY NILLKIN CASES: AMAZON | FLIPKART | PAYTM MALL
Supcase
Credit: Supcase
Supcase is another premium case manufacturer out there which produces excellent quality phone cases. But their phone selection is limited to phones available in the US. They are also slightly in expensive territory. Their pricing ranges from ₹1000-₹2000 rupees segment.
These are the different Supcase case series: UB style, UB electro, UB Pro.
BUY SUPCASE CASES: AMAZON
UAG – Urban Armor Gear
Credit: UAG
UAG (Urban Armor Gear) is also a popular case maker among smartphone users. All its cases are quite rugged and meet the MIL-STD 810G 516.6 standard for drop protection and impact resistance.
In India, you can’t find UAG cases for many devices, even though they have quite diverse collections overseas. Here their phone selection is limited to OnePlus, Samsung and Apple flagship devices. UAG cases are also on the more expensive side, with a price range of ₹1500 to ₹2000. The perfect blend of rugged features and sleek designs is worth the price though.
These are the different UAG case series: Plasma, Monarch, Pathfinder, Civilian, Plyo, Scout and Outback series.
BUY UAG CASES: AMAZON
First-party Cases
Credit: OnePlus
First-party cases are cases made by phone manufactures. Many manufactures like Apple, Samsung, Oneplus, Xiaomi, etc. make first-party cases. But always OnePlus does first-party cases better than anyone else. But OnePlus cases very expensive.
BUY ONEPLUS CASES | BUY APPLE CASES
Otterbox
Credit: Otterbox
Otterbox cases are meant for heavy-duty protection. Their cases are big, bulky, and might not be the most visually appealing, but they make sure that your expensive smartphone is as safe as possible.
Its smartphone selection is limited to US releases. If a phone is available in the US, from the entry-level to the flagship, you can expect a case from Otterbox. But in India, their collection is minimal, and of course, they are on the more expensive side.
These are the different Otterbox case series: Defender, Symmetry, Symmetry,
BUY OTTERBOX CASES: AMAZON
Rhinoshield
Credit: Rhinosheild
Rhinosheild makes unique styles of cases and bumpers, which makes them different from others on this list, but their products are on the very expensive territory. They offer products for Apple, OnePlus, Samsung, Google, Asus and Xiaomi in India through the official website and other e-commerce platforms.
These are the different Rhinoshield case series: CrashGuard NX, Solidsuit, MOD NX, CrashGuard.
BUY RHINOSHEILD CASES: AMAZON |OFFICIAL WEBSITE
Poetic
Credit: Poetic
Poetic is not a well-known case maker among Indian consumers. They offer a few types of cases, with a common theme of rugged protection. Their phone selection is very small in India, and their pricing is similar to Spigen or Ringke.
These are the different Poetic case series: Affinity, Revolution, Guardian, Spartan and Karbon Shield.
BUY POETIC CASES – AMAZON
dbrand
Credit: dbrand
Dbrand is the most popular smartphone skin maker in the world. They also make an excellent Phone case called the grip, and their incredible collection of skins can customise it. Even though they are not directly available in India, you can order them easily from their website. Dbrand Grip is slim, offers excellent grip, provides military-grade impact protection and customisation using skins with a costly price tag.
When talking about skins, if you need very affordable excellent quality skin in India, you can check out CapesIndia.
What about brands not on this list?
There are tons of brands out there, and many cases can be worth the investment. Before you buy a case from a brand you’re not familiar with, just do some homework and be sure to check for the following:
- Look through owner-submitted reviews on sites like Amazon and Flipkart
(they may be paid or sponsored submissions if they are super vague and poorly written) - if you can’t find a review for your specific phone model, other reviews for the same manufacturer will give you a general sense of the quality.
- Make sure the case has precise cut-outs.
- Choose your features- LIke kickstands.
- How much protection do you need?- Based on it select the type of case you need
- Ensure that the case you have your eye on is compatible with your specific phone model
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