Last-Minute Gift Guide: 10 Hot Smartphone Cases

Still Time To Buy

The smartphone is one of today’s most often and dynamically used devices. With so much built into it, it’s also one of the most valuable everyday devices we use.

With so much value in your pocket, protecting your smartphone is an important job. However, with so many options vying for your attention - from the mall kiosk to ads on Facebook - it can be hard to decide which cases may be best for your needs.

To help with that, we narrowed the field a bit. Here are CRN's top picks for covers that will cover your phone, keeping it safe while personalizing its look to fit your style.

Read on for 10 smartphone cases that may be the right fit for you.

Moshi SenseCover

Samsung: Galaxy S6, S5, Galaxy Note 4

Apple: iPhone 5, 5s, 6, 6s, 6 plus and 6s Plus

The Moshi SenseCover is a portfolio case with a scratch-resistant window on the cover that allows the user to view incoming calls and alerts without removing the magnetically secured screen protector. The cover also comes with embedded SensArray pads that allow the user to answer and talk on the phone, check the time, reject calls and swipe off alarms without having to open it. The cover can also be used as a stand to make watching movies and TV shows on your phone a more enjoyable experience.

The phone comes in black, white and pink and is available for $44.95.

LIFEPROOF FRE

Samsung: Galaxy S4, S5, S6,

DROID: Turbo, Turbo 2, Maxx 2

Apple: iPhone 5, 5s, 6, 6s, 6 Plus and 6s Plus

Are you looking for a phone case that can survive an active lifestyle? LIFEPROOF FRĒ may be your answer. Called "the tool that makes your tech adventure ready" by its manufacturer, FRĒ is one of the toughest cases out there.

This case protects your phone from just about anything you’ll run into on your adventures. FRE makes your phone waterproof at a depth up to 2 meters for a full hour. It keeps your phone dirt proof, snow-proof and drop-proof for spills under 2 meters high while protecting the screen with a scratch-resistant screen cover, all while leaving every, port, button and control (including the fingerprint reader) available for use.

However, even with all the extras, this case is still surprisingly thin, and can easily shift from the outdoors to the office without looking out of place.

Available in black, grey, red and blue, this case will run you about $80.

Otterbox Defender Series

Samsung: Galaxy S5, S6

Apple: iPhone 5, 5s, 6, 6s, 6 Plus and 6s Plus

Otterbox, one of the top protective-case manufacturers, is a standard in the phone case world. The rugged Defender series is made of a polycarbonate shell with a synthetic rubber slipcover and a built-in clear-membrane screen protector. The case also comes with port covers to protect your phone's input jacks and includes a hip holster for those on the go. This case comes with Otterbox’s certified drop, dust, screen and scratch protection, making it ready for all your lifestyle can throw at it, while still looking professional and clean.
Available in an array of colors, designs and can be personalized with graphics, such as the logo of your favorite sports team.

This case costs around $50.

Pad & Quill: Luxury Pocket Book

Apple: iPhone 6, 6s

If you’re in the market for a case that’s a bit more classic and fit for the boardroom, this might be the one for you.

This wallet-style phone case is built with everyday functionality in mind for the owner who is less worried about dropping his or her phone off a mountain but still wants a case that will provide protection and style.

Pad & Quill's Luxury pocket book is made from full-grain American saddle leather and a phone cradle carved out of Baltic birch wood. The wallet includes five inner card pockets and comes with a 25-year warranty on the leather and a lifetime warranty on the cradle.

The Pad & Quill case comes in three different exterior colors and five interior colors, all shades of black and brown. It costs $89.99.

Tylt ENERGI

Samsung: Galaxy s4, s5, gs6, gs6 edge

Apple: iPhone 5, 5s, 6, 6s, 6 Plus and 6s Plus

Having problems with your battery life? Tylt's ENERGI line phone case comes with a sliding battery sleeve that can charge your battery on the go, and will double its life. The 3.200mAh battery is equipped with a 2.1 A output and charges your phone to 65 percent in one hour. With the sliding battery sleeve design, you can easily put the battery attachment on when needed and later, slide it off when your battery is good to go, ditching the extra bulk while keeping the additional protection from the inner casing.

However, if you don’t want to take the battery off, there's no need to worry, the charger shuts itself off when your battery is full to conserve its energy for a time when you need the extra boost.

This case comes in black and costs $79.99.

Grovemade

Apple: iPhone 5, 5s, 6, 6s and 6s Plus

Looking to be a little more eco-friendly with your phone cover? How about a wood cover?

Grovemade, which makes covers only for Apple products, will house your phone in a solid walnut or maple case that can be applied to the phone with a single-use adhesive.

The Portland, Ore.-based company, founded in 2009, hand-crafts each case to ensure the quality and design of their products.

The cases come in three designs: as a bumper that wraps around the phone, a classic case (pictured), or a case with a leather cover.

Running from $59 for the bumper case all the way up to $129 for the leather-covered model, this cover will keep your phone looking nice and a little more eco-friendly.

HTC Dot View Standard

HTC: HTC smartphones

There are a bunch of cool phone covers on this list, but the HTC Dot may be one of the most unique-looking models on it.

The Dot View Standard is only available for HTC phones, but comes with a cover that’s filled with such features as gesture controls that allow you to operate some features on the phone without opening the case, keeping your phone protected and functional.

The case allows you to get instant updates and notifications, as well as answer or dismiss incoming calls.

Available in silver, blue, yellow and pink, the HTC Dot View Standard is available on HTC.com for $39.99.

Morphie Juice Pack

Apple: Iphone:4, 4s, 6s, 6plus

Samsung: Galaxy: s6, s6, s5, s4, s III, edge, s5, note5

HTC: HTC One M7

LG: LG G4

This battery extender is a form-fitting case that fits a wide range of phones, doubling the battery life of each, while not adding much bulk for you to carry.

The curved edges of the case's design leave room for the design to incorporate both rubberized support pads and internal suspension bumpers to better protect the phone from slips and drops.

The case includes a standby switch and an LED power indicator so you can see when the battery is charged and you, the user, can decide when it begins to charge your battery, so it can be there, ready to go, when you need it most.

The Juice Pack comes in a light grey and black and can be ordered from Morphie.com for $99.95.

Case Mate: Barely There

HTC: One, m9

Apple: iPhone 6/6s, 5c

Samsung: Galaxy s6, s6 edge, A5, A3, Galaxy Note 2

Sony: Xperia Z3 compact, z3, z3+, Z2m

HTC: One M8

LG: G3

Motorola: Moto G

If you’re looking for the simple, traditional phone case that will fit on your phone in a slim, nondescript way and protect it from everyday use, Case-Mate's Barely There line might be what you’re looking for.

This case comes in a variety of colors and has an easy, one-piece instillation that will save you from the multi-layer configurations and adhesives of more complex cases.

The polycarbonate case will protect your phone from general scratches and drops while still fitting close to your phone, taking up less room in your pocket and maintaining a sleek look.

Priced at around $11, this case is in a reasonable price range and comes with a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty.

Amzer Shellster

A variety of models from Samsung, Blackberry, Sony, HTC, Motorola, LG iPhone, and Google

A variety of models from Samsung, Blackberry, Sony, HTC, Motorola, LG, iPhone, and Google

If you’re often on the go and need a case that can be on-hand at a moment's notice, the Amzer Shellster may be your choice.

The belt holster is an easy-to use, hip-mounted case that rotates 180 degrees for ease of access that doesn't impede your movement while keeping your phone screen covered during dirty jobs and inclement weather. But it’s not waterproof, so keep it dry in the rain.

This case is available in black and white and is one of the only phone covers we found that’s available for nearly every major carrier.

Some of the models also come in other colors and prices may vary, but the cost for the holster and case is about $15.