Casetify Impact Case for $72: Casetify cases are fun because there’s an insane number of designs to choose from. (Look at this one with a cat!) I’m not a huge fan of the Casetify branding that’s on the camera module, but maybe I’m just not trendy enough. I found the S Pen a little tough to access (I have a bad habit of biting my nails, so this might not be an issue for you). Otherwise, these are some great cases; it’s just hard to justify the absurdly high price.
Spigen Ultra Hybrid OneTap Ring Case for $23: This is one of the cheapest MagSafe cases, but it’s available only for the Galaxy S23 Ultra. The magnetic connection is pretty strong—it hooked up to my MagSafe wireless charger with zero issues—but I’m not a huge fan of how the polycarbonate material feels.
Spigen Liquid Crystal Case for $16: This is a solid silicone case with some fun designs to choose from (or you can stick with a completely clear version). I just don’t like that the buttons sound and feel squishy when you press them.
Spigen Rugged Armor Case for $17: It’s not pretty at all, maybe inoffensive at best. It doesn’t feel tremendously rugged, but it’s an otherwise fine case with responsive buttons.
Speck Presidio Grip 2 Case for $45: This case has grippy edges, not unlike the Incipio Grip above, and it feels really wonderful to hold. Unfortunately, the buttons require a bit of effort to press.
Speck Presidio Perfect-Clear Case for $40: Be careful when you put this case on or the buttons will stick out in weird ways. Speaking of, the buttons aren’t my favorite—requiring a tiny bit more effort than many of the cases above. The S Pen is very accessible though, and it’s an otherwise solid clear case.
Coach Protective Case for $55: I actually really like this partially clear case (also available for the S23+ and S23 Ultra). The material feels nice to touch, the flowery design is classy, and there’s good protection along the edges of the screen. I just don’t know why it says “Made in China” in a large font on the side. Tsk tsk.
Kate Spade Defensive Hardshell Case for $55: Here’s another nice clear case with a few fun designs to choose from. I especially like the white lines that run along the edges of the case. The only flaw is the S Pen on the S23 Ultra version isn’t the easiest to access. It’s also available for the S23+.
Smartish Wallet Slayer Vol. 1 for $25: If you want to carry a few credit cards (or ID) with your phone instead of bringing along a wallet or purse, this case from Smartish does the job. It holds about three cards, and you can use the gap on the left to push them out. They stay in there pretty well—it took some really vigorous shaking for nearly a minute for the cards to come close to coming out. The only problems? The buttons are a tiny bit hard to press, it’s bulky, and it completely blocks wireless charging capabilities.
UAG Pathfinder Case for $50: Super into camo? Then this is the case for you! It ticks off all the boxes with grippy sides, an easy-to-access S Pen, and buttons that are effortless to press. I just don’t think it’s as rugged as the brand suggests.
UAG Plyo Clear Case for $40: I’m not a fan of the extra design UAG added to this clear case, but it otherwise feels nice, has solid buttons, and there’s a Plyo Pro version ($50) for the S23 Ultra that adds MagSafe support.
UAG Monarch Pro MagSafe Case for $80: It’s a bit much to spend on a case, even if it does have MagSafe support to use with third-party MagSafe accessories. The industrial design isn’t too gaudy, and it functions fine with good edge protection around the screen. The S Pen is easy to access on the S23 Ultra model.
UAG Plasma Case for $45: I don’t know why you would want a case that looks like this, but if you’re not offended by the design, then the only flaw I found is that the buttons require a little effort to press.
UAG Civilian Case for $50: If you don’t mind the giant UAG logo in the center, this is an attractive and simple case with a pleasant color scheme. I like the added grip around the bumper, though the buttons are a little stiff. I found it hard to push the S Pen back inside its housing, though this might only be an issue for nail-biters. It’s also available for the S23+ and S23 Ultra.
