Samsung Galaxy S6 Case Guide

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Do you need a Samsung Galaxy S6 Case?

Using a Samsung Galaxy S6 case or not  can be a tough decision for many Galaxy S6 owners.

You probably bought Galaxy S6 because of its excellent exterior design and build material. Using a Samsung Galaxy S6 case may change the look and feel of your phone.  A case or cover also add some weight to your Galaxy S6.

But you may concern about possible damages when you drop the phone, or bump the phone into some hard objects, although the Gorilla glass 4 in the back panel and the screen actually is quite strong and touch.

If you plan to sell your Galaxy S6 after one or two years, you may concern about resale value due to small scratches on the phone body, especially on the metal frame, which is actually the weakest part.

You may need a Samsung Galaxy S6 case for your shiny Galaxy S6 if:

  • you dropped your phone at least once  in last 12 months.
  • you are going to sell your Galaxy S6 with in 24 months. For example, you may plan to sell Galaxy S6 to partially  finance your Galaxy S7 purchase.
  • you do not mind the look or feel of the original Galaxy S6.

The main purpose of Galaxy S6 case is to protect your Galaxy S6 from scratches or even drops. Some well-designed Galaxy S6 cases may even make the phone look better.

Please note, no matter how slim the Samsung Galaxy S6 case is, it will add some weight to the phone. And the case may make your Galaxy S6 look bulky most of the time.

What’s the “best” Samsung Galaxy S6 Case?

First, there is no best Samsung Galaxy S6 case.

It all depends on your expectations and your taste, and sometimes your budget.

Instead of attempting to find the best Samsung Galaxy S6 case, you should try to find one that is suitable for you.

The criteria you may consider include:

  1. The level of protection you need. If you drop your smartphone quite often, you should  get a hybrid Samsung Galaxy S6 case with decent impact protection, e.g., OtterBox case. But you should also be aware that  higher level protection means bulkier case or cover.
  2. The budget you have for the Samsung Galaxy S6 case. It is not necessary to overstretch yourself for a case. No matter what budget you have, you probably can find a suitable case.  Higher selling price or listing price does NOT mean good quality.
  3. Your personal preference on design. There are many different types of Galaxy S6 cases in the market. A Samsung Galaxy S6 case can be in different formats (e.g., back cover, flip cover, or wallet), different colors and arts, different materials (e.g., genuine leather, PU leather. plastic, metal,or some other soft material) and different weight..

Anyway, just remember you only need find a Samsung Galaxy S6 case for you, not a best case, which does not exist.

Samsung Galaxy S6 Case under $10

It is not difficult to get a Samsung Galaxy S6 case under $10. But some of such cases may also have poor quality.

So, if you are looking for a Samsung Galaxy S6 case under $10, you need check the reputation of the seller and the feedback from other users if available,

I.  The most affordable hybrid Samsung Galaxy S6 case: CINEYO  heavy duty rugged dual layer case with kickstand ($9.99 only)

CINEYO heavy duty rugged dual layer case with kickstand is probably the most affordable hybrid Samsung Galaxy S6 case.  This $9.99 case is probably the best choice for a value-for-money case for your Galaxy S6.

The case is a typical two-piece case with a TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) inside (soft) and a polycarbonate shell outside (hard). It also has a kickstand if you need it. But the kickstand is only for landscape orientation.

One limitation of the case is that Galaxy S6 wireless charging does not work with this case.  If you often use wireless charging, this CINEYO heavy duty rugged dual layer case with kickstandmay be not for you, because it can be annoying to take off the case before charging.

Although Cineyo is not a well recognized brand, the build quality of the case is acceptable. For other brands, you probably have to pay 50-100% more for the same quality.

II. The best knockoff  of the official Galaxy S6 S View flip cover case: Nillkin Protective Flip Open PU + PC Case with View Window for Samsung Galaxy S6 ($8.45)

The NILLKIN protective flip open PU + PC Case with view window for Samsung Galaxy S6 is a knockoff of the official Samsung S-View Flip Cover for Samsung Galaxy S6.

If the $35 price tag for the official Samsung Galaxy S6 S View flip cover (whose list price in most regions is $49.99) sounds not reasonable, you can try this $8.45 knockoff. It is the best knockoff in the market.

Actually, NILLKIN protective flip open PU + PC Case with view window for Samsung Galaxy S6 provides almost all functions the official Galaxy S6 S view cover offers.  The settings are done through their own app.

With all the cool features of the official S view covers in the small window: smart/auto sleep, music play control, time/date display, showing notifications and incoming calls, this Galaxy S6 flip cover case has a surprisingly good quality.  The microfiber (?) inside of the front part actually is better than the official Galaxy S6 S view flip cover.

NILLKIN brand probably is not known to many Galaxy S6 owners, but it is quite popular among Chinese smartphone users.

In a nutshell, you probably cannot get a better S View flip cover knockoff  in the market. Of course, if you can raise your budget to $35, you can consider the official Samsung Galaxy S6 S view flip cover .

Just one problem of this case: the call answering from the small window is not working for me.  It seems this happens to their other similar cases for phones on Android Lollipop. I’m not sure whether or when they will fix it through their apps.

Hybrid Samsung Galaxy S6 Case under $20

To protect your Galaxy S6, a hybrid Samsung Galaxy S6 case usually is an ideal solution.  Some well built and designed hybrid cases can be quite expensive.

In addition to   the $9.99 CINEYO dual-layer case, you may consider a hybrid Samsung Galaxy S6 case under $20.

I. Hybrid Samsung Galaxy S6 Case with balanced protection and style:  Spigen Neo Hybrid Series Case for Samsung Galaxy S6 ($19.99)

Spigen has gradually built its reputation in smartphone accessories in recent years.  Spigen products usually have decent quality with affordable price tags.

Spigen Neo Hybrid Series Case for Samsung Galaxy S6 is not an exception.

The this $19.99 hybrid caseoffers some special features, for example:

  • Double (TPU+ PC) bumper (offering better protection for your Galaxy S6).
  • Metal-coated buttons (offering very responsive feedback).
  • Patterned TPU (offering additional grip).
  • Slim (not as bulky as other hybrid cases).

The design and manufacturing quality of this case is really superb.  The $19.99 asking price is not too expensive considering the quality and design.

II. Hybrid Samsung Galaxy S6 Case with transparent back panel: SUPCASE Unicorn Beetle Series Premium Hybrid Protective Clear Case for Samsung Galaxy S6 ($14.99)

Galaxy S6’s glass back panel is an important part of Galaxy S6 design. Some Galaxy S6 owners may want a see-through case to keep the original design.

So, Samsung announced the official clear case for Galaxy S6 when Galaxy S6 was revealed. But the suggested retail price (MSRP) of $34.99 is a bit expensive for a back cover.

Luckily, many case manufacturers seized this opportunity and offered many choices of decent Samsung Galaxy S6 case with a transparent back panel.

Galaxy S6 Case, SUPCASE Unicorn Beetle hybrid protective clear case for Samsung Galaxy S6 is a good example of how the see-through styling can be incorporated into a hybrid protection.

The dual accent colors for the bumper, transparent back, slim design and high build quality  make this $14,99 hybrid caseone of the best choices for Galaxy S6 owners who want a hybrid Samsung Galaxy S6 Case with transparent back panel,

Ultimate protection Samsung Galaxy S6 Case

If you need more protection for your Galaxy S6, you have to consider a heavy-duty dual (or three) layer Samsung Galaxy S6 case.

I.  Samsung Galaxy S6 case with best protection: OtterBox DEFENDER series for Samsung Galaxy S6  ($49.95)

OtterBox is often considered as the de-facto standard for smartphone cases.  Many case manufactures are inspired by (or just copied) the design of OtterBox cases.

The flagship cases of OtterBox is the Defender Series, which provides ultimate protection of your smartphones with 3 layers.

OtterBox DEFENDER series for Samsung Galaxy S6 is the case if you need the ultimate protection.

If you dropped your phone to the floor several times last year, or you use tools very often with phones in your pocket, it is probably a good idea to spend the $50 for this case.

Please note, the OtterBox DEFENDER series for Samsung Galaxy S6 is always bulky and heavy.

II. A less bulky OtterBox case:  OtterBox COMMUTER series for Samsung Galaxy S6 ($34.95)

The DEFENDER series for Samsung Galaxy S6 mentioned above is usually very bulky. For some owners, it is uncomfortably heavy.

In the reality, if you are an office worker without climbing ladders up and down in your daily job, the less bulky OtterBox COMMUTER series for Samsung Galaxy S6 is usually sufficient.

OtterBox COMMUTER series for Samsung Galaxy S6 is lighter and less bulky.

The 2-piece slider case provides sufficient protection for most users. For build quality, you can always trust OtterBox.

The $35 price tag  of this case is not cheap, but it should be well spent if it is within your budget.

III. Affordable alternative for a  Samsung Galaxy S6 case with excellent protection: Poetic Revolution Series complete protection case with built-in screen protector for Samsung Galaxy S6 ($14.95)

If you need and want the  OtterBox DEFENDER series for Samsung Galaxy S6, but the you are held back by the $49.95 price tag, you can try this $14.95 Poetic Revolution series complete protection case with built-in screen protector for Samsung Galaxy S6.

Poetic is not a big name in phone accessories, although it is not a new brand. They used to offer budget accessories with decent quality.

Budget accessories do not mean low-quality. Sometimes, some of these accessories can be surprisingly good in quality, design  and function. Of course, you need be patient to find them from so many low-quality accessories.

Poetic Revolution series complete protection case with built-in screen protector for Samsung Galaxy S6 is an affordable alternative to OtterBox DEFENDER series for Samsung Galaxy S6.

The dual layer case provides excellent protection against drop, impact and  scratch.

The built-in water-resistant screen protector offers another layer of protection against water. Please note, the protection is not water proof. It can only protect against spill of water/coffee.

Anyway, this  $14.95 case  is probably the best affordable alternative for the $49.95 OtterBox Defender series case for Galaxy S6.

Official Samsung Galaxy S6 Case

Samsung offers a variety of official galaxy S6 accessories.  The good thing of the official Samsung Galaxy S6 case is the perfect fit.

But a lot of Galaxy S6 owners feel the official Samsung Galaxy S6 case is usually over-priced. Samsung is trying to directly earn considerable profit from accessories (and they probably made it), instead of just boosting the sales of Galaxy S6 devices. In other words, Samsung is actually directly competing against other accessory manufactures.

I. Samsung protective clear cover for Samsung Galaxy S6 ($34.99, sometimes down to $19)

 Samsung protective clear cover for Samsung Galaxy S6 is a normal back cover but with transparent material in the back part. You can choose different wrap colors of the case to match the phone color.

The Galaxy S6 clear case is also very slim so that it is stylish with basic protection through the hard plastic wraps around edges of Galaxy S6. The see-through back part of the case will show original beauty of Galaxy S6 design.

As an official Samsung  Galaxy S6 case, Samsung did not sacrifice on the build quality. It is well built and designed.

One limitation of this Samsung protective clear cover for Samsung Galaxy S6 is that it does not protect scratches for the metal frame of Galaxy S6.  For Galaxy S6, the weakest part is not the galss: it is the metal frame, which can easily get scratched with keys. This case doe NOT cover the metal frame. It clips to the phone through 4 corners.

II. Samsung S-View flip cover for Samsung Galaxy S6 (about $35, MSRP:$49.99)

Samsung S-View flip cover for Samsung Galaxy S6 is part of Samsung’s smart accessories. It adds more functions on the small S view window,

When S View cover was first introduced to Galaxy S4, the reception is mixed. Some like it; some hate it.

Samsung S-View flip cover for Samsung Galaxy S6 is for Galaxy S6 owners who are using or  want to get the S View window functions.   If you are just look for a flip cover for your Galaxy S6, you’d better find another case.

The S View window functions always change. So, don’t assume this Samsung S-View flip cover for Samsung Galaxy S6 has identical S view window features as those in your Galaxy Note 4 or Galaxy S5. This can be annoying.

Like old S View covers, this Samsung S-View flip cover for Samsung Galaxy S6 can wake up or turn off the Galaxy S6 screen when it is open or covered. You can also accept/reject calls, access Galaxy S6 camera (not so relevant as you can use Galaxy S6 camera quick launch now), showing notifications from the S View window.

Please note, there are two editions (in addition to various colors): leather (of course, not genuine) and fabric. It seems, fabric edition has better (arguable, just based on feel in hands) quality and material.

Also, the suggested retail price (MSRP) of the Samsung S-View flip cover for Samsung Galaxy S6 is not cheap: it is $49.99. But most of the time, you can get this case at about $35 from Amazon or other online sellers.

Did you get your Samsung Galaxy S6 case for your S6? What’s your thoughts or questions on Samsung Galaxy S6 case?

Please share them with us in the comment box.

For more guides on buying Samsung Galaxy S6 and Samsung Galaxy S6 accessories, please check Galaxy S6 buyer guide page.

For features of Galaxy S6, please check Galaxy S6 online manual page.

For detailed guides on how to use Samsung Galaxy S6, please check Galaxy S6 how-to guides page.

View Comments

  • I bought the S view case, and, along with many others, found that the plastic corner lugs cracked. I my case after 1 week's careful use. It has gone back. The 4 corner lugs are not strong enough to hold the phone.

  • Hi, I bought the original flip cover for the galaxy s6 edge but the auto wake/sleep function is not working. Do I need to change any settings on the phone?

          • Yes... It is the original Flip Cover from Samsung. It is written in the package: "S VIEW MODE and AUTO ON/OFF mode activation requires NFC connection with your device. NFC may be undetectable if your device is running an MDM software or near a metallic object." Unfortunately I have already turned on NFC on my galaxy s6 edge and it still doesn`t work. Thank you for your help.

          • Not sure. For S view cover, it is supposed there are something in accessories.

            You may check with the seller.

  • I need help in finding a picture sent via text message. Where oh where do I look???? Nor do I have e-mail.

  • The official Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Clear Flip cover is rubbish.
    The whole point of the 6 Edge, is the effects you can see on the edge, i.e. clock at night, news feeds, colour when a specific person calls, etc.

    ALL EDGE EFFECTS are DISABLED when the Clear Cover is CLOSED.

    RUBBISH

    • Actually, a lot of s6 edge and edge+ owners never use the edge screen at all. They spent additional $100 just for the look and feel.