Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus case roundup: Speck, Tech21, and Caseology

The Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus, see my full review, is the best smartphone available today and it is also very expensive at $850. I had the chance to check out several cases from Speck, Tech21, and Caseology over the past two weeks of using the Galaxy S8 Plus.

Speck currently has a few case options for the Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus and sent along the Presidio and Presidio Grip for evaluation.

Tech21 sent along the Evo Check in white and black. This case is designed to offer some drop protection, up to 3 meters, which is useful since the Galaxy S8 has Gorilla Glass 5 on the front and back.

One of the best affordable case brands that I have been testing out for other phones over the past few months is Caseology. The company has six model options for the S8 Plus and sent along the Legion, Vault, and Parallax models for me to try out.

Drop testing to 3 meters, 10 feet, is one of the basic requirements you should look for in a case for the Galaxy S8 Plus. The Presidio provides this protection in a fairly simple design with slim form factor.

The offset rear fingerprint scanner of the Galaxy S8 Plus can be maddening at times and after testing out some cases, it is clear to me that a case can help direct your finger to the proper target.

The Presidio is available in black for $44.95.

The speaker, USB Type-C port, and headphone jack are all easily accessible on the bottom of the case.

Impactium, Speck's shock barrier design feature, provides a raised bezel to guard the screen from direct drops onto phone face and prevents damage when lying flat.

The Presidio Grip has the same core as the Presidio with the additional of no-slip grip material that makes it much easier to hold onto a very slippery phone.

The Presidio Grip is also available now for $44.95. You can choose from five different color options. I tested the dolphin green/aloe gray one.

Ample openings and responsive buttons are present on the case.

The raised front edges provide bezel protection. With the dual curved display, this case still supports the use of the edge panels and lighting.

The Tech21 Evo Check is also designed to withstand 3 meter (10 feet) drops with 3-layer protection. It is available in four different colors and I had the chance to try out the black and white models.

The Evo Check is available now for $39.95. The Tech21 products are part of the Designed for Samsung certification process so you can trust they will fit perfectly and provide the promised protection for your expensive new phone.

The Evo Check in white lets the color of your Galaxy S8 Plus show through the clear back while also providing solid side and back protection.

Again, the rear openings are ample to let you use the camera and flash while also accurately targeting the rear fingerprint scanner.

There are three bottom openings for the USB Type-C port, 3.5mm headset jack, and mono speaker. The back material significantly improves your ability to hold onto the S8 Plus while also keeping it from sliding around on a table.

The sides of the Evo Check offer protection while still letting you fully access and use the dual edge panels.

If you are looking for a very affordable case option that offers some protection and style, then Caseology is a great brand to consider.

I had the chance to try out the Legion, Vault, and Parallax lines.

The Parallax case is available in black and burgundy and as you can see the burgundy model arrived for testing. The flexible TPU has a geometric rear design to give it a unique look and also help you hold onto your S8 Plus.

While the MSRP is $24.99, you can find it on Amazon for $15.99 and $16.99. This is a great deal for a stylish case.

Back, sides, and bottom design features.

One of my favorite cases is the Vault model, available on Amazon for just $12.99 in black.

It has a carbon fiber look around the rear camera and fingerprint opening while sleek horizontal lines etched into the back. Soft and strong TPU helps you grip the device while offering some protection, although there is no rating for this protection.

Horizontal etched lines make this quite stylish.

The edges of the case are down just a bit so you can still use the edge panels.

The case that I keep going back to, from this collection of cases, is the Legion model from Caseology.

I was sent the black one to test out, but after seeing there is an Orchid Gray one on Amazon that matches my orchid gray S8 Plus I may just have to pay the $17.99 for this color that matches perfectly.

There are small raised bumpers in the four corners to help keep your phone from sliding off a table. The two different textures on the back look good and help you keep your phone safe in your hand.

The buttons are easy to manipulate and the back opening helps direct my finger to the proper spot to active the fingerprint scanner.