Best Samsung Galaxy S23+ heavy

The most dependable covers for anybody who's hard on their smartphone

By now, every tech-savvy person knows just how awesome the Galaxy S23+ is. The phone sports decent performance, complimented by the perfect build. But as you’d expect, these perks don’t come free of charge. You’ll have to burn a tad bit of cash to get them. And when you’re spending this much money on a smartphone, it’s only natural — and wise — to want to give it the utmost protection against damage.

That’s where protective covers come in. Although there are myriad everyday Samsung Galaxy S23+ cases, opting for a rugged cover will do a better job of safeguarding your device from harm. Not to mention the ones in our collection will also look fantastic doing it!

Out of all Zagg's ultra-stylish Gear4 cases, the London is our favorite due to its understated but fun line art and stain-resistant fabric back. It's safe from drops at least 13 feet high, which is above average, and the plant-based impact resistance materials help keep the overall environmental impact as low as possible.

If you need the most safety from broken glass and damaged components, don't skip the UAG Monarch Kevlar. As the name implies, it's made with the same stuff as bulletproof vests and body armor and can withstand more abuse than pretty much any other case on the planet. It is pretty big and costly, but (amazingly) its thickness doesn't interfere with wireless charging.

Spigen's Tough Armor looks like a run-of-the-mill phone case without a ton of bulk or aggressive styling. On the inside, though, it sports multiple layers of protection that all but guarantee your phone is safe from bumps and drops. It's ideal for anybody who needs premium protection but wants to fly under the radar a little.

In partnership with i-Blason

If you like angular, sci-fi-inspired electronic designs, the i-Blason ArmorBox is right up your alley. It comes in green, red, or blue in addition to standard black and lets you choose whether you want an integrated front frame or a more common tempered glass layer. Our only gripe is that i-Blason doesn't provide an official drop rating.

The vast selection of fun, eye-catching, expressive designs is just one of the reasons we love the Casetify Impact Series for wrapping our Galaxy S23+. It's also built from premium materials, has the perfect amount of grip, boasts a build quality you can count on for years, and is exceeded in some designs by the even more rugged Ultra Impact versions.

Gone are the days when heavy-duty meant overblown, bulky, and ugly. Today, you can easily get a dual-layer cover like the Poetic Neon Series, which is built with style and elegance in mind, but will faithfully take on everything life throws at your device. This case is even available in eight dazzling colors, including Mint, Navy Blue, and Military Green. And considering it is very well-priced, you’ll want to snag a piece for yourself at once!

For years, CaseBorne's testing process included driving an actual car over its cases, and that hardcore ruggedness is still on display today. The heavy-duty multi-layer body rated for 21-foot drops is complemented by thick, raised protective bezels and a durable kickstand that works in either orientation. Despite its impressive performance, it's not terribly costly and comes in black, orange, and purple variants.

For extra assurance you won't drop your phone when taking selfies in interesting places, the AICase Tough+ boasts a removable wrist strap that installs snugly between the case and the device. It's one of the most affordable options but still does a great job keeping your $1,000 smartphone in one piece.

There's a decent selection of clear cases out there, but none aside from the Ice version of the UAG Plyo offers the impressive (and third-party tested) drop rating of 16 feet. Even better, there's a lanyard anchor to ensure you don't drop it (lanyard sold separately, of course), and the oversized buttons make it especially easy to lock your device or adjust the volume.

Ghostek's Atomic Slim continues the company's efforts to produce well-built, rugged cases with good-looking and novel designs. Not only is there a wide range of colors to choose from, but a few also have transparent backs, while others boast simulated leather, fabric, or prismatic blends on the rear to really kick the appearance up a notch.

Otterbox is known for its incredibly durable and protective cases, and this time we're pleased to note that its Commuter Series comes in a number of classy and attractive colors instead of the matte black we're accustomed to. Its official drop distance rating is nothing to write home about, but it is certified to withstand more frequent drops and bumps than most others.

In partnership with Supcase

People keep returning to Supcase's UB Pro lineup to protect phones like the S23+ because it's one of the most rugged offerings on the market. It repeatedly wins real-world drop-test competitions and, supposedly, can even stand up to lawnmower blades and big trucks. With this version, Supcase has finally removed the integrated screen protector, eliminating any fingerprint reader issues.

Even among other waterproof cases, the Armor-X MX Series stands alone. It's specifically engineered to protect from the hardest falls and most intense weather and is useful in activities like mountain biking and skydiving. Armor-X also makes a variety of mounting attachments to keep it fixed to a bike handle or tethered firmly to your wrist during extreme sports.

We spend tens of dollars on cases for the main purpose of reinforcing our phones to survive unforeseen disasters. But while that’s the primary goal of investing in a phone cover, it’s not necessarily the only criterion of interest. Phone cases are designed to be shock-absorbent, but this comes with an increase in the thickness and bulkiness of your device. And depending on the circumstances surrounding the usage of your phone, there’s only so much heftiness you need — or can tolerate. That’s why investing in a heavy-duty protective cover isn’t the right choice for some people.

Generally, regardless of whether you opt for a regular case or a rugged protective cover, there’ll always be lots of gorgeous options to choose from. The issue of concern, however, is the level of protection each pick offers. Typically, heavy-duty cases provide the utmost protection against damage and are the bulkiest. Most of them even sport extra protective features like port covers and in-built screen protectors. But not everyone needs this level of defense for their phone.

If you’re particularly prone to accidents, or you take part in sports regularly and often use your phone outdoors, you’ll want to invest in a heavy-duty case. Otherwise, you’re probably better off settling for a less-costly, classic case, or even a MagSafe Galaxy S23+ case. Nonetheless, if you still desire the extra peace of mind, you can opt for a sleek, stylish dual-layer case that strikes the right balance between sleekness and ruggedness. And in such a scenario, the Gear4 London, Poetic Neon, and Spigen Tough Armor are excellent choices.

When it comes to safeguarding your precious Galaxy S23+, there’s no shortage of fantastic heavy-duty cases to choose from, each with its unique style and qualities. But among the multitude of available options, the Zagg Gear4 London stands out as our favorite. The case not only provides above-average defense for your phone, but it also adds a touch of elegance to its appearance. And considering its price isn’t too crazy, getting it won’t drain too much of your spending power.

If you do not mind spending so much to get the absolute best cover for your S23+, we suggest going for the UAG Monarch Kevlar. The case is pretty remarkable in its defenses. We’re talking protection against shattered glass, rough handling, and even harrowing 20ft drops. And despite these qualities, it doesn’t deprive your phone of any functionality, especially access to ports and buttons and compatibility with wireless charging.

On the other hand, if you desire unmatched protection for your device but do not want to spend a fortune on a rugged case, you can opt for the Spigen Tough Armor or the i-Blason Armorbox cases. Both are exquisite covers that offer remarkable protection against drops and impacts. Nevertheless, the i-Blason case has a bit of the upper hand in terms of comprehensive safety and convenience, featuring an in-built screen protector and an ergonomic kickstand.

Although these phone covers are our preferred heavy-duty options for the S23+, we understand that individual preferences may differ. Therefore, we encourage you to explore all the other cases in our collection before deciding which to settle with. Look out for the Casetify Impact Series if you’re a fan of artsy designs, the UAG Plyo cover if transparent cases are your thing, and the Oterkin case if you desire waterproof protection. But no matter the case you get, ensure you reinforce your display with a screen guard, be it a built-in-case shield or a stand-alone Galaxy S23+ screen protector.

Chris has spent the last several years writing for numerous online tech magazines, of which Android Police is the latest and most fun. Chris has been a freelancer with AP since early 2022, writing comparisons of cutting-edge smartphones and gathering the most powerful and convenient smart home devices for beginners and experts.His focus lies on straightforward, helpful buying guides that make it easy for the average electronics user to make informed decisions on the most cost-effective devices. In particular, he loves recommending affordable wireless headphones that outperform far more expensive brands.Chris's first foray into electronics included fixing and destroying early PCs in his dad’s basement while testing the overclocking capabilities of an Intel 486 CPU. Since then, he’s melted considerably fewer processors while pushing increasingly powerful gaming hardware to its limits.

Jamaluddeen is a Buyer’s Guide writer at Android Police, where he covers all things Android Phones. With over four years of experience writing and editing tech content, he has amassed a wealth of knowledge in the technology world, particularly in the realm of smartphones. His love for gadgets and the written word drives him to spend countless hours researching and analyzing the latest models and sharing his engaging and informative insights through writing. When not writing, you’ll find him timelessly consuming YouTube content or schooling opponents on the basketball court.