While the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE’s plastic back is more durable and forgiving than its predecessor’s glass back, no phone out of the box is completely immune to the horrors of the concrete jungle (well, save for some dated Cat and Doogee phone). While most people are looking for a slim and shiny case for the Galaxy S21 FE, we prefer a case made from a stronger material. These heavy duty Galaxy S21 FE cases will protect your new phone to the end.
battle-hardened
Supcase Unicorn Beetle Pro Series
Employee selection
Owners of Unicorn Beetle Pro cases have survived cars, multiple drops and even a few lawn mowers, but as with any extreme case, your mileage will vary. The stand is also super useful.
$25 on Amazon
visibly sturdy
UAG Plasma Series Samsung Galaxy S21 FE Case
UAG only sells the Pathfinder in black (the physical version of the case), so why not buy the clear plasma and show off the lovely Lavender Galaxy S21 FE while enjoying the same protection and lightweight design?
UAG $40
classic and compact
OtterBox Galaxy S21 FE Commuter Series
Yes, I know people immediately think of the bulky defender series about heavy cases and we’ll get there. However, the commuter series is what most of us need, not a tank. We have dust covers to keep debris out, a drop-tested design and a lifetime warranty.
$40 at Amazon $45 at OtterBox
colorful production
CaseBorne ArmadilloTek V Galaxy S21 FE Case
This two-piece case doesn’t have Supcase’s built-in screen protector, which means you get a tougher tempered glass screen protector. You also have better color options like deep red and duotone purple.
$20 on Amazon
pretty (and) tough
i-Blason Cosmo series specially designed for Samsung Galaxy S21 FE
This shiny case proves you can have it all: beauty and muscle. The back is covered in white/pink marble and rose gold trim, but around the front, you have a secure frame and a built-in screen protector.
$22 on Amazon
Slim but sturdy
Speck Presidio ExoTech
The case could be slimmer without those classic Speck ridges, but it’s still durable and feels great in the hand. You also get Speck’s commitment to quality, durable drop testing and a lifetime warranty.
Speck $30
old school cool
Spigen Tough Armor for Galaxy S21 FE
This is not your father’s Tough Armor case. While the Tough Armor is no longer just an internal TPU grip and plastic hard shell, it’s still thinner and more durable because the foam lining on the inside absorbs more impact than the air cushion alone.
$18 on Amazon
belt ready
OtterBox Defender Series Screenless Edition for Galaxy S21 FE
The OtterBox Defender series are heavy-duty boxes of Kleenex that are thick, sturdy, and can take almost anything. The OtterBox still includes a belt holster in the box, which swivels and turns into a stand.
$60 at Amazon $65 at OtterBox
screen of your choice
Poetic Guardian Series for Samsung Galaxy S21 FE
This two-part case has a transparent back that lets your S21 FE’s hue shine, while the case’s accent color brings extra color punch to the back and front. The case has two frames, one with a screen protector and one without.
From $17 on Amazon
How much liability is there in your case?
Heavy is a somewhat broad category as far as cases go, as some of us just need to be durable, while others need to be indestructible. The stronger and more drop-resistant the shell, the thicker it needs to be because it needs more mass to help absorb and redirect the energy from falls and impacts. It’s all about balancing how much volume you’re willing to accept to protect yourself.
Cases like the Supcase Unicorn Beetle Pro and CaseBorne Armadillotek V strike the best balance in most situations. The former has a two-layer design that provides drop protection from 10-15 feet, while the Supcase provides 20 feet of drop protection for the UB Pro. Both cases take advantage of their thick backs to add large, stable kickstands that can be used in both portrait and landscape orientations. The Supcase has a built-in plastic screen protector, while the ArmadilloTek V doesn’t.
The built-in screen protector sometimes clashes with the in-screen fingerprint scanner, but thankfully case makers have been working hard to make things as seamless as possible. That said, plastic screen protectors don’t offer the same face-down drop protection as the best tempered glass screen protectors, which is why many heavy duty cases ditch the “screenless” plastic film. Tempered glass also has the benefit of feeling better under your fingers than plastic, but not all screen protectors work well with the tougher bumpers on heavy duty cases – though thankfully it’s also achieved in that regard progress.
However, if you come here and find that a heavy duty case isn’t for you, there are plenty of great Galaxy S21 FE cases you can check out.
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