Keep your foldable safe and sound with the best Galaxy Z Fold 3 cases around
Durability wasn’t something that came to mind when you thought about foldable until 2021 when Samsung released the Galaxy Z Fold 3. Water resistance and armored aluminum made it a device that could withstand a lot more punishment than any foldable that came before it.
Even with those improvements, the Z Fold 3 is still as fragile as any other smartphone that’s made of metal and glass, and when you’ve spent as much money on a phone as you would have for a Fold 3, you’ll want to ensure your investment is kept safe. We’ve collected the best cases for the Fold 3 — from stylish to utilitarian and slim to bulky. Whatever you’re looking for, you’ll find it here.
Best Value
The Z Fold 3 is a large device, and while it looks slim when unfolded, it quickly becomes a thick phone once you close it. Unless you need extreme protection from the elements or high levels of clumsiness, a good thin case is the best way to go. The Spigen Air Skin does just that. It’s a simple, grippy, well-made case that will keep your Fold 3 free of scratches and scuffs without issue.
Spigen also includes a pack of spare adhesive strips in the box, so if one of these strips is damaged, you can easily replace it. It’s not the most exciting case, but it scores points for being available in more than one color. You can choose from Black or Green, with the latter matching the green Fold 3 quite well.
Premium Pick
Samsung’s leather cases have been a favorite for a long time now, and for good reason. The leather feels good, ages beautifully, and offers some protection against minor bumps. The Leather Flip Stand Cover, awkward name aside, does a lot to enhance the Z Fold 3. The strap on the back makes it easy to hold with one hand even when it is unfolded, and the clasp that holds the case closed has another trick — it becomes a stand.
Flex Mode on the Fold 3 is great for many things, but using it to watch movies leaves you with only half the screen displaying content. Not with this case! You can use it to prop the device up fully unfolded. The only downside is that the stand only works in landscape mode, but that isn’t as big of a deal with a small tablet as it is a phone. The Leather Flip Stand Cover is available in Black, Green, and Camel.
Editor’s Choice
The Supcase Unicorn Beetle Pro is legendary and instantly recognizable. Its bulk and unique design won’t be to everyone’s taste, but this is the best option if you need the best protection for your Fold 3. Thick bezels ensure that your screen never touches the table — a must when Flex Mode has the Fold 3 resting on its cover display. The textured back provides grip, as do the rubbery sides.
The UB touts the best kickstand I’ve ever used on a smartphone because it works in landscape and portrait and is sturdy enough to let you use the phone in either orientation without it wobbling. The way the stand is designed also lets you use it as a handle, so you won’t need to buy a PopSocket to use this one-handed. The front of the case even includes a built-in screen protector to keep the cover glass scratch-free.
However, the standout feature has to be the S Pen holder. The Fold 3 is at its best when an S Pen is with it, and having a secure place to keep one is excellent. Just keep in mind that this will only store the S Pen Fold Edition and not the chunkier S Pen Pro. The Unicorn Beetle is available in Black, Dark Green, Metallic Red, and Silver.
Spigen’s Slim Armor Pro is one of our favorite Z Fold 3 cases, as it offers excellent all-around protection. The hard shell will protect the device from most drops and impacts, and the soft-touch texture makes it comfortable to hold and hard to drop. The best part of the case is the hinge protection, which manages to stay out of the way while folding and unfolding the device. It also acts as a grip when the Fold 3 is open, letting you curve your fingertips around it, should you have large enough hands. While it doesn’t come in any exciting colors, at least there is a green option that matches the green Fold 3.
The Casetify Impact Case lives up to its name, protecting the Galaxy Z Fold 3 from most drops and knocks while remaining relatively slim in hand. Casetify is best known for offering dozens of unique and customizable designs for its cases, and this is no exception. Whatever your taste, you’ll find something here to like, finally letting you protect your foldable in style. The Impact Case is also made of recycled plastics, so you’re doing your part for the planet by buying one. Our only criticism is that the plastic can be a bit slippery sometimes, but not enough to cause any mishaps.
The Civilian looks tamer than your average Urban Armor Gear case, and I think that’s a good thing. Its more minimal approach looks stylish while still retaining the tactical style UAG is known for. Beyond the stylish exterior, you’ll find military-grade protection provided by a hard shell and honeycomb system that can absorb impacts and disperse a drop’s kinetic energy without damaging your precious foldable. The case also rectifies a common complaint — it makes the phone fold flat. Due to the design of the hinge, the Fold 3 usually takes on a wedge shape when closed, but the thickness of the Civilian stops it from folding all the way, making the phone symmetrical.
The Fold 3 still closes enough for the magnets to do their job, making the phone more pleasant to hold overall. One thing to note is that the adhesive strips on this case stick too well. When removing the part of the case that goes with the cover screen, one of the strips was pulled off the phone and stayed on the phone, and when I removed that, the sim tray came with it. If you like swapping cases or regularly take them off to clean your phone, keep this in mind. You can get the Civilian in Black, Mallard, and Olive.
The Ringke Slim Case lives up to its name, offering reasonable protection against small bumps, scuffs, and scratches without being bulky. The cutouts for the buttons are especially good, making it easy to find the right button without looking. The Slim Case also features a lanyard hole on the back, so if you’re worried about dropping the Fold 3 but don’t like massive cases, combining this one with a lanyard or wrist strap could be the way to go.
You can buy the Slim Case in Black, Clear, and Matte Clear. The matte is my favorite option here, showing off the Fold 3’s design while resisting fingerprints and smudges better than the more traditional clear case.
Samsung’s Leather Cover provides the Fold 3 with a luxurious design and feel. Don’t expect too much in the way of protection outside of preventing scuffs and scratches, but that’s not what this case is for. This case is designed to look good and feel good, and any protection offered is an afterthought. Unlike the Leather Cover offered for the Galaxy S22 series, this version isn’t leather all the way around.
Plastic is used on the half that houses the cover display, with leather reserved for the back. Another difference is that there are no metal button covers here, as there are for the S22 — this case opts for a cutout instead to accommodate the fingerprint scanner inside the power key. The Leather Cover is available in Black, Green, and Camel, which I think is the best looking of the bunch.
Choosing the case that matches your style
While foldable phones aren’t as commonplace as traditional smartphones, there are always plenty of accessories made for Samsung products, including the Z Fold 3. The Supcase UB Pro has excellent protection, a durable kickstand, and a place for the S Pen to rest when not in use. Its in-your-face design won’t work for everyone, so if you want most of that protection prowess in a package that is more manageable, the UAG Civilian will be more than enough.
Slimmer cases include the Air Skin by Spigen, which does a reasonable job of keeping your Fold 3 safe from bumps and knocks without making it as hefty as a brick. Spigen gets bonus points on this one for matching the green version of this case to the phantom green Z Fold 3.
If you only need protection from scratches and dust, Samsung’s Leather Flip Stand and Leather cover are great choices. While expensive, both feel exceptional and age beautifully over time as the leather ages.
Choose wisely
Whatever case you try, make sure you take your time with it. Most companies use adhesive strips to keep the case in place to get around the engineering challenge of incorporating the hinge into the case. The more frequently you take the case on and off, the more likely these strips will lose their stickiness. Spigen and a few others provide spares in the box and on Amazon, but it’s something to consider.
FAQ
Q: Why do these cases come with adhesive strips?
The majority of Galaxy Z Fold 3 cases come with adhesive strips inside. The Fold 3 presents a unique problem — the case has to be split in half. Cases for conventional phones can grip the device from all four sides, making them sturdy and unlikely to fall off. Cases for the Fold 3 can’t do that because they must accommodate the hinge. So rather than have a case that moves around or falls off, case makers use adhesive strips to hold the cases in place.
Before putting the case on, make sure to wipe down your Fold 3. Dust and grit could interfere with the adhesive. After fitting your case, it’s best to leave it a good while for the glue to set. Removing it too soon could damage the case. Even after the adhesive is set, it’s probably best that you don’t remove the case repeatedly if you can help it. The adhesive will get weaker each time you do, and eventually, it might stop holding the case in position.
