So you just picked yourself up a Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra in Phantom Black, but you want to protect your expensive investment from any accidental dings and scratches. A case is the best way to protect it, but you don’t want just any case. You want a case that will compliment that Phantom Black color. There’s a reason you chose Phantom Black and most likely, you want to keep that amazing all-black look, even with a case on. There’s no denying that the all-black matte look gives off a stunning and stealth look, which is why any case color, other than black just won’t do. So with that said, here are some of our top picks for best cases that keep the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra looking stealthy and protected.
URBAN ARMOR GEAR MONARCH
Next up on this list is the Urban Armor Gear Monarch series of cases. This is UAG’s top of the line premium case for the Galaxy S21 Ultra. It looks similar to the Pathfinder series, but features a five-layer design for the ultimate in protection. This does make the Monarch feel a bit denser and tiny bit heavier than the Pathfinder, but you can really feel how solid it is. Like the Pathfinder though, this case is also built for adventure and comes in four different colors – Crimson, Carbon Fiber, Mallard, and Black.
This is basically a hybrid style case with what seems like a polycarbonate back plate matted to an impact-resistant rubber core. On the back of that, there’s the additional carbon-fiber plate along with a protective exoskeleton on top. At the corners, you still get those distinctive UAG bumpers that they’re known for along with raised display edges, button covers, and torsion screw detailing on the rear. The sides of the case differ slightly from the Pathfinder too and instead features a rubberized honeycomb design that offers very good grip.
The UAG Monarch case passes 2X the drop test specified in the military standard and is MIL-STD 810G 516.6 rated.
To keep the theme of stealth for our Phantom Black Galaxy S21 Ultra, you can choose to go either all Black or add a little bit of oomph with the Carbon Fiber. We went with Carbon Fiber to add a bit of extra detailing and overall I just think it looks pretty cool. The Carbon Fiber almost has this holographic look to it and it seems to match up well with the overall all matte-black look we’re going for.
The Urban Armor Gear Monarch is available now for $59.95.
Amazon Link: Black and Carbon Fiber
URBAN ARMOR GEAR PATHFINDER
The Urban Armor Gear Pathfinder Series of cases has long been one of my favorite. Back when rugged cases used to look like giant, bulky bricks, UAG came along and designed one of the first that was actually attractive looking. This is the case designed for adventure in mind and it shows with the quality of the materials and design. The Pathfinder comes in four different colors – Black, Mallard, Olive, and Silver.
The Pathfinder SE is a layered case featuring an impact-resistant core that extends out the edges of the phone. Wrapping around this core is a hard protective shell that is uniquely UAG. The shell has intricate little details such as the torsion screw pieces and the ribbing on the sides for extra grip. All the extra textures and bumps give the Pathfinder SE a real tactile feel that I love. Other notable elements include the button covers, raised display edges, and thicker corner bumpers for extra drop protection.
In keeping with the stealth them of the Phantom Black Galaxy S21 Ultra, you’re going to want to opt for the all Black variant of the Pathfinder. The matte-black rear shell matches perfectly with the Phantom Black.
The UAG Pathfinder is available now and priced at $39.95.
Amazon Link: Black
URBAN ARMOR GEAR CIVILIAN
The Urban Armor Gear Civilian Series is one of their more recent designs that brings the rugged tech and protection UAG is known for, in a more simplistic and formal-looking case. This is a very clean-looking case devoid of crazy creases and edges. While their other cases are built for adventure, the Civilian Series looks like it was built for the board room. The outer shell is minimally styled but features the Urban Armor Gear name etched into the back. The protective edges also aren’t as pronounced and aggressive.
What gives the Civilian Series its rugged status is the built-in impact-resistant skeleton coupled with a shock-absorbing core. They call this HyperCush technology, which dampens and disperses energy upon impact. This is further enhanced with a tough feather-light armor shell. This classic UAG protection in a new modernly styled case. This case also features raised edges, button protection, and shock-absorbing corners.
So what do we not like about it? Well, the case is a bit more slippery, mainly because of the smooth finish and lack of hard edges. It does however slide into your pockets quite nicely and is a little less bulky. The Civilian Series is pretty nice and I like that it is both rugged and modern looking.
The Civilian in Black does work if you’re trying to go for that all matte-black stealth look, however the little splashes of orange up front doesn’t. Some may not like this aspect about the black variant Civilian as the orange is not exactly a low-key color. I like the splash of orange, but the Civilian in Black wouldn’t be my first choice if I wanted to go completely stealth.
The UAG Civilian is available in five colors and priced $49.95.
SPECK PRESIDIO 2 GRIP
The Speck Presidio2 Grip case is one of Speck’s most iconic cases. Its main claim to fame is the no-slip grips built into the backside of the case along with the Presidio2 Armor Cloud technology. This allows for 13-foot drop protection, though I’d be lying if I told you I’ve tried it. I’m not about dropping a phone on purpose at that height just to test that out. What I do know is that at 5-feet or so, I’m quite confident that my phone will be protected.
For the Galaxy S21 series, it seems that Speck has made a change to the case for overall comfort and feel. In the past, the Presidio 2 Grip had the rubber grips fused into the plastic shell. This gave the case two different feelings. While the rubber parts provided the grip you needed, the plastic part felt too hard and slippery. Speck improved the feel by adding a soft-touch finish over the entire backside of the case that makes the case feel smoother and softer. Not only that, it’s now more uniform-looking. The grips don’t seem like they’re made of rubber anymore and seem to part of the hard shell now, which could make them more durable. It still feels rubbery to some extent because of the soft-touch finish.
On the inside of the case, it still has the Presidio 2 Armor Cloud capsules on the edges and border. When dropped, the capsules compress, absorbing the energy away from your phone. This reduces shock and damage to your phone. The inside where the back of the phone rests also seems to be plastic now instead of rubber. I actually prefer this now because the old rubber backing would sometimes leave weird marks on the back of my phone. This doesn’t. Also makes it easier to clean. Like any good phone case, the Precidio 2 Grip also features raised bezels for proper screen protection when placing your phone face-down.
Lastly, let’s talk about the fact that Speck products have Microban technology. This provides antimicrobial protection and provides a 99% reduction in bacteria growth. Especially in the times that we’re living in now, I’d think this to be a really important feature to have. While there are other cases that also have some form of microbial protection, Microban is a well-known technology, so I can trust that it actually works.
With that said, I really love the way the Speck Presidio 2 Grip looks and feels on the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, especially in black. Not only does it match the all-black theme, but it provides the grip I need for my own peace of mind and the case is actually relatively thin too and doesn’t add as much bulk as you’d think.
The Speck Presidio2 Grip is available in three different colors – Blue, Grey, and Black.
Amazon Link– Black
OtterBox Symmetry
The OtterBox Symmetry is known for its ultra-slim profile. This is OtterBox’s slimmest case they make, but doesn’t compromise protection.It is however made a bit differently from OtterBox’s other more rugged cases, which helps contribute to its ultra-slim form factor. The Symmetry is a one piece hybrid case consisting of a hard polycarbonate shell fused with synthetic rubber around the border and edges. The case also features a silver-based antimicrobial additive that is fused into the case that helps inhibit microbial growth and defends the case exterior against many common bacteria.
What that means is that most of the shock protection comes at the corners and edges as the inside of the case doesn’t have a rubber lining. The only thing protecting the back is the hard shell which honestly should be enough to keep the rear glass from getting scratched up or chipped from occasional drops and bumps. The front glass does see some protection with the rubber surround, but only the top and bottom edges extend up past the glass which gives the glass some protection from placing your phone face down.
All the mic holes, speaker holes, and port holes are there to keep all the stock functions intact. I do like that the rear camera hole actually goes over the camera hump and doesn’t have any exposed camera hump edges showing. That’ll help keep dust and dirt out of there which is a small annoyance I have with other cases. I do also like how slim the case feels in your hand especially since the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G is such a large phone. The case is however a little slippery on the back, but luckily the sides have the rubber part that helps provide some much-needed grip.
Overall, the OtterBox Symmetry is a slick looking ultra-slim case that lives up to the OtterBox name. Though not quite as protective as their rugged Defender series cases, the Symmetry is still plenty protective for its slim profile.
OtterBox Commuter
The OtterBox Commuter case is one level up from the Symmetry. This is a slim case as well, but not quite as slim as the Symmetry. The Commuter is a two-piece case that offers a bit more protection than the Symmetry. The inner cover is made of synthetic rubber and helps absorb impacts while the outer hard polycarbonate shell helps deflect impacts. Additionally, this case also features a silver-based antimicrobial additive that inhibits microbial growth and protects against many common bacteria.
The Commuter case is what you would get if you still want a slim case, but want more of the protection OtterBox is known for. All the necessary holes are present here as well as covers for the buttons for more protection. This also features a protective cover for the USB-C port and helps keep dirt and dust out of the hole. The Commuter does offer a bit more screen protection as the rubber edges extend more past the screen which will protect the screen a bit when placed face down.
This case also has a rear camera cutout that sits above the camera hump which keeps dust and dirt from entering the case at the edges. The Commuter like the Symmetry can be a bit slippery because of the hard shell, but the extra exposed rubber bits helps solve this issue.
While the OtterBox Commuter is a good case too, the only slight negative I have with is are the covered buttons. These buttons here are a bit sharp because of the squared off edges and feel a lot harsher than some others. While they are very protective, they’re not as comfortable to use.
PureGear DualTek
The PureGear DualTek is PureGear’s toughest case. This is a drop test certified case rated for 20ft drops and the box says it is military standard tested and approved. The DualTek is a hybrid style case that features a plastic shell with rubber borders. The rubber boarders provide a good amount of shock protection with the corners featuring built-in bumpers for extra protection. Inside the case, you’ll also find this rubber strip that I assume also offers some shock absorption and also keeps the back glass from rubbing up against the plastic inside.
The outer part of the case is coated in a soft-touch coating that gives the case a really nice feel. On the left and right bottom edges, PureGear also included these rubber grips for extra support and a more confident feel when holding it. When on, the case is actually pretty slim feeling with the thickest parts being at the corners where the bumpers are. I like how the back is a bit raised to protect the camera bump while the corner bumpers are raised up front to protect the screen. On the back, there are also these tiny little bumps that help lift the case up a bit so it doesn’t directly touch any flat surfaces. I’m guessing this is done just to protect the look of the case on the back.
Overall, the PureGear DualTek does seem to provide some excellent protection in a very stylish and comfortable-to-hold package. PureGear did an excellent job designing this case and it certainly doesn’t lose out to any of the bigger named brands out there. I also like just how black this case is, which matches up perfectly with the Phantom Black variation of the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G.
Amazon – PureGear DualTek Case for Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G
These are the top cases that we’ve looked at for the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra that happen to come in all black that keeps the Phantom Black phone looking even more stealthy. They also provide solid protection without sacrificing the original look. With that said, what cases are you using on your Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, and do you prefer to keep things all black or add a splash of color? Let us know in the comments below.
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