The phone is out, now get a case ready to protect it from Day 1.
Many of us are waiting for our Pixel or Pixel XL to arrive, and that means it's time to get some accessories so we're ready to go when it's delivered. A case is the most basic accessory — some use one every day, and others keep one around for when they travel or expect to be a little rough on the phone.
It's early days so the options are slim and duplicative when you look around the internet, but we have a few picks to consider. Here are the best cases, so far, for the Google Pixel and Pixel XL.
We'll be updating this list as more cases are released from big name accessory companies like Otterbox, Lifeproof, Tech21, Spigen, and more!
Silicone Pixel Case by Google
If you're willing to spend a little bit of money on a case, there's no better place to go than the phone maker itself. Google's own cases have never been inexpensive, but they're also well made and designed to perfectly fit on the phone.
The silicone Pixel Case is somewhat thick like other full silicone cases, but for that reason offers plenty of protection all around for bumps and occasional small drops. It also gives you a small lip around the screen so you can put the phone face-down on a table without worry. Because of that thickness it may not be the best case for the already larger Pixel XL, though. It's a nice fit on the standard Pixel.
With five solid colors available it may be a great choice to spice up the look of your Pixel or Pixel XL without having to buy the blue phone model itself. At $35 it's on the high end for a case purchase for most, but it's a nice one.
Google Places Live Case
Google debuted its awesome Places Live Case for the Nexus 6P and 5X, and now offers it for the new Pixels. Search for anywhere in the world you want to put on the case, choose from six different map styles and a dozen different color combinations, and you can make an awesome case you won't want to take off.
The case also gives you two extra perks. A unique Places live wallpaper is included, which shows you a stylized view of your current location — a neat trick that pulls the whole thing together. The case also has a customizable button on the back that you can do whatever you want with, helping justify the price a tad.
At $40 they're spendy for sure, but you can know that nobody out there will have the exact same case you do — and you get to represent a specific part of the world wherever you travel at the same time! At the time of writing the cases aren't yet in production, but you can already create and save your case design for when they are on sale.
Otterbox Commuter
Otterbox is a company that is well-known for its protective offerings, but many are turned away by how bulky that can make your Pixel. The Commuter series is a great balance of protection and bulk, all while looking pretty great. Thanks to its inner synthetic rubber slipcover and the polycarbonate outer shell, you'll have awesome protection in the event of a drop or fall.
The case allows for easy access to the ports and fingerprint sensor, and the buttons are raised so you can easily find them. Coming in at just under $40, it is more expensive than many of the other options, but worth every penny for the protection it provides.
Tauri Ultra Slim
The Pixel is a great looking phone, and you may not want to hide it under a case. That doesn't mean you should leave your phone completely unprotected to show it off, and instead you should consider a great clear case. Tauri offers its Ultra Slim case in a variety of tinted colors, most of which can be seen through to still show off the beauty of the phone.
You won't get extreme protection with this case, but it will prevent some dings and scratches from making your phone look older than it really is. Priced at only $8 there is very little reason to not pick one up for your Pixel to keep it safe.
Spigen Rugged Armor
If you're looking to protect your Google Pixel but don't want to make it super big and bulky, Spigen's Rugged Armor is a solid pick for you. The case combines Military Grade protection with Air Cushion Technology for all of its corners, and the TPU material is flexible but protective.
Being fingerprint-resistant, the case will not only protect your phone but keep it looking clean and great. The front has a small lip to it, so if you place the phone face down the screen won't touch the surface to prevent scratches. At only $20, you can't go wrong with this slim case that offers great protection.
LK Ultra Scratch Resistant TPU case
Because it's so early in the Pixel life cycle, case makers are still ramping up their offerings and most are pretty much identical. If you're not interested in the expensive cases directly from Google (we wouldn't blame you), it's worth taking a shot with one of the cheaper simple offerings out there to tide you over.
LK has a simple transparent TPU case available in several colors. It'll protect your new Pixel or Pixel XL while you make up your mind about a nicer case or a different style, and it's just $8 — hard to beat that combo.
