Keep that Pixel 8 pixel-perfect with one of these top cases to save your phone from knocks and bumps
After years of feeling like an afterthought, the Google Pixel 8 is the most distinct and well-rounded small Pixel we’ve ever seen. From its 120Hz, 2,000-nit screen to its comfy, rounded corners to its (finally) upgraded ultrawide camera, this is easily one of the best Android smartphones around. Seven years of system updates mean this phone can last you into 2030 if you treat it right, and that starts with the proper protection of a case and terrific tempered glass screen protector.
Before bringing yours into the cruel, cruel world that lives beyond the cushy comfort of your home, you’ll need a kickass case to ensure your Pixel 8 won’t slip out of your hands. A drop could see your new device shatter on the sidewalk should it somehow escape your grasp, and no one wants that! These picks are all for the regular Pixel 8, but we’ve also rounded up the top Pixel 8 Pro cases for those of you splashing out on the top-tier Pixel phone.
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Caseology Nano Pop for Pixel 8
Best overall
The Nano Pop’s microgrip texture across the sides gives just enough grip without breaking up the minimal look. The four colorways each have their own charm, but this Magenta Lychee and the classic Blueberry Navy are the boldest. It’s long been a favorite of ours for Samsung Galaxy phones, and it’s finally available for Pixel.
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Mous Limitless 5.0 MagSafe Walnut Case for Pixel 8
Premium pick
You want a stylish MagSafe-compatible skin that’s available in six organic textures and can easily absorb drop impact? The Limitless 5.0 from Mous sports a TPU bumper grip around its premium posterior, providing a secure, tactile connection to your phone while air cushioning helps it survive any slips and falls it may face.
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Spigen Ultra Hybrid for Pixel 8
Best value
$16 $35 Save $19
Available in clear, matte, and the teardown-esque Zero One, this transparent Pixel 8 case can fully showcase your phone’s brilliant colors or cover it entirely with a nerdy but tasteful monochrome. The Ultra Hybrid holds up well over years of use, and it’s nearly impossible to deny the Zero One’s appeal.
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Supcase UB Pro for Pixel 8
Promoted pick
In partnership with Supcase
When it comes to drop protection and heavy-duty durability, few cases can match the UB Pro year after year, phone after phone. The kickstand comes in handy whether you’re watching videos or taking a video call on the fly, and the built-in screen protector gives you 360-degree protection.
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Poetic Neon MagPro for Pixel 8
The only problem we had with the Neon Series last year was that it didn’t add in MagSafe despite having the space. This version of the Neon adds a MagSafe ring that doubles as both a phone ring and kickstand. Best of all, when using it with a round MagSafe accessory, you don’t need to remove it before extending the kickstand.
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Peak Design Everyday for Pixel 8
Whether you’re obsessed with Peak Design’s backpacks or not, don’t skip its Everyday case for the Pixel 8. The fabric covering this case feels positively rich in the hand, and after years of boring gray, it now comes in fun colors like Sun yellow and Redwood brown. There’s also a magnetic ring inside so that its compatible with both MagSafe accessories and Peak’s mobile mounting system.
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Tech21 Evo Check for Pixel 8
This translucent case comes in a Smoky Black or this absolutely enchanted Midnight Blue. And between how ridiculously grippy this seemingly smooth case gets and the robust impact resistance of Tech21’s FlexShock material, it’s almost the perfect clear(ish) case. You can also swap out the buttons for some personalization.
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Ringke Onyx for Pixel 8
Ringke’s best known for its clear cases, but I’ve long been a fan of the Onyx series. The subtle texturing across the sides and back offers a slightly better grip than Spigen’s Liquid Air, and the buttons each have a specific feel to ensure you immediately know which one your finger fell upon. This Pixel 8 case also offers sturdy anchor points for using lanyards or phone straps.
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Tudia MergeGrip for Pixel 8
Don’t be fooled by this case’s old-school appearance; it’s what’s on the inside that counts. A MagSafe ring sits within to allow your Pixel 8 to use magnetic wireless charging as well as magnetic phone grips, wallets, power banks, and more. The color options this year balance the light and dark colorways a bit better, giving us a Pixel 5-esque Green Lily and warm Smokey Pink.
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dbrand Grip case for Pixel 8
$55 $75 Save $20
Joining the ranks of MagSafe Android cases, dbrand’s Grip case is now easier to customize, as adhesive-based phone grips and stick-on card slots didn’t always play well with the Grip’s various skins. MagSafe opens up the Grip (and your Pixel 8) to a whole new world of accessories while still offering dozens of unique styles and 10-foot drop protection.
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Snakehive Leather Wallet Phone Case for Google Pixel 8
This European nubuck folio has been expertly dyed in one of six colors, which will then patina over the life of your phone into a one-of-a-kind case. Unlike most leather wallet cases with that awkward leather lip around the camera cutout, Snakehive keeps it clean with the bare TPU top while the leather wraparound starts cleanly below the iconic Pixel camera bar.
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Otterbox Defender for Pixel 8
$42 $65 Save $23
Otterbox is the Kleenex of the case world, synonymous with heavy-duty cases in ways that no other brand can compare. This reputation was built squarely on the Defender Series, a 3-piece case that may take a hot minute to install but will withstand almost anything life throws at you. The grippy outer layer hides the Defender’s complexity while keeping it safely in your hands.
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Caseology Parallax for Pixel 8
The Caseology Parallax is a highly protective case that offers excellent drop protection. The outer shell also incorporates a 3D Hexa Cube design that helps you maintain a good grip on the phone, too. Built with military-grade certification, the Caseology Parallax ensures that your Pixel 8 is always well covered, even though it lacks the bulk of Otterbox and Supcase’s offerings.
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Caseborne Magborne for Pixel 8
Caseborne has ditched its kickstand in lieu of MagSafe for the Pixel 8, and I welcome this upgrade. The design of the backplate gives us a more involved and pleasing pattern rather than yet another basic circle with a tail, and its 21-foot drop-test rating is no slouch, either. And instead of a built-in film screen protector, Caseborne bundles a standalone tempered glass one.
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Casetify Impact for Pixel 8
With thousands of designs — and more to come as Co-Lab cases arrive in the coming weeks and months — Casetify’s back with 8.2-foot impact resistance and the choice to either customize a solid black case or a clear case with a shiny black bumper. The bumper’s grip is invaluable, and the matte designs printed across the back add texture and purchase as well.
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Spigen Slim Armor CS for Google Pixel 8
The Slim Armor CS from Spigen not only offers a small footprint and rugged outer layer of protection, but it’s also augmented by a built-in wallet. The wallet compartment slides open on the back of the phone case to offer space for two cards or a bit of cash while you’re out and about. This is a great way to secure your phone and get rid of a bulky wallet from your pocket at the same time.
From rugged protectors to sleek, stylish suits, your phone’s wardrobe has never looked better. Whether you’re living life on the edge or simply looking for an elegant touch to elevate your phone experience, your Pixel 8 is easily augmented with one of many phenomenal cases to suit any occasion or need. Although there was a tantalizing tidal wave of cases for the Pixel 8 at launch — we’ve come so far since the sparse case offerings of the Pixel 2/3 era — your shiny new flagship can only wear one at a time.
Protect your Pixel 8 with one of these top cases
We’re a few months in and still adore the Caseology Nano Pop for the Pixel 8. It brings some color and pizzazz that matches the 8’s colorways quite adeptly, and the subtle grip pads keep it in your hand rather than tumbling to the floor. Also, I cannot understate how beautiful the Magenta Lychee colorway is. Its strawberry lemonade sweetness is bold but doesn’t discolor easily, and it doesn’t get lost trying to play into Hazel’s gray-green or Rose’s pale pink.
Spigen’s Ultra Hybrid brings protection without concealing the natural beauty of the Pixel 8, though I do wish Spigen had given the Pixel 8 a Liquid Crystal option. The Zero One “teardown” version adds some personality, too, as do the Teardown and new X-Ray skins for the dbrand Grip case. We’re happy to see dbrand and many others adding more MagSafe cases for the Pixel 8, which unfortunately missed the boat for Qi2 wireless charging.
One MagSafe case that isn’t new — and also worked quite well with the Pixel 7 series last year — is the Mous Limitless 2.0. You can pick your specialty material, from carbon fiber to fabric, from wood to leather, and the case is snug without being difficult to get on or off. Plus, being able to jazz up the protective outer shell further with a magnetic grip, kickstand, or wallet helps you find a functional fashion that’s all your own.
We’ve also been quite happy with a late addition to the Pixel 8 MagSafe case party: the Poetic Neon MagPro. The colors here are quite limited compared to the normal Neon, but the magnetic ring kickstand here is worth being relegated to black or pink. When paired with my round MagSafe PopGrip, I can use both it and the built-in kickstand to achieve the absolute perfect angle whether I’m propping it up for a video call, some fanfiction reading, or grinding for levels in my latest resource game. Best of all, it’s less than half the price dbrand, Peak Design and Mous are charging for their MagSafe cases.
Once you’ve grabbed a case, make sure to snag a sturdy Google Pixel 8 screen protector so that your phone has full protection and a buffer against shattering impacts.
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