Glass back does crack: best Galaxy A5 (2017) cases and covers

Samsung lifted the veil of secrecy over the 2017 crop of its A-series phones a little before the CES show last month, or "fashionably early" as is its habit lately. The Galaxy A3, A5 and A7 (2017) are in for a pretty major redesign, and Samsung also brought on features that will be ubiquitous for 2017, like the USB-C port and IP68 water resistance, in order to futureproof the handsets at least until next year around that time.

The phones sport fine specs, and one of the best battery endurance ratings for the capacity around, but Samsung decided to bring its premium glass and metal design downstream to the midrange line this year, so you do need a protective case on them at all times. 

Let's face it, glass phones fare way worse than metal ones in drop tests, no matter the Gorilla Glass generation of the chassis, so we are rounding up some of the best cases you can currently get for the middle of the pack - the 5.2" $400 Galaxy A5 - as it is shaping up to become the most popular one out of this year's bunch.

Samsung A5 Clear Cover ($15)

For an official, albeit "back to basics" gel case, Samsung's Clear Cover is pretty well priced, so we'd wager to guess it might become a hit among future Galaxy A5 (2017) owners. It showcases the phone's pretty blue, pink, gold or black glass chassis, and provides protection at the same time, all for the equivalent of fifteen bucks, which is a steal in Samsung land.

Samsung's A5 Clear Cover

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Not to be confused with the Clear Cover, the Clear View one lets you preview time, date, and various notifications without even opening the cover - magic. It's been a staple on Samsung's high-end (and now midrange) handsets for a while, and with a good reason. This protective cover is meant to enhance the user experience, as you can control stuff from incoming calls to music playback, all with the cover closed.

Samsung's A5 Clear View Cover

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Samsung's A5 Clear View Cover

Spigen Liquid Air Galaxy A5 (2017) Case ($13)

Spigen's Liquid Air line is intended to absorbs shocks for extra protection, and is made of durable TPU material, which at the same time offers a soft-touch grip for better traction. It is easy enough to put on and take off as it is form-fitted, and is comparatively slim for an armor protective case.

Spigen Liquid Air for Galaxy A5 (2017)

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Spigen Liquid Air for Galaxy A5 (2017)

Olixar Ultra-Thin Samsung Galaxy A5 2017 Case ($8)

Be a star with Olixar! We kid, but if you don't want to shell out the big bucks to protect your Galaxy A5, and it definitely needs protection (the Gorilla Glass 4 cover on both front and back means you'd better not drop it without a case), you can look at Olixar's ultra-thin offering. It will be barely visible on your A5, as the clear gel material flaunts the nanocoated glass hues underneath, is as flexible as silicone, and offers good traction in the hand. Moreover, the case has raised edges, so that the screen won't get smudged or scratched if you put the A5 face down on a flat surface while wrapped in it.

Olixar ultra-thin Galaxy A5 2017 case

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Olixar ultra-thin Galaxy A5 2017 case

Samsung A5 Neon Flip Cover ($30)

Now, this is an interesting twist of an official case accessory from Samsung, and it looks like it is landing right in time for the new A-series. The Neon Flip cover glows softly when you receive a notification for an incoming call or message, so you can become aware without opening the cover. The lighting rim doesn't require an extra power source, too.

Samsung's A5 Neon Flip Cover

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Samsung's A5 Neon Flip Cover