Skip to main content

The best Moto Z3 Play cases

Play nice and play safe with the best Moto Z3 Play cases

moto z3 play front against blue
Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

With considerable battery life, zippy performance, and continued support for Moto Mods, the Moto Z3 Play is a great way to get access to Motorola’s Mod ecosphere without having to spend an awful lot of money. But with the return of the glass body, the Moto Z3 Play is more fragile than the Z2 Play before it. Unless you wrap it up in cotton wool every day, your phone is at risk of cracks, chips, and other damage from everyday use.

It doesn’t have to be that way. If you want to make sure that your Moto Z3 Play makes it to your next upgrade, then a protective case is a great idea. That’s why we’ve rounded up some of the best Moto Z3 Play cases to keep your phone safe.

LK Clear Gel Case ($8)

Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you want to get yourself some decent protection, but don’t want to hide your Moto Z3 Play’s style away from the world, then a clear gel case may be the best choice for you. This case from LK is made from TPU, a soft material that is easy to grip and shock-absorbent. While it won’t offer the same sort of protection as a larger, bulkier rugged case, the soft TPU will help absorb the energy from shocks and drops. A micro-dot pattern on the inside prevents the case clinging to the phone and creating unsightly bubbles, and the case comes with all the correct cutouts, but covers the Moto Mod magnetic connector.

Fincibo Nebula Galaxy Hard Case ($8)

fincibo best moto z3 play cases
Image used with permission by copyright holder

What about a case that adds some additional flair to your Z3 Play? This hard case comes in a variety of styles — we chose the Nebula Galaxy variant, but there are also two different marble designs, as well as a dog paw-themed style as well. It’s made from hard polycarbonate plastic (PC), so while it’s not as absorbent as soft TPU, it will resist more direct threats against the phone, while also being extremely light. On the downside, it doesn’t cover the top and bottom edges of the device, which leaves them open to damage — and it also doesn’t cover the Moto Mod connector, which is odd, since you won’t be able to use a Moto Mod with a case on. Still, it looks great and it should protect your phone well.

Wellci Outback Rugged Case ($8)

wellci best moto z3 play cases
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you need more protection than a standard case, but still want something slim and low-profile, the Outback case from Wellci is a great choice. The Outback is made from high-strength TPU, which provides shock-resistance and absorption, and comes with a raised edge to reduce the chances your device’s screen will be scratched by dirt or grit. The textured finish also helps add grip on the device and TPU covers keep the buttons safe. The Moto Mod connector is also protected underneath the case. It comes in a variety of different colors to match your personal style.

Suensan Carbon Fiber-Style Rugged Case ($8)

suensan best moto z3 play cases
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Carbon fiber is the material of the future. Super-strong and super-light, it’s a real sci-fi material, and having a case made out of it would be amazing. Sadly, that’s not what this is — but this case does mimic the look and impart a sci-fi, futuristic feel. This TPU case is light, flexible, and shock-absorbent, and comes in a variety of colors to match your style. Each corner of the case comes with an “air-cushioning” system to help protect against drops. Unfortunately, there’s no cover over the Moto Mod connector, so you run the risk of damaging that area — but otherwise, the case is of a decent quality and should protect your phone well.

Tudia Heavy-Duty Extreme Case ($9)

tudia best moto z3 play cases
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Sometimes you just need protection, and making sure your phone is safe and sound is paramount. That’s what Tudia specializes in, and that’s why it made this heavy-duty case. It uses two layers of protection to keep your phone safe, with an inner core of TPU to absorb shocks and provide grip around the phone, as well as an outer shell of hard PC that protects against more direct threats against your phone’s body. It’s a great combination, and it leads to some great protection. Raised edges protect the display and eliminate the large camera bump, while the dual-layer construction protects against most drops, bumps, and other hazards. It’s not the smallest case around, but it protects very well.

Poetic Karbon Shield Tough Case ($10)

poetic best moto z3 play cases
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Everyone knows of Spigen, UAG, and similar brands, but you might not have heard of Poetic. Poetic is something of a quiet player in the accessories world right now, but its star is on the rise, and it’s easy to see why with cases like the Karbon Shield. It’s another case with a carbon fiber texture, giving a cool futuristic feel that also provides grip — and it’s made from shock-absorbent TPU so it should protect well against drops and shocks. It’s slim and light, comes with button covers to keep those areas safe, and fully protects your Moto Mod connector. Best of all, Poetic offers a three-year warranty on manufacturer defects, so it should last your phone’s whole lifetime.

Poetic Karbon Shield Tough Case

Mark Jansen
Mark Jansen is an avid follower of everything that beeps, bloops, or makes pretty lights. He has a degree in Ancient &…
The best Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 cases: 8 best ones right now
Photo of official Samsung cases for the Galaxy Z Flip 5.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 was revealed at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2023, and it shows that Samsung is still serious about a foldable future. Brand new to the Flip range this year is a revamped outer screen, with a big 3.4-inch size and the ability to do even more than it could before. While you're still going to want to open the phone to do most of your business (or just scroll through Instagram), the new outer screen means you can stay on top of your notifications while keeping your phone folded and safe.

But as cool as all that is, accidents still happen, and even the best smartphones can't withstand a drop onto concrete without at least some damage. While keeping your phone folded and using the outer screen can help to keep it safe from hazards, the outside can still be chipped, cracked, or even shattered. That's where cases come in. Here are the best Galaxy Z Flip 5 cases you can buy right now.

Read more
The best Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 cases: 10 best ones so far
Two Galaxy Z Fold 5 phones next to each other -- one is open and one is closed.

Samsung’s next-generation foldable is here with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5. This iteration has some notable improvements, including a new hinge design that eliminates the gap from previous generations when the device was folded. You also get a 6.2-inch HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display on the outside while having a 6.7-inch QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display on the inside, with both screens having a 120Hz refresh rate. In other words, they're about as nice as you could ask for.

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is made with premium materials, and the triple-lens camera system packs in a 50MP main shooter, 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, and a 12MP ultrawide lens. There’s a 10MP selfie camera on the front cover, and a 4MP camera on the inner display. You also get a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chip inside for the best performance and power efficiency.

Read more
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 may steal the Razr Plus’ best feature
Galaxy Z Flip 4 closed on top of a Galaxy Z Fold 4's box.

One of the Galaxy Z Flip 5's most anticipated features is its larger cover screen, and a new report now suggests that the screen will be just as useful as we've been hoping.

According to SamMobile, most, if not all, of the Z Flip 5's apps will be usable on the rumored 3.4-inch display. This means that Flip 5 owners should have no problem using the outer screen to do just about everything they want with the phone without needing to unfold it. The report also says that Google is working on optimizing its most used first-party apps for the smaller display — namely, YouTube, Google Maps, and Google Messages.

Read more