Poetic cases: A buyer's guide

If you want to protect your phone, you’ll need to invest in a good case. However, most protective and rugged cases from brands like Otterbox are fairly expensive. Thankfully, you don’t need to spend a lot of money to get great protection with Poetic cases. Here’s everything you need to know about the affordable protective brand.

Are you looking for more options? Check out our guides for the best phone case brands and the best phone accessories you can buy.

Why choose Poetic cases?

Based in San Francisco, Poetic is best known for its highly rugged cases for smartphones and tablets. The angular shapes on the back of the Poetic cases make them stand out from the crowd. They also add a level of protection beyond standard cases, even if they also add bulk. Many Poetic cases also feature built-in screen protectors and MIL-STD 810G-516.6 certification.

Unfortunately, the company only makes cases for phones released in the US. On the bright side, it does offer many cases for mid and entry-level smartphones, again, as long as they’re sold in the US. Prices also tend to be very reasonable compared to the competition and these are some of the most affordable cases you can get in the rugged category.

Perhaps they aren’t the most stylish cases you can buy, but for the price, you won’t get better protection. They do typically offer several color options, so at least you can match it to your taste.

What kind of Poetic case do I need?

As mentioned, Poetic is mainly known for its rugged cases. However, they also sell other slimmer designs and feature transparent backs to show off your smartphone. Here’s what you should consider:

• What kind of protection do you need? The Revolution, Spartan, and Guardian cases offer a high degree of safety. The Neon is a more standard case, but still provides two-layer protection. The clear Lumos is the least protective of the bunch.
• Extra features? Some Poetic cases have a built-in kickstand for hands-free media viewing, while others do not. Depending on the device, you might also get a front cover with a built-in screen protector.
• Designs and colorways? While some Poetic cases have transparent backs so you can see the design of your smartphone, others have angular designs on the back. All cases come in several colorways, with the Neon offering the most variety.

Best overall Poetic case: Revolution

The Poetic Revolution case is a highly rugged product for protecting your smartphone. The case has MIL-STD 810G-516.6 certifications for protection against falls and spills, and two layers — one for the front display, with raised lips and corners for additional security.

Some, but not all, Revolution cases come with a screen protector attached to the front panel. If you prefer installing your own tempered glass screen protector, these models include a separate front panel without the built-in screen protector.

The rear is made of a combined PC and TPU material for extra shock absorption, with a built-in kickstand for viewing media hands-free. The cases often come in various color choices, including somewhat understated all-black designs.

Get the Poetic Revolution for:

Best rugged Poetic case: Spartan

The Poetic Spartan case is almost identical to the Revolution model but with a slightly different back. It’s still a two-layer case, with the front including raised lips for protecting the display and a polycarbonate back with a built-in kickstand. It’s rated for six feet of drop protection and once again meets military-grade certifications.

Like the Revolution, some models also come with a built-in screen protector. In most cases, it also has a spare front frame to install a separate screen protector of your choosing.

The main difference is that the Spartan case has a premium leather texture cover on its back, which gives it an eye-catching look and a little more durability. However, the Spartan case is not as available as the Revolution, especially when it comes to non-flagship devices. It still comes in several colors, although the leather texture on the back is always black.

Get the Poetic Spartan for:

Best thin Poetic case: Guardian

The Poetic Guardian is tough like the Revolution, but it skips the matte back panel to favor a see-through option. It’s also a little bit lighter, making it a great option if you’re worried about pocketability. It’s not the thinnest case, but it still offers above-average protection for your device.

You can usually choose from a few different bumper colors to add some personality to your case, and the Guardian even comes with a built-in screen protector. The two-piece design is back for more, so be ready to lock your phone up tight.

Get the Poetic Guardian for:

Best affordable Poetic case: Neon

The Neon is a relatively new case in the Poetic lineup, and one of the only ones that gets away from the focus on rugged-first designs. It still features dual-layer protection (TPE and PU) with raised lips and shockproof corners, but the case’s aesthetics are a complete U-turn.

Sporting a bit of a retro vibe, the Neon comes in a much wider variety of colors than any of Poetic’s other cases. It’s also relatively thin and has two anti-slip pads on the back to prevent your phone from sliding off the table.

But the real selling point is the price. This is the cheapest of Poetic’s already affordable cases. However, it’s only available for the latest flagships from Samsung and Apple, plus a few odd phones from Motorola.

Get the Poetic Neon for:

Best clear Poetic case: Lumos

The final Poetic case we’ll highlight here is probably the least on-brand case the company offers. Instead of rugged protection and looks, the Lumos is a completely vanilla clear PU bumper case.

That isn’t to say it doesn’t offer protection. It still has raised lips and decent shock protection for drops. It’s just not nearly as resistant as the company’s other cases, and it doesn’t really do much to separate itself from similar clear cases from other brands.

Still, it’s the cheapest Poetic case you can buy. Just don’t expect anything terribly interesting or innovative. However, it isn’t available for very many devices, and it may not come out for future phones, either.

Get the Lumos for:

Frequently asked questions