Every time I buy a new Android phone, the hunt for the perfect case/cover for the device begins almost instantly. I hate using any sort of protective gear on my Android device, but for the overall benefit of my wallet, I end up using one. Recently, I got myself the Google Nexus 5 and after a couple of months, I’ve nailed down the perfect case for it. 

Before I tell you about the best case for the Nexus 5, I should make it clear that I have a love-hate relationships with cases. I buy a case after reading a lot of reviews and serious pondering — after all the case will become a part of my Android device. I absolutely detest bulky cases or those flip style covers. I want a case which is extremely thin and shows off the beautiful curves of my handset. Numerous times, I have purchase a case for my handset, only to throw it in the garbage because it was too thick or I did not like how it felt.

My search for the Nexus 5 case begin even before I managed to get my hands on the actual device. My previous phone was the HTC One, and I was using a Nillkin case with it. The cover was exactly what I need — slim and yet it showed off the handsome looks of the handset. However, given an option, I would have preferred to use my HTC One naked — without any case and in its full aluminium glory. Sadly, a few dents on the edges and front of the device due to a couple of falls made sure that never happened.

After days of search, I came across the above image of the Nexus 5 from a Reddit thread. This is it I thought! This is what my Nexus 5 deserves. Its not a case, but a skin. What is a skin, you ask? It’s a 3M vinyl skin from dbrand that sticks (for the lack of better word in my vocabulary) on your device. It does not provide much in terms of protection, but it does make sure that those light drops don’t leave their mark on the phone’s body.

The dbrand skin I am using on my Nexus 5 is the True Color blue . The Nexus 5 design is very understated but this skin manages to add a wow factor to the handset.

Since the dbrand skin does not provide any protection to the front of the device, I had to use a screen protector. The problem? I hate screen protectors as well. They absolutely kill the display for me — They are plasticky, scratch easily and resist your finger from actually sliding smoothly on the surface. I had heard about glass screen protectors since quite sometime, but their high price always turned me off. Thanks to some awesome Black Friday deal, I finally gave in and got my hands on the SGP GLAS.t NANO SLIM screen protector for my Nexus 5 and boy, I’m glad I did.

As the name suggests, the SGP screen protector is actually made of glass. In a nutshell, you will be protecting the Gorilla Glass covered display on your Android device by using another glass. Unlike the plastic protectors, Glass protectors have a very smooth feel to them and actually help your finger in gliding across the screen. They do not affect the screen quality in any way or affect touch screen sensitivity. The only down side to glass screen protectors is that they might crack when your phone falls face down. Thankfully, this has not happened to me yet.

Seriously though, buy a glass screen protector for your Android device now! They are costly, but they are totally worth the money.

I understand that a skin might not suit your taste and needs. Below, I list down other cases for the Nexus 5 that are worth checking out -:

SGP Ultra Thin Air

If you have not guessed it already, I’m a big fan of minimalistic cases. The SGP Ultra Thin Air is a relatively new series from SGP and is available only for a limited devices, including the Nexus 5. The Ultra Thin Air is transparent in nature with openings for the hardware keys on the Nexus 5. Even though the case is extremely slim, it still manages to protect the edges of the handset as well. The case can protect your Nexus against a few normal falls but don’t expect it to offer much if you drop it from a three-storeyed high building.

Either ways, if you want a minimalistic case, look no further than the SGP Ultra Thin Air.

Ringke Fusion

Looking for a case that is transparent but provides slightly more protection than the Ultra Thin Air? Look no further than the Ringke Fusion. The Fusion has a transparent back held in place by a plastic bumper. The shock absorbing design of the bumper means that your Nexus 5 will be safe, irrespective of the angle and height it drops from. The lip in the front of the Fusion also allows you to place your phone face down on any surface without any worries of scratching the surface.

Ringke Fusion for the Nexus 5 can be purchased for $13.99.

i-Blason dual layer holster case with clip and backstand

Cases with kickstands are a dying breed. There is a niche market for them and the thickness that they add is a bummer for many. However, if you are among the select few who yearn for a kickstand on their Nexus 5, the i-Balson case will be perfect for you.

Made of soft rubber, the i-Balson provides more than adequate protection to your Nexus 5. The kickstand at the back will also allow you to enjoy watching movies on the 5-inch screen of the phone by keeping it on a table, without the fear of the phone falling down. If you don’t really care about the thickness of your device and really want a kickstand on your Nexus 5, the i-Balson case is perhaps, your only option.

LG/Google’s Official QuickCover

The official QuickCover for the Nexus 5 from Google and LG is different from other QuickCovers out there. Usually, QuickCovers are like a flip case with a small window in the front, which allows for quick and easy access to information and controls. However, the Nexus 5 QuickCover is just a flip cover without any window in the front.

Instead, the flip cover has a small magnetic strip in the front which allows the device to detect when it is opened. This means that every time you open the cover, the device will be automatically unlocked. The case in itself is nothing exciting and has a matte finish to it. It provides adequate protection to the device and is available in grey and white colors. It is also is highly overpriced at $49.99.

N.B -: All the covers above, except for the i-Blason case, work perfectly with Qi compatible wireless chargers.