10 cases to protect the BlackBerry Q10 and its endangered QWERTY keyboard

It seems that the appeal of a physical QWERTY keyboard has not faded for some people, and if you need a QWERTY, the Q10 is your last stand. It combines the traditional strengths of a BlackBerry with the new BB10 operating system, and has a 3.1-inch touch screen, too. But if you really treasure your new BB (and at this rate, BlackBerry may soon go extinct), then you may want to invest in a good case. Here are our favorites.

OtterBox Commuter Case ($35)

You won’t find a safer pair of hands than OtterBox and the Commuter series finds a good balance between tough protection and style. The case combines a soft, rubber interior layer with a tough polycarbonate shell, and a screen protector. Your BB should survive scratches, bumps, and drops unscathed. The covers also keep your ports dust-free.  If you want maximum protection and you don’t mind the added bulk, $15 more gets you a Defender series case.

Seidio Surface Case ($30)

The Surface line from Seidio is always popular. It’s a slim case made from tough plastic with a soft-touch coating that makes it comfortable to hold. You get a good level of protection from drops and bumps without too much added bulk. It’s easy to fit too, thanks to the two-piece slide-on design. Classic black is the most popular, but you can get it in red, blue, or purple. For an extra $20 you can get a felt-lined holster that works with the Q10’s automatic sleep/wake function.

Trident Aegis Case ($35)

If you need military grade protection from vibration and drops. try Trident. The Aegis comes in a variety of colors: blue, pink, red, green, or plain old black. It has a rugged-looking, angular design that combines silicone on the inside with a polycarbonate exterior. There’s also a screen protector, silicone plugs for the ports, and even dust filters for the speaker bays. You can rest assured that your Q10 is safe in one of these cases.

Incipio Frequency Case ($25)

Incipio’s Flex2O material is a flexible, tough plastic that will keep your Q10 safe from minor impacts. The Frequency case takes its name from the graphic equalizer style pattern on the back, which provides a gloss contrast to the matte body of the case. It’s not just aesthetic either, because it does provide a little extra grip. Opt for eye-catching purple or pink, or go understated with grey or black.

BlackBerry Q10 Leather Pocket ($35)

Hand-crafted from real leather, the official BlackBerry Q10 Leather Pocket is a classy choice. It’s a simple pocket with a soft inner lining that keeps your Q10 scratch free and protects against damage from bumps or falls. The BlackBerry logo in silver adorns the black exterior. Since it’s an official case it works with your settings to help extend battery life and automatically send the Q10 to sleep.

Case Mate Wood Case ($50)

Rosewood or zebrawood are your options for this eye-catching case, which blends exotic hardwood with brushed aluminum. The silicone liner ensures that the Q10 is protected from the shock of bumps and there’s a raised bezel to prevent damage to the keyboard or screen if the phone is placed faced down. Precise cut-outs ensure that you never really need to remove the Q10 from the case.

Poetic Slimbook Case ($13)

You won’t get real leather at this price, but if you want a wallet style case that flips open like a book and looks like black leather, then this is a great value. On the inside you’ll find a cradle for your BB Q10 with all the cut-outs you need to access everything, there’s even a cut-out for the camera on the back. You’ll also find three slots for cards, so you don’t need to carry a separate wallet. There’s no support for the sleep/wake function, which is a shame, but this is a good option for the money.

i-Blason SoftGel Flexible TPU Case ($8)

There’s no need to break the bank for basic protection. TPU is flexible and durable, so it’s easy to fit and it will guard against small bumps and scratches. It also gives a little extra grip. The lip provides some protection should the phone be placed face down. It’s a good fit and it doesn’t block access to any controls or ports. You can get it with a black or pink tinge, or with a white frosted effect.

Acase Superleggera PRO Dual Layer Protection Case ($15)

If you can get at $15, rather than the RRP of $40, then this case is a good choice for solid protection. It comes in two parts, offering you a malleable silicone skin and an outer layer of unbreakable polycarbonate. It’s really sturdy and your Q10 should survive a drop in this case, but the inevitable price comes in added bulk, and it’s not as easy to push the buttons, particularly the power key.

Ballistic Shell Gel SG Series Case ($35)

Chunky would be a fair description here, but this case combines layers of protection to ensure that your BB Q10 survives falls and knocks without any ill effects. The corners are deliberately reinforced, as they tend to take the full impact of drops. The case also offers extra grip, so it’s easier to hold and it shouldn’t slide around on flat surfaces. If you don’t like the striking black and red combo, you can get it in plain black.

That’s all the BlackBerry Q10 cases we have to show off for now, but we will update this selection from time to time, so feel free to post suggestions.