Raspberry Pi is a small ARM-based computer running under GNU/Linux. Which is very famous these days for portability and price. If you are a Raspberry Pi owner and looking for a good case to protect your little computer we’ve chosen some best cases for you.
Basic Raspberry Pi Cases
Basic cases are usually the cheapest one so you can often afford them for a small price. Being affordable, basic cases often aim for giving you a balanced experience between performance and aesthetics, although they lean more towards functionality. In this section, we are going to review some of the best basic cases.
1. The Official Raspberry Pi Case
With the price of just around $13, this Official Raspberry Pi Case is all you need to have a fine balance between aesthetics and performance. The case is made out of white plastic and its the kind of plastic that won’t slip out of your hand that easy. Ports-wise, the case does a fine job, although there aren’t any mounting options or fasteners.
2. OneNineDesign Raspberry Pi Case
This case is one of the most simple cases I’ve ever seen. OneNineDesign is made from a glossy black plastic with a cute logo on top of the case. Both pieces align perfectly and all you need to assemble it is a simple snap. Unlike the previous case, this one offers 2 mounting holes and 4 rubber feet, which gives the case a premium feeling and look.
3. The Official Raspberry Pi 3 Case
The Official Raspberry Pi 3 Case is another great case which is very similar to the first one, but this one is for your Raspberry Pi 3. The port accessibility is great, so you’ll have HDMI and audio ports on the one side while the other is removable. On the front, there are four USB ports alongside ethernet port. It comes in various color designs.
4. SB Components Clear Case
SB Components Clear Case is probably the cheapest entry on our list, made for Raspberry Pi newbies. The case is simple to assemble and snaps easily without any fasteners whatsoever. Design-wise, the case is built of clear plastic so you can see your motherboard through it, which is cool. With 2 screw mount holes and no rubber feet and fasteners, SB Components’ $9 price is just right.
5. JBtek Jet Black Case
Unlike the previous one, JBtek Jet Black Case has four screws for added security and it’s made of matte black plastic thus costing around $8. The design doesn’t look expensive and attractive, but it still does the job. JBTek allows for accessing only external ports, excluding the possibility of experimenting with I/O headers, video, camera, etc. Furthermore, the case comes without rubber feet and mounting options.
6. FLIRC Stylish Aluminum Case
Aluminum was never a cheap material and neither is FLIRC Stylish Aluminum Case. However, with its price of around $15, the case costs almost double the price of the previous case on the list. If you want an affordable, yet beautiful case, this is the right choice. The reason for this is a built-in heatsink which helps reduce the temperature, especially if you want to overclock your RPi.
7. Compact Slim Case by GeauxRobot
GeauxRobot made the Compact Slim Case very functional albeit not that eye-pleasing. The reason for this is that the case is made of clear plastic, meaning that it’s fully transparent, allowing you to see the motherboard. However, the case does a good job when it comes to port accessibility, so I can’t help but give it props.
8. Geek World’s Sleek & Cheap Case
Geek World developed a special Sleek & Cheap Case for your Raspberry Pi. I’m not kidding when I say that you can buy it for a pocket change! 4$ for this case? Well, I’m int. This case looks solid for the price, the build quality is decent and it even comes with a fan, helping to dissipate the extra heat. Do you hear this, overclockers?
9. OmniPi Raspberry Pi Case
OmniPi Raspberry Pi Case is a classy and noble case for your Raspberry Pi. This bad boy looks stunning with its glossy black color, offers a solid user experience and it’s very comfortable to use. It can make a fantastic portable PC of your Raspberry Pi and there is even a complete access to all the ports! You’ll fall in love with this one.
10. Kootek Raspberry Pi Black Case
Kootek is compatible mainly with Raspberry Pi Model B+ and Pi 2 Model B. Another plastic case that costs around $9 and offers similar performance to cases in this price range. It’s a compact case, meaning that it’s lightweight and easy to carry around. As it has a smooth finish over the plastic, it can sometimes be slippery if your hands are sweaty, meaning that you’ll need to take a special care.
11. Flirc Raspberry Pi 2 and B+ Case
Flirc is known to develop some of the finest Raspberry Pi cases and now we have this one. It’s very similar to the sixth entry on the list with the addition of support for Pi 2 and B+ models. The compactness of this case and its sturdy build quality is something you’ll be happy about and should protect your Raspberry Pi just fine.
Active and Passive Raspberry Pi Cooling Cases
For those who want more advanced cases for their Raspberry Pi devices, then Active and Passive Cooling Cases are a solid solution. As the name says, those cases aim for the best cooling of your device, keeping it cold, fresh and ready to use. Some of them are below.
1. Flirc Raspberry Pi Case
I know I talked about Flirc Raspberry Pi Cases, but this one is on a whole another level! It’s built completely of aluminum and feels very solid in hand, but costs around $60, which is a bit expensive. As you’ve probably guessed it- the case is a passive cooler, using a grill on the bottom as a heat sink for heat dissipation.
https://www.amazon.com/FLIRC-FL-53196-Flirc-Raspberry-Case/dp/B00QB6F9I0
2. Eleduino Acrylic Case With 25mm Fan
Eleduino Acrylic Case comes equipped with a 25mm fan that grants silence and efficiency. This little guy costs just around $13 and provides a solid build quality using just layered acrylic. Although the fan is more on the slower side, it still manages to provide an excellent cooling since it runs at 5V. Due to its speed, the fan is almost silent. You’ll need an elephant’s ear to hear it! It’s easy to assemble, but the minus goes to lack of rubber feet and mount points.
3. Aluminum Alloy Case
As simple as it sounds, Aluminum Alloy Case is a great case for your Raspberry Pi device. Design-wise, it’s somewhat uninspired, although I like the aluminum as the main material. The case comes in various colors such as black, red or silver, giving you that classy and polished look. However, it’s more expensive and costs around $20.
4. JBtek Acrylic Case With 40mm Fan
JBtek Acrylic Case is an interesting product. It comes with VESA mount case and with no side walls. Sounds cool? Wait till you hear this. This case has a 40mm fan that will keep your Raspberry Pi nice and cool. Due to the lack of side walls, it’s easy to access various ports and fix the device if needed. Because of the added functionality, the case isn’t particularly beautiful and doesn’t achieve that “wow” reaction from the owners, including me.
5. Eleduino Aluminum Alloy Case with Heat Sinks
Eleduino Aluminum Alloy Case is one of my favorite cases when it comes to design. It comes in a variety of colors and there is a black stripe in the middle for added variety. The case looks sleek and gives you a great accessibility to ports. Since it’s made of aluminum, the build quality is premium. Of course, the case costs just over $13, meaning that it’s very affordable.
6. 2-Layer Stack Case by GeauxRobot
2-Layer Stack Case is all about that efficiency by offering you 2 layers for two different RPis. They are stacked on top of each other so there’s a huge space for improved air circulation. The case can also be used even if you don’t have two Raspberry Pi devices. You can just mount the device at the bottom and the upper part will serve as cooling and air flow. This amazing case costs just $15, but don’t expect jaw-dropping design and premium looks. It’s just about functionality and efficiency here.
7. ModMyPi
ModMyPi is a case manufacturer for Raspberry Pi, they provide high-quality accessories for the Raspberry Pi. ModMyPi store has color full cases for Raspberry Pi including colors like black, white, red, green and blue.
Specialty Cases for Raspberry Pi
In this section, we are going to take a look at some of the best specialty cases that you can get for the money. However, Specialty Cases offer very good aesthetic and performance so expect to pay a bit more for these beauties. The list is right here, take a look!
1. Rainbow Pibow
The Pibow is a colorful, durable and fun case for the Raspberry Pi computer that is perfectly in touch with the ethos of the Raspberry Pi. It’s a very popular Raspberry Pi case, available in adafruit website from the UK which is priced at £13 to £25.
https://www.adafruit.com/product/975
2. Lego Raspberry Pi Case
Lego was always my favorite toy when I was a kid, and now I can make myself a Lego RPi Case. Really? In fact, the case IS real and it’s designed for you to play and experiment with the overall design and port accessibility. This authentic case is all you need to brag around with your Raspberry Pi and feel like a true badass!
http://www.instructables.com/id/Lego-Raspberry-Pi-Case/
3. Raspberry Pi Enclosure Kit
For normal PC cabinet style lovers, Raspberry Pi Enclosure Kit is for you. It looks like same as a PC enclosure in a tiny size. You can buy directly on the store for $12.50.
https://www.seeedstudio.com/Raspberry-Pi-B%2B%26amp%3B2%26amp%3B3-Acrylic-Enclosure-p-2133.html
4. Sweetbox
Sweetbox is a Raspberry Pi case successfully funded in the Kickstarter project. It is made of strong plastic material protects it from shocks and scratches. You don’t have to open the case to access the GPIO pins, just remove the rubber cap and plugin. At present the case is unavailable, you’ll have to wait for the next funding service.
5. C4Labs Zebra Case
C4Labs Zebra Case is an eye-pleasing case for your RPi. In fact, the case looks so awesome that you can’t help but ask yourself why does it cost just $15. Sheets of acrylic and woods are used in the creation of the case and they are carefully assembled around Raspberry Pi. Zebra Case looks like a PC case, giving you a pleasurable and stylish experience. It even supports a small 2″ TFT display which lays perfectly behind the clear plastic cover, which is an elegant touch.
6. C4Labs Rebel Case
Rebel Case is another C4Labs effort, but this time, they created something bit more expensive. The case surely isn’t compact but has everything you need feature-wise. It’s made of translucent plastic and all of the port labels are laser-etched there. This means that you can easily put your RPi inside and set it carefully to match the description of each port. Oh, did I forget to say that it comes with passive heat-sinks? That’s so cool… literally! Here you are, folks- an amazing $19 Raspberry Pi case. It’s as badass as it can be.
7. Zebra Virtue- Black Ice
Zebra Virtue- Black Ice is like a Rolex of Raspberry Pi cases. The case looks stylish and elegant, providing a solid build quality all-around. Furthermore, the case protects your RPi very well with the addition of active cooling to keep your CPU cool, even under the most stressful loads. 3 heat sinks are added there, plus 4 rubber feets and a possibility for mounting. What more do you need? The word “great” is an understatement for this case.
That’s all for now. Please do share your views and feedback in the comment box below. Also, please don’t forget to share the article on your social media.