• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

Phone case vs NO phone case

A

alpha2k

Android Expert
Just curious what peoples thought are on this.

Take ANY phone, with a case and without a case.

Scenario is dropping the phone. What percentage of non-breakage or not breaking the phone with a case on, as apposed to a case NOT on the phone do you think it is. I know it increases the chances of you saving the phone vs the breaking the phone.
I was just curious as to what percentage you gain to save the phone from damage with a case, as apposed to damaging the phone, not having a case on it.

I've seen Iphone5 vs Samsung S3 drop tests, and it seems as though the Iphone5 faired pretty good vs the Samsung which got a cracked screen 2 times in the test I saw. I understand that the test I saw wasn't really a "true" real word situation, and also that the Samsung S3 has more real-estate area, so it's going to be a given really that the Samsung has a higher chance of being broken. But if the Samsung say had a case on it, how much would that increase the chance of it NOT getting damaged, or broken?
 
Depends on the case. You see the main reason the Samsung gets broken more easily is that because the corner of the glass gets the pressure, and that's the weakest point of the structure of glass. Theoretically if you put something there that absorbs some of the impact and dissipates it (like the aluminum frame on an iPhone, or the way the Lumia and OneX bodies overlap the corners and not have an end to end glass design that the SIII has) the glass would hold up more. So theoretically, putting even just a cheap 1$ rubbery jelly case is going to prolong the glass of your phone a lot.
 
There's no way anyone can give "percentages" on how much additional protection a case brings. An inexpensive TPU case with improve a phones chance of survival in a fall and certainly greatly reduce scuffing and scratching. The other problem I'm having is that many devices are now becoming too thin. Thinness is great when it comes to your pocket, but maintaining a firm grip when using the device is another issue entirely. I have a LTEvo (OneX variant) and without a case, it's all too easy for the thing to slip out of my hands. My grippy $3 TPU case makes for a slightly thicker device that is significantly more secure in my hand. I've played with a i5 and because of its reduced weight, it might even be less secure to hold when naked.

As for those i5 vs GS3 comparisons? When it was the GS3 vs OneX, the GS3 was remarkably durable. Somehow(!!!) it lost all that durability when put up against the Apple product. Funny how that works.
 
I know i do not have a case on my Gnex, i would like one, but i am too afraid to buy one since i have an Extended battery, i feel i might buy one and it won't fit. :(

I never really drop my phone anyhow, 1% of the time i will accidentally leave my phone in a small jacket pocket where it might fall out, the other 99% i will put it back in my jeans pocket.

heh so i guess that 1% might end up screwing me over in the long run ;)
 
I have a basic silicon case that I bought at Verizon when I got my phone. It's a good, heavier rubber than most of the cheapie rubber cases available. It overlaps the front edge of the phone, so if it is dropped, the back won't pop off, allowing the battery and cards to spill out every where.
 
Never underestimate the damage phones may receive while in pocket. In one pocket I kept nothing but a hip flask; took it out to find it was dented!

Tiny particles had also gotten under the flip of an old V600 & scratched it, so yeah it's best to keep phone in pocket with no other items & in a case to protect from particles.
 
I use a case with my phone, mostly to keep scratches to a minimum. I also keep it in my front pants pocket, with nothing else in it, or shirt & coat/jacket pocket.

SFSG...
 
What I've found with some Samsung phones, is that they can be quite slippery to hold, and thus prone to dropping. I put a rubber case on a Galaxy S, so it didn't feel like it would just slip out of my hands. Where I am, sand is an occupational hazard, it gets everywhere, was always cleaning it from inside of the Samsung's case. The Lenovo phone I've got now has a textured rubberised back, that's not slippery. So I've not bothered with a case for this.

BTW my late Galaxy S died from a cracked screen, it was in a protective case and it wasn't dropped.

Got an iPhone 5? You need a case for it, if only to ensure a better resale value..
avoid-scuffgate-and-other-iphone-5-problems.w654.jpg
 
90% of my house has hardwood floors, the rest tile. No carpeting at all.

I use a 2 piece rubber case with a plastic shell and double thick rubber corners out of necessity. I have not dropped an unprotected Android and have no intentions of doing it.

It just makes sense to me.
 
mikedt said:
What I've found with some Samsung phones, is that they can be quite slippery to hold, and thus prone to dropping. I put a rubber case on a Galaxy S, so it didn't feel like it would just slip out of my hands. Where I am, sand is an occupational hazard, it gets everywhere, was always cleaning it from inside of the Samsung's case. The Lenovo phone I've got now has a textured rubberised back, that's not slippery. So I've not bothered with a case for this.

BTW my late Galaxy S died from a cracked screen, it was in a protective case and it wasn't dropped.

Got an iPhone 5? You need a case for it, if only to ensure a better resale value..
avoid-scuffgate-and-other-iphone-5-problems.w654.jpg
Click to expand...


If the black iPhone 5's comes out the box with scratches can u ask for another?
 
I've got a TPU case on my LTEvo. Just enough protection for me. Then again I can't keep it in my pocket when I work.

I've dropped this phone once, it hit my well placed foot. No damage. Now my head, there's drain bramage there. :p
 
I use a case on all my devices. i just prefer to be safe than sorry.
Also I find that putting a bright cover on my phone helps me find it faster in my bag.
 
i dropped my phone yesterday for the first time.. funny thing i put the case back on an hour before i dropped it after carrying it naked for a few days.
 
I actually like the feel of my phone better without a case. And when I use a case and pull it out of my pocket, there's always lint built up on the screen around the edges of the case. Annoying. With that said, while I carry it around my carpeted apartment naked, I put it in a TPU case when I leave to keep it safe, even though I've never once dropped it out of the home. It's just very annoying that whenever I pull it out for some reason I have to wipe the crap off the screen. I've taken to carrying my screen cloth around with me, that's how much I baby the thing.
 
I must report, I was walking my dog last night and decided to jog. Suddenly my phone went flying out my pocket and smashed on the concrete. However only the case cracked and only got minor scratches on the screen. I was so grateful for the case. It took the impact.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom