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Phone cases: more harm than good?


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Old 15-07-2016, 00:26
Cloudane
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Assuming you baby your phone and don't throw it around / drop it / mix it with keys

I did a load of research on phone cases and came to the conclusion that TPU cases offered the most protection with the compromise between floppy rubber and hard plastic.

However I just took my month or so old 6P out of its high quality Diztronic TPU case and lo and behold, scuff marks where dirt has settled and rubbed. Not many and only minor, but enough.
Maybe I'm too paranoid about the eBay factor. I just bought an old iPhone to play with and not one of them was in a condition I'd consider... Nice.

What are people's preferences and feelings on the subject ?

I think maybe skins are the way to go. Nothing is going to rub underneath an adhesive, I'd have thought.
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Old 15-07-2016, 01:25
JasonWatkins
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I've always had cases on my phones up to when i got my 6s. I had about a dozen cases for my 5

I do think personally that the 6s is now well built enough to withstand any kind of damage i'd likely inflict on it, which is likely to be no more than the very occasional drop.

And it looks nicer 'bare' as well i think.

I do have a skin on the back of it though, mainly because I like the design but also so that it gives me some grip on the device as well. I'm not opposed to getting a case for it though, but i've had it for a while now and haven't had any problems so i'm quite happy to do without.
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Old 15-07-2016, 04:29
Black Box
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I've always used LifeProof Fré cases on my iPhones and they come out still looking brand new when it comes to selling.
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Old 15-07-2016, 07:08
bikerlad
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I've had the official Nexus 6P case on mine for 9 months and there's no marks on the back of the phone.
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Old 15-07-2016, 07:42
Rossby41
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My Moto G 1st gen flip cover is awesome. The beauty of it is, it replaces the back cover, so it adds no extra bulk.
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Old 15-07-2016, 09:44
Cloudane
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Actually yeah there was one exception, the iPhone 6 I had came out perfect out of its official case.

Took a bit of trusting, as the iPhone 4 had an official "bumper" thing which scuffed within days.
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Old 15-07-2016, 10:05
JasonWatkins
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Actually yeah there was one exception, the iPhone 6 I had came out perfect out of its official case.

Took a bit of trusting, as the iPhone 4 had an official "bumper" thing which scuffed within days.
I know what you mean about "trusting"

It took quite a bit of time before i truly trusted my phone outside of a case. Strangely enough, watching a few 'drop test' videos on Youtube helped quite a bit as it did demonstrate quite vividly how much damage the 6s'es can withstand.
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Old 15-07-2016, 11:49
CheshireBumpkin
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What are people's preferences and feelings on the subject ?
It's a tough one to be honest - I used to use cases on all 'flagship' phones. However, now that so many useful features are dropped in favour of aesthetics, thinness and weight, I don't generally want to use a case. If you do, you end up with a beautiful phone with crap battery life, no removable battery and no SD slot, hidden away in an 'orrible case. You basically end up with all the compromises, and lose the aesthetic benefits.

So I don't bother any more. Having said that, I'm using an Honor 7 at the moment, so it's not such a big financial blow if I trash it, and it's not pretty anyway...
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Old 15-07-2016, 12:15
Michael09
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On all the smartphones I've had, always used TPU cases, which kept all my phones in near enough immaculate condition. I'm not in the habit of dropping my phone but when i have, it has prevented damage to the screen. I still have my very old HTC Wildfire and Moto G 1st Gen which are both still in excellent condition, with no scratches or marks on the screen. I suppose it depends on personal preference and how well built the phone is.

The only phone I had an issue with was the HTC Radar, which I only had for 2 months in a case, but the screen smashed anyway .
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Old 15-07-2016, 14:09
corf
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never use a case and my phones get battered by keys and coins and look a state after a year.
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Old 15-07-2016, 14:19
hammy_y
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I've used cases on all my phones. With my 6s, holding it without a case just feels like I'm gonna drop it all the time, although the metal does feel really nice when I take the case off it once in a while, but I still feel like I'm gonna drop it at any moment. The camera bump is also annoying if you don't have a case and I would always be nervous I'm gonna ruin the camera whenever I put it down lol. With a case I can mostly not worry about any of this, I can actually grip on to my phone and even if I do drop it it will likely be OK.
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Old 15-07-2016, 17:21
1manonthebog
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I've used cases on all my phones. With my 6s, holding it without a case just feels like I'm gonna drop it all the time, although the metal does feel really nice when I take the case off it once in a while, but I still feel like I'm gonna drop it at any moment. The camera bump is also annoying if you don't have a case and I would always be nervous I'm gonna ruin the camera whenever I put it down lol. With a case I can mostly not worry about any of this, I can actually grip on to my phone and even if I do drop it it will likely be OK.
Yep I am exactly the same with my iPhone. They are also slippery ba$tards. My case gives me a bit of grip
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Old 15-07-2016, 18:46
Lidtop2013
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I've used TPU cases from the local market stall for a few quid on my last iPhone 6 and now on my 6S. I normally take them out of the case and clean any dirt that's got inside the case off of the phone and then I run the case under the hot tap to clean that, dry it well and put it back on, normally do that every few months, my phone isn't damaged at all.

Not sure what the 6P is made off but if it's plastic then that could be why it got scuffed with dirt, the metal iPhone stands up pretty well to the dirt I reckon.
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Old 15-07-2016, 19:51
JurassicMark
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My Moto G 1st gen flip cover is awesome. The beauty of it is, it replaces the back cover, so it adds no extra bulk.
I've got this case for my 1st gen Moto G, the main reason for purchasing was to protect the screen from being scratched when it's in my pocket, along with keys etc. Am very happy with it, the only downside is that the magnet in it interferes with my smartphone's compass.
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Old 15-07-2016, 19:58
JasonWatkins
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With my 6s, holding it without a case just feels like I'm gonna drop it all the time,
Yep I am exactly the same with my iPhone. They are also slippery ba$tards. My case gives me a bit of grip
Get a skin("sticker"). I've got one on the back of my 6s and it gives me the exact amount of grip I need.

Have a look at a site like Wrappz for examples

http://www.wrappz.com/cat/personalised-iphone-6-skins

They're good, high quality vinyl that peels off with no residue as well.
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Old 17-07-2016, 20:49
konebyvax
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Used a MOFI Rui flip case on my Meizu MX4 PRO right from the day I got the phone. Reason I went for this is the flip part which protects the screen is 'impregnated' with a thin sheet of steel. By no means the best looking cases on the market but can be picked up for less than a fiver from the usual Chinese reseller subjects and does exactly what a case should do, basically.
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Old 17-07-2016, 21:23
gomezz
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I always wipe off the screen with the base of my hand and the interior of the case cover before closing it to make sure nothing nasty gets trapped and can mark the screen.
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Old 17-07-2016, 22:09
WillButcher
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I have been using TPU cases on my phone, with a glass screen protector and have had no problem with dirt collection in the cases.
I suppose it will depend on the how many holes there has to be and where they are on the case, and the environment the phone is in.
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Old 17-07-2016, 23:05
petef
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I continue to use a cheapo pull tab sleeve pouch for my phone and keep it in my front pocket. I have yet to drop it but it has a reasonable chance of surviving.

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Old 18-07-2016, 10:03
Grayburn
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Cases have saved my phones a few times, never had one mark the handset so i'm pro case here.

Apple & Spigen cases are my usual choices and I rotate them weekly.
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