Deep down are you happy with your iPhone case? vol. real talk

[lobotomybeats]

Stop ruining your phone with a stupid case

The market for phone cases is huge. Waterproof cases, leather cases, silicon cases, stick-on screen protectors, plate-glass screen protectors. Enough. It's time to lose your cover for good, and let your phone roam free, nude, as nature intended.
There are as many reasons to toss your case in the garbage as there are grains of sand on an ugly, gaudy, expensive beach. So let's just go with the big three:
[h3]It's Unnatural[/h3]
First, your phone wasn't designed to be covered up. Sir Ive didn't sit in his plush little Apple office, slaving over a drawing board for you to wrap it in an awful faux leather folio case that you found on Amazon for $20. Neither did the poor bastard who spent the last three years pooping out a hundred million HTC handsets. Or Samsung or Moto or any other designer who gives a singular damn.

No, they spent those hours slaving so that your phone looks beautiful, so you'd be proud every time you took it out of your pocket. The iPhone 4, in particular, is a design icon. The same is true for plenty of other devices. The only exception I might be willing to make is for a battery case, because at least that's arguably practical. Then again, it's also double-ugly.

Putting a case on your phone is a little like painting your Ferrari with rust-proofing paint, then wrapping it in burlap. Sure, you're less likely to scratch it. But you obscure every beautiful detail of the bodywork. "It's sensible," you say. Lies. It's not more sensible. It defeats the point of designing the phone in the first place.
[h3]It's Not Worth It[/h3]
Okay, so yes, your phone deserves to be seen. But on the other hand: It's not a work of art. Yeah, it may have cost you a few hundred dollars. And yes, that's a lot of cash. But let's face it you're going to upgrade as soon as your two-year contract is up. Your phone can only develop so many minor scratches in that period of time. Worried about the resale value? Even if you have to sell your (again, two year old) slightly scratched phone for $40 less than you would a mint model, well, that's how much you'd have spent on a case in the first place.

If you're a real worrywart, the money you save by not buying a case go towards insuring your phone in case you drop it on tarmac or it gets stolen. You can even go so far as to keep it in a pocket in which you don't have keys or loose change. But remember that a few knocks along the way add character. Those little scratches will remind you of things that actually happen in your life. I have a ding in mine from when I walked into a wall drunk. That was a good night. I like that it reminds me of it.

But then, maybe things don't actually happen in your life, given you spend so much time worrying about protecting your damn phone.
[h3]Our Official Endorsement[/h3]
So: Cases are ugly. They're a bad investment. But there's one more reason that we're decidedly anti-case, that we didn't realize until just this morning.

A quick survey reveals that every phone in the Gizmodo office is nude. That's right; we're not just talk. Our phones run naked and free, as nature intended, and haven't yet had occasion to regret it. Neither will you.

Go on, take the cover off. See how much more natural your phone feels in your hand. Shove the cover in the trash can. Let your phone feel the fresh air on its body; the breeze on its screen. You'll thank us for it.

 

[southern north side]

Just got a black bumper case.

Looking for another one that covers the back.

 

[da r entertainment]

Both me and my wife rock our phone iPhones without cases 

 

[moonman818]

Originally Posted by Da R Entertainment

Both me and my wife rock our phone iPhones without cases 

This. Cases are lame.

It's like wrapping your whip in bubble wrap... Just live a little damn

 

[luckyluchiano]

Not everyone can afford to buy a new phone full retail if they drop their phone and not all carriers offer iPhone insurance.

 

[bjamez20]

Originally Posted by Winged Wheel

I'm using the Otterbox defender. I use a case strictly for protection ; my phone went straight from the box to the case. When the iPhone 5 drops I will be able to sell my 4 for good money because of its perfect condition.

I really don't understand this logic (not directed at th person I quoted, I just hear this logic all the time). You put your phone in a bulky box for a year so you can make an extra $50 or so when you sell it? And that doesn't factor in the cost of the case...

When the new iPhone comes out, I'll take my 4S to the genius bar, get it swapped for a new one and then have a brand new 4S in plastic to sell.

If you like the look of the case or if you're afraid to drop it, then go for a case though.

Originally Posted by LuckyLuchiano

Not everyone can afford to buy a new phone full retail if they drop their phone and not all carriers offer iPhone insurance.

Apple offers insurance on the iPhone though

 

[a55a5in11]

Originally Posted by lobotomybeats

Stop ruining your phone with a stupid case

The market for phone cases is huge. Waterproof cases, leather cases, silicon cases, stick-on screen protectors, plate-glass screen protectors. Enough. It's time to lose your cover for good, and let your phone roam free, nude, as nature intended.
There are as many reasons to toss your case in the garbage as there are grains of sand on an ugly, gaudy, expensive beach. So let's just go with the big three:
[h3]It's Unnatural[/h3]
First, your phone wasn't designed to be covered up. Sir Ive didn't sit in his plush little Apple office, slaving over a drawing board for you to wrap it in an awful faux leather folio case that you found on Amazon for $20. Neither did the poor bastard who spent the last three years pooping out a hundred million HTC handsets. Or Samsung or Moto or any other designer who gives a singular damn.

No, they spent those hours slaving so that your phone looks beautiful, so you'd be proud every time you took it out of your pocket. The iPhone 4, in particular, is a design icon. The same is true for plenty of other devices. The only exception I might be willing to make is for a battery case, because at least that's arguably practical. Then again, it's also double-ugly.

Putting a case on your phone is a little like painting your Ferrari with rust-proofing paint, then wrapping it in burlap. Sure, you're less likely to scratch it. But you obscure every beautiful detail of the bodywork. "It's sensible," you say. Lies. It's not more sensible. It defeats the point of designing the phone in the first place.
[h3]It's Not Worth It[/h3]
Okay, so yes, your phone deserves to be seen. But on the other hand: It's not a work of art. Yeah, it may have cost you a few hundred dollars. And yes, that's a lot of cash. But let's face it you're going to upgrade as soon as your two-year contract is up. Your phone can only develop so many minor scratches in that period of time. Worried about the resale value? Even if you have to sell your (again, two year old) slightly scratched phone for $40 less than you would a mint model, well, that's how much you'd have spent on a case in the first place.

If you're a real worrywart, the money you save by not buying a case go towards insuring your phone in case you drop it on tarmac or it gets stolen. You can even go so far as to keep it in a pocket in which you don't have keys or loose change. But remember that a few knocks along the way add character. Those little scratches will remind you of things that actually happen in your life. I have a ding in mine from when I walked into a wall drunk. That was a good night. I like that it reminds me of it.

But then, maybe things don't actually happen in your life, given you spend so much time worrying about protecting your damn phone.
[h3]Our Official Endorsement[/h3]
So: Cases are ugly. They're a bad investment. But there's one more reason that we're decidedly anti-case, that we didn't realize until just this morning.

A quick survey reveals that every phone in the Gizmodo office is nude. That's right; we're not just talk. Our phones run naked and free, as nature intended, and haven't yet had occasion to regret it. Neither will you.

Go on, take the cover off. See how much more natural your phone feels in your hand. Shove the cover in the trash can. Let your phone feel the fresh air on its body; the breeze on its screen. You'll thank us for it.

have you ever dropped an iphone. the screen spider webs from a 2foot drop onto pillows. a case is needed on iphones

 

[iYen]

I'm not a fan of "protective" cases, but let those dudes cook.
My last case was this.

 

[iceman3699]

by case you mean no case..then yes.

 

[djuzi05]

I see a lot of SGP fans in here. I can't get myself to go naked, even though I have front and back screen protectors and vinyl side protection

 

[jaypesoz]

Originally Posted by Definition Of Dopeness

I got so many cases, but none of them were purchased for protection, but for the look.

I just keep the go incase frost case on mine, i've dropped the phone once since i've had it, nothing happened.

I loved this case...for a month before my jean pockets started turning it a different shade.  is there a trick to cleaning the case to get it to look new again?

 

[zk1mpls]

Originally Posted by Rusty Shackelford

Iphone getting all the cool and novel cases...I'm jelly

That's because there's only 1 phone Apples pushes out each year vs. the 234297348679218431 phones every other company pushes out every 3-6 months. 

 Same goes with the MacBooks.

Originally Posted by djuzi05

I see a lot of SGP fans in here. I can't get myself to go naked, even though I have front and back screen protectors and vinyl side protection

Same here. I still got my SGP vinyl side protection... but I messed up the installation on my SGP front and back screen protectors for both sets. 

 

[helow]

I hate my otterbox, but it saved my phone so many times haha. Though, a lot of the times I've dropped it because it's so bulky and awkward to get out of my jean pockets.

 

[Original Playa Records]

Haven't been using a case.

 

[gllahone84]

Don't care what that article is saying...drop it and all that naked talk is out the window.

 

[DownByLaw]

Originally Posted by gllahone84

Don't care what that article is saying...drop it and all that naked talk is out the window.

Preach!

 

[DYNAMICS]

Originally Posted by FIRST B0RN

Originally Posted by gllahone84

Don't care what that article is saying...drop it and all that naked talk is out the window.

Preach!

At people saying it's not cool to protect your phone.

 

[twizzi]

Originally Posted by AirPhilippines

Yes. It's a griffin case that has a carbon fiber-esque appearance. It's grippy enough in your hand but not slippery enough to where it's a pain to take out of your pocket like my previous case.

have the same one pretty satisfied with it, wish i could use it underwater thoe

 

[stuntman mike]

underwater? i just got this last week:

 

[prince]

i've had my speck case since october and it hasn't failed me yet, still goin strong

 

[staystrong]

Mophie case and you good protected and charged best of both worlds

 

[that dude173]

Originally Posted by Stuntman Mike

underwater? i just got this last week:

Does it work ?

 

[tsamshox]

Been with INCASE for 4 years now.....hasn't failed me yet...

 

[stuntman mike]

tested it out in the sink and it works fine there lol. gonna take some pics in the ocean when i have time.

 

[krider31]

BLACK Incase for iPhone 4S

CANT GO WRONG