Are Phone Cases Necessary? How To Protect Your Phone

There’s nothing more devastating than accidentally dropping your phone to the ground and picking it up to see the entire screen shattered to pieces. So, as much as we love the sleek appearance of an uncovered smartphone, we make sure to always protect our phones. 

However, some phone cases won’t do much to protect your phone from breaking, and others (by adding extra weight) can even make things worse. 

To help you navigate the world of phone cases, here’s a brief guide from Andar on the different ways you can break your phone and how phone cases can help to prevent significant damage. Then, we cover which phone case is right for you. 

And, of course, we’ll address the question in the back of everyone’s mind: Are phone cases really necessary? 

How and Why Phones Break

There are no limits to how you can break your phone. From accidentally stepping on it when it falls out of your pocket to throwing it in the washing machine along with your pants, we’ve seen it all. 

But when it comes to the type of damage that your phone sustains, there are really two basic types that will require different solutions: 

Cracked or Shattered Screen

Most of today’s phones have large screens that are made out of glass—a prime material for cracking and shattering. 

To understand just a little bit of the science behind why a screen cracks, keep in mind that dropping your phone creates potential energy that needs to go somewhere.

We’re going to drop some science: The impact of the drop causes the created energy to be converted into surface energy, which is the main culprit behind the cracks on your phone screen. 

Depending on the height of the drop and the angle of the fall, you’ll either see tiny cracks in a particular location (such as the edges) or a long crack running across the screen. 

Even if you have hands of steel, there are other ways to damage your phone. For instance, keeping your phone in your pocket where it rubs against hard objects can lead to deep scratches. Although not exactly a crack in itself, the abrasion caused by the constant rubbing can make your phone screen more susceptible to cracking. 

Of course, not all smartphones break in the exact same way. Depending on your phone’s hardness and strength, you might get away with a phone screen that’s free of any cracks or scratches. Unfortunately, that’s not the reality many of us face. 

Water Damage

Every phone has ports—a.k.a. openings—that water can get into. Depending on your phone, this could be the charging port, the headphone jack, the speakers, the microphone, and even the vent. While many of the latest smartphones are water-resistant, it’s still possible to get water damage by submerging it in water: an accident that tends to happen fairly often. 

Once water gets into your phone, it can mess with some of your phone’s primary functions. In the worst-case scenario, it can reach your phone’s internal circuitry and cause serious damage. In either case, water damage can muffle the phone’s audio, mess with its ability to charge, and even cause photos to come out blurry. (Just another reason to have some extra rice on hand.)

Phone Cases vs. Screen Protectors

Now that we have an idea of the different ways a phone can get damaged, let’s take a look at the two main ways you can protect your phone: 

Screen Protectors

Screen protectors are meant to protect your phone from scratches (at minimum) and shattering. While screen protectors offer a great solution to scuffs and scratches, the jury’s still out on whether they do a lot to protect your phone from getting shattered. 

The main reason for this has to do with the way phone screens break in the first place: by sustaining impact on the edges, which is how phones usually fall to the ground. Screen protectors hardly do much to protect shattering around the edges. 

The only screen protector that will offer superior protection from shattering is tempered glass. Although they're much thicker than most traditional screen protectors, they literally function as a second screen for your phone. 

In either case, screen protectors are truly great for one thing: keeping your phone from getting scratched up. Scratches aren’t only unsightly but undermine the integrity of your phone screen. Plus, they lower your phone’s resale value when you choose to upgrade to a newer model. 

Phone Cases

The variety of phone cases on the market today can get overwhelming. Despite this, they all work in a similar way: by covering the back and the corners of your phone. 

Since cracks around the edges are the main reason your phone screen shatters, a phone case will go a long way in making sure that your screen stays intact. On the downside, a heavy phone case can add some serious weight to your phone, which can be a problem if you drop your phone directly face-down. 

Do Phone Cases Help To Prevent Damage?

The answer to this question really depends on what kind of phone case we’re talking about here. Some phone cases are nothing more than accessories. Others will, at best, protect your phone from scuffs, marks, and scratches.

But certain cases will protect your phone from all kinds of impact by covering the back and the edges, while some will even provide protection from water damage.

This is exactly why shopping around for the right phone case is so important. Once you decide on how much protection you want for your smartphone, you can pick a phone case that prevents the type of damage you commonly experience with your phones. 

Types of Phone Cases

These days, there are limitless options for phone cases.

While we can talk about the different types for days, here’s an overview of some of the top choices you should consider:

Hard (Plastic) Case

A hard case basically functions as a shell for your phone. It covers the back and the corners of your smartphone, but not much else. On the bright side, it snaps on effortlessly onto your phone and can be incredibly lightweight.

Hard phone cases come in a variety of colors and designs, making them the perfect accessory for you if all you’re looking for is a nice aesthetic touch and protection from surface-level damage. 

Silicone Case

Similar to plastic, silicone cases are meant to be snapped onto the phone. Because of their flexibility, they’re incredibly easy to put on. Plus, they have a good grip to prevent them from accidentally slipping out of your hands. 

While silicone cases aren’t available in the same array of colors and designs as plastic cases, there is still a clear upside to a silicone phone case: They’re able to effortlessly resist fingerprints. 

Leather Case

To make a smartphone look really sophisticated, a leather case is our go-to. They’re fairly similar in weight to a silicone phone case but feel much more luxurious to touch.

There is a wide choice of colors for leather phone cases, which, over time, can develop their own unique patina. When it comes to durability, leather phone cases can last for years, making them a good long-term investment. 

Heavy-Duty

If you put your phone through a lot, then you should look for a phone case that is able to withstand all sorts of damage. A heavy-duty phone case will protect your phone from all corners due to its raised, jagged edges. 

As a plus, many of these phone cases are waterproof. This is a great feature for outdoor adventurers and beach bunnies alike. 

Wallet Phone Case

If you want to minimize your everyday carry as much as possible, then a wallet phone case is another option to consider. 

While the protection on this phone case won’t save your screen from a steep fall, that’s not really its purpose. Instead, if you see yourself as a careful phone owner and rarely drop your phone, it’s a perfectly elegant case that can help you pare down how much you carry around with you on a daily basis. 

So, Are Phone Cases Necessary?

With the fairly recent release of colorful smartphones, we understand the desire to completely forego a phone case in lieu of your phone’s uncovered appearance. Unfortunately, accidents happen very often, which can lead to you unnecessarily spending time and money to replace your phone. 

Even if you never drop it, a phone can still get scratched up pretty easily, especially if you keep it in your pockets with coins, keys, and other abrasive objects. For this reason, we highly recommend investing in a phone case.

And if you end up going for a leather one, make sure to clean and care for it well so that it lasts you for years to come.  

Our Sources:

Why iPhone, Galaxy Smartphone Screens Break So Easily | USA Today

Phone Wet and Won't Turn On? Here's What To Do with Water Damage | The Guardian 

Tip of the Week: Saving Your Cellphone From Water Damage | The New York Times 

Reality Check: What Does, and Doesn’t, Protect Your Smartphone | The New York Times