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:
It’s Unnatural
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. Putting a case on it 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.
It’s Not Worth It
OK, 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.
Our Official Endorsement
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 realise 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 rubbish bin. Let your phone feel the fresh air on its body; the breeze on its screen. You’ll thank us for it.
dazza
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 11:04 AMobviously written by a desk jockey, try taking one out on a jobsite and seeing how long it lasts as you crawl thru a ceiling or under a house, or when it falls out of your pocket into the hole you were digging
Uncle Bob
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 11:05 AMNever have, never will.
That said, the iPhone 4 / 4S and its square edges is annoying to hold.
Señor Smoke
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 1:33 PMThis. I’m not much of a conspiracy theorist but when you look back at the original iphone, it was the peak of design imho rounded metal casing gave it a feel of quality and comfort to hold it came with a desk dock in the box.
Now the design is harder/more uncomfortable to hold because of the square edges and in my experience gets dropped more often when not in a case thus increasing the demand for cases and replacement glass ( which is on both sides no less).
Apple are always lauded for their design work but imho every iteration of the iphone has been a step backwards and nobody’s called them on it.because news sites like this with articles focused on fawning over how pretty they look and ignoring the most basic failings in function from one model to another.
light487
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 11:06 AMActually my case serves a purpose other than the shock resistant moulded plastic. On the back it has a little lever that opens up into a stand, so I can prop it up sideways and use it as a mini-video player on the desk… and it cost me a whole $4.00AUD on eBay (free postage).
Fred
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 2:11 PMplease tell me more
light487
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 2:56 PMTPU Gel Stand Case Cover For Samsung Galaxy S 2 i9100:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/TPU-Gel-Stand-Case-Cover-Samsung-Galaxy-S-2-i9100-/110735099127?pt=AU_MobilePhoneAccessories&hash=item19c85384f7
They’re selling it for $10 now though..
Isaac
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 3:17 PMI just lean mine against a cup…. My phone looks better and not levers.
Antipodean
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 11:07 AMOnly this morning Giz ran a story on cover Glass and now this one saying don’t use it?
Protect Your iPhone’s Glass Display With… More Glass?
You’re just confusing the fanboys!
Tom
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 11:10 AMSure, I’ll use my iPhone without a case if you’re happy to pay for the cracked screen if and when I drop it. I agree, the phone looks much better without a case, but prevention is better than a cure and I’d rather be safe with my cheap, simple black case.
alexeiw123
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 11:11 AMdid we all forget about the ‘you’re holding it wrong’ issue? and the solution?
here – have a case.
having said that. my SGS2 runs naked. I only ever slip on my cheapo case if i know i’m going to be in a hard environment.
AAron
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 4:15 PM+1
Jj
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 11:15 AMDesign I all well and good but practicality must be considered. The iphone is far to fragile ive witnessed a couple of breakages. Until designers incorporate stronger glass and more robust hardware , then the cas is here to stay.
Steve
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 11:16 AMI use one to stop it falling out of my pocket while i drive.
the rubber outer layer helps it stay in there
Stew
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 11:53 AM+1. My SGS2 it so slim & smooth that it’s at risk of slipping out of my pocket. Not good when catching public transport. I use a thin-ish silicon case to give it more grip inside my pocket, but that means it’s also harder to get out, especially when sitting next to someone…
And yeah about the dropping issue. My silicon case has saved my phone a bunch of times, especially when out on the town. If I’m wearing tight-fitting pants/shorts though then the phone goes nekkid.
Tom
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 11:17 AMI use a Threadless + Griffin case for my 4, and I’ve used their cases since I got my 3G 2 and a half years ago. The cases are slim (main priority), add grip to the back and have some awesome art on them. I’d much rather have a bit more grip and some great colour on it than the paranoia I had the first month I had the 4 because of how slippery it felt.
Commander Sheppard
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 11:33 AMI find the naked solution slips out of my hand too easy.. and more comfortable to hold with a case. end of story
TSH
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 11:38 AMHorses for courses, as with all things. I find that my phone is fine day-to-day without a case. And a case adds extra bulk that I don’t really care for.
But if I know that it’s going to be in a more rough-and-tumble environment the case goes on.
Sam D
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 11:42 AMLast time I used a case on my phone was back when I had a Nokia 5110. Haven’t used one since, yet to seriously damage a phone. The iPhone 4 seems to be extra resilient to scratches too.
Roland
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 11:45 AMNever had a case for my ip3s or my ip4 and never will. I know how to look after my phone. But then I’m a “desk-jocky”
James
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 11:48 AMUpgrade after two years is up. You really think I would put up with a broken screen for two years just because I think the design is too beautiful to cover with a case? Foremost it’s a phone and it’s what’s on the inside that counts. You don’t need to show an iPhone off. It’s nothing special anymore – everyone has one. Plus it helps you know which one is actually yours.. Get of from behind your desk..
Charles
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 11:50 AM“so you’d be proud every time you took it out of your pocket”
Wanky!
cleverclogs
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 11:57 AMI use a stringy camera-strap thing on mine, since it’s rather slippy to hold. When it’s in my bag/car when I don’t need access to it, it sits in its snug leather pouch.
Nick Stone
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 11:57 AMTasteless statement! Having a case on your phone makes it not also practical but it makes it your own style, just like if you were wearing a watch or any other accessory.
meh
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 11:59 AMyeah I decided to take mine off after about 3 years of having a case on it…within the first week of dropping it onto concrete the screen shattered. That was about 6 months ago. The cracks have kind of grown on me. Screen protectors and cases are NOT stupid. as long as they serve the purpose of PROTECTING your phone and NOT making you look like a wanker
Blake
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 12:06 PMI just don’t drop my phone.
Solves all kinds of problems.
Matt
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 6:23 PMMe too. Have never dropped/damaged/lost a single phone throughout my mobile phone owning history. My iPhone 4 is nude.
Leo
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 12:17 PMI’ll take on your three major “points” and debunk them.
(1) “It’s unnatural”.
Frankly, I don’t care if my phone was designed by Dewey the Decimal Chicken; unlike a Ferrari, (which, to protect its value, will rarely be driven at all, let alone at the speeds it is capable of achieving), a phone is a functional item, not primarily an aesthetic one. It is natural to preserve the aesthetic value of items whose primary value is aesthetic; and it is natural to preserve the functional value of items whose primary value is functional. You can have the prettiest phone around – it’s worth zip if you dropped it and it no longer works.
(2) It’s not worth it
Again, we aren’t just talking about protecting one’s phone from minor scratches, or else we’d just use a thin, transparent film, rather than a case. Cases provide protection against big drops, by spreading any impact over a larger, generally more shock-absorbent, sacrificial area. My previous phone’s plastic case had a shattered corner where it hit a concrete floor and sacrificed its physical integrity, allowing the phone to remain utterly unscathed. Best $5 I spent on that phone, because the alternative could well have been a shattered, unusable phone.
(3) Gizmodo runs nude
By virtue of your profession, I dare say there aren’t many people in your office who think of a phone as a 2-year investment, tied to a phone contract. It’s rather more likely that Gizmodo staff have a shorter, 6-12 month turnover. You’re more likely to think of phones as short-term, almost disposable items, and in the event of an unfortunate accident, happily replaceable with the newest technogadget to have been released. but you should have the nous to realise that your readers, although tech-savvy, are still less likely to share the same device life-cycle as a team who probably get given a fair number of mobile phones for free by manufacturers keen to get their products promoted.
I should also mention that many cases provide additional functionality and convenience that you have not considered. My current case has a fold-out kickstand for viewing movies, as well as a rubberised texture that makes it easier to hold. Other cases provide waterproofing, personalisation, tripod-mounting, lens addition, and a plethora of other utilities. In this regard, not having a case is like buying a smart phone and not buying any apps – it shows an apparent reluctance to optimise the performance of your phone to fit in with your lifestyle. Unless, of course, your lifestyle consists of sitting around one-upping everyone else with how nice your phone looks.
light487
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 12:49 PM“My current case has a fold-out kickstand for viewing movies, as well as a rubberised texture that makes it easier to hold.”
Do you have a SGSII as well? :) Mine has that same case.. I love it.. :)
Leo
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 12:58 PMHaha, yes – I do have a SGSII. Awesome case – looks quite elegant too, and a bargain at $7 on eBay. :)
light487
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 1:03 PMThink I got it for $4.. but it might have been $7.. it was free postage and I grabbed a different case at the time too.. so I might eb confusing it :)
Alex
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 2:35 PMLeo, Legendary! I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Sketchy
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 3:36 PMYes, well said, Leo, all valid points. Perhaps they should get you to write the follow-up article “Stop ruining your phone by not protecting it with a case” It would make a lot more sense than this one.
Andrew
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 12:18 PMI have a bamboo case on my phone. Grove make the best cases I have seen and that is why I got one. I looks better than a normal iPhone if you ask me…
Dionysus
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 12:23 PMWas painting 2 weeks ago and now the case has white finger prints on the sides..
The only people that don’t need a case are those that use hand moisturiser due to sitting in aircon 7 days a week.
woodsdog
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 12:24 PMI’m all for nude, but not on my phone. It protects it, not resale value, lastability, the amount of friends that have cracked screen on front or back is unreal. at point of contact, all nude. We dont all live in an office were gadgets are constantly handed to us, you do though.
Plus I like to switch it up from time to time, eg my Gizmodo bottle opener, my gameboy cover, or perhaps the one everyone now has, the cassette tape. Add some individuallity to ones self…
It also makes it easier to hold in the hand and type.
You know what, I have 2 iphone, both used all day everyday, one is mine one is GFs, both have cases and both in good condition, my old iphone 3 is still going and still works fine… why because they are never nudes… yes thats right never nudes… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OC7Q715LqPA
L.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 12:25 PMThe people I know who dropped their phones cracked the screen were case-less, whether the case prevents drops or cushions the blow, it seems like a reasonable precaution to take. I agree with the desk jockey comment – if you are going to be using your phone standing or walking a lot, have it on you as you do a physical job or around kids, a case is not overkill whereas it may be for someone who uses their phone in carpeted areas, sitting on the train, etc. My little bloke even managed to get the silicone cover off my phone and skate it across the floor … so I only use covers with a bevel on the front now to protect face down scraping incidents.
NOZ
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 12:42 PMThis comment has been deemed inappropriate and has been deleted.