The iPhone is like a superhero in many ways. It does what no smartphone had ever done, it brings joy and hope to millions, and it can leap tall buildings if thrown very, very hard. However, unlike Superman or Plasticman, the iPhone is subject to the basic laws of physics. If a 4.5″ x 2.4″ piece of glass (the size of the one on the iPhone) is dropped, it will be pulled by gravity towards the concrete below and, upon impact, probably break. Without Superman to turn back time by flying rapidly around the Earth, your iPhone just isn’t going to be the same.
But have heart, there is something you can do to prevent this disaster: Get a protective case for your phone!
Let me begin by telling you what NOT to get for a case. Don’t buy one of those decorative only cases that wraps around the back of your phone but stops right at the edge of the screen. While this can keep the back casing of your phone from getting scratched up, it will provide no protection at all if your phone falls and lands glass face first.
Secondly, do not expect a “screen protector,” as they are called, to protect your screen in a fall. What I’m talking about here are those thin pieces of plastic that people put on their phone. These only serve to keep your screen from scratching. They do not actually “protect” your screen from breaking.
So that brings us to my recommendations for selecting a case:
- Make sure that whatever case you buy sticks up a little higher than the glass on your phone.
- Rubber is a much better shock absorber than hard plastic. So try to find a case that is either all rubber or is at least partially rubber at the most likely impact points: The corners and the lip that sticks above the glass.
- Make sure it’s a case you’ll actually use. For example, if you keep your phone in your pocket and you like to wear skinny jeans, you’re not going to want a big, bulky, rubber case. It won’t look good and it will be difficult to slide in and out of your pocket.
- Make sure it’s a case that works the way you use your iPhone. Two examples here: If you frequently put your cell phone in a docking station, make sure your case allows this to happen. Secondly, if you frequently put your cell phone on your car dash as you drive, you might want something with a tackier, rubber backing so your phone doesn’t slide all over the place whenever you make a turn.
- Don’t buy pink.
We at Jet City Devices primarily focus on a line of cases from a company called Speck. They tend to be a little more expensive than a cheap decorative only case, but they do a great job of protecting your phone. In addition, they make several different styles of cases that can fit just about any lifestyle.
This is the case I use. I don’t have a pair of skinny jeans, but I do carry my phone in my front pants pocket and I need something that slides easily.
Advantages: This case is made primarily of a hard, slippery plastic that is very similar to the actual iPhone back cover. This allows it to slide easily in and out of a pocket. Like all cases, it makes the phone a little bulkier, but it’s still pretty low profile and the hard plastic helps it maintain the basic look of the non-cased iPhone. Lastly, the Candyshell uses rubber reinforcement in the corners and has a 1/8 lip of rubber that goes all the way around the phone’s glass. So I get the benefit of rubber’s shock absorbing abilities and the convenience of a “slippery” case.
Disadvantes: The biggest disadvantage of the Candyshell is that it may not fit into a docking station. So if you like to put your iPhone into a speaker system it might not fit.
Cost: $35 (includes a scratch protector)
This is an all rubber case and is actually the one my business partner, Tom, uses on his iPhone. Tom also keeps his phone in his front pocket but he tends to wear slightly baggier jeans and he tends to be a little harder on his phone than I am.
Advantages: The Pixelskin is all rubber so it provides great shock absorbing capabilities if the phone is dropped. It has extra rubber in the corners, a higher lip than the Candyshell, and it also wraps just slightly over the glass on the edges (it does not effect viewing the screen at all). While some might consider the sticky nature of an all rubber case a disadvantage, it can also be a big advantage. First, it’s a little easier to hold on to than a slippery case. Secondly, the phone won’t slide around when placed on a car dashboard or a table top. That can be a big advantage for people that like to keep it out when they drive or that have kids running around in the kitchen.
Disadvantages: The extra rubber in this case is great for protection but it does make the phone bulkier. It’s also very clear to anyone looking at it that you have a case on your phone. So for those really looking to make a fashion statement with their iPhone, this probably isn’t the one for you.
Cost: $25
The fashion minded iPhone user is definitely not going to be interested in this case. This is a big and bulky rubber case that comes with a belt clip. Think of this as the Hummer of iPhone cases. The benefit of this gargantuan mold of rubber is that this is a fantastic case for protecting your phone.
Advantages: The first, second, and third benefit of this case is that it will keep your phone very safe. Besides encasing your phone in thick rubber, it also has a belt clip that allows you to carry your phone face out or face in. By putting the phone face in, you are really helping to keep your phone’s screen safe. In general, this is a great case for people in the construction industry, police, firemen, or anyone else in a profession that is hard on equipment.
Disadvantages: The one big disadvantage here has already been mentioned: This is a big and bulky case. If you’re someone that doesn’t mind that aspect, this is one of the most protective cases you will find.
Cost: $35 (includes a scratch protector)
One last disadvantage to all of these case. Actually, this is a disadvantage for any iPhone protector anywhere: None of them will protect the screen from a direct strike to the glass face. This isn’t really the fault of the case but rather, it’s a result of having a touchscreen. By definition, you need to “touch” the screen. That means it has to be exposed and this is what makes it vulnerable. Even Superman had his Kryptonite.