Most people I see in public don't have a case on their phone. But I also see a lot of people with fucked up phones and cracked screens, so maybe they should.

A lot of people also don't spent that much on their phone, or have an easy, cheaper way to replace it through their carrier. Mine for example, I can usually find a current flagship device for no money down and pay it off $20-30 extra on my bill if I was to get a new device for any reason, or use the protection warranty and only spend $100 for a replacement on my current device if I lose it or break it.

They could also be work devices, owned by the company they work for and simply DGAF.

I don't use a phone case. I already think phones are too big. Adding a case makes the phone even bigger and even bulkier. I'm usually pretty good at not dropping my phone.

Yes, usually, because I actually did drop it recently. 😅 Although, the screen is fine. It just has a little love tap on the corner. It's got character now. It's got the "worn" look.

The only reason I started using cases is because they made the latest Pixels so low friction that they refuse to stay put on most surfaces.

I paid for the titanium phone, I'm gunna look at the titanium phone.

I refuse to use a case on principle. The idea that you need a case to protect a phone from everyday use is so ass-backwards it hurts my brain. (and was not always the situation!)

It would be so much more space, weight, and cost efficient to simply engineer in the durability provided by a case through the use of proper materials and construction. But apparently marketing thinks nobody would buy a phone that looks and feels out of the box the way a phone with a case feels. So we end up with these thin, elegant, glass and polished aluminum devices... that most of the population has to immediately hide inside a bulky plastic/rubber case to have a chance of surviving 6 months.

Imagine if a carmaker sold a premium vehicle with a polished metal and glass exterior that you had to protect under a vinyl wrap to keep it from rusting and chipping under normal use... they'd be a laughing stock!

Never use a case. Had one on my blackberry back in the day, but never since. I'm pretty careful with my phone. When I am holding it, I recognize that it's a $500 device and needs to be treated with care. That being said, I am a strong supporter of being present in the moment and my phone usually only comes out if I need to call/text or look up some information. Unless im sitting in a vehicle or waiting room, I just don't really use my phone much.

Yes. Never had one, never needed one, never cracked my screen.

Just makes the phone unnecessarily bigger and uncomfortable to put in your pocket.

I was initially in the minimalist camp of just getting coverage for it and going naked.

Then someone stepped on it and I had to go through the whole ordeal of scheduling and getting it fixed.

After that I started applying screen protectors and using a case.

Not using one with my fairphone, it's bulky enough already, the entire back is replaceable for cheap and the frame looks solid. I dropped it quite a lot, including on some hard surfaces, and it's only made a few superficial marks, like it scraped the frame's shiny coating in that spot, but that's about it.

I do use screen protectors though. They're cheap and are not as intrusive as cases. Just changed it after years of service actually, the thing was all fucked up with scratches and missing glass everywhere, and the actual screen under was absolutely spotless.

I don’t use them. Or screen protectors . I take good care of my devices, and my phone gets its own pocket always, so no scratches. I’ve only broken 1 phone in my life and it was only the back glass on an iPhone 4, which slipped off my motorcycle seat because that fucking phone was frictionless.

I always use a case and I never spend £1k on a phone. More like £300

Yes. No case. Why would I? I specifically got the phone because it's quite small, and feels nice in the hand. A case would ruin that.

I also have not dropped any of my phones once in the past ~10 years.

Case for nonslip surface, and a wrist strap.

A wrist strap on your phone will change your life.

• you can dangle the phone from your wrist
• you can attach the phone to a sling like a photo grapher
• you can hang the phone from a hook or door knob
• you can hold the phone vertically on your hand without Gripping it (tension pyramid)
• on airplanes you can hang the phone from the tray table in front of you
• easy to grab the phone when your blindly groping for it

I use a $5 thin silicone case. Just enough to cushion the blow. I haven't broken any phones, but I drop them a lot.

Always a case! I need a case with a clear back so I can put Bad Dragon stickers on the back without using their adhesive.

I also get giant phones so a pop socket is necessary.

I wouldn't need a case if the phone were designed with proper bevels. You literally can't set an uncased phone on a flat surface without scratching the screen or camera (which sticks out awkwardly).

And don't get me started on the screens with curved edges. Complete garbage design (why yes, I'd love to accidentally use touch gestures just by holding the device, frrrrrrt).

My roommate has done this for years and they always shatter within a year or two. Don't understand why he insists upon it. I'd say the majority of his time is spent with a shattered screen because he won't replace the screen for months

Made the mistake of buying an iPhone 15, it's so thin and boxy that it's uncomfortable to hold without a case and the stupid camera array sticks out so much it does not lie flat on a surface when put down, even with a case

case and glass screen protector

i once removed the case to clean it, and the slippery phone fell and cracked the back glass

also, in the period that i didnt have the screen protector, it got all rigged up by the house keys, and eventually cracked from a 50cm fall.

never again.

I had a case for a little while. I don’t remember the phone/model, but I hated how it felt. Anyway, haven’t had a phone case in like 15+ years.

E: I usually keep my phones for 5-6 years. The phones have been fine. Perhaps I’m just more careful with them.

I get the smallest phone available and don’t use a case because I don’t like the bulk.

I also figure a smaller piece of glass is less likely to break when dropped, so the size is a sort of protection in itself.

I use a case because I need somewhere to keep my cards.

I would likely go case-less if it wasn’t for my dry hands, and the occasional need to have my phone sit on my leg (while I am driving) so I can go hands-free with it.

My problem is that any phone without a case (and about 99.999% of cases out there) has the phone being as slippery as an enraged hagfish. It literally leaps out of my hands with most operations, which is why I need a case -- to grip it effectively.

And now with my iPhone 15 pro max, I have been in a desperate search for any case which is sticky enough. As in: with the phone in the case, place it face-up on your open palm without gripping it and tilt your palm 30-45°. If it slides off, the case is too slippery. I’ve had sticky cases before, but it seems that everyone suddenly stopped making them some time after the iPhone X.

Yep, I hate cases. Naked phone all the way 🤘

I tried to use my phone without a cover, but it's so thin that I don't like the feeling. So I went back to my cover only for the added thickness.

I have a pixel 9. I use a case that is slim, but larger than the bezel so when I accidentally launch it off of my lap across the room, it will survive. I can't do thick cases.

I have used android phones without a case. Only one ended up with a crack.

I got a work phone. It's an iPhone. Cracked screen in less than a week.

Naked pixel 8 check again. I do need to add a screen protector just so that it's got a little bit more protection.

I always use a case, but I’m pretty careful with my phone. I would probably be fine without one, but I just feel better having one.

Typically buy a phone for $100 and immediately put it in a cheap $5 TPU case with a $5 tempered glass screen cover.

The case usually outlasts the phone. The screen cover gets replaced every few years.

I used to use a case and protective screen, but never broke a phone from dropping or anything. So one day I just got tired of my phone feeling all huge and janky and stripped it down. Never went back.

I have a case on my $79 Motorola lol. Even if I ever bought a $1000 phone (I wouldn't) I would still put a case on it. Unless I trying to flex 💪🏼

My phone is cheap and old as hell. I absolutely do not care of I drop it and it stops working. Actually it already did that, but unfortunately the disassembly and repair only took about an hour so it's gonna remain usable for a while. It is also a tank. Cannot fathom people who take care of their phones. It's so much easier to just not give a fuck.

Redmi 9T.

Work phone is not in a case because IDGAF. Personal phone, always Spigen or go home.

Hell no. Case and screen protector always. The glass screen protector is also a privacy screen, I've cracked one so far in like 5 years. My case also holds my card.

These are already large and big enough to hate them... last thing I want is extravolume/weight. Also, I paid for the neat experience and I am going to enjoy it till the end...

I've got a pixel 8 and it's honestly way too thin and slippery without the case.

I have a screen protector but no outer case. Q

Seems like most people prefer cases based on what I see around me. Personally I don't like the additional bulk plus I'm careful enough with handheld objects to not drop them. Haven't destroyed any phone so far.

SM-A50 for ~2 years now w/o a case, dropped multiple times onto carpeted concrete from ~3 feet and a couple times on tiled floor from ~3-5 feet and worst it got was a scratch about an inch long that you can only see if you're looking for it. Last month fumbled it onto parking lot asphalt which finally gave it a proper crack but it's only on the bottom where there isn't any touchscreen so decently lucky I guess. I've seen so many cased phones with screens looking far worse. If you're a clutz you probably should have one but if you treat it right and it's not a piece of junk then it should last.

I always have a case. Basically every phone I’ve tried has felt too slippery without one to me, so I get one that’s a little more grippy

I even put a case on a rugged phone. It does look a bit ridiculous.
I have one older phone that feels really nice without case, but I too put it in one, a wallet case, because it's a secondary device, and thus is often in worse places. Possibly even a pocket with keys.

I've used phones without cases before, and never broke one. However, I did get to find out that one of them, new enough to have USB-C, had plastic camera lenses. Archos 55DC, to shame it.

I don’t use a case. I like my phone to be small (have an iPhone 13 mini) and a case would somewhat negate that advantage. I also haven’t really seen a case that I like the look of.

I do have a vinyl sticker on the back but it’s more for looks than for protection.

Modern phones are surprisingly durable. I mean, of course, over the time I have my phone it collected a few small nicks on the frame and a few minor scratches on the display but it’s a device I use daily after all.

I’ve only ever had two phones break on me and one of them (my iphone 4S) was accidentally flung across the room by the neighbour‘s boy and even it only needed a new back glass, which I fixed myself.

I used to not use a case, because I had a ruggedized hiking phone that didn't need one.

I think at least 2 people I work with don't have cases. For me I think it's more about function than protection at this point. Phones are so damn thin they're actually kind of uncomfortable to hold compared to one with a case, and I feel more likely to drop it without a case. I always get a case with some kind of kickstand which I use often enough to feel is justified.

I always use a case, protecting my investment is crucial! There are randoms I see out in the wild who don't use cases and have very damaged devices.

I don't use cases. Don't like how they feel in my hand. I also don't drop my phone, because I don't do multiple things at a time.

Yes, I am childless, why do you ask?

I'm just so clumsy, I need the protection. I personally like my phone naked (it's a pretty green 💚), but clear covers are usually flimsy so it's covered for safety. I can't afford a new phone, and cracks irritate me too much. 😔

I was always a flip case kind of person for two reasons, hold a few cards, some notes and to protect the screen.

I've got a pixel 7 pro now and I came across a flip case that has magnets on the silicon housing that holds the phone and I can remove the phone from it whenever I want.

I have most of the important cards digitised now and I rarely carry cash so 95% of the time I have it out of the flip case.

18 months in and there's not one sign of a scratch on my screen and I've dropped it a few times.

I have no idea why I'm saying this.

I’ve not used a case in years. I drop it regularly when I’m at home on the carpet, but outside of that, it might get dropped from hip height once a year. I’ve only ended up with a hairline crack on a single phone in 15 years of owning them.

No case, no problems so far. I've had numerous phones over the last 20 years, never had a case, and never had an issue. Don't drop your phones.

I did buy a case for my son's first phones, but I wouldn't suggest he need one now. He is certainly old enough to take care with it.

My kid does.

And I wish she wouldn't. To clarify, we've bought her cases and she destroys the case in days.

She's more careful with her bare phone than she is with it in a case.

I use a case. And every phone I've owned over the last 15+ years has looked like new years after buying them.

Not only do they keep their value (if sold), but if given as a hand-me-down, they are "like new".

Worth it, IMO.

When phones were made of plastic, yes

Like the Google Nexus 5X (with a vinyl on the back because they chose the shittiest rubbery coating that get sticky with permanent fingerprints)

I always use a case and can't really think of anyone I know who doesn't.

Yep, same iphone for six years now.

I've never used a case and never broken a screen. I've only replaced my last several phones due to swollen batteries. Although, I've definitely dropped my phone a couple times where I thought for sure that my streak would be over, but I've just been lucky.

I haven't ever broken a phone when I've dropped it, so no case or cover. It goes in my pocket with keys sometimes but has no notable scratches after 2 years

Most people I know have cases on their phones, yeah.

But in case it is helpful my own phone (Pixel 7) has no case/screen protector. Also my phone has cracks on the back and one corner so this tracks :P (but otherwise it has held up quite well)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4yIWg_LElc

Relevant college humor

Been using my Pixel 4a for almost 5 years now - had a case from day 1, which started to disintegrate somewhere during year 4. Figured the phone would crap out well before a second case, so took the Ivan Drago attitude ("if he dies, he dies"). Never dropped it, barely losing any charging capacity, and a better user experience with a (relatively) small, light phone.

I believe that if a phone would've needed a case/screen protector, it would had it just built in (i.e. made the actual phone casing/screen stronger). And that's what modern phones have: gorilla glass, metal in the casing etc.

I use a phone w/o a case, I dropped it multiple times, its metal bezels have successfully protected it so far - the screen hasn't cracked.

Yes. Savages.

Yes. I found myself removing the case to my iPhone 1.0 to show off the form factor over and over and decided to ditch it. Haven't used a case since.

I don't use a case, pretty much for exactly the same reasons mentioned in the old collegehumor video https://youtu.be/q4yIWg_LElcI gave up using a case several years ago and still have never had an issue

Just once and shattered my screen when the vibration motor knocked the phone of a table. 100€ later and a lot wiser, I am fully geared up.

I bought the galaxy fold 3 when it came out and stopped using cases or screen protectors about a year ago when I realized I never drop my phone (knock on wood). This phone can be pretty thick with a case added so I prefer it this way.

I have toddlers I think that answers your question

Never use a case but always use a screen protector as replacing the screen often costs almost as much as a new phone.

I use a case and usually a screen protector. They get broken pretty frequently anyway.

I 3D printed my phone case. I had considered going without a case, but the Snap 4 Luxe, which I absolutely love, adheres better to cases than the bare phone. That could be my fault, maybe I didn’t clean the phone or adhesive properly, but if I have the phone on a magnet sometimes the Snap stays behind.

So I found a case design someone else made, brought it into Blender (because I don’t know CAD), thickened the back to the same distance as the Snap, then made a hole for the Snap and made sure to include a lip to cover over its curved bezel. I printed the first few layers in a tough 68D TPU, then switched to a 95A TPU for the rest. The tough layers and the lip keep the Snap held to the phone even when the adhesive fails, and the softer TPU makes the case easy to put on and remove.

(This is like, my seventh iteration of this case, and it sure seems flawless for the past few weeks.)

This lets me use the Snap with as little wireless charging distance as possible. I found that some cases added to the inherent 2.5mm of the Snap are just too much distance to reliably charge using weaker qi chargers. With this setup I can wirelessly charge much more reliably! And since I thickened the back of the case, the magnets on the Snap now sit flush with the rest of the back, making qi2-based external batteries more manageable.

No, because even cheap smart phones are often expensive and difficult to repair. My current phone is an s10 ive had since 2020 and even today it would cost me £50 to replace the screen myself.

I refuse to treat my phone as disposable so when i very rarely buy a new phone, ill buy one that i could repair myself and with internals that will last a long time.

Budget phones are usually out for me because they usually become annoyingly slow after only a few years which means i usually end up spending more for a mid range which means repairs cost more if i need them. Therefore putting a decent case on it makes sense.

Bought a repairable phone and only use a screen protector now. If it were to break it's not that expensive a repair (never paid more than $500 for a phone anyways, seems ridiculous to me), and I've dropped it plenty of times and it hasn't broken yet in nearly 4 years. Doesn't seem necessary.

I use one because it had one in the box. Otherwise, I would've purchased one since the back is prone to scratches and degradation. It also adds a level of protection to the phone.

I left my phone fall for the firsr tine when I was in line to pay for it. I could never not use a case.

I have used a case on the last three phones, all Samsung, because they seem to be of a form factor intended to have a case. I find the naked phone to be a bit thing and slippery, so I get a case that doesn't add a lot of thickness but has a rubbery kind of texture and slap a pop socket on the back to make it even easier to keep in my hand as I'm a bit clumsy and fumble stuff.

No screen protector though. Only cracked the corners of one phone that was in a flip case by fumbling it onto rough concrete sideways and the cover flipped open. No issues with the phones since with just a back and edge protector despite dropping it a number of times.

I don't use one, though my phone is second hand and I charge it wirelessly. A case would make it change worse

I don't have a case on my work phone. I carry two phones so I don't need the extra bulk and if it breaks oh no I have to get a newer phone!

I used to but now I'm using a very thin case from Latercase. I'd say cases are the norm.

I stopped using a case a couple phones ago. Haven't broken anything yet and my last phone was 7 when it stopped getting security updates and I had to move on.

My wife always uses a case and screen protector and has still broken more than one.

My friend Greg does. I don’t get it.

I do, cuz i got a quadlock mount for it on my bike

I have a had a Samsung fold since it came out so yeah

Just trying interstellar on PieFed. Says 119 comments but only see four. Also not sure what profile name it'll use as I have two on one email address. (edit - it picked my old one.)

No case. Dropped and cracked my screen after 15 months. Ordered a new screen on mobilehq and will install next week. I prefer the lightness and the soft back of my g84.

I change it depending if i feel like it or not.
If something breaks its like at most a 90€ replacement part

I don't use protective cases with any of my phones. I've read that phone cases can cause them to overheat, as they trap the heat in and seeing that my phones already get pretty hot after most gaming sessions, I just don't use them.

I do, however, have pop sockets for all of my phones and when I leave the house, I always carry my phones in a purse when I'm not using them.

I didn't for a long time, but I did eventually get the most basic, thinnest black rubber "sleeve" I could fine just to prevent basic slipping. Nothing to protect falling really.

I used a Dbrand skin for awhile.

I never use a case for my phone, and have broken them only twice, which is a better success rate than most people I know. I wouldn’t buy a sports car and cover it up to drive it, so why would I cover my expensive phone to use it? I do get AppleCare though, so I’m not out a full 1k if disaster strikes.

I haven't used a case in years I just have a phone warranty, costs $12/mo and if anything happens to my phone I walk into Best Buy and get a new phone.

Case and screen protector. This phone cost me over a grand, and you only need to drop it once.

Would you drive a car without a seatbelt?

Niel Degrass Tyson does. He apparently juggles his phone constantly so that he gets used to not dropping it.