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Smartphone cases are unarguably the most used accessory by people. Whether it is a young child or an old person, all individuals who use a smartphone are likely to use it with a case. But I often ponder, are smartphones really meant to be used with a case? In this article, I will be discussing what I feel after using my phone without a case for a long time.
Aesthetic Function of Phone Cases
Before we assess the need for a phone case, we have to understand the aesthetic value that a phone case possesses.
Phone cases are an aesthetic add-on. It is through one’s phone case that they display their interests. It allows them to express themselves. If someone likes a musician or a sports team, they will likely use their phone with a case of an image of their favorite musician or team. In this way, that person is showing their affection for the said examples. Moreover, they are displaying their affection to onlookers. Why, you ask? It is their wish. I wouldn’t argue with that, but I am intrigued to point out this psychological behavior.
Adding on to the aesthetic value, a phone with a case significantly contributes to public attention. If a person is holding a phone with a simple case, often one with a dark colour, no one will really notice. But at the same time, if that person were to use a phone case with a flashy design, it is almost certain that people will notice it. The person, more particularly the person’s phone, will be a walking spectacle. A person can choose to use a flashy case and receive attention, or use a simple case, only relying on its practicality and not its aesthetic.
Here is a visual comparison to explain what I mean. Imagine a scenario where a person is holding a phone to their ear and talking to someone. If they were holding the first phone case from the picture below, you may not notice them. But at the same time, if they were holding the second phone case, you most probably would’ve noticed their phone case and admired it for its aesthetic.
Now I am neither asking you to stare at people nor to not use flashy phone cases. If I were to use a phone case, I would pick a flashy one over a simple one, as I am not the biggest utilitarian when it comes to choosing phone cases.
When Does a Person Buy a Case?
Now let’s dive into the cues that trigger a person to buy a phone case. When a person buys a new smartphone, they also buy a case for it, and will prefer to use it with a case. This is an impulsive action. It is human behavior that whenever something of considerable value is purchased, the commodity should be insured from accidents. That is the cue. The thought process would go something like: “If I use a phone case, I will protect my valuable phone. Hence, I should invest some money into protecting my expensive device that I use daily.”
Think of it as a helmet or a seatbelt. You wear these whenever you ride an automobile. Why do you do so? To prevent hurting yourself. Just like that, people will buy a case for their smartphone to prevent it from damage.
The Need for a Case
But my question is, do we really need a smartphone case? This is a very subjective question. If you don’t have a tendency to drop things, then you should be fine to use a phone without a case. Why? Because phones are durable. They are resistant to water and dust, with official certifications like IP69. Dropping phones in water or dust should be fine most of the time. Moreover, most smartphone displays are made of Corning Gorilla Glass, a type of glass that is much more durable and scratch-resistant than normal glass. This, paired with a screen protector, will protect the display almost all the time.
Now, none of this is affected when a case is used. A case mainly protects the back of the phone, which is the biggest concern, especially on phones with a glass back. The problem with phones having a glass back is that it is prone to breaking. It may give a much more premium in-hand feel, but the breaking factor is the elephant in the room. But an argument to this would be that insurance programs like AppleCare+ would insure the broken glass for about ₹2500 ($29), while the standard pricing would’ve been ₹14,900 ($169).
But if you are to use such a phone with a case, you will lose the thin, premium feel that the phone offers. Companies have spent millions on R&D to make phones as thin and premium as possible. Using a smartphone with a case will heavily thicken the phone, killing premiumness.
While phone cases do offer safety, they come with this heavy trade-off. Moreover, if you were to use a flashy case, you would be losing that beautiful design that your phone has. But that can easily be solved by using a transparent case.
My Experience of Going Caseless
Personally, I have been using my OnePlus 11R, which has a vegan leather back, without a case for about a month now. Phones with vegan leather backs are very prone to damage if used without a case. But during my use, I have not faced any damage, even after throwing my phone across the bed. While I do not condone throwing phones, but I had to do it for, let’s say, research purposes.
I have been loving this experience. Using such a gorgeous phone without a case is a blissful feeling. The vegan leather back feels very nice to hold. After using my phone with a case for a long time, using the phone without a case for an extended period of time gives me joy. I feel happier and more content when I use my phone now.
I do have to say, phone cases give me a security of hygiene. I use my phone at the gym, and more often than not, I keep my phone on benches where countless number of people have worked out. Sadly, most of the time, I do not have a case. But when I do have a case, the moment I get home, I remove the case and let it air dry. For the purpose of hygiene, I sometimes quickly put on a Spigen case before heading to the gym, just to feel better about the hygienic conditions.
Final Verdict: With Case or Without?
My final verdict is that using a phone with a case is subjective. But I have made it easier to decide. Just refer to the table below.
| Instance | What to do |
| If you care about the safety of the product | Go ahead, apply a case. Because at the end of the day, glass is glass, and glass breaks. |
| If you have your device insured | You really don’t have to use a case. Even if something happens, your insurance will fix it for you. |
| If you don’t worry about the safety of the product, but aren’t insured | Do a mix of both like I do. Use a phone case when you go outside, don’t use a case when you are using it at home, and try your best not to drop it. |
| If you care about the aesthetic value | Please! For phone cases, the sky is the limit. You have a plethora of brands to choose from, a trillion designs to bejewel your phone with. You can enjoy decorating your phone just the way you like it. |
| If you care about the design of the phone, and also its safety | As I said, do a mix of both. |
| If you are passionate about the design of the phone | Just ditch the case! |
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