The JournalA Naked iPhone
I’ve never been a big fan of cases.
I always felt that, especially with Apple products, companies work really hard to get devices as slim, clean, and sleek as possible. They work really hard to make sure that whatever device you’re using is as light as possible, and is designed just so that it feels good while being held. And you’re going to ruin all that with a case?
I don’t use a case on my iPhone, and most probably never will. Apple made the thing to be a beautiful little block of glass. Precision engineered to be as slim and light as possible. It just feels perfect when you hold it. A case - any case - ruins that. If you have an iPhone and use a case, take it off for a second. Just hold it ‘naked’ for a second, and remember how it’s supposed to feel.
Now I’m sure at this point, if you use a case, you probably just want to yell something along the lines of “But cases protect my phone! What if I drop it?!”. To that I say, let’s just be honest here. Especially with an iPhone, where cases don’t even cover the screen, if you drop your phone, it’s breaking. The second that thing hits concrete, the screen is cracking no matter what you have on it’s back. And if you drop it some place and it doesn’t break in some way, then it wouldn’t have broken if there was no case on it either. Don’t get me wrong. I am not denying the fact that there is probably some sort of slight chance, that, if you drop your phone a certain way, the case may save it (and break itself instead). Plus, some people just straight out feel safer with a case on their phone. And if you’re someone that drops your phone a lot, I hear you. (Also, Apple practically fixed this whole issue with their iPad 2 Smart Cover, as it simply covers the screen and is both functional, easily removable, and it adds essentially no weight or bulk whatsoever. I would definitely use a Smart Cover with an iPad 2 despite my following - and previous- arguments against cases as they don’t really hold up against it - it is, after all, a cover - but I don’t have an iPad 2.)
But I never drop my phone. Aside from the fact that I like it very much, just the knowledge that having to replace it unsubsidized can be close to $600, makes me treat the phone like gold. I’m telling you. I have never dropped it. And that’s not even to say that I never will. But it is to say that given the off-chance that I do, the chances of a case saving the phone are just not worth never being able to use the elegantly sleek and thin phone that I payed for.
That’s why I prefer a ‘naked’ iPhone, and as I said, most probably always will.
Oh, and I never even brought up the fact that while I have tested dozens of cases and some certainly are very clearly superior to others, no piece of plastic is worth even close to what some companies are charging for it. I’m looking at you Incase.
Of course not everyone is going to agree with me on this. And thats fine.
But I’m never ruining my beautiful iPhone with a case. Never.
Reader Comments (16)
Which model iPhone do you own?
The iPhone 4
what about those sticky things that add traction? lessens chance of dropping
I find the assumption of dropping the phone being the source of damage interesting. Working in a busy machine shop, my "beautiful little block of glass" has more than once been rendered a beautiful little pocketful of glass shards via impact with various tools/objects in the workplace.
I can't say that this is true on any scale (I only have a sample size of one user - me) but I have found that my phones last longer with a case than without. Considerably longer. If I ever manage to finish my BA and get a job involving a desk, I might be able to go without. Until then my personal experience tells me that I require a case to protect the investment that is my cell.
>>But I never drop my phone.
Man, talk about tempting fate. :)
Personally the reason I use a case is because I like the traction and insulation from the cold metal. (I use a really slim soft shell from Merkury) Holding the bare phone in my hand just feels like I'm missing something.
I tend to go partially naked. I swear by BodyGuardz skins. I get to keep the naked look, it adds a little bit of grip and protects from scratching from keys or various other objects. Sure there's no protection from dropping, but the screen and back glass stay in top shape.
I've dropped my iPhone 4 without any case from the height of 1.5m and it had _NO_ scratches, its glassy body was OK. iPhones are really great phones, I heard that even an iPhone that was 1m below the water felt OK in 1 hour. Props to Apple :)
Reason why I use a case on my iPhone 4 is that I find it really unpleasant to hold in hand when naked.
Really I don't like the design of iPhone 4 while I really like the one of the first iPhone (was using it without case ;) )
True, an iPhone is a fine piece of engineering that needs nothing else. That said, if I don't see it all the time, I'll appreciate it even more at the times when I'm holding it in my hand while actually using it. But when the phone is in my pocket, along with potentially harmful keys or coins, I prefer to have it in a stylish and matching leather sleeve. It protects front and backside of the phone. The sleeve smells very nice as a bonus :)
I've used this sleeve from the first minute, and my iPhone (3G) is in a much better condition than most I've seen.
Honestly, the 4 and 4s are really a step backwards designwise. The phone's body is pretty much guaranteed to hit any floor with a glass edge first, with instant breakage resulting. I *loved* the first iPhone - rounded corners, aluminum back. It survived quite a few drops. The new one (especially with the high weight) feels like an eccident waiting to happen, and I am not happy about it.
My BookBook case saved my iPhone in a 4 story fall on solid granite. No iPhone would ever survive that fall without a case. That said, your post is probably valid for most cheap hardcase covers.
I don't think cases are meant to protect against drops as much as they're meant to protect against scratches and other cosmetic damage. I remember having an original iPhone, and with a case after 2 years of use looked almost new; my naked iPhone 4 is pretty scratched up at this point and has chunks of glass chipped from the back from 1 1/2 years of ownership.
Another argument for naked phones though, is that the vast majority of non-case accessories are designed with the naked phone in mind. I'm specifically thinking of docks and phone holders, with fit snuggly with the plain iPhone but wouldn't work with the added bulk of a case.
@Thomas S. Nielsen
"My BookBook case saved my iPhone in a 4 story fall on solid granite. No iPhone would ever survive that fall without a case. That said, your post is probably valid for most cheap hardcase covers."
Seconded for the BookBook. The phone is still quite slim with it on, it has a front cover, and the leather looks amazing. Not to mention that I don't have to carry a wallet. It also manages to start a lot of conversations!
The naked iPhone feels too small for me. I use the Mophie Juice Pack Plus cover, which doubles as an extra battery. The phone feels more substantial to me — plus, I *have* dropped my phone ... many times unfortunately, including on concrete. I have no doubt that if I had dropped it without the case I would have had a broken screen. Also, I never have to worry about running out of battery!
Agreed. I've never used a case on any iPhone (I've owned every model but for the 4S which I've yet to upgrade to) and I'm constantly surprised with their durability. I drop mine somewhat regularly and only have minor scratches. Cases just feel wrong and they certainly destroy the beautiful industrial design.
Oh, and I think anyone who believes the iPhone 4(s) isn't the most beautiful iPhone to date just doesn't have any taste ;-)