Does the iPhone Need a Case?

milimetersquared · June 21, 2008 8:54AM

i'm planning on buying an iphone when july 11 rolls around, but am unsure whether i will need to, in addition, purchase a case for it. most of the iphones i see around today are encased in some way or another, but i remember reading an early review (of the first gen iphone) by someone at macworld, who stated that, despite carrying it around in his pocket for a week unprotected, it showed no noticeable scratches, either on the front or the back.

now, i know the 3g iphone has a plastic back, so no one can account for how that will react to hard materials/contact, but, for those of you who already have an iphone, have you found that having a case made much of a difference or was necessary?

i ask this because the iphone's form and appearance are dazzling, and every case i've seen has merely induced ugliness into the otherwise sleek exterior. in addition, i am a cheap, thrifty, money-grubbing scrooge, and don't want to pay for a case, lol.

thanks for the help and advice.

waxxel · June 21, 2008 9:18AM

Absolutely YES!I have a iPhone and I didn't use a case until recently and I have all kinds of scratches and dings on my iPhone. However the case I have now is great and I really love it. Its a Otter box, best case I have ever found.

mr. me · June 21, 2008 9:21AM

No cell phone needs a case. Most people use cases as holsters for their phones. I bought one for my iPhone. The case was less durable than the phone. Think about what you want a case to do. Then study the various case designs. You may find that one or more cases fulfills your desires. If it does, then buy it. If not, then don't.

milimetersquared · June 21, 2008 9:56AM

how does the glass screen stand up to everyday wear and tear, say, in a pocket? does it get scratched easily, or is it only the metal casing which is vulnerable?

brandon639 · June 21, 2008 10:29AM

There are many screen scratch tests on sites like YouTube, and the screen holds up very well.

mydo · June 21, 2008 12:27PM

I got a case and film over the screen mostly for peace of mind.

nofeer · June 21, 2008 1:35PM

I'm planning on getting a holster by body glove because the clip doesn't slip off my pants when i bend, and i'm planning on putting a "skin" protective case that protects the screen and the corners

cell phones fall on the corners and bingo broken..... i'm making mine double protected

but if there is a better clip or holster let me know. it can't slip when you bend over or sit in a chair

any ideas for a protective case??

mr. me · June 21, 2008 2:14PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milimetersquared

how does the glass screen stand up to everyday wear and tear, say, in a pocket? does it get scratched easily, or is it only the metal casing which is vulnerable?

I bought my iPhone on June 29, 2007, its first day on sale. It has not a mark on it. If it were susceptible to scratches, chips, and dents, then you would have heard caterwauling from Rome to Cupertino.

milimetersquared · June 21, 2008 2:37PM

how roughly/much do you use it? do you use a case?

machope theworld · June 21, 2008 5:10PM

If you're clumsy, you'd probably want a case. I've dropped my iPhone so many times from various heights onto various surfaces without a case. Because of this, my iPhone now has 2 cracks: annoying, but not disabling.

Scratch resistance is great, I don't have any on my screen. The other parts of the phone are more scratch-prone, but not dramatically more than other phones.

I am very clumsy so I bought an Incase Slider Case. Within a week, I dropped my phone (again) onto concrete. The case has a little crack, but my iPhone didn't develop any more cracks anywhere.

Yay, it was useful.

serial · June 21, 2008 5:21PM

I have had mine since august 2007 and I never used a case, no scratches on the screen. The only things that scratched slightly are the chromed apple logo and screen border, but those scratches are invisible from more than a few inches away.

imho no case needed

EDIT: i use the phone on a daily basis, carry it in my pocket and sometimes (by accident) place my keys in the same pocket....

nvidia2008 · June 21, 2008 5:46PM

Case + Screen Protector. It is quite essential IMO. The type all depends on your needs/ tastes/ etc.

tands · June 21, 2008 6:40PM

I have had my beloved iPhone 8GB since iDay (6.23 pm). I have never used a case, but I have long been a fan of the products from egrips ( www.egrips.com ). I used their products for my Treo600, 650 and 680. They don't interfere with the look and "slimness" of the iPhone. One thing that I might also try with my iPhone 3G (which I intend to get on July 11th) is this mytouchkeys screen protector which I've heard helps with typing ( http://www.mytouchkeys.com/ )

Just to clarify, my iPhone is scratch and ding free (apart from those microscratches on the chrome apple & bezel). I have never dropped it (in no small part due to the egrips to which I added egrip strips on the side from one of their generic sets). Last but not least I use my iPhone a LOT, and no I don't work for either of the companies that make these products. I just wholeheartedly recommend their products from my personal experiences, and those of my friends (mytouchkeys).

Another product I love is the Aliph Jawbone Bluetooth earpiece, which is made worlds better with a custom ear mould which I got from Avery Sound ( http://www.averysound.com )(yet again, no I don't work for either)

Hope this advice is of some help.

corkurk · June 22, 2008 7:21PM

Anyone have any experience with the "invisible shield" type of protection? I like the idea of not having a bulky case, but I also wonder if this type of thing actually lives up to the hype. I saw and read some positive reviews, but wondered if there were any personal experiences out there?

http://www.zagg.com/

thanks!

tdhockeyfan424 · June 22, 2008 7:44PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corkurk

Anyone have any experience with the "invisible shield" type of protection? I like the idea of not having a bulky case, but I also wonder if this type of thing actually lives up to the hype. I saw and read some positive reviews, but wondered if there were any personal experiences out there?

http://www.zagg.com/

thanks!

i have a sheild like that from the apple store and it works perfectly keeping it clean, scrath free andgoos, but i think if i dropped it it might break, DUHHH. but i havent tried tht.

to keep it clan and scrathc free, get a protection shield like invisable sheild, but if umight drop it on if u dnt have pockets get like a rubber case or cse with a belt clip

corkurk · June 23, 2008 2:23PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdhockeyfan424

i have a sheild like that from the apple store and it works perfectly keeping it clean, scrath free andgoos, but i think if i dropped it it might break, DUHHH. but i havent tried tht.

to keep it clan and scrathc free, get a protection shield like invisable sheild, but if umight drop it on if u dnt have pockets get like a rubber case or cse with a belt clip

That's kind of what I thought. Good for keeping it looking ok, but not good for heavy duty wear and tear (or dropping...).

Thanks for the help.

a_greer · June 24, 2008 1:47PM

a friend was in a motorcycle wreck and skidded several feet with the iphone between himself and the ground, he broke many bones, but the iphone is just fine

I have inadvertantly dropped mine down a flight of stairs, no problem...

neither had a case

shanemaren · August 9, 2010 5:26AM

It's obvious that a iphone needs a case, there are variety of cases available in the market with different features and designs. Choose the best which suits your requirement. But still I would like to recommend you the best according to me and i.e. Otterbox . Otterbox always come with great designs and great protection too in all areas whether it is water or dust.

Does the iPhone Need a Case?

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