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Do you use a case on your iPhone?

  • Yes

    Votes: 1,151 66.2%
  • Yes, but will be removing it

    Votes: 70 4.0%
  • No

    Votes: 379 21.8%
  • No, but will be getting one

    Votes: 13 0.7%
  • Sometimes

    Votes: 126 7.2%

  • Total voters
    1,738
I've owned iphones since 2007. From 2007 until iPhone X, I never used cases and I never had problems with dropping them and shattering my screen. Then I dropped my iPhone X and the whole screen shattered. It cost me an arm and a leg to replace it. Ever since, I've been using cases. They've saved my a** multiple times. I love the feeling of a naked iphone but these things are so expensive you gotta protect your investment.
 
I use one of the ultra thin cases and have for probably a decade or more. They help protect the phone’s edges from nicks and burrs which are uncomfortable to hold after a fall. For me that’s not about “do I have to replace this after an accident” and more about “am I annoyed at the tactile experience after I drop this or it falls from a pocket or my cat knocks it off a table”. And a screen protector has on more than one occasion absorbed all of the impact from a fall, shattering while the screen itself remained intact.
 
I haven't had a case since the iPhone 5s, and even that was only because I needed a Mophie battery toward the end of its life. My current iPhone 12 Pro has never had a case. I'm not clumsy, and I am generally careful, but I've dropped it a few times. I got this 12 Pro on pre-order, so it's 4+ years old now. I don't see any reason why it wouldn't make it until next fall, when I'll likely buy a 17 Pro.

Current iPhone lenses are pretty durable. I scratched up one of the older ones (iPhone 4, maybe?) but nothing since then.
 
I went caseless without ac+ on my 13PM for two years, then again with my 15P for a year. I got a super annoying scratch on the 15P, so I got a screen protector for my 16+. I’m caseless otherwise but do have ac+ this time.
 
I use a case to protect the camera lenses. I think they’d get easily scratched if placed on a table many times a day. I would prefer not to use a case, but, I know I’d damage my phone without one.
I always put my phone face down for this reason (I always have a screen protector on) and then for notifications I always have my Apple watch on.
 
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Okay, I decided to go with a minimalistic slim case and it's on order but I don't want to go into which case it is because that's just another separate discussion on its own.

Thanks for the comments 🙂
 
I've almost exclusively gone caseless all the way back to the iPhone 7. Hate how they add bulk to the phone, and I have Apple Care, so that's my virtual case should something catastrophic happen. I've found that it's actually pretty difficult to scratch the screen with my own use, so I don't know what kind of crazy abuse people put their phones through... 😆
 
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I went caseless on my previous two phones, but I have an Otterbox Symmetry on my 16PM primarily because I'll be out in the woods, water, and weeds shooting photos with it and wanted the peace of mind for this pricey piece of kit.
 
Always caseless. Cases are for people who break their phones. Correlation or causation; no one can be sure.

to answer the question:
The experience of using the phone is excellent, especially in terms of its design and slim profile. These phones are specifically crafted to be used without cases, with significant attention given to the material science behind the metal casing. The build quality reflects this thoughtful engineering.

However, the downside of not using a case is that it tends to draw a lot of attention. If you prefer to avoid that, it might be a consideration. It sounds exaggerated, but I get asked often (with surprise) why my phone doesn’t have a case!
 
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Been caseless since last year. I firmly believe that there are no good cases for the current design (15/16 lines). Same with screen protectors.

Who would've thought making the edges ever so slightly rounded would make good accessories so hard to come by?
 
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I went caseless with my 3G. Ended up dropping it and cracked the screen. I've used a case of some sort ever since. I think the 5 was the last iPhone I had that I was pretty comfortable with caseless, but I needed the grip of a case so I could stand it up against things to watch videos. Now that the cameras stick out I don't trust them not to get damaged, and the entire back of the phone being glass is also a concern, so I only take my case off for short periods to clean the phone and case or to use accessories which don't work right with the case on.
 
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I have never used a case since Nokia, Motorola, Blackberry, SideKick, Android G1, and then iPhone 3GS onwards.

I have never dropped or scratched any of these phones and it's continuously a better and lighter experience.

My advice: NEVER USE A CASE.

However, if you are the type who drops your phone several times a day, as some people seem to, then of course, use a case. But you already said that you do not drop your phone.

So, NEVER USE A CASE.
 
My advice: ALWAYS USE A CASE.

Even if you think there are actually people who drop their phone “several times a day”, as few, if any, people ever do, then, of course, you'll declare that only THEY should use a case. But those who declare that about OTHERS are the very ones who, sooner or later, will drop their phone catastrophically and wish they had used a case! 😀

So, ALWAYS USE A CASE. 💯 👍🏽
 
Free yourself! It’s an amazing feeling. Have a case for certain instances. I have a screen protector and run both my 15 pm and 16 pro case less
 
I hate cases, they don't last, are ugly, look lousy after a short while, add bulk and restrict the use of accessories. That said, I'm using a Nomad leather back on my 16 Pro, because the damn thing is too slippery and difficult to handle without it. The leather back is my best compromise between usability and going nekkid.

I always get AppleCare+ for my phones but only had to use it once so far (Apple waived the repair fee).
 
agreed, 16 Pro is sooo much nicer without a case. But I keep the case on most of the time anyway because accidents do happen, and it'd be pretty expensive to repair or replace (no AppleCare+). If you do go caseless, you can still use a screen protector and set the phone down face down.
 
Best solution I have found is a Nomad Goods magnetic back and a screen protector. My camera button is open, my camera module is raised enough to not scratch on desks, it’s got a bit of texture, and it’s super light.

Of course I have AppleCare in case I do drop it, but in 20 years the only real damage I’ve done to any phone is scratching the screen.
 
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For the past 3 decades I've dropped my 2G, 3G, 4G & 5G phones on a monthly basis.

Due to the mass and glass of multi-touch smartphones I was forced to put a case on it.

I go with a non-rugged case to make easier to sell after 2-3 years.

In the 18 years of using iPhones I never experienced a cracked screen so I never installed front glass.

Even if he saleability was not at issue I dont want to use a janky device for ~2-3 years.

For the iPad I really need a rugged case as I've experienced dropping it at its corners with the case and it still bent.

Resulting in worsening wi-fi signal.

I dont put a case on my Macbook Air or Pro as I doubt any case that I'd willingly use would be able to protect it effectively.
 
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I got an iPhone 16 a couple of months ago and ordered a case from Amazon. Two days later it arrived and as I was fitting it on the iPhone the phone slipped out of my hands and hit a granite table top from 2 feet high. The glass case in back shattered. After I finished a cursing and arm-waving and garment rending episode I found out that with Applecare they will fix it for $30. The design has changed from previous phones so now you can change tha back by heating up the glue and prying off the back and they did it at the Apple store in 2 hours.
 
I had a bumper case shortly on the iPhone 4s, and used a corded case intermittently when I had to use crutches after surgery and had the phone hung around the neck, but apart from that I’ve gone caseless since the 3GS. What sense is there in having a nicely designed phone if you have to hide it away in a case? Also, the added bulk and weight is a significant downside to me. I’d rather live with some minor signs of wear.

I broke the display glass two times and had it replaced, once with the 5 (IIRC) where I was too careless handling it while sitting on a bike, and once with the 6 because that model was super slippery with the rounded aluminum edges. Those replacements were well worth it to me for not having to use a case the rest of the time.

Of course, everyone is different. Some people drop their phone all the time and would have to have it repaired or replaced every few months. You need to be fine with the risk that accidents can happen, and that you may accumulate some small scratches over time.
 
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I’ve pretty much never used a case.

Used to get phone insurance included with my bank account and in that time (original to X), I had 2 phones fall out of my pocket but never actually dropped one and I’ve always been able to trade them in as ‘excellent’.

Ironically the one time I did try using a case on my iPhone 12 - not sure why, as I’ve never used a case on any phone I’ve ever had - I dropped it within days and despite being an Apple case it got chipped and cracked!

I had AppleCare on my 15 (and have on the 16) and found it got a few more scratches than normal, which I put down to the fact I can easily get an express replacement delivered next day if needs be.
 
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I've never really used a case for my phones. I did have one on my 16 Pro to begin with only because I was waiting for my dbrand skin and screen protector to arrive. I *knock on wood* am pretty careful with my tech so it's rarely been an issue. I think I dropped my S9+ a couple times and that's about it. Plus, I don't like the idea of spending all that money to get a sleek, thin phone then slapping on a chunk of plastic.
 
Not a pro but using a 16 caseless. It feels great! And it’s thin and I can place it in my pocket and feels like my 13 mini. If I were you go for it. Just put a screen protector. And also a MagSafe wallet for those times you need extra grip. The MagSafe wallet makes it feel grippy.
 
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