Fun history:
I was *obsessed* with cases from the iPhone 3G-4S days. Early YouTube case reviewers was what started it. I bought tons of cases from different brands looking for that perfect one. It was expensive, a little nutty, a little fun but my phone always came out pristine.
When the iPhone 5 dropped with the aluminum body I said screw it—went with no case or screen protector at all. It was always a little dinged up but people still bought it second hand and didn’t care much about scuffs or dents as much as I thought.
I went caseless with the Plus models before they went with a glass back and they ended up looking pretty dinged up. I think because of the size of the phones, it was more prone to accidents, knocks, etc. I also ended up getting microscratches on the screen with a few normal scratches.
I have an 8 Plus now and I didn’t want to go with any case.... but it’s been so long since I’ve used/seen what cases look like do that it was very surprising how innovative, thin and protective they make these cases now. I didn’t know cases also went through technological changes in terms of manufacturing. And tempered glass screen protectors!!! Back then all I had to use were plastic ones, and while they worked and I loved them—they never felt 100% like glass. That’s changed.
Also: these days... no one really cares what phone you have. Flexing with a XS MAX is fun for like a week and then no one cares. There’s people walking around with $1,500 powerful Samsungs as well. ♂️
I say: use a case if you don’t want your phone to be beat up. And when you’re home, take off the case and use it bare. Best of both worlds IMO.