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Naked iPhones

Kingofclouds

Kingofclouds

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jul 31, 2011
105
125
I long for an iPhone I can use naked confidently. Really it seems to be getting worse.

iPhone 4 - needed bumper to get reception
iPhone 4s - seemed to be ok naked
iPhone 5 - scratchgate nightmare
iPhone 5s - seemed ok naked, chamfered edges didn't hold up well
iPhone 6 - slippery as hell, almost too light without case
iPhone 6s - revised aluminium seemed to make it more grippy
iPhone SE - actually the best so far

and now....

my iPhone 7 jet black is more grippy but there are scratches even though its been wrapped up in a genuine Apple leather case. Matte Black would be the answer but its SO slippery....

When will we get a phone that works without a case .....or do you think that given the case business is big business - especially for Apple now - that they are actually engineered with a case in mind?!
 
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big business, also they want you to drop it, so you go and gave them more money. I don't like cases, but there are scenarios where I need to use them, currently 7+ Matte black and doing well without case
 
Kingofclouds said:
I long for an iPhone I can use naked confidently. Really it seems to be getting worse.

iPhone 4 - needed bumper to get reception
iPhone 4s - seemed to be ok naked
iPhone 5 - scratchgate nightmare
iPhone 5s - seemed ok naked, chamfered edges didn't hold up well
iPhone 6 - slippery as hell, almost too light without case
iPhone 6s - revised aluminium seemed to make it more grippy
iPhone SE - actually the best so far

and now....

my iPhone 7 jet black is more grippy but there are scratches even though its been wrapped up in a genuine Apple leather case. Matte Black would be the answer but its SO slippery....

When will we get a phone that works without a case .....or do you think that given the case business is big business - especially for Apple now - that they are actually engineered with a case in mind?!
Click to expand...

I use my iPhones with out cases and never have had issues with damage, being I take care of my property. But absolutely, the Case business is a huge industry. And there are so many variations on the market, it's impossible to keep up with them all.

And being most of these cases are relatively inexpensive to manufacture, the upsell Profit margin is there to make a lot of money.
 
Last edited:
I've had every iPhone since the 3G and used them naked. Never had a problem. Ow I have the jet black 7 and am too using it naked.
 
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itsmemuffins said:
I've had every iPhone since the 3G and used them naked. Never had a problem. Ow I have the jet black 7 and am too using it naked.
Click to expand...

Same here. I briefly tested the case waters with the 5s, but ultimately removed it. I love the look and feel of using my iPhone naked. Over the years, I have dropped my phones on occasion, but nothing that warranted me visiting my local Apple Store.
 
iPhone 4 - camera scratches easily
iPhone 4s - didnt have
iPhone 5 - had white so no scratch gate whatsoever
iPhone 5s - didnt have
iPhone 6 - slippery as hell, got used to holding it tight
iPhone 6s - didnt have
iPhone SE - didnt have
iPhone 7- same as iphone 6.

The best was the iphone 5 for me.
 
nburwell said:
Same here. I briefly tested the case waters with the 5s, but ultimately removed it. I love the look and feel of using my iPhone naked. Over the years, I have dropped my phones on occasion, but nothing that warranted me visiting my local Apple Store.
Click to expand...

I've bought many cases for them to ultimately sit in a draw gathering dust. Whilst I enjoy my iPhone the way nature intended.
The only thing I use is a leather pouch from iconic edge, if I'm traveling, and a place for my iPhones to rest.
 
Applejuiced said:
They all work without a case.
Its your preference how you use it.
You cant have it flawless and with no marks and not use a case to protect it.
Click to expand...
Agreed, case by case situations. Different for everyone.

In two days I'll have a month with my JB+ (naked), nothing noticeable other than a few marks near the charging port/speakers. Which I believe comes from constantly putting my case on/off at the gym.

I've seen some really neat phones that have held up nicely and some really bad situations too. I think going naked is more about knowing yourself, not so much a general standard.

If you take care of your stuff you most likely won't have too much trouble with a naked phone's quality upkeep (unless some freak accident happened).

With the JB model specifically, it seems like it's probably inevitable over time...case or not, but still shouldn't be anything drastic if you generally handle your electronics with care.
 
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JRoque092 said:
Agreed, case by case situations. Different for everyone.

In two days I'll have a month with my JB+ (naked), nothing noticeable other than a few marks near the charging port/speakers. Which I believe comes from constantly putting my case on/off at the gym.

I've seen some really neat phones that have held up nicely and some really bad situations too. I think going naked is more about knowing yourself, not so much a general standard.

If you take care of your stuff you most likely won't have too much trouble with a naked phone's quality upkeep (unless some freak accident happened).

With the JB model specifically, it seems like it's probably inevitable over time case or not, but still shouldn't be anything drastic if you generally handle your electronics with care.
Click to expand...

I hear you.
I see some people that take care of their devices and they look great over a year later.
And others that are more clumsy or accident prone that destroy them within months:D
 
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Kingofclouds said:
I long for an iPhone I can use naked confidently. Really it seems to be getting worse.

iPhone 4 - needed bumper to get reception
iPhone 4s - seemed to be ok naked
iPhone 5 - scratchgate nightmare
iPhone 5s - seemed ok naked, chamfered edges didn't hold up well
iPhone 6 - slippery as hell, almost too light without case
iPhone 6s - revised aluminium seemed to make it more grippy
iPhone SE - actually the best so far

and now....

my iPhone 7 jet black is more grippy but there are scratches even though its been wrapped up in a genuine Apple leather case. Matte Black would be the answer but its SO slippery....

When will we get a phone that works without a case .....or do you think that given the case business is big business - especially for Apple now - that they are actually engineered with a case in mind?!
Click to expand...


I've only had the iPhone 5, 6 and now 7. The 5 I thought looked hideous, so I didn't care about scratches or dings. The 6 was slippery at first, but a few months into going caseless, I felt like I had no trouble holding it. I currently have the JB iPhone 7 and I agree - it feels the best of any iPhone I've ever touched, in terms of grip and overall comfortable feel, except it picks up scratches like there's no tomorrow...
 
Some use cases for a look some for function some for protection or all of the above.
I know many that use wallet cases because that is their thing.
My phone mount in my car in magnetic so I have to have the little metal plate between the phone and case. I use a few screen cleaner squares over the metal plate to protect the Matte Black.
So for me a case is function and protection and of course I like cases that look good to me.
 
I guess I like the phone to look as near to new as possible so it's a bit disappointing to have to baby the JB - but I knew what the deal was when I bought it. Ironically the reason I liked it so much was holding one in an Apple Store and the grippy feeling compared to other models. The slipperiness of the 6 series was always an annoyance. I think my 6 was always in a case as I struggled to adjust from the 5 series. The 6s was a Plus and the aluminium had a grippier feel, so it was better. Needless to say the case plus the Plus was to bulky.

For 6/6s I choose silver and to be hones that colour held up very well due to light colour and marks and scratches not being visible.

I agree with the previous post about it coming down to the type of person. For example I know some people whose phones look like they have been driven over by a SUV after only a month and others whose phones look pristine after many years.

I never liked a case, the Apple ones are good quality but add so much bulk. Starting to wish I went for MB now. To be honest I will always loved a silver device, just that I was forcing myself to like the white bezel.
 
The 6 and the 6S are the only iPhones I have ever used naked, due to the fact that they didn't have much on them you could damage. They held up scratches pretty well.

The 4 and 4S were just so beautiful I had to use a case because I was ridiculously OCD.

Worst for me was the slate black 5, couldn't do anything with that without getting a nick or a bump on those damn chamfered edges, same with the 5S.
 
Matte black 7+ here and though I bought a couple of cases I've since returned them. I'm going caseless. I bought Apple Care so if I break a screen I'll get it fixed. Other than that I'm tired of worrying about scratches or dings. I take very good care of all of my electronics but I have decided I want to use them and enjoy them not worry about them getting marked up a little.
 
Relentless Power said:
The Matte Black is an awesome color. Get rid of that case.
Click to expand...

Just so darned slippery!
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AppleB said:
Some use cases for a look some for function some for protection or all of the above.
I know many that use wallet cases because that is their thing.
My phone mount in my car in magnetic so I have to have the little metal plate between the phone and case. I use a few screen cleaner squares over the metal plate to protect the Matte Black.
So for me a case is function and protection and of course I like cases that look good to me.
Click to expand...

Actually it's funny you mention this. The magnet mount is a big reason I still have a case on my phone (slipperiness aside). I have a metal plate in my case that lets me easily mount my phone in the car. Without the case, I'd have to stick the metal plate directly on my phone which I am not too keen on doing.
 
I'm considering just buying AppleCare and if I crack my screen the deductible is only $29 I believe which is worth it.

Still have the storm grey Apple leather case just in case I am going out for an evening or going to an event.
 
I would prefer to go caseless like in the "old days," with plastic phones. These metal phones look nice, but aluminum is not a very practical material (and yes, I know many ppl go caseless regardless... and some of them even manage not to have cracked screens!)

I usually take the leather case off my SE once or twice a day, and use it that way for a while... but then it starts crying out in my hand for the grip and security of a case again.
 
Read every thread waiting in anticipation for @eyoungren 's post and didn't find one. This won't be an awesome Naked iPhone thread without a post from eyoungren.

I've spent HUNDREDS of dollars on cases and I've hated them all. I was a HUGE naked proponent from day 1 of owning a cellphone back in high school (late 90s). The iPhone 6+ was the first phone I felt like I needed a case because it was too slippery but users like @eyoungren give me hope that one day I will have the courage to go naked just like them.
 
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