This is exactly it for me. My 3G and 3GS had tons of little cracks on the corners, the plastic absorbed the impact of falls and drops. The glass/metal combination on the 4 is just too stiff IMO. My 4 also has serious antenna-gate, so it was an easy decision to use the bumper...but I don't like it.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
What good is a droolworthy design if you gotta slap a case on it.
- Thread starter Timzer
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
This is exactly it for me. My 3G and 3GS had tons of little cracks on the corners, the plastic absorbed the impact of falls and drops. The glass/metal combination on the 4 is just too stiff IMO. My 4 also has serious antenna-gate, so it was an easy decision to use the bumper...but I don't like it.
Hope you enjoy paying $200 when it does shatter. If you don't have a case on it, it's a matter of time before it happens. The Incipio case I have enhances the feel of the device, and makes it less slippery. It's so natural, unlike the bulky Otterboxes. But, I won't fault the Otterbox crowd, they do provide very good protection.
I've had the iPhone 4 and 4S without shattering anything. I DID, however, shatter my iPhone 3G even with a case on it.
You cannot assume it's "just a matter of time". Unless you have statistics that show 100% of all iPhones sold have shattered, or will shatter before being replaced or otherwise sold, that is simply incorrect logic.
I've heard you can get the glass replaced for $89, but even if it were a $200 replacement, it would be well worth not having to use the phone with a case.
In my opinion of course.
I've seen way too many shattered to not have a case on it. That, and it just feels too thing proportionally. Most cases won't give complete protection, but at least they will protect against most normal drops.
What makes you so sure that I'll shatter the phone? My iPhone 4 didn't shatter during my ownership. I don't expect this 4S to either. A couple scratches here and there... sure. And what's it to you if I don't mind spending the $200 anyway? Even if I shattered a screen once a month, it makes 0 difference to my livelihood. I'd rather just enjoy the phone.
Last edited:
And what's it to you if I don't mind spending the $200 anyway? Even if I shattered a screen once a month, it makes 0 difference to my livelihood. I'd rather just enjoy the phone.
Agreed. I've owned every iPhone model since the original and have never had one shatter. I dropped my original AT&T white 4S and it didn't shatter and neither did my Verizon 4S that I have now.
I'll go causeless on the next new iPhone as well.
And what's it to you if I don't mind spending the $200 anyway? Even if I shattered a screen once a month, it makes 0 difference to my livelihood. I'd rather just enjoy the phone.
Wow... rich snob. Even if I was a gazillionaire, I wouldn't act like that. I'd drop the $13 on the exact same case I have now.
The design of the iPhone needs a case, without one it will shatter. I have seen too many shattered screens to believe that they don't.
Sorry BiggAW, but $200 in the extreme case that he breaks the phone once a month does not label him a "Rich Snob". Seriously, $200 is about two days worth of a McDonalds paycheck. You can say its inefficient sure, but way outside the bounds of "Rich Snob".
Heck, many of us are already paying $100 a month just to use the darn thing, a $200 replacement fee to use it the way you want, especially considering he hasn't broken one yet, doesn't sound snobbish to me
----------
Again, not a valid conclusion with the data you have before you. You can say it has a likelihood of shattering, but not that "it will shatter".
So my not wanting to buy a case makes me a rich snob now? Jesus Christ. Who are you to judge me based on my not wanting to use a case? Just because I *can* afford to get a new iPhone every month doesn't mean I want to or deliberately break them. Like I said, I have not actually broken an iPhone with this design since it came out 2 years ago. I never used a case for more than a day.
I don't have to use your or other people's experience to dictate how I use *my* phone. I've yet to break one without a case; I've never dropped this phone from dangerous heights onto hard surfaces. I don't like how the cases I tried feel. So why should I spend money on a product that I don't like and doesn't give me any real benefit? On the off chance that my phone does break, oh well, it's $200 gone. The loss of the jailbreak would be the bigger issue to me. It's not like wrecking a car without insurace where one can lose several thousand in an instant
You are awfully judgmental. Everyone is entitled to their opinion; you have no right to declare other peoples preferences wrong just because in your mind you can't possibly be wrong.
Last edited:
Sorry BiggAW, but $200 in the extreme case that he breaks the phone once a month does not label him a "Rich Snob". Seriously, $200 is about two days worth of a McDonalds paycheck. You can say its inefficient sure, but way outside the bounds of "Rich Snob".
Heck, many of us are already paying $100 a month just to use the darn thing, a $200 replacement fee to use it the way you want, especially considering he hasn't broken one yet, doesn't sound snobbish to me
----------
Again, not a valid conclusion with the data you have before you. You can say it has a likelihood of shattering, but not that "it will shatter".
Yes, paying $200/mo and swapping devices every month because you don't want to put a $13 case on your phone is a rich snob. Something happening once, and doing the same thing, and then expecting a different result is the definition of insanity. Any sane person would learn to put a case on the thing after the first one got shattered. Or, more likely, would have the sense to put a case on in the first place.
I've seen so many of the naked ones get shattered, I know it's just a matter of time. I've seen cased ones get shattered too, but much more rarely.
Except I havent actually broken my phone. My point with that statement was that the monetary loss is more or less irrelevant to me. To me, the overall worse feel is not worth the potential savings. Honestly, if the phone broke so often that I had to replace it every month, I'd switch to another brand.
And your assertion that the phone will break is a logical fallacy. Chance has no memory. I could hypothetically drop my phone 1,000,000 times and not shatter either side. Someone else could drop theirs just once and have it shatter into a million pieces. A case doesnt eliminate that possibility either. Just reduces the chance. By your logic, even with a case the phone *will* shatter; just later. So why bother? You'd have to spend the replacement cost either way, right?
There's a quote by Dr. Cox (from scrubs) that I always keep in mind: "statistics break down at the individual level" - statistics only give you information about a population; they tell you nothing of what will happen to one person. At the individual level, there are too many variables to be able to give a real probability. Someone who's extremely careful and generally protective of his gadgets may only break the phone 1 time in a decade. Someone else may break on average 90 per decade. In the population, the failure rates averages out to the population's probability of breaking the device in a given time period... But you cannot make an assumption about an individual without taking all the confounding variables out of the equation.
Last edited:
I don't use a case. I use to get so paranoid over microscratches, using a micro cloth to clean off the smudges and etc. I realized its a phone. I'm getting it replaced this year away. I've had my iPhone 4 replaced 2 times. First one was free the second one was replaced for $150. Both had cracked front screens. Accidents happen. The first one was in my scrub top pocket and it slipped out. The second one I had near the edge of the desk outside and it fell and shattered the front screen.
Cases can be used for protection and for style reasons. I choose not use a case.
I hope Apple redesigns the new iPhone with a better protective case designed with the phone. I really liked the 3GS design. I just wish it was Retina displayed and was available on Verizon.
Edit: And yeah I could care less about resell value. I usually give my phones away to a charity program or to someone that wants a phone or an iPod.
Cases can be used for protection and for style reasons. I choose not use a case.
I hope Apple redesigns the new iPhone with a better protective case designed with the phone. I really liked the 3GS design. I just wish it was Retina displayed and was available on Verizon.
Edit: And yeah I could care less about resell value. I usually give my phones away to a charity program or to someone that wants a phone or an iPod.
Last edited:
I once heard someone say, "You can't reason someone out of a position, they didn't reason themselves into."
I recommend moving on. Hopefully our comments have helped others with their decision toward/against using a case.
I once heard someone say, "You can't reason someone out of a position, they didn't reason themselves into."
I recommend moving on. Hopefully our comments have helped others with their decision toward/against using a case.
Yeah I know. I got particularly peeved when he misconstrued a very unlikely hypothetical scenario and called me a snob though - I'll admit it, I've got it good in life. But you know what - I give a significant portion of my savings to charity; I shouldn't be labeled a snob if I want to use the rest of my savings however I see fit.
All I care about is resell value. Nobody is buying some Dinged up phone. Soi treat my phone as something I could resell in the future and invest in something better. Case it, sell it, replace it.
My strategy there is to get a warranty replacement right before selling
. Most of my iPhones had some issue or another that would warrant replacement per Apple's terms; my current one for example has a cluster of 2-3 dead pixels (or maybe it's a speck of dust). Doesn't particularly bother me, but Apple's policy is that a single dead pixel warrants replacement. So I'll get it exchanged a little before I sell it do that I can sell a pristine phone (that also happens to be unlocked this time, so my resale should be pretty good this year)
I am VERY careful with my phone but still have dropped it. Depends what different kind of activities you do with your phone. If you're very active outdoors then you will eventually drop it no matter how careful you are. I wish I didn't have to use a case but I do because glass and soft metal don't make for durable products. I'm hoping that Apple's new materials and Liquipel will solve this problem.
When out and about I use a case, but when at home at my desk or on the sofa etc., I let my iPhone4 go naked - to me this is just practical and sensible. I used to use a screen protector for the front, but haven't for a while now and the screen is still perfect. I am naturally very careful with my possessions and as I handle my iPhone naked 50% of the time I get to enjoy (what I think) is a design classic.
A phone can get damaged with or without a case, so it's just a case of hopeful damage limitation and how happy you feel letting your phone go naked.
A phone can get damaged with or without a case, so it's just a case of hopeful damage limitation and how happy you feel letting your phone go naked.
I'm a big fan of the 'naked' look too. IMO why put any thought at all into the design of the phone if it's just going to be covered by a case? I do get that people also get into making their phone look different by way of a case. I just prefer the naked look. Of course the world isn't black and white, so there are both types of people, and they should all just do whatever works for them.
That said I always regret buying a case, because after a couple weeks it eventually comes off. I just can't deal with the added size/bulk. I pocket my phone, so a case is very noticeable usually. Even the 'slim' ones add noticeable bulk as compared to the naked phone.
At the same time I also want to protect the phone for my personal use and for resale later - so my solution is to use a full body skin. I use Best Skins Ever. They offer fantastic protection without sacrificing one bit of the phone's look or form factor. It also helps with the 'slippery' factor (antenna gate too) as it adds a slight bit of extra grip/friction. Also - the material used serves as an excellent screen protector - the feel is great and there is no visual detraction.
The one case I'm thinking of getting is the LIFEPROOF case (water proof). I wouldn't use it 24/7 but for those times when it's pooring or I will be around water or somewhere where I am going to want some extra protection. I also dig that it turns the phone into an underwater camera lol. But even though it looks relatively slim for such a protective case, it would be too much for me to deal with on a day to day regular basis.
That said I always regret buying a case, because after a couple weeks it eventually comes off. I just can't deal with the added size/bulk. I pocket my phone, so a case is very noticeable usually. Even the 'slim' ones add noticeable bulk as compared to the naked phone.
At the same time I also want to protect the phone for my personal use and for resale later - so my solution is to use a full body skin. I use Best Skins Ever. They offer fantastic protection without sacrificing one bit of the phone's look or form factor. It also helps with the 'slippery' factor (antenna gate too) as it adds a slight bit of extra grip/friction. Also - the material used serves as an excellent screen protector - the feel is great and there is no visual detraction.
The one case I'm thinking of getting is the LIFEPROOF case (water proof). I wouldn't use it 24/7 but for those times when it's pooring or I will be around water or somewhere where I am going to want some extra protection. I also dig that it turns the phone into an underwater camera lol. But even though it looks relatively slim for such a protective case, it would be too much for me to deal with on a day to day regular basis.
Bad analogy. You can easily have a car accident through no fault of your own. It is very difficult to drop a phone through no fault of your own. Point being that being careful is not good enough protection against a car accident but is good enough protection against dropping a phone.
And btw I've had iPhones since 2007, no cases (but skins for scratches) and never had any kind of damage.
I guess it's a trade off for sure. I use an Otterbox Commuter series on my 4S most of the time, but that's only because it in itself is a pretty sleek case. I take it off to show off the 4S sometimes though.
All in all, fragility aside, I miss the white 3GS, best phone I've ever owned.
All in all, fragility aside, I miss the white 3GS, best phone I've ever owned.
I don't know why there's so much talk about having a case or not, if people like having a case for protection, go ahead (I have a case aswell), if not let them go naked.
Here's my case at the moment:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7141/6557313971_3a27945248_z.jpg
Here's my case at the moment:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7141/6557313971_3a27945248_z.jpg
I've never used a case, and don't plan on ever getting one. I like the iPhone design. (Well, I like the original and 4 designs, never liked the 3G design much. )
My only concessions towards damage is a sack cloth for when the phone is in my pocket, to prevent scratches - specifically, an Oakley microfiber sunglasses bag - and AppleCare+ for my 4S. After four years of owning that original iPhone 2G, it had been dropped a few times and had a couple minor blemishes, but that's it. No damage on my launch-day 4S, either.
)My only concessions towards damage is a sack cloth for when the phone is in my pocket, to prevent scratches - specifically, an Oakley microfiber sunglasses bag - and AppleCare+ for my 4S. After four years of owning that original iPhone 2G, it had been dropped a few times and had a couple minor blemishes, but that's it. No damage on my launch-day 4S, either.