[Closed] Shock-proof phone cases - do they work?

I always use a wallet type case - my son's smashed two phones just by dropping them less than a foot. My current case does have extra 'shock' padding at the corners. Nothing is fool proof, but it does help. I've had a phone crack in my pocket !

Serial phone smasher here. I am stupid, clumsy, lunk headed, and forgetful. I use otterbox or similar. In fact my last phone purchase was severely swayed by availability of an otterbox to fit. I have not smashed the last 3 phones, all in otter boxes, lots of dropping. I only replaced my last samsung as I dropped it down the loo. The one before the battery and charging system died.

So in my tiny sample of the last 3 phones, yes they defo work. Prior to that various LG and samsung official cases were very dissapointing.

We got the kids blackview phones as they came with built in armour. Eldest who has inherited my talents has had the same phone Blackview for 14 months now. Thats a record smasher by an order of magnitude (no joke).

@5plusn8 Which Otterbox case? I'm tempted by the Symmetry or Figura.

Mine is Symmetry on the Huwawwwooooi. More corner protection than the Figura. In fact I dunno if they even offered the figura for my phone.
I run it through the dishwasher every now and then, as its clear and you get dust and lint in the corners. Meanwhile I drop my phone daily.

To be fair, I bet any of the knock offs on amazon for 10 quid would be just as good. Just get the most padding/protection you can tolerate. I don't object to a chunky phone so thick padding suits me.
If on the other hand your phone is a lifestyle/appearance/vanity thing then you have to cope with more breakages or changing your personality to break less stuff.

I have an Otterbox “Commuter” series case.
It’s a bit clunky but has definitely saved my phone on a couple of occasions, including a drop to concrete from waist height.

I had an otter box commuter series with a tempered glass screen on my S6 for 5 years and phone/screen never broke so when I got my S21 a few months ago I got another otter box commuter and have put on a tempered glass screen again and so far so good. I like the 2 part construction of the otter box commuter, soft rubber inside and hard plastic outer (I think of it being like MIPS for my phone), saved my phone on many an occasion over the years.

Always put my phones in a Tech 21 case - have drooped my XR a few times but the case has protected it and underneath the phone is as good as new

I’ve used a Spigen case (or it’s predecessor) for 6+ years with a separate screen protector on the front.

https://www.spigen.com/products/iphone-12-mini-case-ultra-hybrid?variant=40138519052335

Lots of choice, £10-15.

I’m not a serial dropper (it happens occasionally) but I do ride with my phone in my shorts or chest pocket. Plenty of crashes but it’s survived well with no damage. It has good, raised corner protection.

We got the kids blackview phones as they came with built in armour

I've got the BV9900 Pro for work - first 'tough phone' I've had that actually works pretty well as a smart phone and is equally as tough - there's usually a big trade off

Lifeproof Fré on my last 3 phones.
Never a breakage.
When my contract is up and I get a new phone, the old one invariably looks box fresh when I take it out of the case.

Yeah, they are worth it. I too am a serial phone smasher. Mostly the ground just leaps up and hits it when it's in my pocket....
Anyway any of those tough, chunky things are good. Otterbox certainly but the cheaper copies are fine too. Not sure what I have now, big chunky corner bumpers, clear back + screen protector.

Otterbox Symmetry and a tempered glass screen protector have repaid the investment several times, including phone falling out in an MTB crash and dropping it when riding.

Had Otterbox Defenders on my Galaxy S3 then S7 for many years. Dropped on rock, concrete, fallen out of jersey pocket onto road. Just bounced, every time. Both phones stayed pristine. Just changed to a newer (S10+) phone and Otterbox Symmetry case. Not nearly as much protection but the case is quite svelte by comparison. So much so, that when the S10+ and S7 are in their cases, the 6.4" phone is no bigger than the 5.1" phone. So yes, Otterboxes work but their degree of protection relates directly to how chunky the case is. Wouldn't fancy trying to pocket a plus size phone in a Defender case.

I have a habit of dropping my phones, almost always onto hard surfaces.

I have used Spigen cases previously but have switched to Mous and it's a nice bit of kit.

LifeProof user here. Theyve protected my phones for the last 5 years or so. Not without trade offs (sound quality, screen feel), but worth it for me given how hard I am on my phones 😖🙄

I work out in the field and mine is forever falling out my pocket onto the floor, getting tools dropped on it etc... I use a spigen case, has been great so far for the last 18 months

Are the likes of Otterbox cases going to offer any more protection against screen breakages / back-glass breaksges than just any other case? I can’t imagine a 1mm internal rubber bumper is going to significantly reduce the G forces that cause the glass to break.

Having just completed a work sheet on this for my physics class tomorrow I can give you the following rule if thumb

If the case deflects by 1mm after the fall and the phone without a case defects 0.1mm then the reduction in the force factor 10.

In other words the case has a huge impact on the forces involved

However they are less help when the phone is run over the screen hits the ground first

Always had Rhinoshield ones, handled many drops and tubmles onto all sorts of hard floors from 1-2m.

My work got me one of the cheap Chinese generic tablet cases from Amazon. I helpfully / foolishly left it on the bonnet while we planned moving to the next job and we drove off. It bounced down the road behind us from 45mph and the tablet is unscathed. The screen protector has some hairline cracks.
From our unintentional experiment my answer is yes. But I was very lucky as well.

I have Quadlok case - not strictly a shock case - but have and protective.
I drop the phone regularly - and have broken the screen twice - so maybe I need an otterbox

I’ve always used Mous cases here, with the addition of a j-tech glass screen protector, touch wood I’ve never broke a screen nor had any damage on any iPhone yet. Broken plenty of screen protectors though but they are two for £10 so well worth it.

I’ve used a Spigen case (or it’s predecessor) for 6+ years with a separate screen protector on the front.

iPhone 12 Mini Case Ultra Hybrid

Lots of choice, £10-15.

I’m not a serial dropper (it happens occasionally) but I do ride with my phone in my shorts or chest pocket. Plenty of crashes but it’s survived well with no damage. It has good, raised corner protection

Got a Spigen case on my work phone, with the screen protector stick on things.
Phone gets used in some pretty harsh environments. Often shares a pocket wth massive bunches of keys, spanners, screwdrivers, etc and has been dropped a fair number of times.
No breakages.

The wallet cases are good too, but very bulky.

My record for breaking a phone screen was an iPhone 5c. Slipped out of my hand as I took it out of the box. Slippery little sucker.

Otterbox Symmetry have used for the last 8 years on all work phones best case ever.

I use the Spigen cases. They’re cheap and slim and I dropped my old S7 edge often enough without breaking it. I think the big chunky cases are overkill unless it’s likely to get run over or thrown around.

Otterbox Symmetry have used for the last 8 years on all work phones best case ever.

This, even on a plus phone, it's been great. A huge improvement on the dedicated Apple cases. I sued previously. Neve broken a phone, mind, but I have dropped it often. Some of the symmetry cases have more rounded edges akin to the older iPhone 8, rather than the squarer new ones. Much nicer feel.

I've used various expensive cases on phones over the years. For my new iPhone 13 took a chance on an ESR Hybrid case Currently £6.79! (and I think they were even cheaper on offer when we bought them) vs about £30 for cases I've had before. Has slightly armoured corners for extra drop resistance, enough lip to protect the screen if put down flat.

It's not a full Otterbox armour case, but enough for most drops. Phone screens seem like diamonds - incredibly tough and survive a lot, but if you hit them in a particular way they're toast so YMMV.

The expensive case I had on the last phone was badly yellowed after 2 years. Some reviews say the ESRs go quickly but ours are now nearly 6 months old and still look like new.