Choosing the Best Smartphone Cases

Posted by personaldigital on November 18th, 2022

Factors of shape

When you buy a case, one of the most important choices you'll have to make is what kind of case you want. This is known as the case's form factor. Here are a few of the most popular choices:

Standard: These cases protect your phone's back and sides, but you can still use the screen. Some screens have a raised lip around them to protect them from being hit directly. Many people choose this simple design because it is easy to use, protects well, and doesn't weigh much.

Bumper: This minimalist case often leaves the back of your phone exposed, but it has shock-absorbing materials around each corner to protect it. Some bumpers have thin or see-through backs just to make things harder. Most bumper cases are light, but they don't offer much protection.

Tough: These cases are more about protection than style, and they are usually made of several layers of different materials for the best effect. Some tough cases protect against water or dust and drops, bumps, and scratches. These cases have an IP rating, like IP68, to show how well they do this. The first number is usually six, which means that your smartphone is completely dustproof. The second number is usually seven or eight, which means that it can't get wet. Be aware that this protection only lasts for a certain amount of time and at a certain depth, such as up to one metre for 30 minutes.

Folio: As its name suggests, a folio case works like a book, with one part covering the back and sides of your phone and another covering the screen. These cases are big and make it hard to get to your phone's screen quickly. However, they protect the screen well and have room for other features like card slots or stands. Some people call folios wallets or flip cases.

Pouch: The pouch is different because it wraps around your phone on all sides. That makes it safe, but it also means you have to take your phone out of the pouch before you can use it, which is usually when knocks or drops can cause damage. Pouches don't have to be made for each smartphone individually, so you can use the same pouch for more than one smartphone of a similar size.

Materials

Cases for smartphones are often made of different kinds of plastic, but they can also be made of other materials. Here are a few common answers and what they mean:

Silicone, gel, and rubber are all soft, flexible materials that go by many names. They are usually cheap to make, offer a moderate level of protection, and add grip to keep things from falling over by accident.

These are the most prevalent plastics used for smartphone cases: polycarbonate and thermoplastic polyurethane. Polycarbonate is hard and doesn't scratch or break easily. TPU, on the other hand, is a little softer and doesn't hold up as well to impacts. Most of the time, you'll get better protection from multiple layers of both materials than from a single layer of either. These plastics can also be used to make designs that are more complex and intricate than those made of silicone.

Leather / leatherette: Leather or leather-like materials are an additional popular option, especially for folio, flip, and wallet-style cases. They tend to last longer than plastic cases, but they are usually a bit bigger than plastic cases. In this category, cases made with real leather tend to cost more than cases made with synthetic leather alternatives, but both look and feel classic.

Aluminium: Metals aren't often used in smartphone cases because they tend to weaken wireless signals. However, this problem can be solved with clever engineering or by using more than one material. Aluminum alloys are often used because they are strong and don't scratch easily. However, they might not be as resistant to impact as a more flexible material.

Wood: Most smartphone cases aren't made of wood because it's expensive to make a lot of them. Because it can't bend, you also need more than one piece or glue to stick it to your phone. But it has a unique look and feel and does a good job of protecting you.

Features

Cases aren't just for looks or protection. They can also come with a variety of extra features that let you use your phone in new ways. Here's a list of things you should look out for.

Wallet: A wallet case has slots or pockets for cards so you can keep your ID, credit cards, tickets, and other important pieces of paper or plastic close by. Folio cases often double as wallets, but you can also find cases with hidden card slots on the back.

Battery: A battery case is just the name for a portable charger that comes with a case. It's a way to make your smartphone's battery last longer by constantly feeding its (possibly empty) power reserves with electricity. The battery case gets bigger as its capacity goes up, so it's important to find a good balance between adding a useful amount of extra energy and keeping the size down.

Stand: A stand case has a built-in stand that you can use by folding the back cover in a certain way or putting out a kickstand. This is especially helpful when watching videos, keeping an eye on notifications, or using a Bluetooth keyboard.

Selfie: A selfie case is one that has lights that face forward so that you can take photos with more light.

Survival: Some survival cases have tools built in that could help you stay alive in the wild or in other harsh places.

Mount: Phone cases can come with different kinds of mounts that let you attach your phone to your car's air vents, a magnetic holder, your belt, or even your finger. This is especially helpful in cars and for cases that are too big to fit in a regular pocket.

There are, of course, many other features that could be added to this list. In the United States, you can even get a case that doubles as a self-defense tazer! If we forgot to mention a feature you want, let us know in the comments!

Brands

When it comes to smartphone cases, there are so many brands out there that it's hard to keep track. Cases for smartphones are often made by the companies that make the phones themselves. These cases usually have a good reputation. Apple, Samsung, LG, HTC, and OnePlus are all examples of companies that do this.

But third-party case makers are far more common than first-party case makers. The biggest third-party case makers make cases for every major phone on the market. Spigen, OtterBox, Casemate, Olixar, UAG, Moshi, UAG, and Rearth are all well-known brands that you should keep an eye out for.

Wrapping up

We hope that this guide to buying phone cases will help you. If you have any suggestions for how to make it better, please let us know in the comments or on Twitter at @au_electronics. Thank you for reading the article and have a great day!