Few people have greater insight into the follies and foibles of humans than smartphone repair technicians. Sure, Shakespeare is the master when it comes to cutting observations about human nature, but the people who repair our phones see us at our most vulnerable&#;mangled hardware in palms, usually with some embarrassing and revelatory mistake to confess.
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Laxmi Agrawal of Cupertino iPhone Repair and Sam Shoman of SF Smart Wireless have seen it all. A client who dropped his in the snow and found it two months later in a puddle of snowmelt. A client whose was run over by a truck and brought the device in with tire chain marks crushed into the screen.
The world is filled with potential tech treachery, so it&#;s best to act preemptively and wrap your in a protective case.
Their experience shows that even if you&#;ve vowed to be careful, the world is filled with potential tech treachery, so it&#;s best to act preemptively and wrap your in a protective case. We talked to these two experts who have witnessed the most harrowing smartphone horror stories, and they offered some advice you can use to avoid witnessing your own.
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Protect Your From Impact
The most common problem Agrawal says brings customers to repair shops is shattered glass screens. Screens are particularly vulnerable to shattering if the point of impact is at a corner of the , where the force exerted on the glass is more concentrated.
For a baseline level of protection, choose a case made of a shock-absorbent material (like silicone or rubber) that covers your &#;s vulnerable corners. Shoman advises smartphone owners against plastic cases, which do not effectively absorb shock and are likelier to translate any impact to the device itself.
Beyond that, what you buy depends on how and where you use your . A slim case may be fine if you&#;re confident you&#;ll only subject your to everyday bumps and minor drops. Try a translucent slim case like Totallee or Peel&#;s cases for iPhones, Google Pixel handsets, and Samsung Galaxy devices to show off your &#;s design.
Cases with thick, bulky shells add more weight and absorb greater shock. Agrawal recommends these cases for younger users.
&#;Teenagers are very much prone to breaking their phones,&#; she says, noting stories of younger customers dropping or stepping on their phones. For teens (or let&#;s face it, grown adults) who prefer heavy-duty protection, Agrawal recommends OtterBox brand cases. OtterBox offers cases for iPhone and a wide variety of Android phones. The hallmark of the OtterBox brand is the Defender series cases, which undergo rigorous tests for durability. The Defender Series Case for the iPhone 13, for example, offers a durable polycarbonate shell, flaps that shield charging ports, and a holster. (Yes, a holster.) It gives your the hardy air of a miniature Transformer.
Consider Your Needs
In Agrawal&#;s experience, water damage is less common than screen damage, though she notes that aquatic accidents tend to occur during long weekends and summers when swimmers mistakenly take their phones along for a dip. If you can&#;t resist the call of the sea, Pelican&#;s Marine cases for iPhone offer waterproof, drop-tested protection to withstand surprise dunks.
Water damage is less of an issue since water resistance became standard in the top phones, but bear in mind that this type of protection doesn't extend to the ocean. Saltwater is corrosive, so a waterproof case could be a good idea if there's any risk your is going to come into contact with it.
Buying a colorful case can be a quick and easy way to personalize your smartphone and make it stand out in a crowd. But that&#;s not the only function a case serves. Some cases protect the &#;s hardware and screen from drops and the elements, while others double as a wallet.
This buying guide will help you find the best case for your smartphone model based on your style and what features are important to you.
5 Factors to Consider When Buying a Case
The sheer variety of cases on the market can make picking one very intimidating. The process can be much more complicated than deciding between a clear case and a colorful one.
Here are the five most important things to consider when choosing which case to buy for your smartphone:
Sizing a Case
The most crucial factor to consider when buying a case is the smartphone model it fits.
You can&#;t simply buy any case for your iPhone or Android. Most cases fit only one smartphone model. For example, an Android-compatible case designed for the Pixel 8 won't work on a Pixel 4. This is true even within similar models; e.g., an iPhone 15 Plus case won&#;t fit a regular iPhone 15. Similarly, just because two phones run the Android OS doesn't mean they are at all physically related enough to support the same case.
You can use sleeves with more smartphone models than a silicone or hardshell case, but it&#;s still worth checking the list of supported phones first.
When buying a case, check the specific model number and the smartphone brand or type. Here's how to tell what kind of iPhone you have; you can check your Android model, too.
What Type of Protection Does the Case Offer?
If you don't have a rugged , and so your primary motivation for buying a case is to protect your smartphone from physical damage, check what type of protection it offers. This information is usually on the case&#;s packaging and official website.
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Here are some terms to keep in mind.
Most cases offer some degree of protection. Still, there&#;s a big difference between the protection offered by a cheap hardshell case and that provided by a higher-end product offered by companies such as Urban Armor Gear and OtterBox.
If you're after a case with high-level protection, look for MIL-STD-810G or MIL-STD-810H certification on its packaging. The US military uses these specifications to guarantee security against shock, humidity, low and high pressure, and even gunfire shock.
Some case companies offer hacker or intrusion proofing. These cases are sleeves that function as a Faraday cage and block most outgoing and incoming wireless signals.
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What Style of Case Do You Want?
Are you just looking for a case to make your smartphone stand out in a crowd and match your aesthetic? If so, there&#;s an almost unlimited number of colorful cases to choose from featuring artwork ranging from traditional paintings to modern pop culture characters.
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Hardshell and silicone cases that snap onto the back and sides of your smartphone have the most variety in designs though you may also like to consider the selection of leather and faux leather cases that look like a purse or wallet. These cases can usually close around the entire device to cover the screen when you're not using it.
What Case Features Do You Want?
Many cases boast additional features such as notches for connecting your case to a lanyard or strap, a built-in kickstand, a battery for extending the &#;s battery life, and even LED lights.
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Many leather cases include card holder slots which can be incredibly convenient for a night out on the town. If you track your workouts, you may want to consider an armband case that can attach to your arm during your cardio sessions.
How Much Should a Case Cost?
case prices do vary quite a bit. Plastic cases usually fall within the $5-15 price range, while high-quality leather cases and those designed for heavy-duty damage protection can cost around $25-50.
Some premium cases with professional-grade shielding or a famous brand name can cost over $100.
Types of Cases
A case is typically a soft silicone, leather, or rigid plastic shell that protects your . While these cases are the most popular styles, others look like a leather journal with a cover that closes over the screen like a book cover, some can transform into a stand, and there are sleeves that look like a bag or purse.
Other types of cases include armbands for strapping a smartphone to your arm during exercise, and lanyard cases to hang your from while attending an event. Clear screen protectors, which only protect the smartphone&#;s screen, also often fall within the case category. Some cases feature a built-in screen protector and function as a two-in-one product.
Who Should Buy a Case?
Simple cases add visual flair to a smartphone. However, those who tend to drop their devices may benefit from one that offers impact protection.
On the other hand, people with an active or outdoor lifestyle may benefit from investing in a case that protects against the elements. For example, someone who swims or surfs a lot would do well to buy a case that provides waterproofing, while someone who goes camping would need one that has impact protection and a built-in battery.
What to Do After You Buy
After you buy a case, there are several things you may want to try.
More Tips for Buying Cases
Here's some quick last-minute advice before you make your case purchase.
FAQ
How do I clean a clear case?
To clean a clear case, use mild soap and warm water to clean the case thoroughly with a sponge or brush. Rinse and dry it. If you're unhappy with the results, wet a microfiber cloth with some isopropyl alcohol and wipe it down, paying close attention to stains.
How do I take a case off?
To take off your case, gently pry a corner of the case away from your device, repeat with the corner on the same side, lift out that half, and then pry out the other two corners. Lift the out completely; it's best to do this over a towel or cushioned area in case you accidentally drop the unprotected .
How do I customize a case?
Various online services let you customize a case with your designs or photos. The Custom Envy website is one option. Websites like Shutterfly and Casetify allow different photo designs, colors, and other unique options.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of case card holder wholesale. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.