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Whether your phone is brand new or a few years old, using it without a protective case is equivalent to flying without a net. Phones are expensive, and dropping even more cash on a case on top of that isn’t appealing, but it’s a necessary investment that we can’t recommend enough. Accidental slips and drops can happen at any time, and a case designed to absorb shock and damage can be a lifesaver (along with saving you even more money on potential phone repairs).
How to Pick the Best Shockproof Phone Case
There are several factors to take into consideration when choosing the right shockproof case.
Material: Having a backing and side panel made with metal helps protect from scratches, while cushioned corners and inner lining absorb vibrations from accidental drops. Same goes for rubber, which does a nice job of guarding against damage. The type of material also matters when it comes to grip — some smoother cases feel nice on your hand, but slip too easily and lead to drops and falls. A grippy texture, sometimes even with finger grooves, can secure the case in your hand when pulling it out of even the tightest pocket.
Buttons: A thick and tough case is great, but not if it hinders access to your phone’s buttons and makes using it a pain. Most cases take this into consideration and have clickable built-in buttons right on the case, but some function better than others. Same goes for an open spot to access cameras, speakers, switches and ports. Make sure the case you’re eyeing has all the correct ones to fit your phone model, otherwise you’ll be removing it every time you want to charge.
MagSafe and Wireless Charging: Qi-based wireless charging has been around for a while, but MagSafe is the newest wireless charging feature on iPhones. In both cases, if your case is too thick it can mean needing to find the exact perfect angle to activate charging every time, or worse, be too thick to work at all. If you’ll be using MagSafe, be sure your case is designed for it, and that you’ll be able to slap accessories right on.
Extras:A kickstand comes in handy for watching long video content or just giving your hands a break from holding your phone. This works best when it can fold into the case and not leave a part sticking out. If it does, or your case is somehow uneven when it sits on a surface, you may get some wobbling which can be irritating when typing. Same goes for a slightly raised lip around the camera. A spot for attaching a wrist strap is a subtle bonus feature that most people don’t realize is even there. It’s ideal for environments where theft might be a problem, or activities like exercising, taking an extra step to make sure you don’t drop your device. Similarly, a clip is another option for keeping your phone close and hands-free, but adds significantly more bulk.
What Are the Best Shockproof Phone Cases?
Whether you have an iPhone or Android, we’ve selected some of the top phone cases worth buying to protect your device.
