Please Don’t Put Your iPhone in a Case
12:00 am, September 5th, 2009, Tim Cox
Never put your iPhone in a case, like this highly-protective metal Exovault. http://exovault.com/
When I first went to pick up my iPhone 3G, I was scared. I know what my hands are capable of: Horrible, unthinkable acts of clumsiness. I’ve hurt myself. I’ve hurt others. I’ve even hurt my kitties. So why would I want to put this salvific piece of tech gold into harm’s way? I need to protect this treasure, specifically because I don’t have another $600 to spend on a replacement. And I will be needing one soon.
But I don’t put my iPhone in a case. You shouldn’t either.
I really have only one reason why my iPhone doesn’t wear clothes, and it offends iPhone case owners every time I talk about my decision. Sure, I can mention that I don’t like the current selection of cases, but that isn’t true. I really would love to have a macro lens option on my iPhone, so the Griffin Clarifi taunts me every time I walk into the Apple Store. I can show you exactly where it is: second shelving unit, bottom row on the middle right. I can also mention that I don’t like the scratches that cases put on the iPhone, but if it’s in the case all the time, you’re really never going to see them, are you?
My only reason for going caseless is this: A case doesn’t allow me to experience the iPhone. It just means I’m using a bulkier, less attractive iPhone.
I don’t use a screen protector for the same reason. I’m just not getting the same experience if I add all this protective gear. Seriously, you look better when you’re not wearing a retainer and safety goggles. It’s a fact.
Scratch Resistance and Apple Care
Believe it or not, your iPhone is scratch resistant where it matters most. I throw my phone onto sandy countertops. I put it in the same front pocket as my keys in my tight jeans so you know there’s some rubbing. And I have yet to see a scratch on the front of my iPhone. Granted, the back has scratches and wearing on the corners, but that’s not important to me and apparently a case does that to your phone anyway.
Also, my current iPhone is a replacement for my last iPhone which was a replacement for my first iPhone. Because I don’t have a case on my iPhone, dust gets under the screen and eventually builds up to the point where I can’t stand it anymore. When I took my phone to Apple, they replaced it with a new one the first two times. Last time I went they just replaced the screen rather than the whole phone.
The Trade Off
So yes, if you work construction and you like to jackhammer and talk on the phone then you should put that gorgeous piece of technology in something protective. And yes, if you go caseless you’re going to get lint under your screen. But no casual case is going to save your baby from that urinal. And since a case can’t offer you potty insurance, why not enjoy your phone the way Steve meant it to be?
Posted by Tim Cox in Opinions, iPhone | Comment on this article
If you enjoyed this article:
Subscribe via RSS or email, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter
Tim Cox is the social media and communications coordinator for a private university in the Los Angeles area. He has written for a number of online and print publications and has presented on technology and social media at the national level. One of his greatest accomplishments was networking a Mac Plus with a Mac Pro. In his spare time he writes music, poetry, and trains for Street Fighter IV tournaments. He is married with 5 beautiful kitties. He encourages you to 
I agree, yet disagree as well. I do case my iPhone. It’s a slick black guy with a hard plastic outside & a soft rubber inside. However, when I take my iPhone out of my case, I am amazed at how much slimmer & sleeker it is. So, when I’m out for the night and don’t have much pocket space, the case gets sacrificed. Plus, in a completely & totally vain and quite possibly arrogant reason, it’s fun to show off au naturale, so to speak. However, I don’t do away with the case entirely because every time I consider it, I recall that video (I believe it was a post fron CoM) about the iPhone that kept recording A video after being dropped in a pool. So perhaps cases CAN come in handy under the right circumstances, which makes me hesitant to do away with a case entirely.
Todd, on September 5th, 2009 at 12:20 am
Hey Tim, this was posted word-for-word on your blog. Why post it here too?
Austin, on September 5th, 2009 at 12:20 am
I don’t read his blog… Or do I?
BetaCloud777, on September 5th, 2009 at 12:37 am
Slow news day, eh?
Brad R, on September 5th, 2009 at 1:25 am
Anybody ever think about the heat that were produced by iPhone during charging and playing games. While in a case it will get hotter than naked iPhone because the heat is not easily transferred because of extra layer of the case. I cant stop wondering about this whether it will give more wear and tear to the battery since battery don’t like hot place. Even worst case like SwitchEasy Rebel is not easily removed and you are not going to remove it everyday for charging. Or, do people just ignore about the battery lifespan for just protecting the iPhone body???
dicota, on September 5th, 2009 at 1:35 am
I’ve always thought cases were like Whitney on crack — unnecessary, and it ruins a beautiful thing.
JAYnLA, on September 5th, 2009 at 1:50 am
I absolutely agree with you.
So what if your iPhone won’t get scratched if you keep it in a case? You won’t see your “scratch-less” iPhone anyways?
Ben Ho, on September 5th, 2009 at 2:02 am
uhmm one word try otterbox
Miguel, on September 5th, 2009 at 2:48 am
That is exactly the same reason why I don’t use always-on cases. I like the pure iPhone experience. However, I carry it in my pocket in an iPod sock which is the best “case” I have ever used, it keeps it clean and protects from scratches and dust under the screen, plus it’s super easy to pull out of even with one hand (when driving or something)
Marian, on September 5th, 2009 at 4:31 am
well, i agree that the iphone is less attractive with a case and also bulkier.
But afterall i feel better when i dont need to threat it like an unboiled egg..Also i dont have a hardcase, i use a silicon sleeve so it wont scratch anything..
I just dont want to buy a new iphone after a year because the old one broke, also its retaining its value better if you plan to sell it later or give it to somebody in your family.
I dunno, its a device i work with everyday like my macbook or my car, but i just like to treat my stuff well.
kayoone, on September 5th, 2009 at 5:05 am
Ha. There are more adverts for iPhone cases on this website than any other.
Ben, on September 5th, 2009 at 5:13 am
While I agree it takes away asthetically, it does prevent the phone from cracking during incidental drops!! I took my old one out of the case to take photos to sell it… Within 5 minutes it dropped and cracked on a corner… Carrying too much at once… So a case it is
S, on September 5th, 2009 at 5:18 am
Well said – I totally agree. Mine is lives in a little sock, which I take it out of every time I use it.
Meghann, on September 5th, 2009 at 5:29 am
who cares?
Kevin Cassidy, on September 5th, 2009 at 6:12 am
Why I love iPhone case:
That’s simple – the iPhone, as a piece of beauty, is like a woman. Every time you take off the case, this is just like taking the dress off the woman – erotic & sensitive.
What would happen if your woman would *always* be naked? You would not able to see and enjoy her beauty anymore.
Konstantin, on September 5th, 2009 at 6:58 am
Why do you have sandy countertops?
While I’m envious of others who dare to brandish their iPhone unclothed, I’m too risk-averse. I did have a much bulkier case but went to more of a minimalist…that’s as good as it gets. The glare-free screen protector I now have is a vast improvement for me over the naked screen…less smudges.
Doug, on September 5th, 2009 at 7:13 am
I kind of agree. I have always had a case because I wanted to keep it in pristine condition…. but that doesn’t matter because no one can see it anyways. This article has inspired me to take it off—take it all off.
@Konstantin, I agree with that…however, I never found a reason TO remove the case. The case is less of a lingerie covering a woman and more like a habit covering a nun.
lukeMV, on September 5th, 2009 at 7:36 am
Why do you care if I use a case?
This is ridiculous. I actually clicked this link because I couldn’t believe someone would be so ignorant.
Mike, on September 5th, 2009 at 8:13 am
I have a rubber case on it because the iPhone is slippery on the fingers and I don’t want to drop it.
Marc, on September 5th, 2009 at 8:30 am
there are cases that are thin and do protect against scratches without causing them. perhaps you need to do some more research.
also there are other reasons for having a case. for example, in a house with 4 iphone users, all with black phones, being able to grab mine due to the bright red case instead of having to pick each one up and try the passcode, is a delight.
Charli, on September 5th, 2009 at 8:49 am
I agree : I like the beautiful curves of my iPhone.
However, there is a way to enjoy its original shape without the risk of scratching it : put a transparent film protection (I use the one from Bodyguardz, but I think there are other brands just as good).
So, if you put your iphone AND your keys in the same pocket, you just don’t scratch the screen or the back !
Frederic, on September 5th, 2009 at 8:50 am
I agree, bulky cases defeat the design of the phone, but I do believe in protection.
I use a very slim, 1mm thick back snap on cover (Air jacket), it also is textured to add grip. It does not cover the front bezel at all.
I also like screen films because they make the screen slippier and easier to use.
The iphone design is great, but scratches all over the shiny back are ugly.
so my 3G is still very slim, gripper, and protected.
gigaguy, on September 5th, 2009 at 9:44 am
I used a case for a few months when I get my iPhone 2G. Then I just stopped. I hated cases, and decided that I’m careful enough to not need a case. It’s been fine, and now I’ve got a 3GS, also caseless.
Jack, on September 5th, 2009 at 9:46 am
I dropped my first caseless iPhone many times. Part of the reason was it was a bit slick. The last time I dropped it it landed face first on a rock. Game over. I replaced it with an iPhone 3g. I kept it in a case and screen protected. When the 3gs came out I sold the 3g on eBay. I feel it had a higher resale value because there wasn’t a scratch on it anywhere.
A person, on September 5th, 2009 at 9:47 am
The main reason I use a case is for friction. The iPhone is quite slippery on a smooth surface, or lying on a leather car seat. A grippy rubber case stops it flying around.
mikhailovitch, on September 5th, 2009 at 9:55 am
Everyone loves to see there iphone out of a case and naked…they look awesome..I have the white 1 and I love when it is out of my case. But, I wouldnt get a case for it until I had found one that was perfect (not many at all.. especially the ones at&t offers). So I looked on the Apple website for help. For people that don’t want there iphone to be scratched,cracked,dropped,etc… but would still like to know and see they have the iphone…I would recommend the inCase..I have an inCase in lime green and I LOVE it, it has hard rubber sides while the back is hard clear green plastic which is see thru so you can see you have the iphone! This case is tight against the phone and makes it seem like there is no case at all especially since you can see the back of the phone..unlike other cases.
Brendan Berno, on September 5th, 2009 at 10:26 am
One word – InvisibleShield
Tim Satryan, on September 5th, 2009 at 11:12 am
Ahem – http://i31.tinypic.com/2nk3zpf.jpg
Adam Gilleard, on September 5th, 2009 at 11:21 am
I have to say I completely agree with the author. Don’t use a case, it’s ridiculous to spoil the feel and limit your ability to properly interface with the touchscreen.
As for the Invisible Shield (which is two words, by the way) I have several words: rubbery feel, tatty dirty peeling corners, sticks to the inside of your pocket.
owen-b, on September 5th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
I follow this ideal with my first iPhone and you should see it. The screen is scratched all over and then I dropped it and cracked it. Doh! I lived with it because I figured it was my fault for being a butterfingered dolt. THEN the switch to silence the ringer broke and I took it in to get it fixed. The Apple Store told me that because the screen had two cracks (from the one drop) it could not be covered under AppleCare due to physical damage. The physical damage had nothing to do with the mechanical problem but because of it I was screwed. When 3Gs came out I bought a new phone and a case. I hate the case but I’ve had it the other way and it didn’t work out too well. It’s a poor compromise and I don’t get to experience the iPhone the way “Steve meant it to be” but if Steve drops his phone I bet he’d get a new one without any questions asked.
Hike Every Day, on September 5th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
A case on the iPhone reminds me of people who buy new furniture and then cover it in plastic. Why bother getting new furniture if it’s going to look and feel awful anyway?
Don Pope, on September 5th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
My iPod touch is beautiful. Unless you know yourself to be clumsy, getting the odd scuff or scratch on a caseless iPod is still better than covering it up with a case, I think.
It’s hilarious how up in arms some people here have gotten over this post. Going caseless is a fair point to make and a topic many iPhone and iPod touch users consider and even discuss.
And the fact that this article was run on a blog that seems to butter its bread with case ads shows that they’re at least not pandering to their advertisers with their content.
Darcy Fitzpatrick, on September 5th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
I do the same with my iPod Touch. It becomes less sexy with his clothes on…
Alexandre Costa, on September 5th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Explore the gelaskin (google it). It is a smart way to protect the back with no additional thickness. The screen is scratch proof – so going naked is the best thing
Smarter than you, on September 5th, 2009 at 7:05 pm
I work at heights of 20-50 feet, on a lift or on a catwalk and I’d sure hate to see my li’l beauty take a Brodie to the concrete below. That rubber grippy case is my insurance policy. And I NEVER put it in my shirt pocket!
Dale, on September 5th, 2009 at 8:45 pm
Dude – leather slip case. Keeps it from getting scratched, provides some minimal padding in case you drop it, still very slim in my pocket, slips right off when I want to use it. It’s the best of both worlds.
Sean Peters, on September 5th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
Totally agree — I’ve been saying this for over two years to my iPhone-toting friends. Now, I sit in front of a computer all day for work, so the odds of my phone getting damaged are less-so than a social butterfly or a construction worker, so I’m able to have the luxury of living a case-free lifestyle. But the iPhone is such a beautiful device that to have anything covering it is just shameful. And that’s not so other people can be impressed, it’s so I can — so I can hold it in my hand and still now, after over 2 years of iPhone ownership, marvel at it’s beauty and simplistic complexity.
James M, on September 5th, 2009 at 10:52 pm
I thought the same way until my wife came home with hers in an InCase Slider case. It has a really nice texture to it, barely increases girth, and has a really nice matte finish… the matte finish that most reasonable iPhone owners have always wanted.
Needless to say I marched to the Apple store the next day and picked one up too… only in black rather than bubble gum pink.
RyanTV, on September 6th, 2009 at 12:57 am
I love not having my iPhone in a case. But I also love it not being scratched up. So for that reason, I do use cases but am very selective in which ones I use. I get cases that offer some protection if dropped on their back but pretty much zero if dropped on their face.
Nathan, on September 6th, 2009 at 7:24 am
Agree with the part that most cases add bulk and take away the aesthetic beauty of the iPhone itself, but you can use something like BodyGuardz or InvisibleShield on the back and a 100% transparent film (ie. without the orange peel effect of these) like Artwizz ScratchStopper for the front. You still have you pristine iPhone looking beautiful.
Fat Gorilla, on September 6th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Those who like cases should of course use cases. But I have had my iPhone for 2 years and never used a case. I carry it in my pocket, often with my keys. Or I have it in a segment of my briefcase or backpack where it is usually flopping around with other items. The screen to this day is perfect, not a single scratch. There are plenty of short very fine scratches on the back, but barely visible unless you hold the phone up to your eyes and look for them. But I’m fine with them, it gives the phone a bit of character. For me, trying to keep any electronic device looking perfectly new and completely scratchless is a bit like keeping a sofa covered in plastic.
Joseph, on September 6th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
Thats the same way i feel about it! Couldn’t have said it better myself
Marcus Ting, on September 6th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
All about the Gelaskins over here!
when I took my first iPhone to the Apple store to be replaced under warranty, I simply peeled it off and by crikey it looked as good as the first day I bought it
and the best of it is, I could re-apply my Gelaskin to the new iPhone Apple gave me
WIN!
UNFOLD, on September 7th, 2009 at 4:26 am
As someone who broke my dropped my iPhone a week after I bought it, your advise is idiotic. It costs more to fix a screen than it does to buy a new one. Protecting an investment.
Jason Bachman, on September 7th, 2009 at 10:42 am
Doesn’t scratch easily? Hell, I happened to trip and fall on the sidewalk one day last summer, and my month-old iPhone 3GS, which I had been holding in my hand at the time, barely grazed the concrete. It even had a silicone case on it, but it didn’t cover the metallic part well, and, for the first time ever, I didn’t have a screen cover. Guess what? The entire left lower corner of the phone is all scratched up, including the screen. Huge bummer.
Now I use a hard shell case and screen protector to prevent further damage. It also covers the scratches, which irritate the crap out of me whenever I take the phone out of the case to look at it.
Orac, on September 7th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
I used a silicon sleeve on my ipod touch. Somehow, when I took off the case I saw that the back was really really scratched up, which makes no sense because I never even took the case off. My theory is that some grains of sand somehow got between the case and the ipod and the case just mashed them around scratching the whole thing. Ever since then, I’ve just used ipods/iphones without a case. Who cares if its a little scratched?? No one. It actually looks more distinguished to me that way.
Jamal, on September 7th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
Cases are definitely a “chick” thing with me.
I don’t carry my iPhone in a sock. (definitely a “guy” thing.) Or in my front pants pocket. I am not keen on carrying such a device in close proximity to my reproductive organs. (unless it’s on vibrate)
I carry my iPhone in a handbag, mixing with what-nots, make-up and the inevitable sharp object poised for attack. In my opinion, Apple does not design for women ergonomically nor aesthetically. So a case it is and I have one for every occasion. Thank goodness someone in the Apple accessory world thinks of women. We’re a heady market.
Don’t get me wrong. I do appreciate the svelte lines and elegant technology of the iPhone and other Apple devices and am a devotee. But I also like Multirole Military Jets, Fisher Bullet Space pens, Cadillacs, Doupioni Silk and South Sea Pearls.
So, until they make the iPhone in matte black with a gold florentine finish bezel I’ll keep my ignorant hot slippery nakedness covered.
LoveyK, on September 7th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
well this article is cute and all…but you know what I have noticed
this has the most comments of any Cult of Mac article I have seen in a long time
good job Tim…do what you want with your iphone I know I do
Alexis, on September 7th, 2009 at 10:52 pm
[...] just stumbled upon (but not through StumbleUpon ) an article from the Cult of Mac about how writer Tim Cox doesn’t want to keep his iPhone in a case. He basically states that none of us should be using cases because they take away from the iPhone [...]
Why shouldn’t I put my iPhone in a case? | Pwn The iPhone, on September 8th, 2009 at 10:35 am
God, I used to agree with you so vehemently. Until I dropped it and smashed in one of the volume buttons. It was stuck at max volume for 3 months until I finally got frustrated enough to replace it.
Sean Hansell, on September 8th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
I put mine in a case so I doesn’t get scratches. Why don’t I want scratches on it? So it looks brand new when I go to sell it on eBay after the next version comes out.
If you purchased your iPhone at a time of release, ATT will sell it to you for the $200 price. Even if you haven’t had it the 2 years. So I sell my old iPhone for $300 and buy a new one for $200. If you are a jail breaker you can make even more.
Jason, on September 8th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
I like the minimalist approach of not using a case at all andf I love Apple design but I know the sickening crash of gadget on concrete so I want some sort of protection – though I hate most iPhone cases. I must leap to the defence of the Exovault case though. Its not to everyone’s taste, sure, and it does add bulk and weight but since getting mine I have had nothing but positive comments on it and it is so solid it feels it could be iused as a weapon if necessary. The aluminium version I got (brass was too heavy and titanium too expensive) also echoes to an extent the unibody Macbook Pro cases so it isn’t so foreign to the Apple aesthetic. Plus I suspect I may be one of the few people in Australia with one so there is a bit of exclusivity to boot.
Richard, on September 9th, 2009 at 1:56 am
[...] Cox over at Cult of Mac puts up a good argument as to why we shouldn’t use cases for our iPhone’s. While I somewhat agree, I still can’t help clipping the Feather over [...]
Ed Parry : Blog Archive : Incipio Feather, on September 26th, 2009 at 9:45 am