We have compiled a list of 17 Cell Phone Case Questions commonly asked by Women and the answers. As we research new Cell Phone Cases for Apple iPhones and Samsung Galaxy Smartphones we are amazed at the variety and depth of the choices out there.
We do not feel that there is enough information specifically focused on Women for Cell Phone Accessories in the world to not start addressing those questions. We have gained expertise in this area from the day to day issues and natural questions that arise from ourselves and women who shop in our store for Cell Phone Cases.
Not only is this enlightening and interesting but many of these questions are useful to us as well and as we continue to strive to understand our customers and products every day as we want only to be the best!!
1. What Is A Cell Phone Case?
Now, this may seem like a basic simple question but “What Is A Cell Phone Case?” is a really good place to start. “Often made of plastic or rubber, a Cell Phone Case is designed to attach to, support, protect, be a fashion statement, or otherwise hold a Cellular Phone, and are popular accessories for many cell phone users.”
- Actually there is no direct definition of Cell Phone Case in Wikipedia.
- The first mention of “Cases” in Wikipedia is under “Mobile Phone Accessories”. “Cases, which are designed to attach to, support, or otherwise hold a smartphone, are popular accessories. Case measures are based on the display inches (e.g. 5-inch display). There are different types:
- Pouches and sleeves
- Holsters
- Shells
- Skins
- Bumpers
- Flip cases and wallets
- Screen protection and body films
- Drop and shock protection
- Leather Case
- Spending on mobile phone accessories is expected to reach $107.3 billion by 2022, according to Allied Market Research, up from about $61 billion in 2014. Protective cases are the hottest sellers in the category.
- According to a study by the NPD, “iPhone and Android owners show different propensities for protecting their devices. For instance, nearly 9-in-10 iPhone owners (87 percent) use a protective case with their phone – higher than the average for all smartphone users. Meanwhile, just two-in-three (66 percent) Android phone owners use a protective case.”
- Source: The NPD Group/Smartphone Case Segmentation Study
- “Case usage among iPhone owners is higher than any other phone type,” said Ben Arnold, executive director, an industry analyst at NPD.; “While the large selection of cases made for iPhones on the market today is likely driving much of this attachment, there are also differences in the protection motivations of owners. For instance, 27 percent of iPhone owners classify themselves as ‘quality protectors,’ those who seek the absolute maximum level of protection from a smartphone case, while just 13 percent of Android owners classify themselves as such.”
- “iPhone owners are also more likely to own multiple cases during the lifespan of their phones; Nearly half (49 percent) of iPhone owners have attached more than one case to their device during its lifespan, and a quarter owns more than one as a way to change the look of their phone.”
2. Why Do I Need A Cell Phone Case?
- To protect your Cellular Phone from various problems such as bending, chipping, cracking, dropping, and in some cases, water.
- Personalization – many consumers choose to get Cell Phone Cases to stylize their phones and be able to swap out different case designs. Showing their personality.
Please see some of our other interesting articles like “Can A Phone Case Affect Wifi Reception?” and “Apps Women Use With Their Smartphones?”
3. What Are The Different Types Of Cell Phone Cases (There Is A Lot!!!)
- Underwater Cell Phone Cases and Pouches
- Clear Transparent Cases
- Fashion Cases
- Painted Cases
- Artistic Cases
- Stand Cases
- Protective Touch Rugged Cases
- Battery Cases
- Faraday EMF Radiation Protection Bags and Cases
- Design Cases
- Diamond Cases
- Glitter Cases
- Mirror Cases
- Retro
- Fanny pack
- Leather and Simulated Leather Cases.
- Real or Simulated Snake or Fish Skin Cases
- Hard Cases
- Grip Cases
- Hybrid Cases
- Hybrid Cases with Stand
- Fabric
- Hard Plastic
- Felt Accent
- Nylon
- Soft Silicone Cases
- TPU Rubber Cases
- Flip cases and Wallets
- Wallets and Pouches
4. Do Cell Phone Cases Actually Protect Cell Phones?
- The Short answer is yes depending on the case. There are absolutely highly protective Cell Phone Cases that can protect your cell phone from all sorts of accidents.
- All cases offer some protection should you drop your phone; however, the level of protection varies depending on the type you select.
- A rugged, rubber case offers the greatest protection because it often consists of a combination of layers, including a rigid layer and a silicone liner for increased shock absorption. In addition, these cases often offer additional protection, such as screen protection and water resistance.
- A silicone case protects your phone from short-distance drops and the texture helps prevent your phone from sliding. Because the case consists only of a thin layer of silicone, however, it may not prevent damage if your phone falls from a great distance or with a lot of force.
- Plastic cases are hard, offering solid protection if you bump or drop your phone. Smooth, this case may slide off a table when bumped, but it will protect your phone against damage from impact.
- While the difference may be minimal, any bit of shock-absorbing material can reduce damage to a Smartphone if dropped or impacted by another object.
5. What Kind Of Cell Phone Case Offers The Best Protection For Your Smartphone?
- That depends on the overall device protection because some Smartphones are tougher than others especially as they evolve. A Smartphone Case, which covers the corners, edges, and back of a smartphone, is good insurance. A good case will protect your phone from scratches and absorb impact in those areas if and when your Smartphone is dropped. If one thing is for sure, it will be dropped
- Carrying a smartphone without a case is pretty risky when you are paying $400.00 on the very low end up to $1,449.00 for a new iPhone XS MAX. No one wants their new Smartphone to shatter, crack or get dented.
- There are hundreds of cases available composed of different materials, including plastic and leather.
- There are trade-offs to cases and glass protectors. A case adds a bit of bulk to the device, making it heavier and heftier in your pocket and a screen protector doesn’t protect the rest of the device.
- If you were to go with just one accessory, a case is more important than a screen protector given the case’s coverage over more parts of the phone.
6. How Much Cell Phone Protection Do You Need?
- The first thing to work out is how tough you need your case to be and what you want it for. If you want to be able to drop it on concrete from the second story or have it survive a swim in the ocean, then you’ll need some serious protection.
- If you’re careful and you just want basic protection, then you don’t need to spend so much money. There is a clear distinction between the level of protection provided, size and material of the case, plus the bulk and weight added.
- Obviously a super thin silicone case is not going to protect your Cell Phone as much as an all enclosed three-layer case with screws to hold it together.
- Use your best judgment and try to meet the parameters that you have set and know yourself enough to know what can happen to this expensive piece of technology you are carrying around.
7. Are Cell Phones Or Their Cases Slippery?
- Yes, they can be especially the new Samsung and iPhones without a case. You can get grippable Cell Phone Cases that help a lot.
8. Is There Really Cell Phone Case Glitter Burns?
- Yes According to a USA Today Article on August 4th, 2017 “In the United States, MixBin sold about 263,000 cases, which fit iPhones 6, 6s and 7. Amazon, Henri Bendel, Victoria’s Secret, Tory Burch, Nordstrom Rack, and the MixBin website retailed the cases from October 2015 until July 2017, according to a statement issued on the MixBin website. MixBin did not respond to a TODAY request for comment. Of the 24 reports of burns, 19 occurred in the U.S.”
- There may have been more but no related incidents have shown up since then on the mainstream media.
9. Should You Put Your Credit Card In Your iPhone 8 X Or Later Cell Phone Case And Leave On Your Wireless Charger?
- According to Apple’s iPhone Website and article “How to wirelessly charge your iPhone 8 or later” then “Learn More Section”: No is the answer with the following description.
- “Wireless charging uses magnetic induction to charge your iPhone. Don’t place anything between your iPhone and the charger. Magnetic mounts, magnetic cases, or other objects between your iPhone and the charger might reduce performance or damage magnetic strips or RFID chips like those found in some credit cards, security badges, passports, and key fobs. If your case holds any of these sensitive items, remove them before charging or make sure that they aren’t between the back of your iPhone and the charger.”
10. Are Hard or Soft Phone Cases Better?
- The way you use your Cell Phone determines the kind and degree of protection you need.
- Hard rubberized or plastic cases provide more protection than soft silicone cases because of the density of the material and level of protection you are looking for.
- Silicone cases are very flexible, while rubberized or plastic hard cases do not bend.
- A silicone case should be used to prevent scratching on the plastic shell of the phone. It does not usually offer much shock absorption if the phone is dropped.
- A hard rubberized protection case, however, will provide the protection the user needs if the phone is dropped frequently.
- There are also combination two or three-layer hard rubberized or plastic cases with soft silicone layers that offer an additional cushion in between the layers and offer additional shock protection inside the plastic or hard rubber when dropping.
11. Are Hard Plastic Phone Cases Good?
- Yes, and they have their various applications in all sorts of models and configurations.
- Hard Plastic Phone Cases are typically more attuned to the protection of your Smartphone and are made of two or three pieces to snap around your phone.
- They are also more likely to be bulkier but some of our favorite phone cases are hard plastic and for protection specifically.
12. What Is The Difference Between Plastic And Silicone Cell Phone Cases?
- Each case fits securely, typically covering the entire phone except for the screen, buttons and input ports.
- Silicone covers usually consist of a single piece of silicone that stretches around your phone. Because the silicone covers the phone like skin, this case adds the least amount of bulk to your phone.
- Silicone covers can be ultra-thin and just for grip or clear like nothing is on the cell phone.
- Sturdier than a standard silicone case, a rugged rubber case contains thicker sides and corners. As a result, this case adds the greatest bulk to your phone.
- Plastic covers consist of two pieces that slide together around your phone. A plastic case adds more bulk to the size of your phone than a silicone cover; however, it adds less bulk than a rugged rubber cover. Regardless of style, you must select a cover specific to your phone model to ensure proper fit.
13. Do Smartphone Cases Block Signals?
- It can depend on the type of Smartphone Case but in general plastic, hard rubber, or silicone cases do not cause cell phone signal interference.
14. Do Smartphone Cases Block Cell Phones Radiation?
- No regular Cell Phone Cases do not block enough EMF Radiation to make a significant difference and help.
- They make Faraday EMF Radiation Protection Bags and Cases if you’re looking for something to protect yourself from the EMF Radiation emitted from your cell phone, tablet, and other devices.
- A report from National Toxicology Program (NTP) Announced By the National Institute Of Environmental Health Sciences and the final conclusions represent the consensus between NTP and a panel of external scientific experts who thoroughly reviewed the draft NTP technical reports at a public meeting in March 2018.
- The National Toxicology Program (NTP) concluded there is clear evidence that male rats exposed to high levels of radiofrequency radiation (RFR) like that used in 2G and 3G cell phones developed cancerous heart tumors, according to the final reports released today. There was also some evidence of tumors in the brain and adrenal glands of exposed male rats. For female rats and male and female mice, the evidence was equivocal as to whether cancers observed were associated with exposure to RFR.
15. Does Qi Wireless Charging Work With A Cell Phone Case On The Phone?
- Yes but it depends on the Cell Phone Case material and thickness. Most cell phone cases should work but as stated on Apples Website “How to wirelessly charge your iPhone 8 or later”: “If your iPhone isn’t charging or is charging slowly and your iPhone has a thick case, metal case, or battery case, try removing the case.”
- On the Qi Wireless Power Consortium Websites description of inductive charging as with a Qi Wireless Transmitter Pad and Qi Wireless Receiver Coil like in the back of your Cell Phone: “With inductive charging, the charge passes between a transmitter and receiver coil placed closely together, usually only separated by the outer casing of the two devices (<7mm).” With resonant charging, “The transmitter can detect and charge existing Qi receivers at greater distances (up to 45mm).” Qi combines both.”
16. Can A Cell Phone Case Affect Bluetooth or Wifi Reception?
- Most Cell Phone Case materials are not capable of blocking any amount of reception. That is why most cell phone cases today are made out of plastic, hard rubber, or silicone.
- Phone cases typically don’t interfere with phone signal. However, cases with large amounts of metal might affect the quality of the Cell Phone Signal. Other Cell Phone Case materials such as Carbon Fiber may also affect the signal.
17. Do They Make Battery Charging Cell Phone Cases For Phones With Qi Wireless Charging?
- Yes, and they are starting too. There are not a lot of choices out there yet but they are starting too. Battery Cell Phone Cases are popular options as they feature an integrated battery that subsequently adds additional battery life to your Cell Phone.
- From a Battery Charging Cell Phone Cases information section: “COMPATIBLE WITH Qi WIRELESS CHARGING. No more wires or cables! Supports universal wireless charging. Simply place on any wireless charging pad to start charging. It will charge your iPhone first to full then your battery case next. If placed overnight, both your iPhone and battery case should be fully charged.”
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phone_accessories
https://www.npd.com/wps/portal/npd/us/news/press-releases/one-in-four-smartphone-owners-dont-use-a-case-to-protect-their-phone-according-to-npd/
https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/pick-good-case-cover/
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/24/technology/personaltech/reality-check-what-does-and-doesnt-protect-your-smartphone.html
https://www.today.com/health/263-000-glitter-iphone-cases-recalled-due-burns-t114691
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/phone-cases-acid-burns/
https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/glitter-iphone-cases-recalled-causing-burns-48984020
https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT208078
https://itstillworks.com/12527912/rubberized-hard-phone-cases-vs-silicone-phone-cases
https://itstillworks.com/plastic-vs-rubber-vs-silicone-phone-cases-1962.html
https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/materials/cell_phone_radiofrequency_radiation_studies_508.pdf
https://www.wirelesspowerconsortium.com/about/benefits.html