Living dangerously without a phone case
How is my Pixel 9 Pro holding up?
On several occasions in the last three months, I've had someone comment to me or a person I'm with about the lack of a case on their phone.
I've realized that to case or not case your phone has become one of the more hotly debated topics in our modern digital world.
Yes, it's not a decision to be taken lightly. It seems that people draw some serious conclusions when they witness a new phone without the shackles of a case. Is this person insane? Are they just so incredibly wealthy that they don't care if their new expensive toy smashes into pieces? Does this naked phone handler think they're better than me? Is something else going on here?
Back in June, I wrote about how I hated how slippery phones had become, but I also wasn't too keen on phone cases. Why add extra bulk to your pocket if you don't really need to? What a conundrum!
So I've been going without a phone case for quite sometime now to the consternation of many. My shiny Pixel 9 Pro has been unadorned and loving the open air treatment since launch day. And how is the phone looking so far? It's not perfect, but it's not too shabby either.
My phone has taken a few spills in a little over a month in my possession. Maybe most notably was one drop out of the basket of my bike onto concrete. Surprisingly, it was mostly fine aside from a small scuff on the bottom corner and edge of the bulbous rear camera casing. Nothing visually looked off after the drop, but if you run your hand along the edges, you can feel the imperfection. And I'm ok with that! It gives it some much needed character!
But those are just flesh wounds to the body. How is the gorgeous 6.3 inch screen holding up? No noticeable gouges but you can see a few tiny hairline scratches on the screen if you look closely enough. In my experience, these types of scratches are just impossible to avoid. Even if you keep the phone away from your keys, coins, or other sharp things in your pockets, it seems like the most minor grain of dirt or sand can cause the tiny scratch.
This is why I've usually been a supporter of screen protectors but not cases. The screen is obviously the most important part of the device so why not focus your protection on that area? Sure, a scratch or crack on the back side might look bad, but it won't really impact your ability to use the phone. Plus, the thin tempered glass screen protector has virtually no impact on the thickness of the phone and how it feels in the hand. The only downside to the screen protector is how tricky they can be to install.
No matter how many times I do it, I always manage to get a bubble or wrinkle or imperfection of some sort under the screen protector. I've also had instances where I'm lamenting a scratch on my screen when I remember that I have a screen protector installed! Yes, screen protectors can get scratched too. But you just peel them off and you're as good as new. It's a pretty good feeling.
Anyway, the same can be said about placing a screen protector over a small scratch that's on your actual screen. The scratch may still be there but if it's small enough, you won't notice it under the screen protector. So even if you don't apply that screen protector on day one with a new phone, it can still be a valuable solution later on if you see something small that gets in the way of your phone experience.
So my Pixel 9 Pro is still in pretty good shape after toting it around sans protection. But here is another thing to be on the lookout for. I noticed recently that my power button isn't exactly as "clicky" as it was when I first got the phone. The double tap to access the camera app just isn't as smooth as it once was. The button doesn't seem to travel as far as it did when new. Perhaps it's all in my head, but I think that I may have dropped the phone innocently onto a soft rug when it fell out of my pocket while sitting in a chair. It didn't seem like a concerning fall at all but I think it may have landed directly on its power button. What are the chances!?
It's not that big of a deal, and I can certainly live with it. And I'm not even sure if it would have been avoided if donning a case. Even if there was a button cover on the case, the impact still may have wedged the button in deeper than it was designed to go. Oh well, life goes on.
Does this have me clamoring to go pick up a case? Perhaps. The other thing I should mention is that I sometimes look to buy a case when purchasing a phone on launch day only to have it be sold out. Sometimes you can't get a good phone case even if you're open to putting one on your phone! It's almost as if the manufactures want you to rough up those new devices a bit before cases are widely available. Diabolical!
So be on the lookout at your next dinner party or social event. Who are those sociopaths using their phones without a case? Maybe ask them about it, strike up a healthy conversation. Now I'm getting to the point where I notice fellow naked phone folks and give them a nod. It says something about a person who is willing to live so dangerously. I think I want to be friends with these people! After all, it's a just a phone right? Gasp!
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