Why must a phone be so slippery?

Call me crazy, but I think I'm done with phone cases

Image courtesy of Droid Life

So smart phones! We all have them right? And I bet that a solid majority of you have your phone in a case right now don't you?

Sure, I have had phone cases over the years as well. But since I purchased my Pixel 8 Pro on launch day last fall, it has been living...gasp...au natural without a case!

Have I lost my mind? Do I have no regard for taking care of my prized possessions? Do I just have unlimited money to replace my phone if it shatters into pieces? No on all accounts. I'm just sick of dealing with cases.

Think about it. You get all excited for a new phone to launch. And when it does, it's obviously an expensive purchase. And Apple, Google, Samsung, really any phone manufacturer will entice you to buy a case with that new phone. You can't take any chances with this new member of your family! It needs to be swaddled and cared for from day one!

Image courtesy of Google

I jest, but the phone case/screen protector market is obviously a huge industry. And don't get me wrong, I understand how expensive these devices are. Spending anywhere from $10-$100 on a case is a fraction of the phone's total cost. It might be a perfectly reasonable purchase to ensure that your phone will remain functional through its lifetime. I just don't want to play that game anymore.

No, we're sadly not going to revert back to the days when phones were made of plastic. In some instances, it's nice to have a "premium feeling" phone that is made of metal and glass, but at what extra cost? Certainly the purchase price goes up for these materials, and also the mental energy needed to keep it protected can take its toll as well.

Image courtesy of Google

When are phones were made of plastic, we didn't need cases. Most drops were no problem when the build was primarily plastic. But even if there was some serious damage, it didn't cost nearly as much to fix or replace the device. I may sound like a grumpy old man, but it was even better when phones had removable backplates and removable batteries. That would allow for much more longevity and less concern about its fragility.

For the last couple of years I've just finally said no to the phone case. As phones have gotten larger, I've been trying to keep them as streamlined as possible when in my pocket. Even a thin case can add some unnecessary girth to a device. My only compromise was the screen protector.

Image courtesy of IMBZBK

Yes, I've been open to buying a nice tempered glass screen protector for most of my phones. After all, the screen is the most valuable part of the phone and as long as that is protected from scratches and cracks, I'd be satisfied. And screen protectors have mostly gotten better over time. They're easier to install, they're more durable, they're generally a worthwhile investment. But the costs have been going up. And maybe more importantly, I've found myself looking at cracks and scratches that were solely on the protector rather than the pristine screen underneath. At that point, you need to just remove that protector and call it a day.

Life is too short to worry about protecting our screen protectors am I right?

So my Pixel 8 Pro continues to sit naked on my desk right now. It slips into my pocket with no fear of any bits of sand or dust in my pocket that may scratch it up. It's just living life with reckless abandon. And I'm sure I'm jinxing myself, but it looks pretty darn good despite the average number of drops and scratches.

While the phone looks beautiful, it still blows my mind just how darn slippery the back of it is. It's a lovely matte finish for the Bay Blue color of the device and yet I find that it slides off of literally anything you place it on. I'm not sure how Google was able to make something this slippery. It can be lying perfectly flat and somehow manages to slide across a surface like it has a mind of its own.

Image courtesy of dbrand

Sure, if I just had a nice rubbery case on it this would be no issue right? Would the phone be less "premium" if Google just gave it an invisible texture of some sort? Do I just need to apply my own skin or wrap to give it a little extra grip? I've actually had good experiences in the past with dbrand and Slickwraps who manufacture those things, I just wish it wasn't necessary.

The other side of this debate is the resale or trade-in value of the phone when you upgrade to the latest and greatest tech. Yes, I am one of those guys that prefers to just trade in my old phone each year to receive its maximum value when purchasing the next model. So essentially, I'm only protecting my phone for that trade-in process more than I'm protecting it for myself. If that trade-in wasn't a concern, I think I'd be even more cavalier with my device.

Image courtesy of Google

I appreciate you following along for my old man rant about the good ol' days of plasticky, textured phones that could withstand drops and not shatter into a million pieces. I'm not expecting the industry to return to those days. I know that phone cases are too big of a business to take down at this point. Can I just ask phone manufacturers to add even the smallest amount of texture to those backsides? (yep, that sounds wrong)

What say you my loyal readers? Are you all still keeping your phones wrapped up in cases? Do you share my desire for devices that don't constantly slip off every surface you place them on?

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Thanks for reading, I’ll see you next week!

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