The mind-blowing test that might just eliminate the need for phone cases.
For years, phone cases have been an essential accessory. They protected our devices from falls, scratches, and all kinds of everyday accidents. But what if all of that is about to change? A recent experiment puts this deeply rooted habit to the test, suggesting that the future of phones could do without that protective layer… although not without risks.
An experiment without cases that challenges logic
Journalist Thomas Germain, from the BBC, decided to test a simple but radical idea: using the phone without any case. For 30 days, he and a friend left their smartphones as they came out of the box. The goal was to check if it is really necessary to continue using cases in an era where phones are more resistant than ever.
The result was striking: their phones endured without major damage, and they also noticed an improvement in grip and the overall aesthetics of the device. “It feels like it was really designed,” explained one of them. This is combined with a trend that is gaining strength on social media, where many users claim to carry their phones “naked”.
Do phones no longer need protection?
One of the factors that supports this new stance is the evolution in manufacturing materials. Today, many brands include components like Gorilla Glass, a type of glass developed by Corning that can withstand drops of up to 2 meters without breaking. Although it doesn’t make them indestructible, it does make them much more durable than their predecessors.
In fact, statistics back up this idea: a few years ago, a third of phones did not pass impact tests. Today, the vast majority pass without problems. Rich Fisco, one of the responsible for the resistance tests, sums it up humorously: “It is true that phones withstand more… but I still use a case because I’m cheap.”
While this trend is gaining more followers, it also generates controversy. For some, it is an aesthetic and functional decision: without a case, phones look better, weigh less, and are easier to handle. For others, it is an unnecessary gamble that can be costly if the device suffers a fall.
The question then is not whether you can use the phone without a case, but whether we really want to take the risk. Those with high-end phones may hesitate more to give up protection, while others, trusting in new technologies, are ready to leave this accessory behind.
The beginning of a new era for smartphones?
Although Germain’s and his friend’s experiment does not guarantee that everyone should stop using cases, it does open an interesting debate: are we still buying protectors out of real necessity or out of habit?
With increasingly resistant devices, more people could join this minimalist trend. And who knows, maybe in a few years, looking at a case will be like looking at a phone with an antenna: a memory of the past.
