I'm such a tightass that even if my phone is like $1k+ I'm still really only willing to spend $5 on a case, and maybe another $5 on a screen protector.
How much are you willing to spend?
How Much Are You Willing to Spend on Phone Protectors & Cases?
immrnonamehello on 09/09/2024 - 13:58
Last edited 09/09/2024 - 14:01
Last edited 09/09/2024 - 14:01
Poll Options
- 85< $10 each accessory
- 174$10-$30 each accessory
- 49$30-$50 each accessory
- 31$50-$100 each accessory
- 16$100+ each accessory
Comments
Done
So not phone case, but my switch slipped out of my dock recently whilst I tilted it to plug the cable in (dumb I know). The glass cracked and I was devastated… it was an hour into researching how much it would be to repair / how to self replace when my husband was like isn't this a screen protector. Thank goodness me 7 years ago put one on.. i had forgotten about it. Worth the $30 (for a twin pack).
Gotcha!!!
Case
For a standard case, I expect to pay $5-$10 each. $10-$15 for a magsafe case from ebay/amazon and I expect it to come in a few days.Tempered Glass Screen Protector
This is a lot harder to pick because depending on the phone, you might end up rendering the fingerprint useless if you do not get a compatible screen protector. I would rather pay more and get one that has 100% compatibility than risk it with random screen protector or get a glass screen protector with a gap hole to use fingerprint. Phones with curve screen only adds to the complexity.
$2
Bold move.
$10-$20 per accessory (would expect a 3 pack of tempered glass screen protectors). Would only consider spending more if really desperate (had the device in hand ready to use and couldn't wait for accessories in the mail).
QuadLock all the time.
Quadlock pay for themselves, better protection than contraception 😜
I never thought of that as a use case. I guess it would make it easy to slip in and out of my pocket the first few times, but what about when it dries up? Just put a new one on?
Now that Apple doesn't do leather cases anymore, I guess I'll be spending less on aftermarket MagSafe cases for phones. I liked the old official ones, the leather was just quality enough to not start flaking off with regular daily use.
I always get my tempered glass screen protectors from Amazon now. They like $15 for a 3 pack.
However I like to splurge on Otterbox cases for my phones. They might be slightly pricier but find that they are the most durable and lasting. I did dabble into the Castify ones for a while but they just break too easily.
but find that they are the most durable and lasting.
I doubt you've tried all the others…
Might not have tried all but I think I’ve tried enough - cheap and expensive, to know that I always go back to the Otterbox Symmetry case. Everyone would have their own opinions and preferences on things like this.
$0. Let your phone be naked!
Ringke case for about $20 from Ebay. Some liquid gel glass for $25 from the mobile accessory shops in Westfield.
Which cases or screen protectors even cost $100+?
I paid $85 for my Bellroy case for Pixel 8 Pro. The Peak Design one is $89. And I can't think of any other brands that would charge more unless you're paying for custom print designs.
The only high end screen protector brand I've heard of is Shellrus Sapphire and they don't keep stock in Australia and seemingly only make them for iPhones so they weren't an options. Even the brand name tempered glass screen protectors cost under $30 from what I've seen.
Which cases or screen protectors even cost $100+?
SPIGEN Slim Armor Pro case for the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is $124. Previous Pixel and Galaxy fold cases from popular case manufacturers were also above $100 at launch without any discounts.
I don't do screen protectors. They reduce the sensitivity too much for my liking.
Use 90 Hz or even 120 Hz if your phone supports. Also I have noticed that after I wash my hands with antibacterial hand soap or wiping my phone with disinfectant wipes ($3 for 120 pcs at Wollies), the screen will become smoother or more sensitive.
Don't wipe your phone with disinfectant wipes too often, you'll risk rubbing the oleophobic coating off. I did it once for my older phone and it was incredibly annoying.
Try a TPU film screen protector, much better than glass and usually cheaper too
I still have the free one that came with my phone.
Got peak design case - not cheap but also lasting a lot longer than all those before it
I second Peak Design. Excellent feel to the cases. I like the mount connection better than quadlock and I find the wireless charging more reliable than my quadlock…. But not cheap at about $90 per case and barely ever on sale.
I have an S23 Ultra with gel screen protector $12 for 3 or so, leather wallet-type case for $10 or so, same of all previous phones and family member's phones
spend at least $50 on the protector and case.
I bought an Otterbox Defender XT case for the Galaxy Flip 6 last month for $130 to try and give a fragile phone some protection.
Chucked the receipt out straight away thinking it'll at least last me for a year or so. Their website states that the warranty period is either 2 or 7 years. Three weeks later, I'm overseas and part of the hinge cracks and snaps off - hadn't dropped it or anything either. I've been going back and forth for the last week or so trying to claim warranty through Otterbox and sent them pictures and the transaction record from my bank account, but that's not good enough for them. They say that they need the actual proof of purchase to ensure I'm "within their warranty period". Pretty ridiculous excuse to deny warranty given that the Galaxy Flip 6 was only released less than two months ago! I'm pretty pissed off to say the least!
Where did you buy it from? If from a B&M store, try returning it there. They might even have your receipt on file.
I got it from Harvey Norman, but I've since moved overseas so I can't really go back there and it's probably not worth the effort going through their customer service emails trying to get a copy of the receipt. I'm more annoyed that, for a company with a decent reputation, they're using such a shitty excuse to deny warranty. I've since spent over AUD$100 buying a couple original Samsung cases instead so that the phone at least has some sort of protection.
Had a similar terrible experience with them, I had a clear Otterbox go yellow within a few months, which I purchased direct from them. Their own website says it won’t go yellow, so I contacted OtterBox support, sent them links to their website etc and they said they don’t cover cosmetic faults. Logged a PayPal dispute and quick as a flash Otterbox sent me new cases.
Dammit.. too bad I used my debit card for the payment in-store. It's my first and last time with Otterbox. I'll just stick with Pelican next time.
i got a benks kelver 15pro max case on aliexpress for $39 when it came out
its been perfect ever since
i get the 3/5 pack screen protector for $10 on aliexpress or amazonaliexpress , sort by cheapest
$50 for the case
$15 for the screen protector.
I’m cheap with screen protectors and cases too. I buy them from Bangkok/Kuala Lumpur during layovers. $1 for screen protectors and $5 for cases from Daiso or the market. I buy a few and replace them every few months.
For a case I'm OK with spending over $10 if it does a better job protecting my phone and has the functionality I need. But screen protectors should be less than $10 per protector.
The only phone I've spent more than that was my S23 Ultra simply because I needed a protector that worked with the fingerprint reader. It really didn't like tempered glass.
Cases and screen protectors are designed to get damaged so that your phone doesn't.
Mine runs commando and falls back on phone insurance provided by your friendly credit card if I need a refresh…
"Genuine leather" case from AliExpress. 3 for $7 screen protectors from eBay. Sorted.
The nice thing about Genuine Leather from Aliexpress is you can trust that no animals were harmed to make it.
Spigen for me every time. The prices on these have gone up but I just get them from ProGadgets when on sale. Have had the phone accidentally tossed onto concrete and no damage. Great cases.
no set price, just whatever is decent quality at the cheapest price. long ago learnt my lesson of not having a screen protector.
Get one of those fake leather folding cases from AliExpress ~$5.
Don't need a screen protector with this type of case.
I got an Otter case. Unfortunately, I'm no longer careful as it seems to endure anything now. I'll never be able to go back to a cheap case.
I don't bother with screen protectors, I use a case like this (I use the ring pull every dal).
I also keep my phone in a belt pouch, never in my pocket.
for my 15PM I use a free one I got from a friend working at a mobile phone repair place
but I saw a similar one in DAISO the other day - clear silicone - for wot, $3.10 ?
I like the non-slip grippiness of silicone, soft enough to absorb bumps, and slim enough to not be a hassle slipping in and out of my jeans' front pocket
do people still steal phones sticking out of back pockets in Australia or does the modern security discourage that ? - it's apparently rife in London (thieves on bicycles snatching from inattentive users) ending up in China for parts …
Tree fiddy
I ride a motorcycle most of the time so Quadlock is my go to. When I order a new phone I always place an order for a Quadlock case at the same time. It's unfortunate that they don't make cases for foldables. I have to use a different case with a Quadlock generic attachment stuck on the back for my Fold3.
For my husband's phone I'd spend $50-100 on an Otterbox case (amazon/website itself) the lifetime warranty has gotten 2-3 each from when I bought kn the website and Amazon just gives a refund if something goes wrong lol.
But right now I'm using a $2.50 case from Temu and surprisingly has held up pretty well against a few drops
Nothing. Phone without a case feels really nice, cold to the touch and slimmer. Also, I've been lucky enough to have never broken a screen, so no screen protector either. It would bother me too much if the screen protector was nanometer off-centre. I believe JB sells their phone with complimentary screen protector (if you ask nicely to throw it in for free).
I like more of a matte feel on my phone screens and I hate fingerprints, so I use a matte screen protector. I've also been using Spigen cases for many years. All up less than $50.
I needed a cheap handset because of 3G shutdown, and settled on a Voda thing.
Will be getting stuff for different, 2019-23 phones that places are starting to clear out. Prefer to avoid the truly universal stuff.
Personally I've always preferred hard and clear TPU for phone case without flap, so always ~$10 per case. The glass on any decent and recent phone above $300 doesn't need a screen protector. As long as the TPU is actually hard and sits out a few mm from the front corners of the case. Screen protectors just get marked up and get gross.
There are other accessories that might be worth spending more such as a battery case which might be worth spending more rather than paying to replace a battery or car mount.
probably around $15 on screen protectors and I'll splurge on a dbrand grip, the best case I've used
I'm happy to spend $50 to protect a phone but I really feel like it doesn't make a difference with the quality of some of the aliexpress cases.
I've got a rugged 3 piece one on my phone now and it's like a rock solid brick, it was $12.
I'm a case nerd and keep a rotation of quality cases like Speck, Otterbox, Mous, and Spigen. A quality case is worth the money, considering the cost of the phone it's protecting.
The plastic feels stiff but not brittle, and the rubber is soft and bouncy in the right places, without affecting the structural integrity of the case. You can get options in aramid fiber, hardwood, metal, recycled materials, etc., which are less likely to discolor. The designs are well-thought-out, with rims around the screen and camera module and good, clicky buttons. While a cheap case might offer similar features, a proper premium case is nice to have since you carry it 24/7. (Casetify is overpriced; you're paying for marketing.) I guess its a mix of preference and protection
A UV cured resin tempered glass screen protector is infinitely better than a regular tempered glass screen protector. The application is way more annoying but when done right, it's fantastic. Got a pack of 3 for $30 on amazon.
Typically they have way better oleophobic coating and look like you don't have a protector on compared to a traditional adhesive tempered glass in terms of reflectivity and clarity.
Plenty on amazon etc for $10 or less that are fine.
I swear by Quad Lock cases and accessories - solid protection, good quality and excellent functionality. I'm happy to pay more for them because I'm yet to be disappointed by anything they sell, and have been buying from them since the iPhone 4S was released. I wanted to try a lighter case and other mounts for a while and did, but it didn't take long for me to go back! Edit: since they really only sell cases in one colour and style, I don't have to spend any time making choices (although different colour choices would be nice)!
On top of that, an Australian company that has essentially set the standard for phone mounts.
Have been using the ones that come with the oneplus phones. Working fine after many drops
like any good ozbargainer, i use a phone that's 3-4 generations old. I find that if you hang around a shop after a new phone release; people who come in and upgrade their phones will often throw their old one into the in store recycling. If you're quick; then huzzah free phone case. ;)
My Huawei Mate 10 pro came with both.
Poll?