The Anatomy of a Great Mobile Accessory: An In-Depth Case Study

A few weeks ago, we discussed some of the ways you can protect your phone from dents, scratches and broken screens, and yet, we still feel as though there were some things left to say about them. That’s why, in today’s article, we’ll be doing a literal case study about…well, cases (and other mobile accessories). However, to make things interesting, this article will be focusing on the balance between function, aesthetics and everything in between, so get your notepad ready and open up a few tabs on your browser because by the end of today’s blog post, you’ll be a true connoisseur of the mobile accessories world. Before we begin, we just want to make it clear that these comparisons are based solely on our own views and are by no means rules written in stone when it comes to making your decision. With that disclaimer out of the way, let’s jump into today’s topic. Let’s start with the basics.

Your Window to The World

Screen protectors come in a variety of sizes and offer many different features, however, despite their wide usage, we must begin by asking a simple question: are they really worth it? You see, most modern smartphone screens are made to withstand a considerable amount of wear and tear. Whether it’s Corning’s Gorilla Glass, Asahi Dragontail or Sapphire Coating, it’s very likely that your phone screen has already been toughened up. Still, some third-party screen protectors advertise additional features that are not included with the default screen. Let’s talk about a few of them.

– Functionality vs Quality

Our first debate will be pitching function against quality. As we just mentioned, most smartphone screens come equipped with scratch resistant glass by default, however, many people still choose to buy a secondary layer of protection. Is it worth it? Generally speaking, no. You see, adding an additional layer of protection against scratches rarely helps at all. In fact, they usually end up being counterproductive to your goal since they add an extra thickness to the screen, which in turn, can mess with your case’s safety border space (we’re talking about the little nook between the screen and the border’s edge). This space is meant to prevent your screen from hitting the floor when it falls screen-first, so filling it up with a screen protector can actually put your screen more at risk. Adding to this, the quality of a third-party screen protector can also reduce the sharpness of your actual screen, which can take all the fun out of a really nice display.

– Functionality vs Functionality

Ok, so scratch resistance might not be worth the money, but what about screen resistance? Well, in this case, we’re looking at a function versus function matter. The answer to this question will depend on whether you value privacy over use. Why is this? Basically, in order to add that privacy filter, the glass needs to be a little thicker than usual, which means there’s usually a loss of sensitivity, which in turn leads to faulty or missed inputs. Although this is not that much of a big deal, it can also be quite annoying too, especially when you’re typing in a hurry. Beyond that, we could add the fact that we previously mentioned about screen protection in case of a fall, which in our opinion is also a deal breaker. So, as we said in the beginning, unless your main focus is dead-set on privacy, these filters are usually not worth the money.

– Functionality vs Aesthetics

Our last debate revolving around screen protectors will be all about functionality vs aesthetics. In this case, we’ll be taking blue light filters as our contender against default screens. How do they compare? To put it simply, they don’t. Blue light filters might be useful for many other devices, but when it comes to smartphones, blue light filters are, for the most part, completely unnecessary. Even if we ignore the fact that many modern smartphones now come with a blue light filter installed, and also that there are many apps that can do the same thing, blue light filters do little to add additional benefits to your screen.

The Case in Question

Alright, enough with the screen protectors, let’s get to the real deal. Cases are one of the main accessories when it comes to smartphones, and since there are so many shapes and sizes, it makes sense that cases are a hot product to get as soon as you buy your device. But, are cases really worth the money you’re paying for them? Is functionality always more important than everything else? Can there be balance? We briefly went over this specific topic in a previous article, but today, we’ll be going even deeper to find out the truth about smartphone cases once and for all.

– Functionality vs Convenience

Let’s start this debate off by putting functionality against convenience. While slim cases might not look like they provide any protection against the occasional drop, some of them are able to take a lot of falling damage, it all depends on the material they are made of. Soft silicone cases can offer a great grip, but at the same time, they don’t offer much protection in case of a fall, and yet, a good, sturdy case can perfectly do the trick while keeping some flexibility to make it easier to take off or put on. Meanwhile, bulky cases are all about protection at the cost of convenience. They’re hard to put on, they’re a nightmare to carry around in your pocket and they’re also usually more expensive than other cases, and yet, they provide unparalleled protection against most kinds of damage.  It’s a hard contest by all means. However, when we get down to it, the main purpose of a case is to avoid damage to your phone. So, when it comes to functionality vs convenience, we’re leaning toward the functionality side. However, that’s not the end of this story.

– Functionality vs Aesthetics

The final event for today’s article is a long-fought debate between functionality and aesthetics. Although there are great arguments on both sides of the aisle, we’re going to try really hard to reach a conclusion. No one can deny that a pretty case can make a good impression, it’s one of the main selling points of these kinds of smartphone accessories, after all. At the same time, a pretty case might not be able to withstand a pair of clumsy hands. On the other hand, sturdy cases are rarely unique but offer the most protection for your phone, so, how do we go about this? You might think this answer is a little bit of a cop-out, but the truth is that, when it comes to picking a case, you should do your own thing. Wait! Before you close the tab and forget everything we just said, allow us to explain a little more. Aesthetics are important because they are able to give a glimpse of your taste and personality, which makes your phone unique. Functionality is important because it keeps your phone safe. And since the market of smartphones is so vast, there’s no need to pick one or the other, in fact, it’s one of the few instances where you can have your cake and eat it too! Why settle with one or the other when you could probably find the perfect balance between the two? Our conclusion, although vastly generic, it’s that this is a moot point. As long as it serves the purpose you want it for, it doesn’t matter which kind of case you pick.

And that’s it. That’s pretty much all we had to say about this topic. Hopefully you found some useful information, but if you’re still struggling to find the perfect case, we can help you! Click on the contact tab on the top menu to get in touch with us! Before we go, we’d like to invite you to check out our other articles where you can find even more information about many other topics. That’s all for now, and we’ll see you on our next weekly blog post.