There’s a crash, your heart drops, and you see the pieces scattered across the floor; you’ve dropped your phone.
Most people have cases that can protect their phones from everything from scratches to water damage. With today’s expensive smart phones, using a phone case has definite value. Drop a smart phone the wrong way, and it could cost hundreds of dollars to replace.
Phone cases have grown as smart and as diverse as the electronics they protect. They can vary according to phone type/size, color, texture, decoration, shape, and sturdiness.
Several sites offer customizable cases for just about any type of phone. Gelaskins.com allows customers to pick from a multitude of artwork or upload their own photo to make into a case. Clothing and electronic stores/websites offer all sorts of unique phone cases and skins. Some have large bows or lace patterns or are shaped like animals, food, cartoon characters, traditional phones, and more!
Certain cases have special functions. For photography lovers, there are operational (and decorative) camera lenses to improve cell phone photos; there are built-in stands to support the phone; and a few appear to just be wallets. One such company, Speck, makes cases that can store credit cards or money.
Some of the more popular phone case brands are Otterbox, Lifeproof, and Speck.
Though they are less elaborate in design (no bows or beads as decorations on these cases), they are higher quality. The Lifeproof website (which sells “Lifebox’s”) even makes claims that their phones are “dirt proof, water proof, snow proof, and shockproof.”
Senior Emily Fodel explains why her phone case, a Lifebox, is so lifeproof.
“I can get it wet,” said Fodel. “I can take it in pools and showers, and it is fine!”
Speck, Otterbox, and Lifebox’s silicone outer layers are very strong and provide phone protection in the event of a butterfingers moment. However, they tend to be on the pricier side, and can run anywhere from $40 to $70.
For lower prices, check wholesale electronic suppliers like Monoprice.com and Everbuying.com, where there are similar cases (and more) for about $5.
Such sites also offer a variety of cases, since the aforementioned brands are not everyone’s favorite.
Social Studies teacher Kevin Lawrence is not a fan of his Otterbox case.
“I hate [my Otterbox,]” said Lawrence. “It is big and bulky and covers up a nice piece of technology.”
Phone cases have become so much more than a way to protect a cell phone; they have almost become the new swiss army knife.

Sources:
-Gelaskins.com
-Otterbox.com
-Speckproducts.com
-Lifeproof.com
-Monoprice.com
-Everbuying.com