Cases for drops, knocks and water
An everyday case takes scuffs. A protective case is built for the phone that gets dropped on a pavement, knocked about on a building site, carried by a child, or taken to the beach. This group gathers the cases made to take more, and they fall into two kinds: cases for drops, and cases for water.
For drops and knocks
- Tough and shockproof cases are built in layers: a soft inner layer that absorbs the shock and a hard shell that spreads it, with thick corners and a raised lip round the screen and camera. Some have a metal frame.
- Bumpers put the protection round the edges and corners, where most drops land, and leave the back clear or slim.
For water
- Waterproof cases seal the whole phone behind a clear window you can still touch, for the beach, the pool, a boat or a wet walk.
- Diving housings are rigid cases made for photos and video under the water, rated by their makers to a depth in metres.
For a lighter, folding option for the beach, look at waterproof pouches.
Reading the claims on a protective case
Many tough cases say they are "military grade" or tested to MIL-STD-810. That is a United States Department of Defense set of test methods, not a certificate. Its drop test is 26 drops from about 1.22 metres, which may be shared across several units, and nobody issues an official pass for phone cases. Treat the phrase as a sign the case was designed for drops, and look at what it is made of.
Water ratings are written as an IP code. IPX7 means tested at one metre for 30 minutes. IPX8 or IP68 means a deeper or longer test, and the maker sets the depth and time, so look for both. The guide Waterproof phone cases and IP ratings explained sets out every number.
Questions people ask about protective cases
Do I still need a screen protector?
Yes. A raised lip keeps the screen off a flat floor, but it cannot stop a stone or a corner. Add a tempered glass screen protector.
Will a tough case stop wireless charging?
It can. Apple says a thick or metal case can stop or slow wireless charging. Take the case off if the phone will not charge through it.
Which is best for a child's phone?
A tough case with thick corners and a firm grip, so it is less likely to slip and better able to take the fall when it does. Chunky, easy-grip cases made for children are gathered in kids' cases.
How long does delivery take?
Delivery is included in every price and tracked to your door. Each product page says when it usually arrives.
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