Case Necessary?

[HiddenAdmiral]

I have a 32GB black Nexus 5 ordered and waiting for it. A lot of you have already seemed to ordered/received screen protectors and cases for the Nexus 5 and I was just wondering is a screen protector and/or a case necessary? Is the Nexus 5 likely to be damaged without a case?

If a screen protector is required, what's the difference between a plastic protector, such as from XtremeGuard, or a 'tempered glass' one from Spigen?

Thanks for any help provided.

 

[adrian089]

I have a 32GB black Nexus 5 ordered and waiting for it. A lot of you have already seemed to ordered/received screen protectors and cases for the Nexus 5 and I was just wondering is a screen protector and/or a case necessary? Is the Nexus 5 likely to be damaged without a case?

If a screen protector is required, what's the difference between a plastic protector, such as from XtremeGuard, or a 'tempered glass' one from Spigen?

Thanks for any help provided.

You can expect wear and tear on any device. How much occurs depends on what you do to protect it and how careful you are with it. Personally, I hate cases but now that I'm no longer with sprint and use off contract phones I like to protect the resale value of my phone and keep it in mint condition.

As for the tempered glass screen protectors, I have no experience with them. I try to stay away from things that break, such as glass.

 

[danaconda1]

You can expect wear and tear on any device. How much occurs depends on what you do to protect it and how careful you are with it. Personally, I hate cases but now that I'm no longer with sprint and use off contract phones I like to protect the resale value of my phone and keep it in mint condition.

As for the tempered glass screen protectors, I have no experience with them. I try to stay away from things that break, such as glass.

I wholeheartedly agree with this statement. I've always kept a case and screen protector on my phones. Reselling these phones when you're ready to upgrade goes much smoother when your phone is in mint condition, with absolutely no wear and tear on it. If someone is going to buy it from you and hand over $200+ in cash, it makes them feel better when the phone looks 2 weeks old rather than over a year old.

 

[drew_grant]

The only fear I have is denim stains on the white one. I always keep my phone case-less as I never drop my phone ever. I'm thinking about a case just to prevent denim stains. I got denim stains on my HTC One I'm using now and got them off by using a magic eraser, but I don't want to have to do that every month. Hopefully it's just a HTC problem

Sent from my HTC One using xda app-developers app

 

[HiddenAdmiral]

I get the importance of maintaining the phone in good condition, but doesn't putting a case on ruin the aesthetic appeal of the phone and a screen protector reduce the clarity and brightness of the screen? And doesn't a case also make the phone bulkier and heavier?

If so, you all believe this comes secondary to maintaining your phone in good condition?

 

[resynx]

To me it just depends. If you are capable and willing to fork out the money to replace a broken screen in the unfortunate case that you drop and crack it, then don't use a case. If you aren't, then use a case

 

[danaconda1]

I get the importance of maintaining the phone in good condition, but doesn't putting a case on ruin the aesthetic appeal of the phone and a screen protector reduce the clarity and brightness of the screen? And doesn't a case also make the phone bulkier and heavier?

If so, you all believe this comes secondary to maintaining your phone in good condition?

While it does lower the overall aesthetic appeal of the phone, I only buy cases that I feel are pleasing enough to the eye. The added bulk isn't usually a concern for me. I also only buy clear screen protectors, so the clarity of the screen isn't affected (to my eyes at least). It does negate most anti-glare features if a phone has them, but again, I've never personally noticed it in the past.

I consider cases and screen protectors a one-time insurance plan purchase for my phone. In 6 years of owning differend smartphones, I've only ever dropped my phone 2 times, and the cases saved both phones. To me, that is a higher priority than the incredibly minor (IMO) aesthetic "hit" that the case provides.

To each their own, though.

 

[adrian089]

I get the importance of maintaining the phone in good condition, but doesn't putting a case on ruin the aesthetic appeal of the phone and a screen protector reduce the clarity and brightness of the screen? And doesn't a case also make the phone bulkier and heavier?

If so, you all believe this comes secondary to maintaining your phone in good condition?

The Google play store is selling some pretty nice looking cases with nexus on the back like on the phone itself. As for screen protectors, I don't notice them unless you don't do the best job putting one on and get a ton of bubbles.

Here's a tip for putting on screen protectors if you're like me and you suck at it. Get them to do it at a cell phone store lol.

 

[txsizzler]

I get the importance of maintaining the phone in good condition, but doesn't putting a case on ruin the aesthetic appeal of the phone and a screen protector reduce the clarity and brightness of the screen? And doesn't a case also make the phone bulkier and heavier?

If so, you all believe this comes secondary to maintaining your phone in good condition?

You can always go with a Bumper Case if you want to maintain the "aesthetic appeal" of the case:

http://www.amazon.com/i-Blason-Goog...qid=1383319857&sr=8-2&keywords=nexus+5+bumper

With screen protectors, there are many, many types available.. some will reduce the clarity/brightness, you just have to choose what best fits for you (especially going universal where you cut your own out).

I agree with the other statements, though. I always use a case on my phones, regardless how I feel about its beauty. My current HTC One, which is an awesome looking device, resides in its case

 

[DinoSoup]

Might I recommend Poetic Borderline bumper! I had one on my Nexus 4 last year and my brother has one for his iPhone. Very nice, very protective, and stills shows off the nice back.

 

[tkoreaper]

Necessary? No... But neither is dropping a phone or any other accidental damage.

It's better to spend $30 and be protected than not at all.

 

[zephiK]

Necessary? No... But neither is dropping a phone or any other accidental damage.

It's better to spend $30 and be protected than not at all.

Depends on the person really. I myself personally use cases to have a better grip to the phone to prevent accidental drops rather than the protection. I haven't dropped my Galaxy Nexus or Nexus 4 in the time that I've used them.

The protection is always nice as well, as long as it isn't too bulky and offers the minimal protection to the point where nothing would get cracked. At least thats how I see it. Theres a lot of high quality cases that are $10-$20 as well.

 

[bmstrong]

Struggling with this myself. I always grab a black Diztronic but the official Google cases tempt me and the actual design of the 5 seems more resilient than in past years.

 

[zephiK]

Struggling with this myself. I always grab a black Diztronic but the official Google cases tempt me and the actual design of the 5 seems more resilient than in past years.

+1 on that.. the back of the phone itself seem very grippy. I'm telling myself whether or not to buy a case or just use the phone naked since I am a pretty careful person. I'll probably just get the phone when it gets here and try it for a day or two and if I'm not satisfied then I'll buy a case. Maybe get a slim case just incase.

 

[bmstrong]

+1 on that.. the back of the phone itself seem very grippy. I'm telling myself whether or not to buy a case or just use the phone naked since I am a pretty careful person. I'll probably just get the phone when it gets here and try it for a day or two and if I'm not satisfied then I'll buy a case. Maybe get a slim case just incase.

I guess the best thing would be to go into the N7 2013 forums and look at how those have held up. Since they share a similar design language and materials, I'm hoping it translates into the smaller package. Plus, they used Ceramic buttons as well. (My Lumia 920 buttons have held up incredibly over then last year.)

 

[trsix]

no case or screen protector

I get the importance of maintaining the phone in good condition, but doesn't putting a case on ruin the aesthetic appeal of the phone and a screen protector reduce the clarity and brightness of the screen? And doesn't a case also make the phone bulkier and heavier?

If so, you all believe this comes secondary to maintaining your phone in good condition?

Get one of the anti gravity cases, actually makes it lighter.
I'll spray my screen with Thompsons water seal.

 

[brianfields33]

I usually go naked, but I'll use a case for the N5 because the camera sticks out a bit.

 

[raiderep]

Get one of the anti gravity cases, actually makes it lighter.
I'll spray my screen with Thompsons water seal.

And with Thompson's you can really get that special shine

Oops, now for some on topic. I am using a moto x naked in all its glory and plan on selling it to recoup m n5 costs and its something you case and protector folks miss out on. The gains far outweigh the risks in my opinion. I also had my launch day n4 naked about 90% of the time and the wife now has it and goes naked too Don't rob yourself of the true experience, I used to always have a case and protector on but not anymore :good:

 

[wvcadle]

And with Thompson's you can really get that special shine

Oops, now for some on topic. I am using a moto x naked in all its glory and plan on selling it to recoup m n5 costs and its something you case and protector folks miss out on. The gains far outweigh the risks in my opinion. I also had my launch day n4 naked about 90% of the time and the wife now has it and goes naked too Don't rob yourself of the true experience, I used to always have a case and protector on but not anymore :good:

I agree. I'm extra careful with my phone. I've had screen protectors, which have all been taken off. I bought the Spigen case (clear back) and hated it. It would stick to the back of the N4, which made it look like it had liquid between the two. I ended up just sticking with the bumper from Google. It's really all the protection I need, and it really looks classy. I wish they'd make a bumper of the same form for the N5.

 

[electricpope]

Some people just take the philosophy of being careful and go without a case or screen protector, while others take precautions through cases and screen protectors. You could be a very careful person and still end up dropping your phone by accident, or you could have a case plus a screen protector and never drop it anyway.

There is no "right answer", every person has to decide for themselves depending on how they weigh the pluses and minuses.