Of course when I get a new phone, I’m gonna put a case on it. I used to even be someone who used screen protectors, reluctantly stopping using them with my last device after a while. But for years now, when getting a new iPhone, I forgo getting a $50 case or any fancy clear case. I just go right on eBay, get the cheap clear case, and 9/10 times they’re great.
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What sparked the idea

I used to go for that $30-60+ phone case, thinking the more I spent, the more likely the phone would be protected in the event I dropped it. Clear cases tend to darken over time especially with exposure to the sun, and this can happen even if you spend good money on the case. Sometime ago when I had an iPhone X or Xs Max, I started going on eBay for cases to see what was out there.
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A clear case like this one should:

• Help keep scratches, dings off from accidental bumps and direct contact with objects
• From dust and scratches accumulating how they normally would without a case
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• Provide a buffer for when the phone is accidentally dropped
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• Have a lip/buffer over vulnerable areas like the screen and plateau

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Fitting the case on the phone

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How a cheap case kept my iPhone 14 Pro in good shape

See for yourself how a cheap phone case kept my iPhone 14 Pro in good shape! Granted, I tend to go through more than one in the life of a phone.. the last one stuck around for at least a year. The previous clear case was starting to delaminate and come apart at the seams in Mid-2024.
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Above, you’ll notice how the bottom of the phone appears to have some discoloration on the metal band. The clear case I had before this newer one was shaped a little differently, so those are scratches. A clear case isn’t perfect, but definitely kept overwhelming majority of scratches and dings off the phone. A clear case is less bulky, and is susceptible to dust/debris jumping in, so it must be cleaned every so often as well.
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Picturing next to an iPhone X

My old iPhone X happens to have a similar style of case.

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In Conclusion

There are many different types of device cases out there, but not all are made the same. Lately, more often than not, I see good quality clear cases on the cheap. It can be hard to tell what material is really used until you actually get it – fortunately, the case I bought feels very premium. I would highly recommend it while it’s still around.
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The surface is extra grippy, the case hugs the phone and silently snaps into place. My one and only point of concern is the lack of rigid material around the camera button – but the bottom corner seems okay. So I believe it will do okay with drops, especially combined with the Titanium frame.

If you’re someone who doesn’t wanna overspend on a good-quality clear case, wants to see your phone, and want something that helps you hold the phone better, I highly recommend this.