[Pace Racing]

Coming off of my of evo 4g that had a gel case which made it feel considerably bigger, I thought to myself, let's try going without a case on the Evo 4g lte. That decision was based on two things.

1. This phone is so thin and sleek, I didn't want to ruin that with the bulk of a case.
2. Its an aluminum frame with Gorilla Glass 2, so even if I drop it, it should be fine, right.

In part, number two was spurred on by the YouTube video of a guy hammering a nail through a piece of wood with nary a scratch to the phone. I mean if you can do that without breaking the screen, what's a little drop going to do right?

Wrong...

In all fairness, the damage you see below may have been the cause of the phone hitting at the worst possible angle. It was on a countertops, an was knocked off onto porcelain tile. When it hit, it was almost dead flat. It sounded like a clap it hit so flat. My back was to it when it happened, but I instantly knew what it was and that it was bad just by the sound.

It gets worse. While my tep insurance through Sprint does cover the device (after a $100 deductible), they don't have any in stock to replace mine with. So I'm stuck in limbo with a broken phone and a broken heart, and no idea when it will be replaced.

The real slap in the face was that about 45 minutes before it happened, I was at the Sprint store trying to find a small form factor case, but didn't find anything to my liking, so I left without one. Sigh. So, please get yourself a case and protect your precious. Friends don't let friends go naked!

[eXplicit815]

I don't know if it's just me, but I've only ever had a case on my phone once, and it was for about a month. I've been through Nextels (i860, i930, etc), and several different HTC phones starting with Windows Mobile when the Mogul hit. I've never dropped a phone. I've come close a couple times, but I've always been careful with mine. Never dropped my EVO 3D, and the case I had for a month was just a slim plastic one that made it feel crappy.

Now, on the flipside, I am worried about me dropping it. But I probably won't get a case only because I think the phone just needs to stay out and show it's beauty. Especially after I get the top cover painted like the bottom.

[KoukiFC3S]

I have a back skin on mine, so right now I am using it without a case.

I do think I'll add a slim case though. I hope incipio makes one.

[Broncho]

I never had one on my Evo 4G and carried it for a year without a problem but with my Evo 3D I saw the bezel around the camera lenses starting to scratch within a week of getting it so I decided to get a case thick enough to go beyond the the cameras. I was going into the Sprint store to look at cases and putting the phone in my pocket when it slipped out of my hand, slid down my leg and cartwheeled across the parking lot. It was the only time I've dropped the thing. Luckily it didn't get the screen but talk about your irony.

[solo1]

I have never had a case on my phones (over 17 and counting) ... I am just very aware of how I handle my device ... When I hear these drop stories 9 times out of 10, its the user that was careless ... Treat your phone like it cost you $2000 and I bet you will be way more careful about everything about it. I don't set it on counter edges, or in my lap in the car, or on the roof of my car ... Be Mindful is all ... It goes a long way.

[Pace Racing]

For the record, I didn't drop it. I placed it on our kitchen island and my 4 year old reached for a book and knocked it off, so its not always the phones owner that you have to worry about.

[Husker Z]

I have a back skin on mine, so right now I am using it without a case.

I do think I'll add a slim case though. I hope incipio makes one.

Where did you get the skin?? I'm checking Skin It every day, but it's not listed as a device yet.

[solo1]

For the record, I didn't drop it. I placed it on our kitchen island and my 4 year old reached for a book and knocked it off, so its not always the phones owner that you have to worry about.

If you were referring to my comment, you have proved my point exactly ... You placed it on the Kitchen island knowing that your child could possibly grab for it or something else and have it fall to its death ... What I am saying is that scenario would never happen if it was a $50,000 Crystal vase ... I am just saying things happen and being more aware is simply better.

[Quis89]

If you were referring to my comment, you have proved my point exactly ... You placed it on the Kitchen island knowing that your child could possibly grab for it or something else and have it fall to its death ... What I am saying is that scenario would never happen if it was a $50,000 Crystal vase ... I am just saying things happen and being more aware is simply better.

To say an accident should never happen is silly. You've just been lucky in your precautions. Not everyone who has dropped their phone been negligent.

[Uncle Louie]

To say an accident should never happen is silly. You've just been lucky in your precautions. Not everyone who has dropped their phone been negligent.

Exactly.

[Jackson Galaxy]

You should put a NSFW warning in the title.

[Sh3ngLong]

Sorry about your phone, Pace. I know sh*t happens, no matter how careful you try to be. Just yesterday, I was at a very crowded video game convention trying to take some pictures with my EVO LTE and some ***** ran behind me, bumped into my elbows hard, and my phone flew out of my hands.

I didn't see how the phone landed on the tiles, but it ended up facing down. I was afraid to see what I was going to see once I pick it up, but when I did, there were no cracks or scratches to be found on my phone. There was just a little scuff mark on the corner of my Diztronic TPU case.

[solo1]

To say an accident should never happen is silly.

Please point out where I said an accident should never happen ... What I am saying is that if people are more mindful of there surroundings it would happen far less ... Don't park your car in a dark alley with a $100 bill sitting on the front seat and not expect your window to be busted out and your stuff gone ... All I am saying is BE MORE AWARE ... You are forever seeing people drop there phones because they are texting while crossing the street or barely making sure that it gets in there pocket before letting go or leaving it on the hood of a car as the engine vibrates it onto the cement ... Its not luck my friend that keeps my phone from taking a dump ... It's me making sure I prevent and not aid to it happening.

EDIT: I am sure that when the OP realized what happened , he didn't blame his child but I am sure he said to himself " I knew I shouldn't have sat that there" We all do ... Just take that extra step.

[charlibob]

That is a real bummer. As for not having any replacements and having to wait, that seems strange. I ordered one yesterday from Sprint, and it is on the truck for delivery today. Seems they should give you better service since you signed up for TEP.

[illdini]

Even if you never drop your phone or have some other type of accident with it, a case helps to keep the resale/trade-in value as high as possible.

[cgardnervt]

Talk about bad luck! Hope they get a replacement in for you soon! Thanks for the pictures though! Living this through you and your story makes me glad that I use the Otterbox Defender for my devices. And even then....It still may have broken the screen. :P

Cheers

[Krasin]

I have one of these cases on my Precious, and it doesn't make the phone that much bigger (about the same size or less than my og evo naked) and it feels solid. It's soft touch and doesn't feel like cheap plastic.

[Pace Racing]

Please point out where I said an accident should never happen ... What I am saying is that if people are more mindful of there surroundings it would happen far less ... Don't park your car in a dark alley with a $100 bill sitting on the front seat and not expect your window to be busted out and your stuff gone ... All I am saying is BE MORE AWARE ... You are forever seeing people drop there phones because they are texting while crossing the street or barely making sure that it gets in there pocket before letting go or leaving it on the hood of a car as the engine vibrates it onto the cement ... Its not luck my friend that keeps my phone from taking a dump ... It's me making sure I prevent and not aid to it happening.

EDIT: I am sure that when the OP realized what happened , he didn't blame his child but I am sure he said to himself " I knew I shouldn't have sat that there" We all do ... Just take that extra step.

I understand the point you're trying to make, but I don't think it's realistic. If I had a $5,000 vase, it would be in a case, lol. Or at least out of anyone's reach. Not realistic for a phone.

Sorry about your phone, Pace. I know sh*t happens, no matter how careful you try to be. Just yesterday, I was at a very crowded video game convention trying to take some pictures with my EVO LTE and some ***** ran behind me, bumped into my elbows hard, and my phone flew out of my hands.

I didn't see how the phone landed on the tiles, but it ended up facing down. I was afraid to see what I was going to see once I pick it up, but when I did, there were no cracks or scratches to be found on my phone. There was just a little scuff mark on the corner of my Diztronic TPU case.

Thanks for the sentiment, that sucks about your phone. That is the kind of incident that made me write this post.

Exactly.

+1

I have never had a case on my phones (over 17 and counting) ... I am just very aware of how I handle my device ... When I hear these drop stories 9 times out of 10, its the user that was careless ... Treat your phone like it cost you $2000 and I bet you will be way more careful about everything about it. I don't set it on counter edges, or in my lap in the car, or on the roof of my car ... Be Mindful is all ... It goes a long way.

Again, you can be mindful all day, you're point is not realistic. What happened yesterday was not carelessness. I was using my phone sitting next to my son. I turned around to talk to my wife, and when I did, he knocked it off. This whole chain of events took about 4 seconds. So unless I plan to never take my phone out of my pocket, your point doesn't make any sense to me.

To say an accident should never happen is silly. You've just been lucky in your precautions. Not everyone who has dropped their phone been negligent.

+1

You should put a NSFW warning in the title.

Referring to the pics? I know, heartbreaking.

That is a real bummer. As for not having any replacements and having to wait, that seems strange. I ordered one yesterday from Sprint, and it is on the truck for delivery today. Seems they should give you better service since you signed up for TEP.

That was my argument to them. Their response is that Assurion is a third party company and they have no control over what they do. I've been working with a local store manager to get one pushed through sooner, but as of right now, nothing.

Talk about bad luck! Hope they get a replacement in for you soon! Thanks for the pictures though! Living this through you and your story makes me glad that I use the Otterbox Defender for my devices. And even then....It still may have broken the screen. :P

Cheers

Smart, and thanks!

[TraderGary]

I've never damaged or even scratched a cell phone. I use a pocket slip case and remove and use a totally naked phone. After using it goes back in the case and back in my pocket. Never would I lay it down where it could be damaged.

However I've always carried the Sprint insurance and am fully prepared to pay the deductible for a new one if ever there's a first time.

[ananniia]

Coming off of my of evo 4g that had a gel case which made it feel considerably bigger, I thought to myself, let's try going without a case on the Evo 4g lte. That decision was based on two things.

1. This phone is so thin and sleek, I didn't want to ruin that with the bulk of a case.
2. Its an aluminum frame with Gorilla Glass 2, so even if I drop it, it should be fine, right.

In part, number two was spurred on by the YouTube video of a guy hammering a nail through a piece of wood with nary a scratch to the phone. I mean if you can do that without breaking the screen, what's a little drop going to do right?

Wrong...

In all fairness, the damage you see below may have been the cause of the phone hitting at the worst possible angle. It was on a countertops, an was knocked off onto porcelain tile. When it hit, it was almost dead flat. It sounded like a clap it hit so flat. My back was to it when it happened, but I instantly knew what it was and that it was bad just by the sound.

It gets worse. While my tep insurance through Sprint does cover the device (after a $100 deductible), they don't have any in stock to replace mine with. So I'm stuck in limbo with a broken phone and a broken heart, and no idea when it will be replaced.

The real slap in the face was that about 45 minutes before it happened, I was at the Sprint store trying to find a small form factor case, but didn't find anything to my liking, so I left without one. Sigh. So, please get yourself a case and protect your precious. Friends don't let friends go naked!

to add to your sentiments: my husband did the same thing to his kindle fire. with a case on. it fell off his lap onto the cement, maybe 2 feet. It fell perfectly flat, face down. It looked exactly like the picture of your phone. I guess the lesson is be more aware, AND have a case! I hope you get your new one soon!

[Pace Racing]

Wow, it broke with a case on? That really sucks.

[cloak.n.dagger]

Wow, there is a lot of heat in this thread over a simply, every day, accidental occurrence! Stuff like this happens a lot to me. I think the fact that your phone broke in the way it did is very a-typical though. I cannot stand to cover my phones (just my personal preference)! That being said, the phone slid out of my pocket the other day and landed face first on the concrete! I wanted to cry and scream at the same time! When I picked it up I was expecting to see what happened to you, but was amazed to see... nothing! Not a single scratch! I did get a scuff on the metal band around the screen, but that's ok. I cannot tolerate scratches on the screen, so I was happy with how the gorilla glass 2 handled my fall. I have great sympathy and empathy for you though, my friend. I couldn't bare to see my precious in such a condition!

[TonyLibations]

I've never used more than a screen protector for previous devices. But, because this phone is so slick it's hard for my fingers to get traction on the back and everytime I reach my thumb across the keyboard to a key on the far left it slides right out of my hand. That's the reason I got a case. Going through hell to get the damn thing and knowing it's currently hard to replace is the reason I went over board and got the otterbox defender. I was looking to get the commuter, but couldn't find one.

That being said, I do occasionally let her rock the birthday suit when I got her home alone with a few candles lit... Good God we're weird.

[SeanBlader]

That makes for a rough day. But it looks like it still works, is it just surface damage to the glass?

And just as a pint of comparison, I dropped my OG Ego on cobblestone from about 4 feet when I missed my jacket pocket, it landed on the bottom edge, dented the plastic, and chipped the glass slightly. It was so minor I didn't even bother reporting it. I'd call them very durable for the most part.

[chappo2000]

It is stories like this that convince me that buying accessories BEFORE buying a phone is best. I haven't pulled the trigger yet on the Evo LTE... I'm waiting for the SIII event next week. Although I do have, in hand, the Evo LTE pouch I'd want:



So yes, I do plan on going naked... whenever the phone isn't in the pouch. These kind of stories also make me wonder because I was seriously debating going with no TEP for the first time, given Sprint's recent prorated changes to the program.

Naked (when not in the pouch) and no TEP is starting to sound like a bad idea. lol