Do Cases ACTUALLY Protect Drops?

[droidycat]

Hi guys. Just got a Nexus 7 for xmas but quite fearful of dropping this little jewel. I've been really lucky with my Samsung S2 with the 3-4 times it has slipped out of my pocket/hands. That said, it seems like every case manufacturer in existence CLAIMS their cases will protect against drops. But there seems to be very little/no actual testing or data on this, at least from what I can find. So...I'm wondering: Do cases ACTUALLY provide any benefit from drops onto hard surfaces from 6ft, and if so, what materials (leather vs. silicone vs rubber vs plastic/polycarb) provide it and how do they stack up? I'm not too concerned in most cases (at a desk or sitting mostly), but I can see how a something like a Drop Tech Gumdrop could set the mind at ease.

If anyone here has dropped their tablet (whatever model), I'd LOVE to hear about it, especially the case you had on at the time.

 

[Golfdriver97]

Well, to prove a point to a friend of mine I dropped my S2 in an Otterbox case at shoulder height and nothing happened.

 

[droidycat]

Well, to prove a point to a friend of mine I dropped my S2 in an Otterbox case at shoulder height and nothing happened.

LOL. No surprise there. Those Otterboxes are beasts compared to most, no?

 

[Golfdriver97]

LOL. No surprise there. Those Otterboxes are beasts compared to most, no?

Yes. But I am sure there are other cases that offer similar protection for a lower cost.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using AC Forums mobile app

 

[George Stevens]

I doubt that an ordinary thin case would protect more than slightly. There are a lot of variables in falls, depending on the height and speed it it fell, the hardness of the surface it lands on, and exactly how it lands. I've never bothered with a case.

 

[droidycat]

I doubt that an ordinary thin case would protect more than slightly. There are a lot of variables in falls, depending on the height and speed it it fell, the hardness of the surface it lands on, and exactly how it lands. I've never bothered with a case.

Yeah with a smartphone I can see the advantage. But 7-10" tablet...I'd think in most cases we'll still be screwed. Maybe/hopefully I'm wrong. I think I'll go with a moko and be careful with it.

 

[B. Diddy]

I have to believe that most decent cases will help, at least somewhat. If it's a case with a cover, and you accidentally drop it on pavement, you'll be overjoyed that the screen was completely protected from contacting the asphalt. If you have a case with good side protection, then a drop where the edge of the tablet strikes a hard surface will likely have some of the shockwave dissipated through the case, rather than transmitted directly to the chassis or to the screen.

 

[CarbonOak]

I have to believe that most decent cases will help, at least somewhat. If it's a case with a cover, and you accidentally drop it on pavement, you'll be overjoyed that the screen was completely protected from contacting the asphalt. If you have a case with good side protection, then a drop where the edge of the tablet strikes a hard surface will likely have some of the shockwave dissipated through the case, rather than transmitted directly to the chassis or to the screen.

This. I dropped my first Nexus 7 from about hip height and it landed face down on hard tile and the screen shattered. And I had just ordered the lightweight Poetic case online! My second Nexus 7 has suffered a few minor falls with the case and so far no problems.

The Poetic case is extremely thin and lightweight, but it does offer that slight but of protection.

 

[Devlyn16]

I have a slimline on my Son's N7. I once had my N10 [which was in a slimline but now sports a book cover] slip out of my bag at a doctor's office [I was picking up my bag after weighing in] and I belive the slimline protected it from the 3 foot-ish tumble it took.

A 6 ft drop is quite severe though are you a gaint or do you plan on regularly holding your N7 up in the air

 

[JRDroid]

Well, to prove a point to a friend of mine I dropped my S2 in an Otterbox case at shoulder height and nothing happened.

I once hucked an iPhone 4 in a Trident Kracken case (analogous to an Otter box defender) across an empty dining hall with a tile floor to prove the same point. It cartwheeled for 50 ft and the phone and case both came away unscathed.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[B. Diddy]

I once hucked an iPhone 4 in a Trident Kracken case (analogous to an Otter box defender) across an empty dining hall with a tile floor to prove the same point. It cartwheeled for 50 ft and the phone and case both came away unscathed.

Posted via Android Central App

Holy schnikes. Had you done that before, or did you just not care that much if the iPhone got wasted? Or, I guess, you just had 100% faith in that case!

 

[Golfdriver97]

Well, if it is anything like the Defenders, the thing looks protected. I wonder if the Otterbox will come out with a Sherman Tank line or something...

 

[droidycat]

Holy schnikes. Had you done that before, or did you just not care that much if the iPhone got wasted? Or, I guess, you just had 100% faith in that case!

Big balls, a lot of money, or perfect faith in that case lol.

 

[JRDroid]

Holy schnikes. Had you done that before, or did you just not care that much if the iPhone got wasted? Or, I guess, you just had 100% faith in that case!

Big balls, a lot of money, or perfect faith in that case lol.

It was a combo of knowing the phone was a temp phone (bought it to bridge the 4 month gap between switching carriers due to moving and the release of the phone I wanted), perfect faith in the case, and wanting to show up the person who did the 6 ft. drop of their iPhone in an Otterbox Defender right before I threw mine, which I suppose translates to big balls.

 

[George Stevens]

So what percentage of people use cases and/or screen protectors, or nothing at all like me? (I do have a screen protector on my older Samsung 4.2 tablet).

 

[muddy211]

My phones and Tablets through the years are always in a Otterbox or a Trident case...

 

[darth android]

I once hucked an iPhone 4 in a Trident Kracken case (analogous to an Otter box defender) across an empty dining hall with a tile floor to prove the same point. It cartwheeled for 50 ft and the phone and case both came away unscathed.

Posted via Android Central App

I think somebody was trying to be thor there!

But seriously, no case can break a vase! A little story from my life:

In late september i got an n7 2013 as an early christmass gift for school and junk. Love the death outta this thing, i have been coveting it ever since i heard that my mom got an n10. However, the point lies here:

I was being driven to my youth group one night and had my tablet in the BOX as a stand in case until he poetic revolution case was ordered. It had been maybe 3 weeks since i got it. As we arrived at the church, i thought my mom would just drop us off straight in the parking lot. So i unlocked the door for my exit. Then, she makes this 90? left turn into a parking spot. The centfigual force opens my door and my tablet, which was in my lap, flies out. (We are going 5-15 miles and hour here) The box tumbles about 6 times before landing flat on its back. In utter horror i rushed out of the car,grabbed my tech and sat in the car. I opened the box expecting spider web cracks of glass and useless technology. Opened it up.................. COMPLETELY UNSCATHED!

Lesson: Even if it's just the box, but some clothes on your machine! It will thank you.

I find your lack of faith in android disturbing.

 

[vividrich]

My tablet largely stays home, I have no case on it. I do have a Greatshield sleeve that it stays in when I'm not using it. My phone has a tpu case on it largely because it's very slippery, both the sides and back.

Posted from my Nexus 7 2013 via Android Central App