I have never been a case-less person with my iPhone like ever. Since my first iPhone 4, i.e. mostly since Aug 2010, I remember having some or the other case on my iPhone. It never occurred to me that I should go caseless primarily because I was an outdoor person and I cycled a lot. Since I could afford only one phone and that was an expensive iPhone (imagine paying a months salary for a phone) when this all started. I have always had a case unknowingly. Now that I think of it, it is ironic that I always had a case but never had a screen guard, somehow I trusted the gorilla glass.
Coming back to cases, It started with cheap silicone cases and then over time as I started earning more slowly migrated towards the apple cases. Until the previous iPhone X, I became a leather case person. Only when the iPhone X screen started opening up from the shell and I upgraded to 11 Pro Max last November did I get to the apple silicone case back because leather ones weren’t available.
So why the case-less idea now, you may ask. It is very similar to my using cases in the first place, its the nature of the surroundings that are pushing me towards going case-less. I am running more than usual these days due to the pandemic, and I carry my phone a lot on the waist pouch in my running shorts and therein lies the problem. The extra padding that the case adds is slightly annoying now with putting the phone in and out. While I am happy that the 11 Pro Max fits the pouch at all, playing fiddle with the zip enclosures before and after the run is just an annoyance that I have recently avoided by going case-less. This definitely isn’t about status or fanboyism.
I have been so much happy that I’ve considered going case-less on and off. I think I can wing for the most part but my only concern is if and when I would crash on a bike ride and if that would damage the phone. That crash might run me a few 100k just for the phone besides damages to the broken bones, bike and other things. That’s where I feel the case might help me a lot.
That said, I have enjoyed the look and feel of the iPhone in my hands without a case and it feels just brilliant. I have started wondering how I have missed admiring the beauty of this by keeping it in the silicone case, despite the extra 50 grams of weight that it adds. If you haven’t tried using your phones, especially your iPhone without a case, do try it. Feel it. I am sure there definitely is a tiny bit appreciation for the amount of the attention and thought Apple has put into the phone to make it feel the way it is. To me, it feels solid, seamless yet well balanced and I enjoy it more when I hold it without the case. It does feel a bit slippery, but I don’t if the finish without a smooth finish will look pleasing or feel great.
So here on I think I will keep the iPhone in a pouch when I need some protection, a pouch that will let me put the phone and pull out and offer some protection on rides and will use it without any cases for the most part. Let’s see how long I can last with this case-less resolution. Regardless I plan to keep the phone for at least 2+ years which means, ideally until November 2021 worst case.