Database Users

Naked Nexus

I REALLY love how the N4 looks without anything on, so sleek and sexy, but as we all know that back glass panel will break eventually with no case :crying: SO my question is this, what are your guys suggestions on protection without hindering the awesome design. I was thinking bumber case but idk, what do you guys think?

I love showing off the beauty of the N4 so I use a bumper and make sure I'm very careful with it :]

Reatret said:
I REALLY love how the N4 looks without anything on, so sleek and sexy, but as we all know that back glass panel will break eventually with no case :crying: SO my question is this, what are your guys suggestions on protection without hindering the awesome design. I was thinking bumber case but idk, what do you guys think?
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Full transparent plastic(like a screen protector) film would b better, Even iPhone 4s has the same issue, but plastic film solved it very carefully without degrading its beauty
Sent from hunt's Sensation

I'm using a front and back screen protector. As well as being very careful of course

Using both bestskinsever full body armor and official bumper. And I think it's the best way to go.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Xparent Blue Tapatalk 2

Front and back BSE protector. No bumper, no case. The BSE gives my phone a tackier grip which is what I want.

I suggest a pouch. Protects against scratches, looks classy and the phone will remain in its naked glory ^^

Naked but I'm very careful. My house has carpet through out.

tommyson said:
Indeed, the nexus 4 is very beautiful if naked, but it is very possible scrached by the hard objects, so i see many people use the crystal case or leather case to protect them.
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Against scratches, film protectors are enough. Against drops ... not so much.

mofi pouch
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

Screen protector in front and a crystal clear case behind.

Ive done the same for my past 2 phones and have never had an issue. The only problem I can see is when sticking the nexus in my pocket as its loose in the pocket untill I sit down then it obviously tightens up. so any coins or what not in there will press nicely against the glass.
When the glasses are readily available and cheap enough I ditch the shocksock but for now it stays.
I use:;
BestSkinsEver front and back protector
Diztronic hard case
Shocksock pouch.
The pouch is perfect for going out and about and will absorb some impact as its like the neoprene laptop sleeves.

Gorilla Glass 2 I believe is decent against scratches. At least v1 on my HTC Incredible S was good so I'm hoping v2 is decent too. Still have the stock scratch guards on the front and back. See no reason to remove them. The one on the back has a lip which was coming out because of my finger so I cut off a small portion. Scratches should be taken care of.
For drops, I ordered a soft gel case off Amazon but I couldn't get it due to delivery issues and friend returned to India. Got a refund but am looking at an Amzer case in a few days. I want the bumper people are raving about on xda.. Will ask my UK friend to pick one up soon.
Other than that, super careful with the phone because it is hot.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

A best skins ever for the front and back, and an official bumper for the sides is the best you can do.

Currently naked but I haven't taken it out of the house yet. I'll probably end up leaving it naked and just taking extra care of it.
When I think about how often my Galaxy 2 hit the floor, I shudder. Amazingly, for the amount of times it fell it was in an amazing condition - slightly bruised corners but apart from that just perfect. What I did notice, though, was that when it fell the back case popped off, so I imagine the shock it received upon contact had less of an impact than it would otherwise have had, had the back been unmovable - as is the case with the Nexus.

I started with a front and back Zagg invisible shield but opted to add a ringke slim to make the thing less likely to slip out of my hand.

[email protected] said:
I started with a front and back Zagg invisible shield but opted to add a ringke slim to make the thing less likely to slip out of my hand.
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my White Ringke Slim does just the opposite. It feels like it can just slide out of my hand. I think the phone in its naked form has better grip than with the ringke slim case because of the "rubber" feeling around it

My nexus 4 has been naked for a month now and it feels and looks so great. In some ways I have been thinking about using a case after the inevitable dings and scratches. I guess resale condition makes wrapping up a new phone a necessity but it seems like kind of a shame. I may just do things opposite this time and wrap up after u have enjoyed my naked phone for a while. I do have a case on the way for travel and other times when protection seems obvious.
Anyone else think this way or am I crazy?
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

Naked so far with no problems.
Just reserve one pocket for the Nexus exclusively to avoid coins or keys scratching the glass.
However, given the anemic ring volume the speaker produces, I'm missing calls, so I'll probably have to switch to a holster once a decent one becomes available.

androidtoy09 said:
my White Ringke Slim does just the opposite. It feels like it can just slide out of my hand. I think the phone in its naked form has better grip than with the ringke slim case because of the "rubber" feeling around it
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I have the Navy case and while not rubberised, the matte finish is definitely not slippery. I have heard that complaint about the white one else where though.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

Screen Protectors?

So this phone is made with gorilla glass, do you guys think that we're gonna need a screen protector for it? I mean, it was only $199, so.... thoughts?

Augman said:
So this phone is made with gorilla glass, do you guys think that we're gonna need a screen protector for it? I mean, it was only $199, so.... thoughts?
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Like all Blu phones, it comes with screen protectors and a case in the box. I'm sure there will be third party protectors cases out eventually.

Augman said:
So this phone is made with gorilla glass, do you guys think that we're gonna need a screen protector for it? I mean, it was only $199, so.... thoughts?
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I picked up a few extra front and back protectors on eBay today. Always a good idea if you aren't going to use a case...even with G glass.

millertimefl said:
I picked up a few extra front and back protectors on eBay today. Always a good idea if you aren't going to use a case...even with G glass.
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Okay, i'll heed your advice. Could you drop a link? Thanks!

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=231461497167&alt=web
I am happy with this protector.

Augman said:
So this phone is made with gorilla glass, do you guys think that we're gonna need a screen protector for it? I mean, it was only $199, so.... thoughts?
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Personally, I never use screen protectors or cases for my phones. I still have my Samsung Fascinate (Galaxy S) and other than a few gouges in the plastic surround and some very light scratches, it's fine. That's a phone that I've dropped and outright thrown towards the ground (by accident, of course) multiple times. I would say that the Galaxy SIII just as strong, except the SIII's larger size and grippier plastic meant that it fell out of my hands a LOT less often than the Fascinate. (Disclaimer: my SIII did get smashed up, but it was my fault for leaving it somewhere I shouldn't have and it was destroyed by a very large force.) My LG Volt is a very cheap phone. It's more susceptible to scratching, as its screen is some sort of cheap plastic, but even that phone has withstood a few drops and frequent pocket traffic without any major problems.
I keep my right pocket free of everything but my phone. So perhaps if you're throwing keys in there with the phone, or other objects, your results may vary, but I always like to keep my phone separate to keep it nice, with the side benefit of making it easier to pull out without extra stuff in that pocket.
I've had great luck with the Gorilla Glass though. The plastic on my other phones definitely took more of a beating than the glass itself, and it's worth noting that when I was using the Fascinate, I was working in irrigation where my phone got accidentally tossed around quite a bit, in rocks and dirt, and it still looks great. And again, the physical shape of that phone made it much more prone to coming out of my hands than something like the SIII or Vivo Air.
I wish the Air had the length and width of the SIII, which makes it an easy phone to hold IMO, and the glass back isn't quite as grippy as the smooth plastic on the SIII, but I don't forsee any major issues having held the phone for a while now, and the Air has the benefit of being lighter which seems to help keep it in my hands a bit better (in other words, if it were the same size and shape, but with the weight of the SIII, I feel like it would be a bit more prone to falling out of my hand).
All of this being said, I think what it boils down to is how you treat your phone and what you expect out of it. If you treat it relatively carefully, and don't expect perfect glass after a year, then I don't see the problem with using it naked. If you're prone to breaking screens, then by all means get something but I don't actually think a screen protector will help you. I repair phones and tablets for a living and I see all sorts of shattered screens, yet I've never shattered a screen on my own. Personally, I'm not going to put anything on the Air because I dislike cases that add bulk to the size (the size is part of the reason why I bought it) and I feel that screen protectors do more to interfere with touch input than anything else.
It's kind of like when someone buys a TV and doesn't remove the plastic wrap that's meant to keep it looking nice during shipping, and then ten years later it's peeling badly and there's dust and junk sticking to it.. Yeah, it may still look great once you peel it all off but since it's still there, it looks like crap and it's time to junk the TV anyway, so what good did leaving that plastic on actually do? I replace shattered iPhone and iPad digitizers all the time on devices that have screen protectors on them. Screen protectors don't protect the glass from excessive shock.
All in all, I think the Air is a phone that fits very well in my hands and definitely feels grippy enough not to have to worry about dropping. Because of that, and due to its extremely sleek shape and style, I feel like it's a crime to weigh it down with bulky protectors. I'm going to use it as-is and if anything happens to it, a replacement is only $200, which is not a bad price really. I'm confident I can use the phone for at least a year without causing any major problems, which is good enough for me for a $200 phone (especially since I paid $125 for this Volt and it's unusable after only about 6 months).
PS- Sorry for the wall of text.

Ordered the S7 Edge, I'm scared I'll drop it and break it....

Currently I'm using an S5 without any cases or covers, and it's still drop-proof, dropped it multiple times on hard floor/concrete and there is no damage on the screen what so ever. And before that I had an HTC One X, which is probably more similar to the Edge in that the screen isn't protected if it drops face down, I did eventually crack it with that kind of a drop. However the edge is gonna be even more problematic because even the back is glass, and no plastic protruding edge to protect it.
Sure I could put it in a bulky case but then it kind of defeats the purpose of having one of the most premium feeling phones ever doesn't it? It'll also negate any ergonomic benefits of the curved back edge as well as the ease of edge swipe on the front edge. Might as well just get something like a.... I don't know, nobody makes high end plastic phones anymore now days, even cheap phones like One Plus is front+back curved glass. Also this thing is already a bigger phone than what I'm used to, adding a beefy case is just gonna make it that much bigger, which I do not like.
Well I guess plenty of people did survive the iPhone 4 glass sandwich era just fine, I'll just have to wish myself luck. I wonder how much would one of those adhesive skins help in a drop situation. Sure they are very thin but if think about the physics of it, gorilla glass is actually quite flexible so it doesn't break from the acceleration of the impact itself, so thinness doesn't really matter. What actually breaks these surface hardens glass is usually a microscopic failure on the surface developing into a big crack. And those microscopic failures can happen when they make contact with sharp hard stuff like individual sand particles, they effectively puncture the surface and develop a weakness. So if you have a skin on the glass, what'll hopefully happen instead is that the skin will be thick enough for the particle to not make direct contact with the glass, and prevent breaking. Even though such thin skins cannot significantly reduce the impact acceleration.

I understand your points, but please, don't ever try to use this phone naked. You NEED a case, the grip is so bad that dropping it is almost a guarantee and the back glass seems to be much more fragile than the front glass from what I have seen in videos. About the cases, you may want to look into the Samsung official plastic backs or (when available) the leather backs. The official plastic back cases from Samsung are the only ones (in my opinion) that really do not ruin the phone's design, the design remains almost intact. However, while the grip is much improved over the naked phone, it is nowhere near other bulky and rubberized cases. A rubberized plastic wrap would be a solution, but the big problem still remains - the metal sides of the phone which are very narrow.
PS: As I understand from the latest spy pics, the iPhone 7 will have a glass back again...probably needed for radio/charging/payment/other secret developments.

There are plenty of case available that won't make the phone look s**t. I'm using a Spigen Crystal Clear, a very good combination of protection and looks. It's impossible to completely keep the phone's look and feel, but it's probably as close as possible whilst being confident of being able to accidentally drop it from pocket height without damage.
Glass protectors on these curved screens are to be avoided, that's my personal opinion anyway. My brother bought numerous types of these for his S6 Edge (expensive and cheap) and not one went on properly without raising on the curves within twenty minutes, causing touch problems on the edges. Go for a good quality film type like a Zagg HD Dry.

I copied you entirely mate I'm not ashamed to say. Got my Spigen Crystal Clear yesterday and, your right, it does look good, but not as good as the nekkid phone itself. But I guess that's the price of good protection.
Just waiting for my Zagg HD Dry front and back covers to arrive today.

I'm personally using Otter Box Commuter for me and my wife's phone. I was able to try it on in store before purchasing. I was sort of desperate for a case on delivery day and it was the most protective case I found. I'm happy with it overall. It's sleep and slim and although the whole front in uncovered it does have raised top and bottom edges so if the phone falls flat the screen doesn't actually touch the floor.
Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Use it naked.
Control your fingers.

nobnut said:
Use it naked.
Control your fingers.
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Too risky lol
Sent from my Blackberry Bold

I would love to use the phone naked as it just looks so good, but I am scared to risk it. I have never dropped and cracked a phone, and I had an Iphone 4S without a case for 2 years which were well known for getting smashed, I have a clear case on the edge at the moment to offer it some protection.

Carrying and using smart phones without any case is just asking for trouble. I have the S7 Edge and when it arrived on March 2nd it stayed at home in the box until my Spigen Ultra Hybrid case arrived (which was a few days later). I was still using my S5 because I didn't want to take any chances.
After my case arrived I put it on but I still keep the original plastic film on the screen because I was waiting for my Skinomi screen protector to arrive. My Skinomi arrived yesterday and I installed it last night.
So if you don't want a bulky case get the Spigen Ultra Hybrid (I went with the crystal clear color). I ordered my case and screen protector from Amazon. The case is very nice looking and doesn't add any bulk to the phone.

Sk17z0 said:
but I still keep the original plastic film on
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Oh my.

I'm using this case. It's amazing. Thin, easy to grip and not too expensive.
http://www.bodyguardz.com/unequal-shock-case-samsung-galaxy-s7-edge.html

I use the phone naked and dropped it from about 3,5 feet, first it hit the steel base of a table and than it bounced on a wooden floor, not a scratch :angel:

Juuls said:
I use the phone naked and dropped it from about 3,5 feet, first it hit the steel base of a table and than it bounced on a wooden floor, not a scratch :angel:
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Q.E.D.

I just bought the galaxy s8. Should I get a case or a skin?

I would normally buy a case because it is safer and this phone is so damn expensive (it had been a long time since I had purchased a phone and I did not know prices were that high)... But the device is so mind-blowingly gorgeous that I'm considering a skin. I rarely drop my phone but, in the eventuality (it will happen) that I drop it, will a skin protect it? From what kind of falls? And if I end up buying one, which company should I turn to (obviously I heard of dbrand but I don't know about the alternatives)? Also if you think I should get a case, which one would you recommend that still lets me appreciate the aesthetics of the phone?
Thank your for your time.

A skin will protect it against scratches but that's about it, there's plenty of thin clear cases on ebay that will give you some protection.

I'm also wondering if I should buy a case or not.
Didn't Samsung advertise that the front screen and back screen are Gorilla Glass 5? This means they are scratch-proof yes?
The phone is absolutely gorgeous and using a case / cover makes the look a bit dull. I have been using the phone without cover for a few weeks now and thankfully, no scratches so far. I hope I can keep it the same way.
What is your idea guys?

definitely a case, im getting the tough armor myself . I already shattered the back panel :silly:

meshaun said:
I'm also wondering if I should buy a case or not.
Didn't Samsung advertise that the front screen and back screen are Gorilla Glass 5? This means they are scratch-proof yes?
The phone is absolutely gorgeous and using a case / cover makes the look a bit dull. I have been using the phone without cover for a few weeks now and thankfully, no scratches so far. I hope I can keep it the same way.
What is your idea guys?
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Yes Gorilla glass 5. Scratch proof? NO!!!
I like to think I was babying my phone. I had it in my pocket tried to avoid having keys in with pocket ect while I figure out case/skin situation. I am already noticing very fine scratches on the front and back. Not too bad at all, but if you look you can see them, and I do know they are there.
I am contemplating insurance for the phone because if the glass cracks that would totally blow. But I don't want a fat case because the phone is pushing the size limit for me. I will most likely go with ultra slim case and Whitestone glass protector.
Bottom line, get SOMETHING for it asap. You would think it would be tougher when it comes to simple scratches, but not so much. I've had mine since launch.

I will recommend you the case I have got. It's clear slim case from aicek https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0...=DMN9FAPAZX942JJGC4VS&dpPl=1&dpID=61itnhJDTBL
Like it a lot. Gives proper protection to the screen and edges but it's slim and s8 looks great in it.
Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

I bought a Spigen Case Thin Fit for a S7 Edge that I had for a day. When I bought the S8 I went looking for the same case and I totally love it!

Just get the Elago Origin Case for Galaxy S8 in amazon. It's as thin as paper or phone skins (0.35mm) and you can easily remove / put it back whenever you want. It's having the protection you need but not sacrificing the design and feel of the phone which is why you've bought it in the first place.
Sent from my SM-G950F using XDA Labs

meshaun said:
I'm also wondering if I should buy a case or not.
Didn't Samsung advertise that the front screen and back screen are Gorilla Glass 5? This means they are scratch-proof yes?
The phone is absolutely gorgeous and using a case / cover makes the look a bit dull. I have been using the phone without cover for a few weeks now and thankfully, no scratches so far. I hope I can keep it the same way.
What is your idea guys?
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I got a slight scratch within two days of owning it. I never put it with my keys and always in my pocket. I know many others are saying they've already received scratches so no, the screen is far from scratch resistant.

It doesn't make sense to not use a case. Glass front and back, one drop could be all it takes. In fact, one drop on concrete or a hard surface will leave damage. With a slim TPU case 99% of the time there won't be any damage in the same instance.
As far as the display, I normally use tempered screen protectors, but those don't really work with the curved edges. Better off to get some kind of wrap-around wet application protector for the display. One can use an S8 tablet wet-fit protector and cut it to fit the length of the phone wrapping it around the back on both sides, or there is one being made that actually wraps over the curved edges adhering to the back of the phone that looks good too. Going naked on the display WILL end up with scratches of some kind at some point. Really depends on how you are using your phone. But even the most careful will still accumulate some damage, that's just how it works in the real world. These devices were not built to last decades.

Both ha I got a dbrands skin which i love purely because its pretty much the equivalent of goin naked but it doesnt attract finger prints etc! I did buy a case too but i lasted a week with it lol Iam forever buying cases and after a few days i take them off! It just ruins how the phone feels in hand and for me it almost makes using it less enjoyable! Currently using just a skin which i probably isnt recommended but personally iam pretty careful with my phones and have yet to ever break a screen (touch wood)

I got a case and a screen protector yesterday. I grabbed a cheap case by Lohasic while waiting on the Samsung promotion with the free case, sd card, and netflix subscription. Unfortunately the case does push the screen protector off the sides even though the screen protector was apparently"case friendly." It is hard to decide to put a case on it because it looks so good. No case I know of doesn't ruin the look of the phone.

I too put the phone in a case now. A very very thin case so that it won't be noticeable and still displays the best looks of the phone. Phew. Thanks guys.

I had a skin and a glass protector on my first S8+ and the front glass shattered under the protector on a 2 foot drop onto tile floor.
My second S8+ had a Spigen Neo Hybrid, and dropped on 1 drop onto gravel.
Baby those phones people.

Anybody using the phone without a case ?

Hello Everybody
I have installed a transparent but not so slim case to my LG G6.
I wanted to know whether this phone be maintained in mint condition without case easily ?
Please let me know your thoughts.

Hi, I Didn't thought about not using a case, currently using voia slim case that came with the unit free that i bought with some local store here in the Philippines. I am not sure if i would use it without a case, it seems fragile to me

The class back necessitates done protection, using Spigen ultra hybrid slim case.
Sent from my LG-H870 using Tapatalk

Using Spigen Thin fit case with SF matt finish.
Sent from my LG-H870 using Tapatalk

I use it without any protection ... The problem is the rear glass camera .. it's very very very easy to scratch poor quality

I don't use cases, I hate them. I frankly hate that today phones are presented without cases, companies present how they look nice without case etc. But they are made in a way that you have to use some ugly case anyway (camera bump, slippery back etc.) .
So I am using G6 without case (one of the few phones without camera bump and it is easy to hold) and so far it is ok, but I am afraid about the rear camera glasses of course...

I wasn't using a case, then as I took the phone out of my pocket it slipped and smashed on the floor. Got it repaired and now using a Spigen Thin Fit case on it (this one in fact https://www.amazon.co.uk/Spigen-Coated-Surface-Excellent-Compatible/dp/B01N6T3N9T )
I don't find it gets in the way at all, or adds too much weight to the phone, but as long as manufacturers keep insisting that "premium build" equals "making it out of fragile materials like glass" I'll will be using a case on all phones from now on.
Previously had a G4 and loved that the back was just a removable piece of plastic that would stand up to pretty much everything. I don't understand why phones have moved away from this kind of build over the last few years, and gone to slippy, delicate glass!

i hate cases .. they kill the design
i prefer Skins from Dbrand

I am using the UAG Ash case, still case see the case and gives it protection.

DamiDev said:
i hate cases .. they kill the design
i prefer Skins from Dbrand
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Oooh, some of those are very nice!

I do love the design of the phone, but it's way too slippery for me not to use a case. I went for a Snakehive leather flip case and tempered glass on the screen.

Dbrand skin on the back, and insurance I love the feel of the naked phone.

Thanks to everyone for your participation and thoughts.
I am also considering skins instead of cases, but the problem with the skin is it is getting dirt especially in the edges after some time and they are turning yellowish as well.
The cases are cheap at least what I am using, but skins neither cheap not easy to apply again and again.
The skin I tried previously was Invisible Shield.
My phone colour is blue, so. the case/skin options are again getting limited, only transparent cases/skins are looking good.
Let me know your thoughts.

I use it without a case and got a skin for the back and camera lens. Keeps it from getting scratched to hell. I have dinged up against something while it was in my pocket and chipped the top but other than that nothing major at all. It was my fault those pesky basketball shorts let the pockets swing to much

I don't use case and i can tell lens protection is really really bad.

Ringke air crystal view ! (Y)

I am currently caseless. Sometimes I put a case on my phone but after a while, when I take it out to clean out the dust, I remember how nice it was with no case and leave it out for a few months. I have a thin TPU one which is nice, and a real wood one which looks amazingly good even though it is kind of a brick.
I am not a big fan of skins (had a clear one on an old phone and after a while it yellowed and peeled), but I do like the idea of the real wood ones (not the dbrand ones which are vinyl even if they look like wood). Might try one of those when my wood case breaks (which I'm sure it will).
As for the camera glass scratches - look through the forums here; consensus is that the glass is not scratching but it has a soft coating that scratches. This coating can be polished off and then no more scratches. And it doesn't seem that a case is any protection from whatever (temperature? air pressure?) is causing a few mysterious camera glass shatterings.

kingdave82 said:
I wasn't using a case, then as I took the phone out of my pocket it slipped and smashed on the floor. Got it repaired and now using a Spigen Thin Fit case on it (this one in fact https://www.amazon.co.uk/Spigen-Coated-Surface-Excellent-Compatible/dp/B01N6T3N9T )
I don't find it gets in the way at all, or adds too much weight to the phone, but as long as manufacturers keep insisting that "premium build" equals "making it out of fragile materials like glass" I'll will be using a case on all phones from now on.
Previously had a G4 and loved that the back was just a removable piece of plastic that would stand up to pretty much everything. I don't understand why phones have moved away from this kind of build over the last few years, and gone to slippy, delicate glass!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yip, a brilliant, really slim fit case.
Sent from my LG-H870 using Tapatalk

i don't use a case on this phone yet. going for a skin whenever i get around to it with my list of things to buy. first time i went longer then a few days without a case. i went without a case since march. I use a holster on my pants or shorts. I am so careful with my phone so it doesn't get scratched or dinged up.

I was gonna go with a skin like Dbrand but I got this really thin case instead. Been extremely happy with it
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071KXB9Z2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1