Quick: when was the last time you dropped your phone? Chances are, you’ve dropped your phone on at least one occasion. Maybe it was just yesterday, or maybe it was sometime last month. Unless you’re an extremely careful smartphone user, you’re bound to drop your phone sooner or later.

With that in mind, it is paramount (in my opinion) to get a case for your shiny new smartphone. Personally, before I even purchase a new phone, I would’ve gotten a case and screen protector already so that the phone can be protected the moment I get it.

Is it overkill? Perhaps. Has it saved my phone from a drop that would’ve ended very, very badly? Oh, definitely. If you’re using your phone without a case installed, hear me out: a phone case can save you a ton of money in the long run.

It Will Protect Your Smartphone From Nasty Drops

I always, always get a case for my personal smartphone, and it has saved my phone countless times from drops that could’ve easily cracked the screen. This is really one of the most common damages to a smartphone – I bet you can think of at least one person who is still using a phone with a cracked screen right now.

On a side note, if you are using a phone with a cracked glass display, please get it fixed – it’s a hazard to run your fingers on a phone with loose shards of glass.

Anyway, it’s also important to get a case that can adequately protect your phone. It’s fine if you get a thin case, but make sure that there’s a “lip” surrounding the front of the phone. This way, if your phone falls face first to the ground, it will hit the case instead of the phone’s much more fragile screen.

Basically, there’s no need to get those extremely thick cases to get the most optimum level of protection for your phone. As long as it is well-designed, it should be able to protect your phone.

A Good Case Can Actually Improve Ergonomics

This is especially the case (excuse the pun) if you’re using a thin smartphone. Not only does a case gives you more surface to hold onto, it can even improve your grip on the phone. Of course, this is assuming that the case is made out of a grippy material like TPU or silicone.

In fact, with improved ergonomics, you’re also less likely to drop your phone – it’s a win-win situation. Granted, certain cases can make a phone feel “cheap” or too bulky, but that’s exactly why it’s important to get a high-quality case instead of the cheapest one you can find.

It’s a Nice Bit of Personalisation

With a smartphone, the only bit of personalisation that you get are the colour options offered by the brand; there’s no real way to really personalise it to your liking. But with a case, you’ve got a plethora options to choose from with various designs and colourways.

Even if you get a plain-looking case, you can still personalise it without worrying about leaving permanent marks on the phone itself. Think of the case as a blank canvas, if you will. If you want to retain the design of the phone, you can always get a translucent case instead.

Get a Screen Protector Too for Maximum Protection

If you want the absolute best protection for your shiny new smartphone, get a screen protector too. Preferably, a high-quality tempered glass screen protector for the best user experience. After all, cheaper screen protectors can negatively impact the screen quality, and it may not have the best texture either for your fingers to glide across.

Plus, in the event of a drop, and the case wasn’t able to protect the display, at least the screen protector will be there to absorb the impact first. The actual display of the phone will be protected, so even if the screen protector is damaged, it’s much, much cheaper to replace than the screen itself.

So there you have it. If you’re never a fan of phone cases, consider getting a high-quality one; it may change your mind. Personally, my go-to case maker is Spigen. More specifically, the Liquid Air series. It doesn’t feel too bulky, and it can still provide adequate drop protection for my phone.

While a high-quality case like Spigen is costly, it has protected my personal devices from really scary drops more times that I can count. Trust me, it’s worth it to invest in a case to save yourself the much steeper cost of repairing a broken phone – especially if it’s a premium device.