Most of us have had the unpleasant experience of dropping a smartphone. If you have a suitably protective case protecting your phone, a simple drop isn’t that big of a deal. But in some cases, a single drop can completely destroy your phone.
So what exactly happens when you drop your phone?
And what can you do to prevent the worst-case scenario?
The Complex Inner Workings of Smartphones
Smartphones have been around so long that it’s easy to take for granted just how complex these little machines are. On the outside, they look like a singular unit, with a sleek, polished outer surface. But on the inside, there are literally thousands of tiny, interactive components, and if even one of these components is damaged or dislodged, it could spell disaster for your phone.
If you drop your phone, there’s a good chance you’ll see some visible form of damage. You might crack the screen, dent the exterior, or cause the entire phone to split in half. But many of these instances of damage are somewhat cosmetic and easy to repair; it’s much harder to recover from phone drops that result in unseen, interior damage. For example, you could damage the logic board, or dislodge an important component that renders your phone slow or inoperable.
Dropping your phone introduces it to an immediate, potentially powerful, blunt force. The resulting shockwave can have any number of effects, depending on the surface on which it’s dropped, the angle of the drop, the velocity of the falling phone, and the level of protection in place.
How to Protect Your Phone From Drops
So, how can you protect your phone from drops?
The most important thing to do is invest in a good phone case. There are many different phone cases on the market, so choosing one can be difficult to come up with these are some of the most important features to consider:
Shock absorption.
Different materials lend themselves to different levels of shock absorption. If you’re willing to invest in a high-quality case, you can get a thick material that can protect your phone from all but the most significant of blows. Thicker, more shock absorptive cases provide you with more protection.
Coverage.
Some cases offer more total coverage, shrouding your phone in a thick blanket of shielding, while others are thinner and less complete in their protection.
Texture/grip.
You should also think about the texture of the phone case. Some cases are designed to be perfectly textured, allowing you to grip them easily without having to worry about the phone slipping out of your hands.
Fit.
And of course, you’ll need to make sure the case is perfectly fitted to your specific phone model. If the case is too tight or too loose, it isn’t going to provide adequate protection.
You can also prevent your phone from being damaged in a fall with the following strategies:
Use the case all the time (and secure a good fit).
Investing in a case is only step one. You then have to make sure the case is on and secured at all times. There’s nothing wrong with taking the phone case off periodically for cleaning, but it should stay on the rest of the time.
Avoid using your phone in unsecure situations.
Next, avoid using your phone in unsecure situations that could come with a higher risk of a drop. For example, you should avoid using your phone during exercise, or use it with a strap or similar mechanism to secure it. You should also avoid using your phone on the toilet, in a moving vehicle, or when engaging in unpredictable activities.
Charge your phone on a stable, isolated surface.
Phones often get mishandled when charged in irresponsible conditions. When charging your phone, make sure you leave it on a flat, stable, isolated surface. Keep the phone and the charging cord away from children and pets.
Choose the correct pocket.
Even back in 2010, people were complaining that phones were too big for many pockets – and they’ve only gotten bigger since then. If you’re going to put your phone in your pocket, make sure the pocket is roomy enough to avoid unwanted falls.
Store your phone away.
If you don’t have an adequate pocket, or if you’re storing your phone for a prolonged period of time, keep it somewhere safe, like in a purse or a drawer.
Dropping a phone can be devastating if you don’t have adequate protection. There’s a chance that after a drop, you could walk away with nothing more than a cosmetic scratch on the exterior of the phone, but there’s also a chance that you could damage the phone beyond repair. The smart move is to invest in the best phone case you can afford and use your phone as responsibly as possible to avoid a potential drop.
