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Comment by aljones | Hacker News Reader

Why does it require a case? Its a matter of taste, which obviously makes it not required.

It requires a case because Apple must have designed it assuming everyone uses a case anyway. I've used every iPhone I've ever owned without a case, every version from 2-6. I'm always careful with them. I've never broken a screen until iPhone 6, which I've replaced and broken yet again, because it's so slim and the rounded edges are slippery. It's the first iPhone I've really disliked, design-wise. You have to use a case to avoid dropping it. Most egregious though: the thing will not lie flat on a surface thanks to the camera lens protrusion. And since the lens sticks out, I'm much more likely to grab it by the lens when pulling it out of my pocket (everything else is so slick) so my photos are smudge-blurred (along with countless photos I receive from my parents phones) unless I take time to wipe the lens on my shirt.

I just ordered a 7 and will begrudgingly order a case along with it. I felt like the 5 was the pinnacle for exterior design, and I considered buying the new 5 SE version of that, but I really need/want the latest internals given the amount these devices cost.

Edit: cleaned up some writing in the last paragraph

View from the other side:

I'm empathetic. I upgraded a Samsung S5 to an S7 and I'm mostly extremely happy. The phone is astounding, the weight, speed and battery life are brilliant.

Unfortunately, they've done something to the design and finish. It's much more slippery than the S5. I never dropped my S5, and in the 2 months I've had my S7 I've fumbled and dropped it multiple times. No damage yet, but I feel like it's a matter of time. I usually use phones without a case, but I feel like I should buy one for this phone!

EDIT: The S5 has "rubberized" textured back panel and grooved edges. The S7 has a mirror-smooth back panel and shine edges. I feel that they've sacrificed function for form here.

As an iPhone 6 user it was a phone that felt like it was designed to be in a case. The goddamn camera even sticks out, so it doesn't sit flush without a case on it. I never had my iPhone 4s in a case, but I put the 6 in a case the first day. Personally, I wish Apple would just make the phone thicker so the camera can sit flush and use the extra space for more battery and a headphone jack. I wouldn't even mind if it weighed a few more ounces.

All of the talk of the different color options ends up being kind of moot when you have to put a case on the thing anyway.

Given how many smartphones with broken screens I see, it seems like a case is pretty much essential these days, whatever the phone is coated in.

Completely anecdotal, of course, but I'd guess something like 20% of phones I see have a cracked screen. I suppose there's little incentive for the manufacturers to make their devices more robust.

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