Have you dropped your iPhone lately and smashed your iPhone 5, 5C, or 5S glass? You may be contemplating which iPhone case to go with next. Do you go with protection or portability? Typically, the heavier cases, such as Otterbox, Lifeproof, and Taktik will guard against drops, water, and impact. But, they feel a little bit like tanks. On the other end, you have iPhone cases that look pretty and weigh next to nil, but do not really protect your iPhone screen when you accidentally drop it.
So, which one should you choose? The heavier Otterbox-like case that will prevent having to replace your screen upon drops? Or do you risk it for portability and a lighter Apple-like case? Well, the verdict is in and the people are now choosing to go free-willy with Apple’s lighter cases. Convenience typically wins out over security I guess. Well, that happens before airport threats become a problem. Okay, I digress. Actually, when looking head to head for iPhone 5C and 5S cases, Otterbox wins out.
According to Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP), iPhone 5C cases account for 10% of the case market for iPhone 5C devices whereas Otterbox has a 20% chunk. Similarly, Apple owns 15% of iPhone 5S cases and Otterbox grabs a 25% piece of the market. I’m a bit surprised being that the Otterbox case is tank-like and is not the easiest case to squeeze in your jeans pocket.
Why is this so? Apple’s cases are already pretty expensive at $29 – $39. The Otterbox case is only about $40 – $50 more. If you’re planning to keep your iPhone for at least one year, that extra amount to save your iPhone in the case of drops is not that much more when an iPhone screen replacement in NYC may cost about $65 – $100.
So, the next time you consider buying a case, you should weigh whether you’re an iPhone dropper, can you get your iPhone screen replaced easily, and whether heavy weight matters to you.
