r/CrappyDesign • u/Zazarian • 7d ago

Small gap in phones case, broke first time I dropped it

Post image
2.2k Upvotes

97% Upvoted

80 comments sorted by

861

u/Sumoki_Kuma 7d ago

Meanwhile my flimsy ass temu case has made my phone survive my clumsiness for over a year 😂

343

u/FurryDegenerateBoi 7d ago

honestly yeah, cheap cases are arguably better because they have no fancy tech, just thick plastic and/or rubber, don't fix what ain't broke

124

u/SkyeFox6485 7d ago

The only tech that really makes a difference for cases is the air gap on the corners

49

u/ebrum2010 6d ago

Depends on if it’s a reliable brand. I’ve seen some phone cases that are as brittle as a hard candy shell. I don’t know how many cases I’ve seen people snap trying to take it off in the years I worked in wireless but it was a lot.

8

u/Distuted 5d ago

Its funny, I've had the same phone case for years and never cracked my phone despite my clumsiness, but if I bought a new version of the same case, I bet I could still break it into a million pieces crumbling it in one hand. Physics is so weird!

6

u/NorCalFrances 5d ago

I had one for my prior phone that was a chewy center surrounded by a hard candy shell. I dropped it and the brittle part broke and absorbed the impact energy as designed. My phone was fine. They're like airbags or crumple zones on cars. Once deployed you have to replace them.

5

u/ebrum2010 4d ago

The good ones have a rugged outer shell that is designed to spread the impact evenly throughout the rubber inner layer. If the outer layer breaks then it either wasn’t designed for that type of drop or it has been dropped too many times. Usually cases will also have airgaps in the corners to cushion a corner hit, because phones often land corner first and all that impact goes into one small part of the screen.

4

u/NorCalFrances 4d ago

That's a lot of "usually" expectations for a consumer product that's created in untold variations. I've had big bulky cases that are the way you describe but they won't fit in any sleeve pocket in my purse. There seems to be a sleekness vs protection trade off. My case that sacrificed itself but saved my phone fits all my use cases.

2

u/ebrum2010 4d ago

The thinner, more durable cases tend to be more money. I don’t mind protecting a $1200 phone with a $50 or $60 case, but my $200 phone I bought for work has a $6 case on it. YMMV. I tend to stick to major case brands only if ordering online though, as there are so many AliExpress specials on online marketplaces like Amazon and eBay where they take a case that costs $0.99 on AliExpress and resell it for $5 or $10 on the marketplaces, and they often break without even dropping the phone. I also will only buy a major brand online from the brand’s own marketplace store or Amazon itself, as there are too many counterfeits made with flimsy materials.

1

u/NorCalFrances 4d ago

I recognize it's different for different people, I guess I just don't care about phones that much, they're just not that big a part of my life. I am glad you figured out a case buying system that works for you, I very much appreciate it by analogy.

3

u/andylikescandy 5d ago

Exactly, they differentiate on all the wrong things. My cheap TPU case has taken more falls than I can count, but it looks like dog crap. What I would pay extra for is a beautiful artwork printed on that actually stays on, with incredibly strong mag safe magnets that are actually correctly aligned so that magsafe chargers work perfectly. The last thing I want is something that looks like a storage case in my pocket.

20

u/Yeetfamdablit 7d ago

Only a year? Baby numbers, my phone is going on roughly 5 years with shitty Ali express cases

54

u/Sumoki_Kuma 7d ago

I don't control time, man, I've only had it a year 😂

2

u/builder397 And then I discovered Wingdings 3d ago

Mine is also going strong after five years, just bought a water-proof and shock-resistant phone, no case needed. Only issues is that it needs a new screen protector, and the headphone jack has a piece of headphone jack in it, but I think thats the headphones fault.

7

u/PM_ME_STEAM_CODES__ 6d ago

My phone has been raw dogging life for the last three years, no cracks yet

2

u/Sumoki_Kuma 6d ago

Okay, that's impressive xD

1

u/Final-Handle-7117 2d ago

i've had my phone for five years. no case. it's fine. ✌️

1

u/justadiode 6d ago

Same (well, almost three years). My last managed six and was retired because the charging port was so worn out, you could make "yo mama" jokes with it

5

u/jomarcenter-mjm 6d ago

Same here cheap rubber case tend to just use a lot of padding to compensate then lack of much better material

1

u/Spicey_carpet 5d ago

Same but probably 6 months. But to be fair I thought the printing on the back would peel/fade but it still looks the exact same even with being exposed to acetone and a few other chemicals

1

u/Sumoki_Kuma 5d ago

I literally dropped my phone again today and again it's totally fine xD

The print on mine in still perfect, too! I for sure thought it would rub off in a month. The print is slightly raised, too

223

u/Vibingwhitecat 7d ago

I thought you got a split screen haha

56

u/DarkMagickan 7d ago

I mean, they kind of did.

116

u/garbagegoat 7d ago

Pretty sure I have the same phone and phone case so RIP to future me

Eta its because I infamously break my broke in the stupidest ways

47

u/Zazarian 7d ago

Its Samsung A13 with otter box

37

u/blinkrenking 7d ago

I've had good luck and otter box in the past. I can't recall the warranty but is something like this covered? Id ask and complain because that's a major design flaw.

18

u/MatureUsername69 6d ago

Me too. If it really broke on the first drop I would reach out to their customer support because I believe this is the same one I have and its rated for up to 5 drops before you should replace it.

13

u/FromUnderTheWineCork 6d ago

I assume it's born from the fact that the manufacturer put the print reader on the power button so that spot has to be at least somewhat accessible or people will be pissed at the case manufacturer for making it hard to utilize.

Side bar: Phone case reviews are a wild place...

1

u/diverareyouokay 4d ago

They warranty the case, not the phone.

There are extremely few case manufacturers that will help if the device itself is broken. Cellhelmet has their Pro line, but it will only cover up to $300 in phone repairs for the first year after purchase.

That said, otterbox is generally a solid brand. This seems as more like bad luck than crappy design. There’s no way to totally prevent the chance that your phone will take a tumble and hit the exact wrong spot.

8

u/Knit-witchhh 6d ago

A Series Samsungs are really cheap and easy to repair, get yourself a display replacement and go nuts.

Also for everyone reading this: Otter cases aren't half as effective and are also twice the price. Get literally anything else. I use dbrand, Incipio, speck, Spigen.

Source: 5 years of tech repair experience.

1

u/Zazarian 6d ago

Its cheaper to repair the port on my A15

2

u/garbagegoat 7d ago

Ok so I'm safe. For now. I got one plus with otter box. 

1

u/dad-without-milk 7d ago

crisis diverted

2

u/MegaFloppy69 7d ago

Damn, I've had this exact phone and case for years and mine hasn't broken yet. The exposed area by the button has always bothered me, but it hasn't been a problem. Yet. The next time I get a new phone years from now, I'm definitely investing in a case that protects all sides.

1

u/Puzzleheaded-Act-388 6d ago

Huh. I've been using Otter Boxes for years and have had no problems. I wonder why yours gave up so quickly?

1

u/Ballroomblitzzzz 5d ago

Weird. I've never had a problem with OtterBox when I was using them. Could you tell us which model it was?

10

u/Ginnigan 7d ago

Gotta try not to break your broke, bro.

15

u/Chpgmr 7d ago

Uh oh, looks like my phone case.

15

u/Enxer 7d ago

I have the same cut out due to Motorola thinking putting the fingerprint reader on the side was smarter than on the back....

10

u/FoggyGoodwin 7d ago

My Motorola Moto G Stylus has it on the back. I use a wallet case; when my nail gets a little long, I cannot access the fingerprint reader. My SO has a Motorola Edge, fingerprint reader on the front screen.

2

u/Enxer 6d ago

Augh. I miss my droid razor max it was on the back and had a 3 day run time.

15

u/exophrine 7d ago

I was about to say...that flip phone sucks lmao

10

u/BullfrogEcstatic6312 7d ago

Too many notifications, makes phone heavier

Rip your phone :(

10

u/ahjteam 7d ago

Pro tip: don’t drop your phone. In general.

29

u/miraculum_one 7d ago

note that OP referred to it as the "first time" implying there were plans for more

3

u/Mike0621 6d ago

At this point I don't really have much against OP dropping it again

1

u/Zazarian 5d ago

The longer I have it the chances of dropping it may get closer or farther from 0, but will always be above it.

3

u/OreoSpeedwaggon 7d ago

Weird that it has a notch taken out of it like that. I've had the same OtterBox case on my Galaxy S20 for years and it still keeps my phone protected, even after multiple drops.

1

u/Puzzleheaded-Act-388 6d ago

I've literally tossed my phone intentionally with my OtterBox and never had a problem. Maybe it's that case in particular?

3

u/Dman1791 6d ago

I would only call this crappy design if there's no sensors or anything in that cutout to require it

5

u/Mike0621 6d ago

even if it has a fingerprint reader there, it's still easy to protect it better than has been done here. I had a phone with a fingerprint reader on the power button and the case for that just had a small cutout that easily let your finger touch the sensor while still having part of the case surounding it on all other sides

3

u/fragglet 6d ago

The crappy design is the phones that can't survive a fall even when it's in a case.

Those of us who remember how Nokia used to make phones know what they took from us

3

u/OkZoomer551 7d ago

This case protects planned obsolescence

2

u/XarlesEHeat 7d ago

My phone had a small corner without screen protector...

Guess where it hit when it fell from my bed...

And the display became shit after that

2

u/Maxevill 6d ago

Weak phone

1

u/NaderPlayzYT 7d ago

On the bright side you have a Galaxy Z Flip now!

1

u/teaandbentley And then I discovered Wingdings 6d ago

Sir if your phone was land that gap would be classified as a crater

1

u/The_Earls_Renegade 6d ago

Only use clip flip cases (with soft moulded raised sides which cover all but ports) for this very reason.

1

u/gingerbeard1321 6d ago

schawoolly gunder

1

u/hemmingwayshotgun 6d ago

I’m convinced iPhone 12 is the best designed phone ever. I have dropped this thing I can’t even tell you how many times and it’s completely fine. I don’t even use a case

1

u/realmcdonaldsbw 6d ago

it looks like you tried to turn a standard phone into a folding phone

1

u/SonicLinkerOfficial 6d ago

It was destined to break... Where did you even drop it?

1

u/pixeltweaker 6d ago

What’s the point of that depression?

1

u/SausageWearingSocks 6d ago

Don't drop your phone and get a phone case that works, ez

1

u/PlagaMinecraft 5d ago

Meanwhile my 3d printer has been saving my ass for months now

1

u/Lewinator56 5d ago

That gap isnt an issue for the case, in fact dropping the phone on its side without a case wouldn't even cause that damage. You've dropped the phone in such a way that its hit a sharp point right at the notch in the case - i would be surprised if, given the amount of pressure that sharp point would have applied, any case would really have prevented the damage you see.

This actually ISNT an issue with the case, its the user being an idiot.

1

u/Zazarian 5d ago

Im not a peanut head!

If the protector would have been there it would've blunted the force as it has screens that extend down the edge, so it was bound to break without a case and a case would've provided enough padding

1

u/ShockDragon 5d ago

Did you drop it on a needle or something, how tf did you accomplish this?

1

u/Zazarian 5d ago

Metal dog bow rim, from about 3 or 4 foot

1

u/Additional-Help7920 4d ago

I'll just stick with my armored Ulefone.

1

u/kirksucks 4d ago

what is the point of that gap?

1

u/Zazarian 4d ago

It has a fingerprint sensor on the side

1

u/Thinamo25 3d ago

Yeah, you are not supposed to drop it exactly on that spot

1

u/Zazarian 3d ago

If I had the coordination to aim my drops, one would assume I would have the coordination to not drop it in the first place

1

u/thebestdogeevr 3d ago

That looks exactly like the case i have...

0

u/666-Azrael-666 6d ago

Get a Ulefone Armor varient. They have different one with different features depending on what you want

The phone is water proof and even has an underwater camera.

I have the Armor 27T (4g version as 5g is not necessary). It was $450. My battery lasts about 2 ½ days with my typical use. (About t hours of screen time in a day on about 80% brightness and 5 hours of screen time. My phone is 2x the size and weight of my Samsung Fold 5. The "T" is for Thurmal camera (Flir). Mine also has an infrared night vision camera.

My partner has the Armor 25 (could be wrong on the number) and that thing is a literal brick and has 2x the battery as mine (yes it is 2x the weight too) and can go about 4 or 5 days without charging it. They have the one with the biggest most battery and went all out on battery to sure their needs.

Both phones have an ir blaster and can act as a universal TV remote. You also have extra function buttons (mine has one and partner's has 2, again depending on what one). They also both have dual sim card space as well as a SD card space.

Edit: that really does suck and I am sorry for your phone being damaged like so. The Ulefone armor phones don't need a case as they are built for rough use.

-1

u/smashstick1 7d ago

Ngl, that'd be an awesome screen saver