# I Just Dropped My Phone **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 26, 2020, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-dropped-my-phone/921569 "2020-09-26T07:25:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2020, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-dropped-my-phone/921569/1 "2020-09-26T07:25:43Z")
A couple of feet, on a hard wooden floor. I thought I would always be careful not to drop my smartphone. But lo and behold, I just did. Guess I just have to be _more_ careful in the future. Anyway, I didn’t crack the screen. It works fine AFAIK. And as you can see, I can still post on this message board too. Should I still be worried? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2020, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-dropped-my-phone/921569/2 "2020-09-26T07:43:40Z")
That would depend on how angry it is with you. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2020, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-dropped-my-phone/921569/3 "2020-09-26T10:41:26Z")
That sort of thing is why a spent some money are a hard-shell case for my phone. It’s not as pretty as some and has no bling, but it protects the phone. About a week ago I broke the hard-shell. Phone is fine, though. Need to get a new case. ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2020, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-dropped-my-phone/921569/4 "2020-09-26T13:03:01Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > That sort of thing is why a spent some money are a hard-shell case for my phone. That’s my approach as well. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2020, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-dropped-my-phone/921569/5 "2020-09-26T14:53:10Z")
My phone ended up with a recliner on top of it. It works fine. Took a bit for my heart to start beating again, though… ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2020, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-dropped-my-phone/921569/6 "2020-09-26T17:46:14Z")
Mr.Wrekker has a hard time texting. Fat fingered as he is. He was texting someone and it just wasn’t working. Pissed him off and he chunked that phone out the French door on to the deck, it bounced off a rail and flew into the yard. Didn’t hurt it a bit. I showed him how to turn his phone on the panoramic side where the keyboard is wider. He’s still peeved. It makes me laugh. Yes, I’m kinda mean. 😁 Wait and see, I’ll breathe too deep and my phone will instantly self destruct. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2020, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-dropped-my-phone/921569/7 "2020-09-26T18:08:38Z")
I purposely found a phone with a hard keyboard because those dinky-assed virtual jobbies make me stroke out. 'Twarnt easy. The only hard keyboards are on BlackBerry, and until the PRIV came out, BlackBerry only used BlackBerry software. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2020, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-dropped-my-phone/921569/8 "2020-09-26T18:23:11Z")
> [@Jim\_B](#): > > Should I still be worried? Nope. If it works it works. But you may have bent the case slightly which increases the odds the screen will crack the next time you drop it. I hate the hard cases folks are recommending; the phone is already much too large for the pocket (but too small to see easily; such are the dilemmas of modern life) and making it thicker, globbier, and heavier is going the wrong way. Instead of a bulky stupid case, put something anti-slippery on the back. Either a card holder like this: [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0727YD76S/](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0727YD76S/) or some non-slip like this: [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DD6FGQ3/](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DD6FGQ3/) I’m not endorsing those particular brands / items; they’re just examples. Amazon has dozens of varieties of each. But once you’ve stuck some of that onto the back of the phone you’ll discover it’s no larger, you’re far less likely to juggle it, have it slip unnoticed out of a pocket while seated, or hit the floor. Best of all, if you put the stuff on asymmetrically you can tell right side up from upside down _by feel_. All gain, no pain. It’s also far cheaper than paying for drop insurance. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2020, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-dropped-my-phone/921569/9 "2020-09-26T18:28:01Z")
It’s going to drop at some point, even with grippy decals. Get a shock-absorbing case. Some of them are quite thin. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2020, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-dropped-my-phone/921569/10 "2020-09-26T22:07:20Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I hate the hard cases folks are recommending; the phone is already much too large for the pocket (but too small to see easily; such are the dilemmas of modern life) and making it thicker, globbier, and heavier is going the wrong way. To each their own. I got a belt clip for my hard case, which is my preference since I don’t normally carry a purse and women’s clothing has teeny pockets, when it has them at all. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2020, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-dropped-my-phone/921569/11 "2020-09-26T22:36:29Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > I got a belt clip for my hard case, which is my preference since I don’t normally carry a purse and women’s clothing has teeny pockets, when it has them at all. Wife’s the same way. No or tiny pockets = massive PITA. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2020, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-dropped-my-phone/921569/12 "2020-09-26T22:57:57Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > To each their own. > > I got a belt clip for my hard case, which is my preference since I don’t normally carry a purse and women’s clothing has teeny pockets, when it has them at all. I’m the same, but am a big guy that always wears jeans. I can’t imagine putting a phone in my pocket. I’d sit on it or it would just be in the way and inaccessible. I’ve got an Otter box belt clip job. Hard case that has a rubber outside that fits into an always easy to access belt clip. Phones features are all easily accessible, and It’s easy to hold instead of a slim little slippery thing. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2020, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-dropped-my-phone/921569/13 "2020-09-28T03:15:58Z")
They usually survive drops, especially if you have them in a decent case. I’ve heard of people claiming they’re just very careful, so they don’t bother with a case or screen protector - but that seems like a needless risk. I frequently drop my phone. So far I’ve only had this cause issues once; it hit juuuuuust right and the screen went on the fritz. Luckily I had the insurance coverage, so 99 bucks and I got a replacement phone. It was a pain in the neck because I couldn’t factory-reset the old one before sending it back (after the replacement arrived). I finally figured out how to remote-wipe it which made me feel a bit better. Broomstick, I hear ya on the pockets. I will try the phone in the garment’s pocket before I even take it back to try on!! I recently bought 2 pairs of capri-length jeans online since I didn’t want to go to a store - and I’m gonna have to return one because the pockets are ridiculous. Aside from that I don’t love belt clips because they make pocketing the phone that much harder (and my Otterbox Defender’s belt clip actually just broke!!). ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2020, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-dropped-my-phone/921569/14 "2020-09-28T12:45:59Z")
Just to clear, I _don’t_ have it in a case. I tried buying one for it. It was supposed to be the right case, but it didn’t fit at all, I couldn’t push the buttons, etc. So I just try to be very careful. As I said, the screen didn’t crack and it seems to work fine, at least for the most part. So I have nothing to worry about, right? ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2020, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-dropped-my-phone/921569/15 "2020-09-28T14:17:56Z")
> [@Jim\_B](#): > > So I have nothing to worry about, right? Until the next time… ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2020, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-dropped-my-phone/921569/16 "2020-09-28T17:48:50Z")
My son who does construction always has a cracked screen. Sometimes a spiderweb that makes it hard to view. Still works fine. I have a thin gel case for mine that I like. Take yours to a phone store and they can find one that fits. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2020, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-dropped-my-phone/921569/17 "2020-09-28T17:54:44Z")
Forgot to add mine is a Spigen: [https://www.spigen.com/](https://www.spigen.com/) ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2020, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-dropped-my-phone/921569/18 "2020-09-28T18:57:20Z")
I dropped my S4 down a flight of wooden stairs one time. My heart dropped as it cartwheeled down the steps. Luckily it was in a good case that had a rubber sleeve that covered the back and edges, and a hard case that went on top of that. No damage. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2020, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-dropped-my-phone/921569/19 "2020-09-28T19:01:16Z")
There is a transparent screen cover EVERYONE should have. It won’t prevent all breakage, but it can keep a phone functional with one big crack, or a corner chip, or even a small spiderweb. Because sometimes you just cannot get to Staples reight away! ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2020, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-dropped-my-phone/921569/20 "2020-09-28T19:05:02Z")
Yep. Sometimes the effects from a concussion don’t make themselves known for hours or even days after the traumatic event. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-dropped-my-phone/921569.md?page=2)