Modern smartphones are expensive, with the best models commonly asking buyers to spend over $1,000. Even if you aren’t shopping for new form factors or cutting-edge features, relatively safe bets are still pretty pricey. Naturally, it makes sense to protect that investment from physical damage, right? Well, sometimes, we can drag our feet and battle decision inertia when it comes to purchasing a device case or screen protector.
Just look at my colleague Joe Maring, who recently lamented his decision to forego both protective shrouds on his Pixel 10 Pro. The result? Tangible scratches and plenty of regret.