iPhone, Galaxy, and Pixel are tougher now: cases still matter

Apple, Samsung, and Google have all put real effort into making their flagship phones harder to beat up. The glass is tougher, scratch resistance has improved, and going without a case no longer sounds quite as reckless as it once did.

Apple has Ceramic Shield. Corning’s Gorilla Glass is everywhere in this category. Samsung uses Gorilla Armor on the Galaxy S24 Ultra, which Samsung says is four times more scratch-resistant than earlier versions. Taken together, that means current iPhones, Samsung Galaxy phones, and Google Pixel phones do a better job with spills, scratches, and the kind of everyday wear that used to show up a lot faster.

But they’re not scratch-proof. Durability tests on the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL show scratches at Mohs level 6, with deeper grooves at 7, so sand and grit can still leave real damage.

So if you’re trying to decide whether a case is still worth it, there’s a strong case for buying one. Screen repairs on flagship phones usually cost somewhere around $200 to more than $400. Cases also help with grip, reduce camera wobble, and can add useful extras like a wallet, a kickstand, magnetic charging support, or just a bit of personality through color, texture, and brand.

The phone case market reflects that. It topped $23 billion in 2023, and some market forecasts put it above $50 billion by 2033, even as brands move toward slimmer designs, recycled materials, biodegradable options, and cases that pull double duty.

These tougher phones are already on the market from Apple, Samsung, and Google. And stricter European Union rules on durability and repairability, including requirements for up to seven years of spare parts by 2027, should make it easier to keep them around longer.