HARD PLASTIC

There are two main types of plastic used in smartphone cases: thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and polycarbonate (PC). PC is more rigid and hard, while TPU is slightly softer and more flexible (but still not as soft as silicone and rubber).

Both of these types of plastic are great at maintaining their shape, making them a durable option for people who are tough on their phone cases. They are also very thin and lightweight, so they won’t add much bulk to the phone.

However, the slick surface doesn’t give them much grip and poorly made plastic cases might shatter on impact if your phone does fall. Look for high quality iPhone cases like those from Case-Mate, which all have a 10-foot drop guarantee.

Pros:

• Durable and strong
• Lightweight and slim
• Very customizable, lots of colors and designs available
• Affordable

Cons:

• Slick exterior lacks grip

• SILICONE

  Silicone is probably the second most common material for a Samsung phone case. It is inexpensive, comes in many different colors and provides excellent grip. However, a pure silicone case may stretch out over time and require a replacement more often. The tacky surface makes it hard to slide the phone in and out of your pocket and will attract fuzz, dirt, lint and other debris that will be difficult to clean up.

  Sometimes you can find a case that comes with a hard plastic shell with a silicone overlay — or that is mostly hard plastic but features raised silicone grips — in order to combine some of the benefits of hard plastic with silicone.

  Pros:

  • Very grippy
  • Lightweight
  • Affordable

  Cons:

  • Grippy texture may catch on unwanted surfaces
  • Will attract dust and debris
  • May stretch out over time and slip off the phone

  RUBBER

  Rubber is usually used as a complement to hard cases in order to provide extra shock absorption and grip. For example, the Pelican Protector line of cases takes a shock-absorbing rubber lining and covers it with a rigid, impact-resistant hard plastic outer shell to give you the best of both worlds. If you want more protection than hard plastic alone can offer, definitely look for a case that incorporates rubber, too.

  Pros:

  • Offers excellent shock absorption when paired with hard plastic
  • Very grippy when applied to exterior of case

  Cons:

  • Dual layer cases are more expensive
  • Not available in as many colors and designs