The Understated Appeal of the Ultra Thin Phone Case

When simplicity and preservation of design come before practicality

Did you know that over 1 billion phone cases are sold every year? When we buy our phones, oftentimes we are told by friends, family, and the person selling the phone at the store to “protect the investment” and buy a protective case. And for the most part that is what people do. Companies like OtterBox, LifeProof, Tech21, and others have become very successful in selling pieces of plastic that protect our expensive phones (which are only going up in price). But when we think of these cases we are thinking of thick silicone, hard plastic, or even leather that adds substantial weight to our phones in the name of protecting them.

While protective cases are the norm, there is a different kind of case type that is finding itself on the fringes of smartphone ownership: ultra-thin cases. These cases offer very little protection for the user but speak to a minimalist aesthetic that is picking up steam and may not be as ridiculous of an idea as some may think.

The Purpose of an Ultra-Thin Case