Clear Case or Heavy Duty: Which Do You Need?

Protection · 4 min read · Updated 2026-09-16

Clear cases

A clear case is slim and light, keeps your phone's own colour and finish visible, and adds reinforced corners for everyday knocks. It is the usual choice if you want protection without bulk, and it fits easily in a pocket.

Heavy duty cases

A heavy duty case uses two layers - a flexible inner and a harder outer shell - with air-cushion corners and a raised camera surround. It is thicker and heavier, and it is the choice if your phone gets dropped on hard floors, used on site, or carried loose in a bag with keys.

Which should you pick?

If your phone mostly moves between a desk, a pocket and a bag, a clear or silicone case is usually enough. If it regularly gets knocked about, choose heavy duty and accept the extra bulk. Either way, a screen protector covers the part a case cannot.

A note on protection claims

We describe what a case is made of and how it is built. We do not publish drop-test heights or protection ratings for these products, because we do not hold independent test certificates for them.