We live in the 21st century, the time goes by at the speed of light in today’s world. Technology is advancing at an unimaginable pace. A new smartphone model rolling out every day with the latest features and designs with skyrocketing prices. You sure will want to carry your smartphone in a safe. Since that is not a practical solution, phone cases are an affordable replacement for safes.
When it comes to purchasing a phone case, two materials are always neck to neck. These are plastic and silicone. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. A phone case is something that takes the responsibility of protecting your smartphone. It has to be strong yet comfortable on the device. There are many factors that one should consider before making a purchase. Let’s take a look at some of these factors to determine which material will best suit your smartphone.
What do you think a plastic or silicone phone cover is made of? Well, both plastic and silicone are polymers. The combination of plastic used may differ based on its structure. Mainly TPU and Polycarbonate are incorporated to design a sturdy plastic phone case.
Silicone on the other hand has the element silicone as the greatest contributor to its structure. It makes silicone phone covers more cost-effective and easier to manufacture. Silicone feels softer and is much more slippery. Plastic is harder and may have rough details on particular designs.
Plastic and silicone are heavily used in microwaves and microchips thanks to their high levels of durability. However, they are both differently durable. Silicone cases are flexible, they can bend, twist, and jitter without breaking. Plastics can crack if they fall hard or are beaten with a harder object such as a rock. This proves that both these materials will take the shock for your phone in any case.
Silicone’s rubbery structure also contributes to its density as a material. Silicone cases are prone to getting dirty faster than plastic, silicone changes colour as they come in contact with dirt or damage. Plastics are easier to clean, all they need is a good wipe.
All the above specifications show that both the material is equally protective. In whichever way your smartphone may fall to the ground, a phone case will do its duty and protect the phone against any major damages regardless of its material. Although Plastic is indeed a tough competitor given its hard and thick build in many cases.
To make out which case will best protect your smartphone, think about your daily routine and all kinds of danger you will put your phone into. This will make it easier for you to decide whether a plastic or silicone case will better protect your phone.
Plastic takes the first seat here, as it has more scope of prints and specifications. Plastic phone cases can be customized in numerous ways. They can be made chunky or external decorative can be added to the base structure of a roughly rectangular case.
Silicone can come in a variety of colours but prints are less sustainable on silicone covers. They can only be moulded into different shapes or structures to fit different devices only.
With the advancement of technology, we are also creating a less habitable earth. As the climate crisis takes its toll, more climate-conscious items are to be produced. Silicone is preferred when it comes to the green factor. Being the second most abundant element in earth’s core, it is readily available and will serve for a million more years.
Plastic staying at the end of this ride towards a greener planet tends to release harmful gases when burned. Silicone burns cleanly and produces no harmful toxins, offering it an advantage in today’s eco-sensitive world.
This concludes the battle between plastic and silicone to win the throne of the most suitable phone case alternative. Which one would you choose? We leave the decision of the winner up to you with one more factor which is preference. We have provided you with enough context to decide which material you want to use for a phone case. All that is left to do is for you to finalize a design to customize a phone cover or get on to look for pre-designed phone cases available in the market.
