Zac Kew-Denniss / Android Authority
Phone cases do a great job of protecting our devices, but nothing can match the feel of a smartphone when its caseless — metal and class is cool to the touch and satisfying in a way no silicone case could ever be. That’s why I’ve mostly gone caseless since last year when I got my Galaxy S24 Ultra. After a few weeks with the Pixel 10 Pro, though, I’ve had to change my ways and buy a phone case because of the way Google built this phone.
Do you use a case on your smartphone? 97 votes Yes 87 % No 13 %
Glossy = slippery
Zac Kew-Denniss / Android Authority
The Pixel 10 Pro’s frame comes in a shiny, glossy finish. It looks beautiful on my Jade model, but it only looks good when it’s clean, which doesn’t last long. Fingerprints and skin oils build up fast, ruining the look and, more importantly, making the Pixel 10 Pro feel like a bar of soap. I bought the Pixel 10 Pro over the XL because I wanted a phone that was smaller and more comfortable to hold than my S24 Ultra, without giving up on good cameras. Despite the S24 Ultra being significantly bigger, heavier, and more awkward to hold than the Pixel 10 Pro, in three weeks of Pixel ownership, I’ve had more near-misses than I did during my year and a half with the Galaxy S24.
Google isn’t the only company that uses shiny sides on its Pro phones. For years, the iPhone has suffered from the same problem. I don’t know if OEMs think that it makes their phones feel more premium, but to me, it does the opposite. Any style points are quickly lost when you have to wipe your phone down every five minutes. I could risk it and hope that I get used to how slippery the Pixel is, but it’s not worth potentially dropping it and cracking the glass. I don’t love phone cases, but I’d rather use one than have a broken phone.
Comfort over style
Zac Kew-Denniss / Android Authority
My priority when looking for a phone case is, above all else, comfort. I’ll continue to use my Pixel caseless when I’m at home, only adding the case when I go out and there’s a greater risk of dropping it or having it knocked from my hand. Google’s official cases are color-matched with the phone, so its Jade case was the first one I looked at. £50 is far too much money for a basic case, so Google’s offering wasn’t in contention for long.
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