Everything a case protects (and doesn’t protect) on a foldable phone

Foldable phones have come a long way, but durability is still a concern. That’s why many folding phone owners turn to great cases to add a bit of extra protection to their expensive devices. The latest Samsung Galaxy Z Fold costs $1,800, the OnePlus Open costs $1,700, and the Pixel Fold costs $1,800. Clamshell foldables like the Motorola Razr or Galaxy Z Flip are cheaper, but are still pricey. Keeping these folding phones up and running for years is vital, and it’s also a challenge.

However, finding the right case for your foldable phone isn’t as easy as choosing a case for a traditional smartphone. These types of phones, well, fold — and that makes protecting them tricky. If you’re curious about what folding phone cases can protect and what they can’t, you’re in the right place. We’ve tried plenty of cases on all the best folable phone models to find out. The truth is, it largely depends on what kind of case you buy.

What most foldable cases can protect

The vast majority of cases protect the back and sides of the foldable from drops

The simple way that most foldable cases protect these versatile devices is through two-part designs. The back portion of the case protects the back of the phone, the back sides of the phone, the charging point, and the camera bump. This is the part of the case that might have clever designs or materials, or in the case of Casetify’s offering, a neat design. Then, there’s another part of the case that covers the front portion of the phone. It’s just a small frame that protects the cover screen by providing a raised edge, and also covers the sides of the front half of the phone. This half of the case usually features an adhesive strip that helps it stay attached to the face of your folding phone.

This is the most common type of folding phone case, and it has benefits and drawbacks. It’s easy to install, and easy to remove. It also provides a fair amount of coverage of your folding phone. With these two-part cases, only the hinge and cover screen are left unprotected. However, there are other kinds of folding phone cases that provide more protection, which we’ll discuss later.

Raised edges often protect the display and camera bump

Even the most basic folding phone cases typically feature raised edges that protect the displays and cameras. Google’s official silicone case for the Pixel Fold isn’t that protective at all, and instead prioritizes a thin and lightweight design. However, it is still designed with bumpers that cover the sides and camera bump on the Pixel Fold. This is critical to protect your screen and lenses from scratches, and luckily, you don’t have to look hard to find a case with raised edges.

What some foldable cases can protect

Rugged cases might feature hinge covers

Those are the basic features that nearly all folding phone cases provide, but others offer more specialized protective elements. For example, we’ve tried ultra-rugged cases from Supcase and CaseBorne that have hinge covers. This design choice comes with a few key advantages over the average folding phone case. A hinge cover often connects the two halves of a folding phone case, and this ensures that the front won’t keep popping off by accident. It also helps the hinge stay protected in the event of a drop.

The hinge cover could have additional functionality, too. Both the Supcase Unicorn Beetle Pro and CaseBorne cases feature hidden storage for an S Pen Fold Edition when used with a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5. However, the disadvantage to using a hinge cover is that it makes your folding phone even more bulky. That might not be a worthy tradeoff for all users. It’s also important to keep in mind that not every foldable case will have a hinge cover — it’s a niche feature you’ll have to specifically look out for.

Some cases include a built-in screen protector or holster cover

Foldable phones have two displays: a cover screen and a main, folding display. That cover screen is hard to protect, but some cases do find a way to keep it shielded from drops and scratches. Rugged cases will sometimes include a belt clip holster for smartphones, and this will protect a foldable’s cover screen while it’s not in use. Others feature a built-in screen protector that tries to protect your foldable’s cover screen all the time. However, it’s probably better to just use a regular tempered glass screen protector for the outer screen, rather than try to hunt down a case with one built-in.

What foldable cases can’t protect

Cases won’t stop dust from getting inside your folding phone

Different types of folding phone cases will fail to protect different aspects of the devices. The more basic cases will fail to cover the hinge and cover screen, but rugged ones will have those parts of the foldable protected. However, there’s one type of situation that no folding phone case can protect against. Few foldables today are dust-resistant with an IP rating, and none are completely dustproof. Cases won’t help in this regard at all, so you’ll still have to worry about dust when you use a folding phone.

Related

What is an IP rating, and why is it important when choosing a waterproof case?

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If a large piece of dust or debris gets inside your folding phone before you close it, that could be enough to crack the inner display. It’s important to check to make sure nothing is on your main screen before you close a foldable, because a case won’t stop dust and debris from cracking your display. It also won’t stop dust from getting inside the hinge mechanism, though there’s not much users can do to prevent that from happening. It’s important to be vigilant and conscious about avoiding excess dust while using a foldable — even one with a case.

Should you use a foldable case?

It’s a neat way to add more protection to your device

Due to how expensive folding phones are, it’s natural to want to keep them safe with a protective case. However, since these devices are already about twice the size of a traditional flagship smartphone, adding a case makes a foldable even thicker. You have to balance whether the additional protection is worth the heft and thickness you’ll add to your phone. If you want a case, you also have to decide whether you want an ultra-rugged case or a more basic one. Every case will have a different level of protection, and unfortunately, none of them will protect against dust. Those that don’t mind sacrificing portability — or just want a cool design on their smartphone — should pick up a foldable case.