What is the best way to protect your cell phone?

Choosing and buying a cell phone that we like may take hours, even days.

But that it falls out of our hands and shatters can happen in seconds.

And it's not that some of us are clumsy: according to a survey conducted by the company, Motorola in 2016, 50% of people consulted around the world have broken phone screen at least once in their lifetime.

That is why it is fundamental to choose the type of physical protection that is going to be used for the telephone.

"The mobile back cover is essential for two reasons: it helps to extend the life of an object that we use daily and two, many times avoids falling into costly repairs," Simon Hill, an expert in technology at Zepper.in.

"And between the options of a protector or a screen guard, without hesitation, the protector is the best to avoid cell damage," he added.

For this reason, the accessories sales industry has projected to generate some US $ 107,000 million in 2026, of which a large percentage will be the product of the sale of cell phone protectors.

n BBC World we show you some of the best ways with which you can effectively protect your cell phone.

The screen

Let's start with one of the most fragile areas of a mobile phone: the screen.

Many times we are convinced that the best way to prevent the phone from breaking is by covering it with a plastic casing.

However, the reality says something else: according to an analysis carried out by the company iFixit, the main cause of a broken screen is that the cellphone is hit in one of its corners.

With this clear, there are two ways to protect the screen: with plastic or resin sheets and rigid sheets, which are also known as glass screen guards.

The resin or plastic screen covers are cheaper and also easy to put on the device.

However, Hill pointed out that the material, being thinner than glass, makes it more vulnerable to scratches.

"I'm not a fan of screen covers, but if I had to choose, I would have some liquid applications that do not leave bubbles on the surface," he explained.

The third way would be the glass, which is more resistant, but the cell phone can become heavier and a little larger than its original design.

"Yes, none of the three will save the cell from being damaged if it falls on the pavement," said New York Times technology journalist Bryan Chen.

The protector

Then, the protector or sheath remains as the main element to avoid the damages.

That is why analysts point out that if you have to choose between the screen cover or the protector or cover it is better to lean towards the latter because basically, it covers most of the vulnerable areas.

For example, Apple in its guide to physically protect their products such as phones or tablets says that the case or protector that is used should protect the device from a fall of at least one meter in height.

But maybe we think it's so important: 23% of the users accepted that they continued using the cell phone even though the screen is broken.

"This is because people usually choose design protectors, which are not sufficiently resistant to a fall," Hill said.

"My recommendation is a protector that fits the shape of the cell phone, that covers the entire device and that it is made of a resistant material," he added.

Tips to extend the life of the screen

• Do not carry them in the pockets of jackets for long. These types of pockets are not yet designed to charge cell phones.

• Avoid writing messages when walking or going to the screen.

And in sense, there can be several looks.

"The so-called wallet protectors are the best option in my concept because they cover the cell phone in its entirety, especially the screen when you're not using it," noted the expert.

But there are those who think there are other, safer ways to protect the cell phone, especially with the covers that cover the openings like the power connector or the headphones.

And it is the case of the so-called heavy-duty protectors or military cases.

These protect the equipment not only from violent falls but also from water and dust because they cover the entrances with tabs that can be opened when you need to connect the headphones or the battery.

"They are effective, no doubt because they are tested against several falls, but they are difficult to carry in a pocket or in a wallet, I only recommend them when you are in extreme conditions," Hill concluded.