The 4 Best Construction Smartphone Cases

Update 7/21/2016: This piece has been updated to reflect smartphone updates and to include four new construction smartphone cases, bringing the total to six fantastic, rugged cases.

If you haven’t seen this video already, watch it with care. It may bring back memories of broken phone screens, phones that won’t work because of dust exposure, or phones that have been dropped from heights too high to survive.

For construction workers, damaged smartphones tend to, unfortunately, be part of the job. With the host of mobile construction management software and construction mobile apps, construction managers and their workers regularly need to have their phone on site and need to protect it from damage.

If ruggedized smartphones aren’t your thing, there is, fortunately, an alternative. Construction smartphone cases have made it possible for you to bring your smartphone to the site while also allowing you to pick which phone you personally want to own.

We’ve gone through the available construction smartphone cases and pulled the highest reviewed, most durable, and most affordable options out there. These are listed alphabetically, because it’s tough to rank which is “better” as needs are different for each field of construction.

1. Ballistic Hard Core Tactical

If you want a case that survives just about anything, go for the Hard Core Tactical. With 106 reviews on Amazon, amounting to a 4.5/5 rating and 60% of users giving a full five stars, this well-loved case is great for anyone on the job.

Phone: iPhone 5, 6, 6 Plus

Pros:

• 12 feet of certified drop protection on concrete
• An IP-54 protection (meaning that the phone protects against debris, dirt, dust, and water)
• A 200-lb pull strength, “assembled with aircraft-grade aluminum”
• Integrated screen protection
• Well-aligned button placement
• Limited Lifetime Warranty

Cons:

• Difficult to disassemble; not recommended for people who will be taking their phones out of their cases regularly
• Consumers have complained that the waist-clip breaks too easily

Price: $45.99

2. Case Mate Pop! Cases

If you don’t need quite as much protection, the Pop! cases from Case Mate are a great alternative. Reviewers love the product across all the phones that it covers. This case is recommended for those in the construction industry who do not spend a lot of time on site, and instead want a cover for the occasional fall or fleck of dust.

Phone: Samsung Galaxy Note 4, Samsung Galaxy S6, Samsung Galaxy S7, Samsung Galaxy S5, iPhone 5, iPhone 5s, iPhone 6 Plus

Pros:

• Chic, slim cover
• Fits three cards, like ID and credit cards
• Hard shell and soft interior
• Built-in stand to view your phone in landscape
• Easy to grip
• Relatively inexpensive
• Easy to slip your phone in and out of

Cons:

• No IP-level protection, so no guarantee against common construction-site hazards. Best for those not regularly out in the field.
• Some have complained that it does not fit their Galaxy S5 well
• Bottom of the case blocks speakers and microphone on the iPhone 5

Price: $35 on the Case Mate site (but you can find it for under $10 on Amazon)

3. iThrough Waterproof case

The iThrough series of waterproof cases provide protection in up to  20’6” of water. The case boasts 4+ stars on Amazon for all its versions, covering many different cell phones. It also allows users to take photos while under water.

Phone: iPhone 6/6S, iPhone 6/6S Plus, iPhone 5/5S/SE, 5C iPhone 5C, iPhone 4/4S, Samsung Galaxy S7, Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, Samsung Galaxy S6, Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge, Samsung Galaxy S5, Samsung Galaxy S4, Samsung Galaxy Note 4, LG G3

Pros:

• Allows touchscreen access underwater.
• Comes with a neck strap for easy carrying
• Can survive a laundry cycle
• Thinner than other options on this list
• Finger reader still works underwater

Cons:

• Not fall resistant
• Fully closed case, so side buttons are inaccessible
• Some iPhone 6S users have complained that the case isn’t a perfect fit

Price: Starts at $8.99; varies by phone

4. Lifeproof frē

It takes quite a bit to impress Wired, but Billy Brown was floored when he came across the iPhone 5 version of the frē. He wrote, “LifeProof’s case has the lowest profile of the three iPhone cases we tested… and also has the highest waterproof rating.” He gave it a 9/10, whereas the other cases didn’t reach above a seven.

That’s saying something.

Other reviewers have been talking as well. Lifeproof won the CTIA 2013 Best of Show award for their iPhone 5 case, frē for iPad mini, and Overall Product Line. And Gadgetmac has boldly claimed, “It is, [sic] the ultimate protective iPhone case without a doubt.”

Phone: iPhone 4/4s, iPhone 5/5s, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 5c, iPad Air, Samsung Galaxy S4, Samsung Galaxy S5, Samsung Galaxy S6, Samsung Galaxy S7, Motorola Droid Turbo

Pros:

• A phenomenal case for iPhones. If you look at the reviewer praise for Lifeproof, most of it comes from their cases for Apple products.
• Military Standard 810G-516.6 and IP-68 approved and can be submerged in water for a whole hour at a depth of two meters. That’s a fancy way of saying the phone is completely waterproof, dirt proof, snow proof, and shock proof.
• Easy access to fingerprint scanners
• Slim design; fits easily into pockets
• Lasts for a long time, regardless of the phone
• One-year warranty

Cons:

• Does not review nearly as well for non-Apple products. There are complaints about poor grip, difficult to push buttons on the S6, and covers speakers and speakerphones on the Droid Turbo.
• Requires an extension cable for headphones
• Some users have complained that the frē is not well-aligned with the speaker on the iPhone 6

Price: Varies by phone

5. Otterbox Defender Series

It’s hard to look for construction smartphone cases without hearing about the Otterbox Defender series. Otterbox has been making rugged cases since 1998, and is regarded as so rugged that people have tested its durability with chainsaws and by dropping it from the rooftops of malls.

While it isn’t IP-certified, this smartphone case can handle just about anything on a construction site—maybe even better than a person.

Phone: Almost everything; iPad Air 2, iPod Touch 5th Generation, iPad 2/3/4, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5/5s, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, Blackberry Classic, HTC One M9, LG G3, LG G Flex2, LG G4, Motorola DROID Maxx, Samsung Galaxy Note 3, Samsung Galaxy Note 8, Samsung  Galaxy Note Pro 12.2, Samsung  Galaxy Tab Pro 12.2, Samsung  Galaxy S4 Mini, Samsung Tab 4 10.1, Samsung Galaxy S4, Samsung Galaxy S5, Samsung Galaxy S6, Samsung Galaxy S7, Galaxy Tab A

Pros:

• Basically indestructible. Drop, dust, screen, and scratch protection
• Built with a two-piece polycarbonate shell and a rubber slipcover to defend against shocks
• Belt holster
• One-year warranty
• Wireless charging works through the Defender case
• Well-fitted to phones

Cons:

 

• The screen protector can produce a glare
• iPhone users have complained that the screen protector make it difficult for the phone to detect touch
• Color wears off easily
• If you’re using a fingerprint scanner, the screen protector will make it difficult to use.
• HTC One and Blackberry users have complained that the belt clip is not secure

Price: Varies by phone

6. WEKSI Shockproof Case

If you own a Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 Edge, the WEKSI is likely your best bet for a ruggedized smartphone case. This critically acclaimed case offers IP-68 protection from water, shock, dust, dirt, snow, scratches, heavy drops, and even grease. While the advertising might seem more geared to someone planning a trip to Maui, this phone is a solid investment for any construction worker (and yes, there are more color options than lime green!).

Phone: Samsung Galaxy S7, Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge

Pros:

• Maintains touch sensitivity
• Nice, tight fit
• Side buttons are still responsive on the sides of the case
• Affordable
• Very light (4oz)

Cons:

• Some users have complained that the case’s front covering can be sticky, attracting dust and dirt
• Muffles phone speakers
• No ports for charging or ear phones

More?

I’m sure that there are a number of construction smartphone cases that could be added to this list. What do you use? Are you satisfied with it? Have you ever tried any of these products? What are your thoughts?

I look forward to your comments below!

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