The Case Against Rubber iPhone Cases: Conspiracy? You Decide.

iPhone power buttons break — a lot. A broken power button was one of the most common problems I encountered when I worked as a tech in an Apple Store.

As I dealt with the problem again and again, a pattern started to emerge. I wasn’t the one who noticed it, either. Exacerbated, one day I said, “Another broken power button!” to another tech.

“Was the phone in a soft rubber case?” he replied.

“Yes,” I said.

“Figures.”

And that’s when I started to take note of the pattern: Almost invariably, every iPhone with a broken power button had been kept in a soft rubber case.

Soft Rubber iPhone Case

It wasn’t just the cheap cases, either. Even the rubber in the most expensive, name-brand cases seemed to slowly break down over time and “wear out” the power button.

It happened to my Mom. It happened to David Lynch, a writer at Payette Forward. And it happened to me, until I stopped using a case on my iPhone.

Now, there are cases situations where a case wasn’t used and the power button still broke, but usually those were the result of damage. And my evidence certainly isn’t scientific. The pattern, however, was too difficult to ignore.

Am I recommending not to use a case on your iPhone? No — especially if you’re accident-prone.

Do I think it’s a conspiracy; that Apple is purposefully working with case manufacturers to design rubber that wears out just slowly enough not to arouse suspicion, but fast enough to cause the power button to fail right when you’re due for an upgrade? No, even though that’s a fun thought to entertain.

Case Manufacturers: Accessories To The Crime?

It should be noted, however, that while Apple has strict guidelines with regard to the design and durability of accessories, they do not say what types of rubber or plastics should or should not be used in those cases.

Do you trust your case manufacturer to use materials that stand the test of time? Everybody thinks a case keeps their iPhone safe. Nobody asks, “Could my case be damaging my iPhone?”

Staring at iPhone Case

Time To Deliberate

Is an iPhone case right for you? That’s your decision. But, given the evidence presented in this article (however shoddy it may be), I encourage you to reflect upon your own experiences in the past. Have you had a broken power button? Was your iPhone in a soft rubber case? I think we both know the answer.

Thanks for reading, all the best, and share this with your friends with rubber iPhone cases,
David

About Author

I'm a former Apple employee and the founder of Payette Forward, and I'm here to help you with your iPhone.

Subscribe
Notify of
15 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
iPad Power Button Stuck Or Not Working? Here's The Real Fix!
4 years ago

[…] A lot of the time, cheap rubber iPad cases can make it feel as though the power button isn’t working. We’ve also noticed an unfortunate trend that some rubber cases can actually cause power buttons to get stuck. […]

iPad Volume Buttons Stuck Or Not Working? Here's The Real Fix! - Payette Forward
4 years ago

[…] Unfortunately, if your iPad volume buttons are stuck, there isn’t much you can do since the problem isn’t software-related. One thing I do recommend doing is taking off your iPad’s case. Often times, cheap cases made of rubber can jam up the iPad volume buttons and power button. […]

My iPhone Power Button Is Stuck! What Should I Do? - Payette Forward
4 years ago

[…] Former Apple technician David Payette informed me of a peculiar trend among iPhones with broken power buttons: Usually, they were inside a case with soft rubber over the power button. […]

iPhone Volume Buttons Not Working? Here's The Real Fix!
4 years ago

[…] if the volume buttons are completely stuck, there’s not much you can do. A lot of the time, cheap rubber cases can jam the buttons on your iPhone. Try taking the case off of your iPhone and pressing the volume buttons […]

Anonymous
6 years ago

I use my iPhone 6 without case depending on where I’m goin bcuz I looove the look and feel it I’m reconsidering after reading

Anonymous
6 years ago

What sort of case, if any, would you recommend David?

Anonymous
6 years ago

A suggestion, press the power button softer. I’ve had enough things happen to my Otter Box to be very worried about the consequences of not using a case. It is also easier to hold. There is more “grip” to the case. It’s easy for the iPhone to slip out of my hand.

Anonymous
6 years ago

Which cases are or are not “soft rubber”? Which cases offer protection without the possible compromise of the power button?

Anonymous
6 years ago

I have used otter boxes for many years and never had a problem but instead many saves!

Anonymous
6 years ago

The one thing I learned is that David Payette is usually right. I took my Otter Box off my iPhone. I will just have to be more careful. Thanks David Payette. Keep up the good work.

Anonymous
6 years ago

I would be replacing my phone often because of damage if I didn’t have an Otter Box. I can live without a power button.