Have you ever wondered why some phone cases fly off the shelves while others are covered with dust? The secret lies in matching the type of chassis with the customer’s requirements. As a leading manufacturer of phone cases, we will take you through the mobile phone cover types today, exploring materials, protection levels, and profit opportunities. Let’s get started!
Why are Different Types of Phone Covers Important
Imagine phone cover types as tools in your inventory: each one solves a unique problem. For instance, American teenagers are eager for shockproof silicone, while German executives prefer elegant leather. By reserving different varieties, you can capture a broader market.
However, if you are a start-up company, you need to understand the characteristics and differences of different types of phone cases, and then choose one or two kinds of phone cases that best meet the needs of your target market.
TPU Phone Case
What are they made of? Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) achieves the perfect balance: softer than PC but harder than silicone. Imagine a material that bends when impacted but quickly returns to its original shape, without permanent deformation.
Advantages of TPU case:
1.High flexibility and impact resistance: TPU material features excellent elasticity and flexibility, effectively dispersing external impact forces and providing your phone with outstanding drop protection.
Compared to hard plastics (such as PC material), TPU is more resistant to bending. Compared with silicone, it is less likely to deform or attract dust.
2. Transparency and Aesthetics: TPU typically features high transparency, perfectly showcasing the original design of the phone. Its surface is smooth or has micro-textures, which can also enhance anti-slip performance and prevent the phone from accidentally slipping.
Note: Ordinary TPU material may turn yellow after long-term use (due to ultraviolet exposure). Please cooperate with suppliers that can provide anti-yellowing TPU phone cases, such as YG.
3. Lightweight and durable: The material is lightweight (averaging 10-30 grams), and it also features wear resistance, tear resistance and oil resistance, making it suitable for sports or outdoor scenarios.
4. Environmental protection and economy :TPU can be recycled and reused. Some products use bio-based raw materials, which is in line with the trend of environmental protection. The price is affordable and the cost performance is high.
TPU case has become the mainstream choice in the market due to its flexibility, transparency, lightness and environmental protection. As a supplier of mobile phone cases in China, YG has a stable material supply chain and can produce high-quality anti-yellowing TPU transparent mobile phone cases. For hospital users, we can also provide customized antibacterial coating functions.
PC Phone Cases
Polycarbonate (PC) is the same polymer used in bulletproof glass. It is both strong and lightweight, with an impact resistance 250 times that of ordinary glass
Advantages of PC phone cases：
1.Anti-drop and shock-resistant: Can withstand drops from a height of 3 to 5 meters (military-grade certified products are even better), especially protecting the screen and corners.
Technological upgrade: By 2025, mainstream brands will adopt honeycomb structure linings or air cushion corner reinforcement, increasing the efficiency of impact force dispersion by 40%.
2. Strong light transmittance: The light transmittance reaches 90% (close to glass), and the surface can be treated with a bright or matte finish, without the risk of yellowing of TPU.
Industry trend: New anti-blue light coating (reducing screen reflection) and oleophobic layer (anti-fingerprint) have been added.
3. Lightweight: PC phone cases are very thin, 20-30% lighter than TPU cases, which can give you the feel of a bare phone
4. Durability: Its resistance to high and low temperatures makes it suitable for extreme environments. Its anti-aging and easy-to-clean features are in line with long-termism.
PC case is very suitable for people who pursue extreme protection + advanced texture, mainly used in the scene of fall prevention and transparent mobile phone cases. However, at present, the new PC+TPU composite shell (frame soft rubber + back hard) has become the mainstream of the market, which can balance protection and disassembly experience at the same time.
Silicone Phone Case
Due to the potential safety hazards caused by ordinary silicone, the EU REACH regulation currently restricts the introduction of ordinary silicone cases. Liquid silicone material has become mainstream. Besides the basic flexibility, liquid silicone rubber (LSR) forms like a liquid, is safe, and has a waterproof function.
Advantages of liquid silicone phone cases:
1. Skin-friendly: The surface of liquid silicone (LSR) is extremely smooth, providing you with a touch feel similar to that of a baby’s skin.
2. Safety: Certified as medical-grade, it can meet food-grade requirements, avoiding the compliance headaches of the EU/US.
3. Strong color performance: With an unparalleled color rendering process, 100% reproduction of Pantone color cards, it is an excellent choice for gradient phone cases.
Liquid silicone phone cases are highly suitable for medical and health scenarios as well as high-end gift scenarios. It should be noted that not all Chinese mobile phone case manufacturers have the production process for liquid silicone mobile phone cases. Unqualified suppliers need to be identified and the corresponding qualification certificates should be provided.
Eco-Friendly Phone Cases
Based on the development of the environmental protection concept, eco-friendly phone cases have gradually evolved from conceptual products to mainstream choices with mature technology. The best-selling items now are:
- Ocean Recycled Plastic (Certified by OceanWorks®)
- Plant-based TPU extracted from corn starch (biodegradable within 5 years)
- Cork/bamboo composite materials with natural antibacterial properties
Although eco-friendly phone cases are currently more expensive, in fact, people are very willing to pay for eco-friendly phone cases. Therefore, you don’t need to worry about sales. What you need to do is find a manufacturer that can provide you with eco-friendly phone cases. YG can. We support the production and development of eco-friendly phone cases.
Leather Phone Cases
Imagine a corporate customer opening an iPhone with a leather phone case – this is an instant boost for the brand. Genuine or eco-PU leather cases offer a touch that complex plastics simply cannot match.
1. Premium texture: The natural texture and luster of leather can effectively enhance the texture of the phone case, making it suitable for business and luxurious styles. Over time, it can leave personalized usage marks.
2. Comfortable hand feel: Leather has a warm and cool touch in winter and summer, and is naturally anti-slip.
3. Environmentally friendly and durable: Genuine leather is biodegradable, protecting the environment. High-quality leather can have its service life extended through maintenance.
Yes, the upfront cost of leather is higher, but considering this: in the luxury goods sector, the profit margin of leather cases is 2.8 times that of silicone cases.
Mixed Material Phone Case
The working principle of the TPU/ plastic combination is as follows: The hard polycarbonate back can resist bending, while the flexible TPU side can absorb impact. So, what was the result? With its slender shape and military-grade drop resistance, it is an ideal choice for “tech lifestyle” travelers.
Metal/wooden boxes are exquisitely designed to serve a niche audience. Aviation-grade aluminum casings (believed to be six times stronger than plastic) have attracted engineers, while bamboo casings have caught the attention of yoga studios seeking natural aesthetics.
A Comparison of Different Types of Phone Covers
| Type | Thickness | Drop Shield | Eco Score | Cost/Unit | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TPU | 1.2-1.8mm | 12-15ft | ★★☆☆☆ | $1.1-1.8 | All-channel hero |
| PC | 0.6-1.0mm | 8-10ft | ★★☆☆☆ | $1.3-2.0 | Branded corporate |
| Silicone | 1.5-2.5mm | 6-8ft | ★★☆☆☆ | $0.7-1.2 | Mass retail/value |
| Eco-TPU | 1.8-2.2mm | 10-12ft | ★★★★★ | $1.8-2.9 | ESG-compliant bids |
| Hybrid | 2.0-3.0mm | 15-20ft | ★★☆☆☆ | $2.5-4.5 | Extreme sports niche |
So, what’s the best type of phone case for protection? For pure durability, hybrids win. But remember: the “best” case depends entirely on who’s buying it.
Conclusion
The “best” phone case doesn’t exist—it’s about matching materials to markets. TPU dominates mass sales with military-grade clarity， PC wins corporate gifting with diamond-hard elegance， while eco-cases unlock ESG tenders through certified sustainability. Your profit multiplies when catalog depth meets localized demand.
YG provides end-to-end support for this strategy:
- 3-day prototyping – Testing TPU/PC hybrid vehicles before competitors launch them
- Compliance Shield – All cases have been pre-certified by REACH and BSCI
