Cases are bought on a picture and judged six weeks later. These four questions predict the second part.

Construction follows the actual risk

If phones land on concrete, you want a dual-layer case: a soft inner that absorbs and a rigid outer that spreads. Ask for the drop height and the test surface in writing, because plywood and concrete are not the same test.

If the real risk is pocket scratches, a slim polycarbonate case is plenty and much nicer to carry. Buying a rugged case for a scratch problem is the most common overspend in this category.

Bezels are the cheapest protection there is

A lip standing proud of the screen is what keeps the glass off a table when the phone lands face down. A lip standing proud of the camera ring is what keeps the lens off the same table.

A flush camera is the single most common false economy in case moulding. Look at any case from the side before you buy a thousand of them.

Charging is a specification, not an assumption

Ask whether the case charges wirelessly and, if it has magnets, where the array sits. An array positioned to the centre of the case rather than to the charging coil will hold the phone confidently in a position that does not charge.

On folios, a card sitting over the coil will block charging and can warm the card. Slots should be positioned clear of it.

The model list is what kills case programmes

A branded case ordered for one handset generation is obsolete the month the next one lands, and most programmes quietly die there.

Ask whether the supplier keeps your artwork on file and reprints to new models as they are tooled. It turns a one-off order into a line item that renews itself.

What to send when you ask for a quote

Model list, construction, quantities and artwork — plus whether the cases will live on desks, in pockets or on vehicle mounts. That is enough for a real quote and a mockup the same day.

Camera cut-outs move between models, so artwork usually needs repositioning rather than just rescaling. We do that free.