You splash out hundreds of dollars on a new smartphone or tablet, so why not to spend just a little more in order to ensure it doesn’t get scratched or broken? Our electronic friends serve us faithfully — that is, until we drop them in the toilet, leave them at the mercy of inquisitive toddlers, or allow them to slip from our grasp and tumble down the stairs.

Smartphones are getting tougher all the time, and there are quite a few waterproof smartphones now, but the vast majority will not survive an accident unscathed. If you want to find out what might happen should your phone meet with disaster, you can check out the numerous damage tests posted online. Now that you’re convinced that you need a case or cover for your device, let’s discuss how to pick one.

You will rarely find the best price for a case on the case manufacturer’s website, the device manufacturer’s website, or a career website. The Recommended Retail Prices (RRP) are frequently discounted. When you identify the case you want, do a comparison search and shop around.

Read reviews of the cases you are interested in. Even if you can’t find a review for your specific phone model, other reviews for the same manufacturer will give you a general sense of the quality. You can also find people discussing cases and posting photos of them in various forums around the web.

It’s also important to confirm that the case has precise cut-outs. Sometimes cases are rushed out the door and they miss a port, button covers are stiff, or there are problems with camera flash reflections. If something like wireless charging is important to you, or you want to be able to dock your smartphone with the case on, then check with the manufacturer before you buy.