When you're spending top dollar on a great new smartphone then it makes sense to invest a few more dollars in a protective case to guard against the rough and tumble of life on the road.
The trade-off with the sleek and slender styling of today's smartphones is that they tend to be slippery suckers. A slimline protective case helps you keep a grip on your phone, plus it reduces the likelihood of cracking the screen if it takes a tumble.

These two cases from Tech21 and Otterbox sport a very similar minimalist "bumper" design, keeping your phone safe without being too cumbersome or intrusive. They offer access to all the buttons and connectors – we tested iPhone XR models but these cases are available for a range of smartphones.

They come in a wide range of designs and colours, including clear, to suit your personal style.
Neither case comes with a protective film for the screen, these can be purchased separately, but both cases feature raised edges to reducing scratching by ensuring the screen and camera lens don't touch the tabletop when you put your phone down.

VERDICT
The two cases are so similar that it's hard to justify spending extra on the Otterbox Symmetry unless you're after a particular colour or design that you can't get from Tech21. The Tech21 also feels a bit more grippy in your hand, which is reassuring.

TECH21 PURE