One could also ask the question "how many people would prefer to have a phone that didn't --need-- a case"?

Given the choice between a thin phone that needs a case and a phone that is as thick as a thin phone with a case that is more durable, possibly has a headphone jack and a slightly larger battery, I would personally go for the latter.

If a phone is designed so the screen always breaks when it hits the ground unless it's protected by a case, it would make more sense to manufacture the phone inside a case already, no? I.e. make a raised rubber bezel around the screen's edge part of the standard design.

Oh for sure. But does such a phone exist? The previous design with square sides certainly wasn't that.

They used to be more plentiful before everyone started copying Apple.

When I had an iPhone 3G and iPhone 4, I did not use a case. All I used was a vinyl decal to protect the back, and I was fine.

IIRC, my Moto G and Moto X Play were fine without an add-on case. All I used on those was a tempered glass screen protector.

I try and avoid cases because a non trivial part of the phone price is the industrial design of the object and a case immediately hides that.

Hah. But that non-trivial price is what I have to pay if it breaks!

I agree the look and feel is WAY better without a case, but after breaking multiple screens, it's a case-life for me :(

I usually use the case that comes with the phone until it falls apart, then I don't use any case until the phone itself falls apart. ️

I've never had a phone come with a case? Strange. But these days I just use the 10$ minimal rubber cases. It's enough to protect were the screen and case meet which is the source of all my breaks.

The last few Android phones I bought have all come with a minimal wrap-around case (maybe not the iphone se, don't recall).

I’d never used a case until I got the iPhone 8 and had to buy one because of how slippery it is! Unless you put it on a perfectly flat surface it will just slide off on to the floor.