From Dirty Toilets to Dumpster Dives: New Research Reveals the Extreme Lengths People Will Go to Save Their Phones

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., Aug. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Would you crawl under a bus in the rain, fish your phone out of a dirty festival toilet, or even miss an international flight? According to new research from D3O®, the global leader in impact protection, millions of people already would.

The survey of consumers across the U.S. and U.K. shows the staggering—and sometimes shocking—lengths people go to protect their devices:

• 59% would dive into a pool fully clothed at a wedding
• 56% would climb into a dumpster
• 54% would retrieve their phone from a festival toilet
• 51% would miss an international flight
• One in five would risk climbing onto subway or tube tracks

It's not just about inconvenience. Smartphones are now our lifelines—and people admit their loss is devastating:

• 25% say breaking or losing their phone would be more upsetting than crashing their car or losing their child in a supermarket
• Nearly a third have cried when their phone broke
• 38% would rather lose their wallet than their phone
• 74% say a broken phone would leave them anxious and frustrated

With over 60% admitting they drop their phone at least ten times a year and nearly half having dropped it in a toilet, the risks are real—and the emotional fallout undeniable.

"Your phone isn't just technology, it's your connection to friends, family, work, entertainment, memories, and your whole life," said Stuart Sawyer, CEO at D3O. "Our research shows people will go to astonishing lengths to rescue their devices—but the right protection means you shouldn't have to."

The study found 62% of users now have a phone case and screen protector, yet 12% still use no protection at all. And not all cases are created equal. Many are chosen for looks or price rather than performance.

That's where D3O-protected cases stand apart. Offering up to six times more protection than generic plastic cases, D3O technology powers protective solutions for leading brands including Hama, SBS, AXS, EFM, and dbramante1928—giving people the confidence to take their phones everywhere, without risking life, limb, or dignity to save them.

Media Contact:
Serena Thynne
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917-853-3121

SOURCE D3O