I didn't use a case on my older Galaxy phones. They were durable and easy to grip. But the Galaxy S9 is more difficult to grip, and I felt that I might drop it easier. This case is nice in that it has a hard back, but soft edges. The clear back panel lets the S9's color show through, and the soft edge makes it feel secure in my hand.Since I was taking my phone on a cruise ship, I installed the included wrist strap. It added more confidence against losing the phone when taking pictures over the sSee full review