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OtterBox for iPhone Defender Series
 
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Anthony Fiti
Beth
Otterbox
Jan. 18, 2008
Introduction

Next up in our series of iPhone case reviews is the OtterBox for iPhone Defender Series. OtterBox is well-known for offering extremely rugged, often waterproof cases for everything from laptops to smart phones, PDAs and iPods.

The Defender Series is touted as having bump, drop, and dust protection, and, while not waterproof, will provide protection against rain and other precipitation. Otterbox also has an Armor series for the iPhone, which is even more rugged: completely waterproof, dust-proof, and drop-proof.

The MSRP for the Defender case is $50, with the Armor series coming in at $70. The average iPhone case costs around $25-35. Will the substantial difference in price be worth the extra protection that the Defender offers?

First Looks

The OtterBox case comes in two separate parts, the first a tough plastic shell that you put the phone into. Once the phone is in that durable case, a silicone cover slips over the plastic to provide a softer surface, both for grip and to absorb shock.

It also comes with a good holster that clips on a person's belt, which I will discuss later.


 
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Page 1: Introduction & First Looks
Page 2: Testing
Page 3: Conclusion
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4 User Comments
1 - Posted by DrBob on May 27, 2009 - 8:20 am

I am on my 2nd iPhone 3G Otter Box Defender Case. I like the protection the case provides for the phone. However, if you plan to use the holster to carry the protected iPhone, you will need the extra protection because the the holster does not hold the phone securely. I have had it pop out while going down stairs, jogging across a parking lot and other places where one might have to move quickly. I was at a convention trade show and had to jog over to catch a friend and w/o my knowing the phone popped out of the holster and landed slightly under a table drape. It was a moment or so before i noticed it was gone. Upon retracing my path, i only found it because it was ringing. Other negative points include the fact that there is a moisture or ?? some type of touching between the screen protector and the screen which leaves a blob-looking bubble under it.......not pretty, I have had friends complain about feedback on their phone when talking to me on mine and it does cut down the audio abilities of the phone. It is too bulky to comfortably carry in a pocket, in my opinion.

On the plus side, as I mentioned, it has fallen out of the holster numerous times landing on concrete, carpet, tile, etc. and it does not seem to have been damaged.

I think otter box needs to work on the holster. The clip comes off ones belt very easily when you sit down, the phone pops out of the holster when one jogs or runs with it attached.

2 - Posted by monkey on August 17, 2009 - 11:12 pm

I was super-paranoid about the my iphone 3g so bought the otterbox defender case. We brought the phone on a recent technical diving trip so that we could use it to calculate our decompression obligations using the vplanner app. The phone was encased in the defender case and also stuck in a dry-bag on the boat. Unfortunately, the dry bag leaked a little, and the moister actually wicked into the otterbox case via the seam in the charge port cover and destroyed the phone. The phone was never submerged. In this case, the case did a great job at holding the water inside, but not keeping it out. 199$ later, I am looking for better alternatives.

3 - Posted by Kurtis on August 19, 2009 - 2:50 pm

The otterbox case for iPhone isn't advertised as being waterproof, for what it's worth. You can throw it against a brick wall and it'll be alright, though. :)

4 - Posted by patula on October 9, 2009 - 2:58 pm

The otter box does NOT come off once it's put on. I just went to clean up my iPhone, and I tried in vain for 10 mins to get it off. Broke three nails and used up three paper clips trying to pry it off. Bad design. Also, I am on the phone a lot for work, and the outside of the Otterbox hurts my ears. After conversations, my ears smart for some time after. Again, bad design. Yes, it "defends" your phone, but at what price?

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