Review: OtterBox Defender Series for iPhone
Many iPhone cases on the market offer fairly simple protection that serve more for an iPhone owner’s peace of mind than offering extreme protection. The OtterBox Defender Series for iPhone ($49.95), however, is one of the few cases that carefully map and design their product to ensure superb protection.
How does the Otterbox perform? Is it as secure and successful as the case suggests? Or is it just another case in the iPhone pipeline? Could it all be just a gimmick?
Read on for the rest of the review!
Design
From a quick glance, the Otterbox Defender doesn’t look much different than any other case. Upon closer inspection however, you begin to notice the well-thought design and construction. Though it adds a considerable amount of thickness to the iPhone, it feels great and solid in hand.
The Otterbox Defender comes in four separate pieces: a front and back hard shell, a silicone sleeve, and a belt clip. The Otterbox Defender includes a protective plastic cover for the screen and an exposed plastic to show the Apple logo—I mean you still have to know it’s an iPhone right?
The camera is also protected by a thin sheet of plastic and the headphone jack and docking port are protected via rubber caps. The speakers and microphone have a very thin sheet of protection on it. The volume, lock, and home controls are also protected by rubber buttons with the silent/ringer switch is completely inaccessible.
Overall, the design of the Otterbox Defender is extremely sturdy and solid. The choice to use a combination of a plastic hard shell with a silicone rubber skin is great because it combines the protection of a hard shell with the overall feel of rubber.
Usability
With such an intricate design for a case, it is obviously going to take time to apply and remove the Otterbox Defender to the iPhone. There are a lot of clips that need to be snapped together and rubber that needs to fit in specific holes, but after you get through that process, make no doubt about it, your iPhone feels as protected as can be. The silicone rubber skin is of great quality and feels great in hand.
All the buttons—volume, lock, home—are equally as responsive with the rubber covering them. Amazingly, the plastic screen that protects the actual iPhone touch screen does not inhibit the sensitivity. I was very impressed by how responsive the iPhone’s touch screen was under that layer of plastic. The only problem with the plastic screen is that if pressed with any amount of force, it would occasionally create unsightly air bubbles. There didn’t seem to be anyway around it.
The included belt clip is made from the same tough plastic as the hard shell and it locks the iPhone into it quite well. In fact, I often times had trouble pulling the iPhone out of the clip—the fit was that secure. The belt clip is able to rotate 360 degrees and the iPhone can be placed either be open faced or face backwards. My problem with the belt clip is that the home button is not easily accessible and it is too tough to remove for easy access.
I have very few complaints about the Otterbox Defender for iPhone because it offers as close to complete protection and coverage of every part of the iPhone. Plus, it gives off a secure and solid look and also feels wonderful. If you’re looking for protection or live an outdoor lifestyle, this case is truly one of the best available and the price can easily be rationalized to be ‘worth it’.
Final Thoughts
I’m very impressed with the Otterbox Defender for the iPhone because of its thoughtful design and excellent execution. I loved the feel of the case because it not only felt sturdy and solid but it also added grip to an obviously slick iPhone. It definitely feels like OtterBox didn’t cut any corners with this case.
Unfortunately, it does come with a fairly high price. But compared with other cases priced near the Defender, the Defender offers an infinite amount more protection. Though it does add considerable amount of thickness, if you’re looking for a case that protects your iPhone from the elements—thickness should be expected.
Also, it cannot be fully submerged under water, a definite shortcoming considering its target market. However, with all things considered, the Otterbox Defender for iPhone is great implementation of protection without compromise. Almost all the iPhone’s features are present with an unparalleled level of protection. I would consider this a buy for anyone who’s lifestyle is rugged, planning an outdoor trip, or is looking for the ultimate protection for their iPhone.
PROS
- Protects Your iPhone in Every Imaginable Way
- Feels Great in Hand
- All Buttons, Most Features Easily Accessible
- Solid Build Quality
CONS
- Adds Considerable Thickness
- Occasionally Leaves Air Bubbles Behind Plastic Screen Cover
- Pricey
- Belt Clip is a Tight Fit and Gives No Access to Home Button
FINAL RATING: 4.7/5
September 17th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
hideous.
September 17th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
I have just fond this page, looks good I like that there is a lot of info coming daily.
BUT – I stumble on 3 reviews and all of them they got 4.5, 4.7 or 5/5. Our you getting money for saying that or is all cases that good? Maybe I have missed something, but I do not trust your rating.
September 17th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
I have used this on my gen 1 iphone and love it, cant count the number of times it has saved my phone. the new one for 3g iphone even lets you access the silent switch… the one down fall to the 1st gen case. WELL WORTH THE 50 Bucks when you add in the free lifetime replacement warranty!
September 17th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
I’ve owned mine for about four months now, and it definitely lives up to expectations. While it does make the phone larger (mainly in depth), it’s worth the tradeoff if you’ve ever dropped your phone or left it on top of your car as you’ve driven off. I’m still not sure why the silence switch was not given access, and I always have air bubbles, but the touch screen cover is amazingly still responsive. I would highly recommend it even with the price as it will save you from having to buy another phone.
September 17th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
yea.nice case, but thats not a 3g IPHONE in that case
September 18th, 2008 at 11:54 pm
I recently purchased the 3g and use an otterbox defender for it. My pros would be the great protection and it feels good in hand. Also if you lay the phone face down it dosen’t rest directly on the screen due to the frame of the case. The cons for me would be that the phone seems to attract lots of lint and fuzz. I always have that oil stain air bubble thing going on the screen. The clip is nice but you can’t get the phone out one handed and it you put it in screen out its to loose. The last thing is sometimes its hard to access the far ends of the keyboard due to the frame of the case.
December 21st, 2008 at 9:03 pm
I work in construction industry. I recently purchased iphone 3g and of course the case search was on . . . to save others alot of work, this works great for me . . . the OtterBox Defender Case inside of a “Nitize Sport Case Tone – size wide” Case. Also the Otterbox Defender screen membrane is prone to show a waterlike mark under the screen membrane – the cure for that is go to the apple store and buy a “Seek Mobility anti-glare film set” and put it on the iphone 3g screen and the problem is gone . . . the iphone is now decently protected from just about everything that I expose it to!
December 25th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
I bought this along with my iPhone 3G, and although it adds a bit of bulk-after dropping 300 on the phone, this is a worthwhile investment for peace of mind. I also bought the otterbox armband for the defender, and i love that also-my only complaints for both of these items: I am not able to dock my iPhone into any dockable accessories (like the JBL stereo) without taking out the iPhone itself. As for the armband, my arms are a little bigger then was intended for the armband, a little larger would make for a more comfortable fit.
March 13th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
I would highly recommend the case, however I just had to replace my second belt clip. After sharing my concern that OtterBox should spend as much time to design the belt clip, which easily breaks, as they do the protective case, I was told that they are redesigning the belt clip. So in 3 months when this replacement breaks I will be buying a better replacement.
April 1st, 2009 at 7:49 am
I love the case it protects the I phone very well just has an Eco on every call replaced the phone and sim still same problem removed case and now I don’t have a problem
April 3rd, 2009 at 12:55 pm
I have recently purchased the defender case for my Palm Centro and I really like the case itself but it seems to have some sort of feed back problem. Anyone I talk to has an echo on there end when the case is on and when I take it off it dosen’t echo. Anyone else experiencing this?
June 8th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
The only thing I did not like about this case the clear screen skin that is made onto it. It will scratch easily so I modified my case. I removed the clear skin and applied an Invisi-Shield to the face of my iPhone. The Invisi-Shield does not scratch. You would have to cut into it with something sharp to mark it. Anway the case snapped onto it just fine and the edge of the front piece that frames your screen, press down onto the Invisi-Shield creating a seal.
I love this case so much I have two pink ones on the way for my wife and little girl. Theirs will receive the same modification.
Another note.. I tried using this case with the full body Invisi-Shield, which would have been ideal for me, but its just a hair shy of letting the top clip of case engage.
Even though I had to modify this to get the result I wanted, I still give it a 5 out of 5.
June 23rd, 2009 at 7:55 am
The OtterBox protects very well, but is a bit bulky. The big issue is the belt clip. The phone does not always easily slip into the belt clip and properly lock in place. this causes the phone to fall out easily and often and even when locked in, it falls out often, getting in and out of the car. I actually lost my phone last night, but a nice person found it and got it back to me. I didn’t even know the phone slipped out of the clip! For a carry feature, this is no good. I rate it 1 star. For protection, 4 stars.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Just installed two cases on my wife and my 3G S’s.
Had a terrible ECHO problem; people on the other end heard their voice echo in their ear non-iPhone telephone. Solution was to remove the little foam/mesh disks from the two mic/spkr ports at the bottom of the Otterbox shell and from the earpiece port on top. Cleared up nicely. No Dremel tool surgery required like I feared.
On ugly – carry one of these delicate glass-fronted $400 gizmos around for two weeks afraid of having to replace it and then put it inside one of these flak jackets. You’ll breathe easier. It’s still thinner than the flip phone I used to carry and the silicone skin anchors it in my pocket a bit without making it hard to get out. Every button and screen function works fine and the charge/sync plug connects same as it did pre-case. The only thing a little hard to get to is the ring/silent switch, but still accessible. I’ll gladly pay that little price. And hey – I like the slightly MilSpec look of it too; especially my black/yellow version.
July 24th, 2009 at 9:33 am
I have the 3GS with Defender case, as well, and I am having problems with the holster not holding the phone in. I have dropped it a few times now, and although there is no physical damage to the phone, the phone falling out is not a confidence builder in this clip. $50 for a case that the phone will fall out of is unacceptable. Otterbox needs to address this, and offer free replacement to the new design, should the buyer need this.
August 5th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
Hey I love it just early upgraded from 3G to 3Gs 32G so I had to shell out close to $600 and I am outside all the time,so will gladly take a little ugly over $600 down the toilet.I work on the beach and this case is an absolute must have.
August 18th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
Anybody that is having the oil slick or air bubble issue with the Otterbox on there Iphone just go to the Apple store buy the anti glare film set they will install it there free and there you go. You will never have that problem again.. I have had it on 2 Iphones in Otterboxs.. Works like a charm and the screen looks crystal clear. Dont use stupid baby powder or other ****.. Otterbox is a great case for anyone that does not baby there phone and uses it for work.
September 9th, 2009 at 7:15 am
Very good case… -Pros great if you know you drop it…
-Con falls when you do not know it and you did not hear it fall…
September 21st, 2009 at 8:31 pm
Echo is caused by 3g network
November 9th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
It stays in the clip great if you make sure the home button is down and the screen is facing in