Review: 1 Week W/OtterBox's Defender Case

Narual

#1 – 7:19 AM August 11, 2009

I have the older, heavier duty iphone case that they discontinued. It makes your iphone about the size of a newton and you can't use it without headphones or bluetooth and can't charge it without removing it from the case, but it's waterproof, sandproof, and pretty much drop proof unless you dropped it screen-first onto a rock.

That said, it's a bitch to use and the only time I've actively used it was when I was vacationing in Puerto Rico and wanted to avoid a repeat of my prior trip where I'd gone swimming with my shiny new bought the day of release original iphone in my pocket. With this case, you KNOW it's in your pocket; and if you do hop in the water, it's waterproof (for a while, anyway)

mudpup

#2 – 7:35 AM August 11, 2009

I use a rather standard case, but I keep zip lock freezer bags handy on my motor cycle and in the car, when the environment for my phone is going to be extra damp or dirty, into the bag goes the phone. The screen works perfect through the baggie.

All my friends just roll their eyes and call me a "cheap bastard"

IC

#3 – 8:31 AM August 11, 2009

I have used the Defender case for around 3 weeks now after experiencing its iPod Touch equivalent save on a face down fall to tile. After experience with the Touch case's screen I had no patience for the included screen protector and pushed it out from the inside, removed the glue with a combination of goo gone and rubbing alcohol (this took far longer than i had hoped) and acquired a zagg shield instead. Since then i have kept the phone pocketed while doing everything from working in a wood shop to packing two 52' containers headed for the NV desert (with plenty of playa dust included). Aside from the crevices in the case picking up some amount of pocket lint (easily removed with a bit of blowing), I have been happy with it. I agree on the screen edges and thickness points but also have little patience for things easily broken.

One thing I find a little sad is that in comparison, the iPod Touch equivalent is comparatively svelte with thinner silicone and less absurd ridges all the way around. Perhaps it would be worthwhile for OtterBox to release a Defender Lite, while ridiculous, I would happily pay the same price again for such a thing.

As a side note, another friend with the iPhone Defender managed to rip the silicone over the silence switch with some heavy handedness, even so the case kept the phone working after a fall into shallow standing water, with awareness of this possibility i have avoided the same tear.

Clif Marsiglio

#4 – 8:50 AM August 11, 2009

I have one of these, and yeah, the batbelt attachment is ANNOYING...but gives the screen a LOT more protection.

I'd been planning on modifying mine to remove the clip so I can keep it in my pocket. The case has already come in handy...went climbing last week, out pretty remote, and brought it along for both the GPS (off-line), being able to grab some vids and the remote possibility of actually using it as a phone in an emergency (I was able to get text messages out!)

I was slammed against the wall on my only real climb of the week, yet the phone in my cargo pants was petty much unscathed.

IMHO, it did what it was supposed to do.

Honestly, I wish they'd get right of the back vanity port and focus solely on the protection, but it is probably alright.

My problems? The case is nearly impossible to take off without tools. I nearly tore one of my few remaining finger nails off trying to open the sucker, and the case is not compatible with my Harmon Kardon unit in my car. Getting the charging adapter (i.e., it doesn't charge the newer iphones) would make it EVEN HARDER to plug in. I pretty much am going to go back to my busted screen old iphone and keep it in my glove compartment. (luckily, the new phone now works PERFECTLY with the USB power in my AC Converter in my car! Just have to use the Apple cables as opposed to the cheapo ones I buy in bulk from DealExtreme!)

BTW -- I don't know of ANY docks that work with this case...

Halloween Jack

#5 – 12:59 PM August 11, 2009

I'm using an iPhone belt case from Luxmo--it's this sort of cowhide-grain-type leather thing that cost a few bucks on Amazon. It's kind of ugly and it smelled vaguely carcinogenic for about a week after I got it, but it's sturdy, gives good protection and the belt clip didn't fall off the way that the (apparently now-discontinued) Griffin belt case did.

Patk12345

#6 – 9:20 PM August 11, 2009

I've had my iPhone in the Otter Box Defender for over six months. I'm a sound engineer, and also due a lot of physical labor, construction etc.
I literally threw my phone across the room by accident. I was pointing to the grocery store down the street and the phone flew out of my hand as I did, it bounced, tumbled, and slid about 20 feet across the floor. Much to my dismay it was perfectly fine, $50 well spent.
This was only the first of multiple falls this iPhone has survived thanks to the Defender.

Regarding the annoyance of having to open a flap for charging, perhaps you missed the part were the flap makes the case water resistant. I have to say opening a flap is a small price to pay for being able to spill a drink or drop the phone in a puddle without blowing $400 for a replacement.

I agree the belt clip is junk. My phone constantly fell out of it in the car, and eventually it snappped in half. I now keep the phone and case in a Nite-ize Sport Case belt holster and I love it. (they reccomend the medium for the iPhone, but to fit the case you'll need the wide) Granted the spinning clip, on this case also broke just like the Otter Box, but after drilling a small hole and popping in a rivet it has been totally reliable and I haven't lost the phone once.
If you do anything remotely physical while carrying this phone you will not be disappointed. There are plenty of other cases that will do the job better, but I figured why take the riskk..

Jason

#7 – 10:55 PM August 11, 2009

I have had this case for a couple months now--I am very happy, though I don't find the belt clip holster very helpful.

Two tips:
1. puff a fine mist of baby powder on the inside of the screen protector before putting it together--this fixes the bubble/oil slick problem. Look on Amazon reviews or search youtube for videos of this technique.
2. Dremeling away a mm or two of the plastic on either side of the charge/dock port allowed easier insertion of the cables, and with the port cover it still gives protection.
3. touching the edges of the screen is rarely a problem for me.