Of all the case options available for the iPhone 3G, most of them strike me as somewhat lacking. Sure, many are stylish, and made out of interesting new materials. Some come with dock adapters, others enhance the camera feature. But what they almost always lack is any sense of TRUE protection. If you drop your iPhone on the beach, or on dry dirt or soil, most cases will fall short of protecting your iPhone – Sand will get in the case, the screen will get scratched, etc. Among these cases, one product stands supreme (OK, maybe more than one, but this is the one I’m reviewing, OK?) in it’s ability to protect your iPhone from you, the user, and your hardcore lifestyle. Introducing: the OtterBox Defender.
First Glance
Straight out of the box, the Defender looks tough – it definitely seems like something that should do an excellent job of protecting my iPhone. – it appears as if it will seal well without adding too much bulk (although it’s not a thin case by any means). I most appreciate the addition of a dedicated screen protector – something which most cases lack.
The Good
The things we really liked about the Defender case are the fact that it’s well-sealed, in addition to the fact that it’s such a very durable case. We also liked the fact that it included a swivel holster, but did not attach it to the case in an irremovable manner as many case manufacturers do. This gives us the ability to slip the device in a pocket if we don’t want to walk around with a holster at our hip.
The Bad
A few things we weren’t wild about were the fact that the case is quite bulky – we have seen similarly protective cases that don’t manage to be so large. We think there could be some improvement here (although we do not that the phone is very, very well protected.). The second thing we didn’t like was the silicon material they wrapped the case in. It feels weird, and grabs the fabric in your pocket.
Conclusion
We really enjoyed the Defender case. It’s a very well-built and durable case, and certainly offers the greatest level of protection I have ever seen in a case (so long as you are willing to put up with the bulk.) We find the case to be both stylish and effective, and for that, we give it a 4 out of 5. For more information or to purchase the Defender (Cost is $49.95), visit them on the web.
This case is amazing. I’ve actually seen people throw their iPhones with this case and the phone will come back with nothing wrong, although they could find a better case material that doesn’t add the extra bulk.
Yes, that’s true – I’d also be thrilled for a removable screen cover, so if you should happen to scratch it, you’re not completely screwed.
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the belt clip is cheesy, when you move around it drops the phone, when exit the car does the same, only has to little dots on the side to hold the phone and the two bottom prongs are not long enough to hold it in place , but the box is awesome