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OtterBox iPhone 3G/3GS Defender Case
Writer/Reviewer Tommy Tu
Photographer Alex Russel
Design
Features
Functionality
The kind folks at OtterBox decided to send one of their iPhone 3G/3GS Defender cases for us to review. If you’re not familiar, Otterbox specializes in creating functional protective cases for mobile devices. Ok, so you’re thinking “Big deal, it’s just another iPhone case, what’s so special about it?” but you’d be wrong. The OtterBox seems to be the shining jewel in the endless sea of generic iPhone cases. I should really reword that. The OtterBox Defender is by no means a “generic” case. It’s clear that the designers put a lot of thought into the product and covers all the bases including aesthetics and functionality.
My first impression was that this is a genuinely nice looking case. The OtterBox Defender solution is comprised of three layers; a clear layer covering the screen, a polycarbonate skeleton and a black silicone skin that surrounds the complete case. Despite making the phone longer, wider and thicker, the OtterBox Defender is still able to compliment the great looks of the iPhone.
The black silicone skin is molded to the shape of the polycarbonate inner skeleton giving it a complete look that is form-fitting and hides the presence of an inner casing creating the illusion that the case is all one piece. The only exposed sections are a cut-out for the light sensor, proximity sensor, camera lens and two holes for the speakers. Oh, and the designers were thoughtful enough to leave us a circular window displaying the silver Apple logo on the back just in case we forgot what phone was actually inside.
The OtterBox Defender felt nice in my hand and gives the iPhone a hefty yet comfortable weight to it. Surprisingly, the phone felt more stable in my hand. I always struggled with the fear of dropping my iPhone since it felt slippery but the silicone skin quickly assured me that I won’t be able to do that with its rubber-like grip. An interesting feature to note is that the silicone skin has a matte finish that eliminates the grossly annoying fingerprint problem of the shiny iPhone. No more incessant polishing of your iPhone…
[from left] iPhone 3GS, polycarbonate skeleton, silicone skin, holster
Top view
Back view
Bottom view
Two words: it works. As a matter of fact, sometimes I think that the buttons on my iPhone actually works better with the OtterBox Defender. The sleep/wake, volume and home buttons all have better tactile feel than before perhaps due to the silicone skin. The designers of the OtterBox obviously had functionality in mind since they incorporated many features including covers for the headphone jack, ring/silent switch and the 30-pin dock connector on the bottom of the phone.
All three protective layers of the OtterBox Defender proved their worth. The clear layer covering the screen has no noticeable effect on the function of the iPhone’s capacitive touch screen and was also able to resist scratches when I had the phone in my pocket with my car keys. The polycarbonate skeleton protected my phone from my various accidents whereby I dropped the phone due to simple carelessness. Believe it or not, I actually dropped it onto hard pavement and kicked it mid-bounce and the phone is still undamaged. The silicone outer layer provided extra needed grip and enhanced my iPhone web-browsing experience. The phone was more comfortable to hold in portrait Safari mode due to the new size (I surf a lot).
The only thing that I disliked was that the ring/silent switch was harder to access and that I can no longer use my iPhone docking station both due to the fact it was now recessed due to the inner polycarbonate skeleton.
I’m not ashamed to admit that I purchased the iPhone purely because of its sleek clean look (and because of Apple’s phenomenally talented marketing team). Can you blame me? I wanted to be part of the “cool” crowd too but in the end I’m still a self-proclaimed Blackberry addict. It’s undeniable that one of the iPhone’s main strengths is that it’s a nice looking device; plain and simple. Any prospective owner of the OtterBox should be prepared to wave goodbye to those traditional good looks since the phone no longer retains any semblance of an iPhone. That is not to say that the case is ugly, far from it. The OtterBox Defender is built for a true road warrior (either that or for really clumsy or “klutzy” users like OtterBox states on their site).
It’s like a comparison of the James Bonds. Either you like the classic Sean Connery of iPhone cases (smooth, clean, the classic iPhone look) or you like the Daniel Craig version (rugged looks, all business, OtterBox version). This case is built like a tank and can withstand slips, trips, falls, scratches and minor splashing. Bottom line, the OtterBox Defender is a happy medium between good looks and functionality and just might give the iPhone some solid footing in a real world as a road warrior’s phone. Perhaps iPhone owners can now dare to stop worrying about scratching their precious phones and use them as they were designed to be used since it’s now incased in a polycarbonate skeleton, covered by a clear membrane and wrapped in a silicone skin…
Manufacturer Specifications:
Compatibility/Features:
8GB and 16GB iPhone 3G AND 16GB and 32GB iPhone 3GS ONLY. This case does NOT work with the first generation iPhone OR the iPod touch.
Weight (case only): 1.9 oz.
Dimensions: 4.87" x 2.77" x .8"
MSRP $49.95 USD
