Otter Box Defender Series

[Shack]

It is a fact today that almost everyone, that is breathing free air, owns a cell phone. Becoming more common is "Smart"phones. Becoming more & even more common is the touchscreen smartphones. These phones have the functionality of a laptop, but in a 2.5" x 4" frame. If you purchase a smartphone at full retail prices or even at lesser contract upgrade prices, their functionality is not the only comparison to a laptop. Price! They are not cheap. Smartphones are built and being built more durable than ever before, but IMO the durability rating of current smartphones is not much more than I would give laptops when it comes to using them in the outdoors.

For today’s outdoor sportsmen, familiar situations similar to dropping from 10' or higher, sinking to the bottom, dropping in a snow bank, falling off while under way and running over are becoming more common while having cell phones in the field.

Protection and coverage plans are very good to have, but they average around a $100 to buy and always cost some sort of Out-of-Pocket deductible. Plus the information stored on smartphones can be extreme valuable to the owner of the phone, more so than any deducible or even the full retail price to replace. This is where further protection becomes needed. Nothing is 100%, but something’s can "save the day" in a physical sense. Touchscreen Smartphone Protective Covers are a great way to help keep your smartphone from extreme damage and even down to small scratches and dings. When it comes to cellphone/smartphone protection, one of the leaders is Otter Box.

I recently received an Otter Box Defender Series case for the iPhone 4. Let's see if the Otter Box Defender Case stacks up to claims it advertises.

It comes in a nice packaging container, but you will find it is not the easiest open. It takes only a minute to figure out how the packaging comes apart though. If something just does not turn out to be what I want, I will return it, but prefer to return in a non-torn apart package. Just me.

After opening I found another huge reason "not" to get frustrated and rip the box in half, but rather have some patience and figure out how the packaging is supposed to be opened. The instruction are located on the inside of the packaging container.

Once opened, this is what you get:

Read the instruction first, because the cover comes put together and some disassembly is required to get the cover down to the point of slipping in the phone and then assembling the cover around the phone.

Here are some examples:

Remove/peel the rubber outer skin off carefully as not to tear the smaller joints and sections.

A very cool feature of the Otter Box Defender is the built in screen scratch guard. No peel, align only once or your doomed, and stick like other scratch guards and the corner will not peel like the stick on brands. How ever, before slipping your smartphone into the inner shell, you will have to make sure you clean your phones touchscreen to get any oils, dirt or debris off. These things can cause the touchscreen sensitivity to drop and make extra swipes and touches needed to use your phone. If done correct, there should be no difference. I also look at the inside of the Defender's scratch guard to will clean in smudges or dirt are seen:

Once cleaned, slip your smart phone into the inner shell half and snap the back half of the inner shell on and press to make sure all tabs are fitted.

Once you get the inner shell assembled, then pull and peel over the outer rubber skin:

On the top and bottom, you can see how the rubber outer skin of the Defender has small rubber flaps/tabs that protect the various openings when closed, but can be flipped open when needed:

[Shack]

Once together you can insert the phone into the belt clip holster:

Your phone clips in very securely via a "snap" feature rather than a grip feature. It can be "snapped" in either facing forward or facing inward.

The Otter Box Defender holster is one of the most versatile and functional holsters I have owned or found. Instead of writing about the holster, I figure I will let some random images speak:

Ok! I will break down my Review:

Pros:

*Added protection from impact and crushing damage.

*Slim fit and contours the phone (iPhone 4) nicely.

*Protects dirt, dust and pocket lint from getting on the ports, while allowing easy access to plug charge and headphones in.

*Build in and reusable touch screen protector that actually works.

*Priced between $40-$50 for the added protection is only dollars more than a regular case.

*I can not live with out the holster.

*Over previous versions of the Defender for the iPhone, they made it so you could charge it while in the holster. Huge "+" for not loosing the holster.

* Actually a forward facing holster that does not have a grip fit, but a snap fit.

* The rubber flaps/plugs connected to the outer rubber skin look as if they would tear off, but after owning a previous Defender case I know they are good to go for daily, constant use with out tearing off.

*Rubber outer skin helps from the phone slipping and dropping when holding.

*Having to go through two different layers of protection, all the factory buttons on the phone work ad designed. No having to remove anything to turn on, put in sleep mode, change volume, anything other than plugging in something.

Cons:

*Assembly Time! Although about 10 minutes, the assembly time is a little long and can be complicated. Not recommended for the easily stumped.

*Lack of Compared to other Otter Box Defenders I have owned, the iPhone 4 case does not have the as much sealed off ports as the 3G did. The 3G version only had two penetrable ports by moisture. The lower two speaker ports. Although the Defender is not sold as "water tight", I have found previous versions to prevent water intrusion much better when dropped is shallow water at the shor of a launch or in a puddle.

*Even though the Iphone 4 case is much slimmer than my 3G case was, it still adds mass/bulk, especially with the holster. Not an issue for me, as these phone are small and this adds some mass when holding, but for some it might be.

* Availability! Most phone store do not carry this case, but amazingly Wal-mart carried them now, but good luck finding on for a current smartphone model. They only get a couple in at a time. I know it is the stores fault, but you would to think Otter Box would have a better say in stocked volume.

Over all my rate in for the Otter Box Defender series phones case, currently used on an iPhone 4, is:

4

I would have gave it a 5 if not for the added bulk and the lack of sealed area that were present on previous versions of the Defender. Definitely a must though for anyone with a smartphone and is outdoors camping, hunting, fishing, or hiking. The added protection outweighs the purchase price and when you retire the phone to an upgrade, once you take the phone out to take pictures to sell it, you realize how "new" you old phone looks.

For ultimate protection, Otter Box sells water proof, up to 6' cases.

If you have purchased this cover or Otter Box's other covers/products, feel free to leave a comment below with a star rating of you own.

Thank you!

[DTro]

Very cool. Not available for Droid X yet, but I'll keep an eye out for when they are.

[Shack]

I was going to say I thought I had seen a listing for it, but it is coming soon.

Otter Box must be doing somthing right. About a year ago they only offered cases for two phones. Now they have cases for almost every phone on the market. I have not dropped the 4 yet, but I have dropped many, many time my old 3G and never did any damage. Any case is better than nothing, but I have dropped my 3G in a fashion that the regular skin cases would not have done much good. I did drop my 3G once at the launch and it tumbled in the the river only inches, but in the water. I watched it and grabbed only seconds after it went in. Tore the case off it and blew out the water in the speaker/mic ports. I worked just fine the rest of last summer and until I retired it. The 4 Defender has more opening, but the more look at it, as soon as you snap the inner shell together it seals very tight. I hope I will not have to test this though.

It is also catfish/cut bait slim proof. It may stink though, but another nice feature is with some warm water and soup, this case cleans up really nice.

[Jim Almquist]

I picked one of those up for my 3GS and they are a pretty good. I was able to pick mine up for less then $20.00 from Amazon.

[Shack]

Jim I am sure you have used it well.

I wanted to show something else I have been doing with my Otter Box Defender. Besides the GPS and the hands free calling, everything else only do when stopped, like when having lunch.

I have used it in about 4 different vehicles that have dash vents and it has worked in all four. Just slip it in and be patient when removing, or you could (have not myself) break a vent louver.

It works great for hands free calling, video calling or conferencing, or voice control while playing music and switch between artists or anything voice control commands.

[kingkobbla]

my buddy had one i knocked it in the water while goose hunting and now the phone is wrecked

[email protected]

[Jim Almquist]

They definitely will not stop water from getting in. It may slow down the dust but really it is just a case to prevent it from breaking if you drop it and provide a way to attach it to your belt or pocket.

Or in Shack's case the vent of your car

[Shack]

Good lord having Netflix and the Otter Box it's soooo tempting.

Did your buddy have one of the Otter Box water proof cases or the Defender series? The defender for the 3G & 3GS will resist against water, but only a real quick dunk. Then you have to remove it from the case right away to dry. If it fell out of a boat, your toast. If he had the iPhone 4 Defender Case I am not so sure it will protect against even a quick dunk. Better than nothing though, but too many openings on the iPhone 4 defender case.