Review: Otterbox Defender Case for iPhone 4

If you are looking for the ultimate protection for your iPhone 4, Otterbox Defender case is probably your best bet.  Anyone who's unfamiliar with Otterbox products just needs to know one thing, Otterbox cases are TOUGH!  See some of the previous reviews here and here.

Back to the iPhone 4 Defender case, this $49 proposition from Otterbox will definitely protect your beloved Apple gadgetry.  Inside the box, you'll find 4 pieces of hardware (yes, four!) for protection.  The very inner components are two-piece hard cases with felt lining and LCD screen protection that snuggly holds your iPhone in place.  You'll then top off the hardcase with a rubber casing that holds everything together.  At this point, you pretty much have the actual case/protection ready.  Otterbox tossed in an extra belt clip hardware to allow you to snap (or dock) your iPhone into place.

Suiting up your iPhone 4 into the Defender case will remind you of the movie scene where Robert Downey Jr. suits up into Iron Man Mark-III for the first time. You've got a very precise assembly along with a cool see through window which reveals the Apple Logo.  All the cut outs are precise and there are rubber flaps protect just about every ports there is to the phone.  There will be no doubt in your mind that your iPhone is going to be pretty safe nested inside the Defender.

Otterbox cases are known for its toughness but not for its compact size and this Defender case for iPhone 4 is no different.  Its got heft and some weight to it.  It kinda reminds me of the Panasonic Toughbooks whereby if you see it, you'll respect it for its toughness.  If you are interested in solid protection but wants to keep the bulk to a minimum, Otterbox does carry a couple of their smaller cases such as the Commuter and Impact Series.

Otterbox Defender Case Special Edition via AT&T

Remember that ultra-tough iPhone case I reviewed by Otterbox known as the "Defender"? Will if you've considered it but thought the simple black color is just not enough for your personality, now you can pick up some unique color through an exclusive offering from AT&T for $35!

Review: Otterbox Defender iPod Touch 2G and 3G

Recently, I reviewed Otterbox's popular tough case Defender for my iPhone 3G. I wanted to see if the company's Defender case for an iPod Touch (3rd gen.) is just as tough. In short: Yes! The Defender case for iPod Touch is very similarly designed as the iPhone version. An outer rubber casing which covers up all the ports is holding a 2-pc. inner polycarbonate case together. A built-in screen protector adds more protection. This signature design is what makes the defender so sturdy and somewhat bulky which gives the iPod Touch a physical thickness equivalent to an iPhone in a regular case (see comparison pic.)

Trading off the added thickness is the incredible ruggedness from the Defender. I just haven't seen another case on the market which protects your precious iPod Touch to this degree. While Otterbox says it does not protect against water intrusion, I feel alot more comfortable leaving a beverage nearby then any other case I've owned. Although the case does leave a cutout near the top of the case for the auto-light sensor, Otterbox says auto brightness will not work with the 3rd gen. iPod Touch. The only thing I noticed about this case is the rubber casing feels a little slippery at times; its no deal breaker and the case provides adequate traction in my pockets to stay put. At MSRP of $29.95, the Defender case is probably the toughest protection one can buy for his/her iPod Touch 2G/3G.

Review: Otterbox Defender for iPhone 3G, 3GS

If you are searching for the toughest protection in the world for your precious iPhone 3G or 3GS, look no further than the Otterbox Defender series cases (also available for iPods, iPod Touch, BlackBerry, Samsung phones). This monster of a case is menacing just by looking at it! The case itself w/o the belt clip (included) is almost 1" in thickness (0.8" to be precise). Take a look at the comparison photo I took showcasing its bulk next to the Griffin Outfit case (left) I reviewed yesterday, this thing is not kidding around.

Construction: All that thickness didn't come without a reason; the case comes with in total three components with four pieces of parts. The inner hard-shell case is composed of two halves (front bezel and back casing) which provides a very strong foundation for your iPhone; it even includes a built in LCD protector that doesn't need to be applied separately. The outer rubberized case adds more protection and acts as a reinforcer to hold the inner casing together snugly as well as plug out just about every port on the phone. Finally there is a polycarbonate belt clip which tops the entire package off. The end result is a massive case that is ruggedized for a very active person.

User feedback: With your iPhone 3G or 3GS enclosed in the Otterbox Defender, it looks like it belongs right next to a Panasonic Toughbook riding inside a military spec Humvee. The sheer size of this case is impressive not to mention how solid your iPhone feels in your palm. For some reason, I don't feel like the ladies would be drawn to this case and for that matter, the added thickness may not chime well with urban/artistic types. If you are a hardcore traveler or take your iPhone outdoors in some tough terrains, I can see this case paying dividends.

Conclusion: Overall, the Otterbox Defender case is built with high quality engineering and is probably the toughest protection available to date. At $49 MSRP (Amazon $29), this case is here to serve the needs of people who demand the highest form of protection to their prized iPhone. If you want a solid case without going to this level of committment, checkout Otterbox's new Commuter series (my review here).