Review: OtterBox Defender smartphone cases
You can expect more tech reviews and impressions to be posted on my blog. I did some Windows Phone 7 videos earlier and have a full video review sitting on my desktop to be posted later.
Today I present you with a review written by a friend of mine who is a regular dude who loves tech. Here he has a review of the OtterBox Defenser series case for the HTC EVO, which he owns. A video review is embedded below for those who hate to read.
By Matt Vongthongkham
The smartphone craze has left users clamoring for a phone that fits their lifestyle.
While with finding the right device, though, customers often forget what a hassle it can be to keep that device protected.
Let’s face it; all devices aren’t created to handle the dings, drops, and spills that come along during our daily routine. I’m guilty of breaking plenty of devices due to being the clumsy geek that I am.
Fortunately, OtterBox’s Defender series is here to save the day for me and my trusty HTC EVO 4G. OtterBox definitely had the clumsy user in mind when designing this case, which turns your phone into a tank for the price of $49.99.
There are four pieces to the case, which also comes with a screen protector. The main body pieces includes a backing that has its own stand so users can still dock the EVO. The front piece has a highly durable screen protector that fits perfectly snug onto the screen while allowing full usage of the touch screen.
Because the touchscreens on these phones can sometimes be picky, I was iffy on whether my 4.3 inch screen would even be usable when covered with the case’s built-in screen protector. But I can say for certain that the thick protector does its job perfectly without causing issues operating the touch screen.
The back piece of the case also protects the camera, flash LED, and speaker, by offsetting the distance about a centimeter to insure any dings or scrapes happen to the case and not your phone. When snapped together, the front and back piece make for an awesome vest.
The Defender series also includes a highly durable and solid silicone house that absorbs all kinds of drops and shock done to your device. I dropped my phone many times while trying the case without breaking a sweat.
The silicone housing has a very fine tuned diamond design that helps give it grip when placed on a dashboard or table. The two hard pieces have ridges and stoppers to hold onto the silicone cover. The cover gets an even tighter grip along the upper edge of the case.
The Defender series also goes as far as to have flaps that cover the mini HDMI and mini USB ports along the bottom of the phone and a flap that covers the headphone jack. The silicone cover also has built-in covers for the volume and power button.
The Defender series also includes a nifty belt clip holster. It is deliberately oversized but snug enough for users to holster their device front face in or back side out. I personally holster my phone front side out to have the holster protect the camera and speaker while allowing me to still have full access to the touch screen.
The actual belt clip is not removable but fully rotates. My only gripe with the Defender series is the weight it adds to the phone.
The HTC EVO is already at a hefty size and weight, and goodness does this case about double both. Although the silicone cover was manufactured well to contour to the hard pieces, I found the flab that covers the ports to be a little loose and stretchable unless tucked into place.
That may cause an issue with plugging in the mini HDMI or mini USB plugs. But when tucked in, it is fine. The front piece also does little to cover the speaker grill on the face of the EVO.
I would’ve liked to see some kind of mesh grill for the speaker and maybe even a glass cover for the camera and led flash.
The Otterbox Defender series definitely does not allow you to submerge your device in water but as stated before, dresses your phone up like a tank. The built in screen protector alone saves you money from having to purchase a screen protector film.
There are far more positives than negatives with the OtterBox Defender series. It protects your phone from more damage than any human being could cause. I highly recommend it for any user given the amount of protection and its low price of $49.99.
The Video Review
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