Exclusive Review: Otterbox iPhone 4S / iPad 2 (3) Cases

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Rating: **** 1/2

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By: Dan Uff

Call me crazy, but I never bought a protective case for any of my iPhones or iPads. The closes I came is when Apple was giving away iPhone 4 bumpers when the company was dealing with “attennagate.”

That idea changed when I dropped my iPhone on a hard floor and got a chip in it. Yes, I was p*ssed at myself for not getting a case for the 4, and that situation changed my mind. So, when I got my iPhone 4S and my new iPad, I knew it was time to swallow my pride, and get a protective case for both devices.

About a year ago, my wife got an Otterbox case for her iPhone. I didn’t really pay much attention to it at first (it didn’t help that it was hot bright pink, either) but over the following months, I started noticing how well the case was holding up to her daily routine.

So, I went on to Otterbox’s web site and looked around. I came across their “Defender Series” (which is what my wife has) and was hooked from the get go.

The series provides ultimate protection against accidental drops, and some covers also includes a protective front plastic cover so those fingerprints aren’t so noticeable on the front of the device.

The covers fit like a glove and comes in cool colors. But can be a pain in the ass to put on. But the company’s web site does have helpful how-to videos on installing the covers.

So, here are the pros and cons:

PROS:

– Protects the entire device (including the charging port).
– Can hold up to almost anything (drops, minor throws, etc.)
– Comes in various colors.
– Very helpful pre-sale and how-to videos.
– Some models come with a belt clip.

CONS:

– No included installation instructions (on the iPhone case box).
– Is a pain in the ass to put on.
– Cannot charge device in a dock.
– Port covers can be hard to open for large or arthritic hands.
– Belt clip can be hard to use (especially in emergency situations).
– Cover up the home button – Home button can be harder to press.

All in all, I am very picky about the cases that I have on my devices. But after 48 hours, they are still on my devices and I don’t plan on taking them off anytime soon.