I hope this review helps many of you considering the Otterbox Defender case. I work in a heavy industrial environment and I absolutely need the highest level of protection for my iPhone 4. This is why I chose the rugged Otterbox defender without even blinking at its $50 price tag. I use the phone's applications for several tasks and it's an invaluable tool at work. While I am very happy in some aspects, I feel that for my application, the otterbox wasn't only insufficient, but counterproductive.
Firstly, the reasons I buy a case are to prevent damage to the phone in case of shock, foreign particulate, water damage, and screen scratches so I will break it down as follows:
Shock protection - Excellent 5/5 The Otterbox offers a level of protection I am extremely satisfied with against drops, hits, and even throws. The soft silicone rubber that surrounds a hard plastic shell takes the impact amazingly. So far I have tossed, dropped and sat on the phone with absolutely no problems.
Foreign Particulate Very Poor 2/5 - While the silicone that surrounds the hard case performs well in most circumstances, the exposure to heat will drastically change the properties of the outer case. 100+ degree weather, and even keeping the phone close to the body will soften the silicone to a point where the edges come loose and expose the phone to sweat, water, dust and foreign particles. This can be mildly annoying in domestic situations when you have to constantly re-accommodate the silicone cover. However, in industrial applications, it can and in my case, prove to lead to a critical flaw. See below.
Screen Protection Appalling 1/5 - The Otterbox defender comes with a hard plastic screen protector that will work well to protect your glass screen against key scratches or whatever objects you store your iPhone 4 with, in my case small hand tools, keys, razors, etc. The Critical flaw with this is that the screen protector is not attachable to the actual phone screen. It is in essence, just placed above, not on the screen. Therefore, IF dust, sand, metal flakes, or whatever undesirable particles you may happen to be around, find their way in between the screen protector and your phone screen, this will result in, at least in my case, the grinding and rubbing on the screen of these foreign particles by the screen protector. This ruined my beautiful retina display screen AND the screen protector. Both now have several scratches on them and seem to be irrepairable. I found it interesting and, quite honestly, disappointing, that the forward facing camera and flash have no plastic protection, while the self-facing one does (a small clear plastic cover, much like the screen protector). I do not know the reason for this, but it seems that if you are protecting one camera lens, why not protect the other.
Water Splash Protection - Good 4/5 - I found the Otterbox to be a safe bet when it comes to protection against rain and spills. The screen protector provides a solid layer against rain drops and even light solvents such as alcohol and even degreaser. Otterbox is clear in saying that the Defender does not actually provide protection against submersion of any kind, which is understandable and not expected.
Overall opinion: I still have the otterbox on my phone. However, I recommend the separate installation of a film to protect the screen against the screen protector. Many of you, as I do, will find it ironic that one needs protection against the screen protector, however, this is the truth in this case. The otterbox defender does the shock and impact protection very well, but critical design flaws inherent in the construction of this product require further steps in order to accomplish the level of protection that a user like me needs. I would say that if you are into outdoor activities such as hiking, bicycling, are in any way in a desert environment, or in any place where abrasive foreign particulate may be like my workplace, you will want more protection in the form of a screen film. If you are commuting with a lot of stuff in your pocket, the defender will do very well for you as it will guard your phone excellently against drops, hits, rain, keys, coins, etc.
As a further point of consideration, Otterbox will stand behind their product and replace the case in the event of damage. However, in the event that your phone is in fact damaged,they will not replace your iPhone 4.
I hope this review is helpful in deciding whether or not you purchase it depending on your intended use. Again, my situation is extreme. For me, it's too late to prevent damage, but I hope this advise helps you in the future.
Firstly, the reasons I buy a case are to prevent damage to the phone in case of shock, foreign particulate, water damage, and screen scratches so I will break it down as follows:
Shock protection - Excellent 5/5 The Otterbox offers a level of protection I am extremely satisfied with against drops, hits, and even throws. The soft silicone rubber that surrounds a hard plastic shell takes the impact amazingly. So far I have tossed, dropped and sat on the phone with absolutely no problems.
Foreign Particulate Very Poor 2/5 - While the silicone that surrounds the hard case performs well in most circumstances, the exposure to heat will drastically change the properties of the outer case. 100+ degree weather, and even keeping the phone close to the body will soften the silicone to a point where the edges come loose and expose the phone to sweat, water, dust and foreign particles. This can be mildly annoying in domestic situations when you have to constantly re-accommodate the silicone cover. However, in industrial applications, it can and in my case, prove to lead to a critical flaw. See below.
Screen Protection Appalling 1/5 - The Otterbox defender comes with a hard plastic screen protector that will work well to protect your glass screen against key scratches or whatever objects you store your iPhone 4 with, in my case small hand tools, keys, razors, etc. The Critical flaw with this is that the screen protector is not attachable to the actual phone screen. It is in essence, just placed above, not on the screen. Therefore, IF dust, sand, metal flakes, or whatever undesirable particles you may happen to be around, find their way in between the screen protector and your phone screen, this will result in, at least in my case, the grinding and rubbing on the screen of these foreign particles by the screen protector. This ruined my beautiful retina display screen AND the screen protector. Both now have several scratches on them and seem to be irrepairable. I found it interesting and, quite honestly, disappointing, that the forward facing camera and flash have no plastic protection, while the self-facing one does (a small clear plastic cover, much like the screen protector). I do not know the reason for this, but it seems that if you are protecting one camera lens, why not protect the other.
Water Splash Protection - Good 4/5 - I found the Otterbox to be a safe bet when it comes to protection against rain and spills. The screen protector provides a solid layer against rain drops and even light solvents such as alcohol and even degreaser. Otterbox is clear in saying that the Defender does not actually provide protection against submersion of any kind, which is understandable and not expected.
Overall opinion: I still have the otterbox on my phone. However, I recommend the separate installation of a film to protect the screen against the screen protector. Many of you, as I do, will find it ironic that one needs protection against the screen protector, however, this is the truth in this case. The otterbox defender does the shock and impact protection very well, but critical design flaws inherent in the construction of this product require further steps in order to accomplish the level of protection that a user like me needs. I would say that if you are into outdoor activities such as hiking, bicycling, are in any way in a desert environment, or in any place where abrasive foreign particulate may be like my workplace, you will want more protection in the form of a screen film. If you are commuting with a lot of stuff in your pocket, the defender will do very well for you as it will guard your phone excellently against drops, hits, rain, keys, coins, etc.
As a further point of consideration, Otterbox will stand behind their product and replace the case in the event of damage. However, in the event that your phone is in fact damaged,they will not replace your iPhone 4.
I hope this review is helpful in deciding whether or not you purchase it depending on your intended use. Again, my situation is extreme. For me, it's too late to prevent damage, but I hope this advise helps you in the future.
Thanks!