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iPhone X Case Review Roundup 5: Spigen, OtterBox, LifeProof, Totallee and Sena

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The fifth review of my iPhone X Roundup series focuses on Spigen, OtterBox, LifeProof, Totallee, and Sena. If you've missed my previous posts, I'm taking a close look at iPhone X cases from a range of manufacturers. We don't often feature case reviews on MacRumors, but with the launch of the iPhone X and its new design, we felt it was worth exploring some of the available case options.

My previous reviews are below:

[*]iPhone X Case Review Roundup 1
[*]iPhone X Case Review Roundup 2
[*]iPhone X Case Review Roundup 3
[*]iPhone X Case Review Roundup 4

For all of these reviews, I'm looking at the general usability of iPhone X cases. Extreme drop tests and in-depth testing aren't covered because those factors are less important than how a case works on an average day, and it's often fairly easy to tell from design how protective a case is going to be.

Factors like bulk, button accessibility, general protection, grip, thickness, and appearance are what I focused on. All of the cases in this review roundup work with wireless chargers unless otherwise mentioned.

OtterBox

OtterBox used to be known primarily for its super bulky, ultra protective cases, but these days, OtterBox makes a lot of other cases that are still just as protective but add less bulk than the traditional Defender series.

Priced at $44.95, the Symmetry series offers OtterBox's slimmest cases. When I say slim, though, I mean in comparison to other OtterBox cases, not "slim" cases in general. The Symmetry is still a very thick case with a hard shell back and a rubber interior that wraps around all sides of the iPhone X.

otterboxsymmetry-800x600.jpg

Symmetry cases are not unattractive, but they're much thicker than I prefer for my iPhone. There is a thick lip that comes up over the display, and while a lip this thick protects the screen, it makes it undeniably more irritating to swipe up from the bottom of the display if you're a person who swipes from the very bottom. The mute switch is difficult to get to because of the thickness of the case, and it may not work with some docks. On the plus side, the volume and power buttons are easy to press. This is definitely a case that feels like it's going to offer a lot of protection from drops.


Click here to read more...

Article Link: iPhone X Case Review Roundup 5: Spigen, OtterBox, LifeProof, Totallee and Sena
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/review/iphone-x-case-review-roundup-5/
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A.wang28 said:
Enough with cases with a cut out holes displaying the Apple logo! We get it, it's an Apple phone :rolleyes"
The practicality of this feature is beyond my mortal comprehension.
Click to expand...
Let me get this right. You're looking for practicality in a design element that has only one function - to show the Apple logo. That superficial functionality has nothing to do with practicality and to look for it there seems to be quite impractical.
 
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69Mustang said:
Let me get this right. You're looking for practicality in a design element that has only one function - to show the Apple logo. That superficial functionality has nothing to do with practicality and to look for it there seems to be quite impractical.
Click to expand...

You win ;)
 
I've used a Spigen Thin Fit on my X, 7 Plus before that, 6S Plus before that, and originally starting with my 6 Plus. All my prior iPhones were caseless. This as close to that as it gets, doesn't inhibit any speaker docking and works flawlessly with Wireless Chargers though some other thicker cases will work too. I am a huge fan of the Spigen Thin Fit. And not at all affiliated with the company. In my opinion, and for my needs and we all do differ, this is the best case out there.
 
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Greenlee said:
:( no Spigen case reviews?

I have used them for my iPhones and they're very good.
Click to expand...

Make sure you expand the full article. You’ll see this...
“Spigen makes a lot of cases, and I took a look at most of the collection because Spigen appears to be a favorite on the MacRumors forum. Many of you told me you use Spigen cases and recommended them for review. Bear with me, because this is going to be a long section. ”
 
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can anybody tell me which cas unbox therapy is using on his last iphone video
 
Great work on all the reviews. I went with a Spigen liquid crystal. Good value and decent protection without adding much bulk, as described in the article
 
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I went with a OtterBox symmetry and must say I’m a big fan of it have tried apple silicon cases and want to like them but the collect way to much dust and lint in my opinion
 
I bought the totallee leather case and it is complete garbage. It’s so thin, you feel as if the plastic will crack. The leather also is not what you would expect. They claim it’s genuine leather, but it feels like plastic, as well. I’m waiting for my castify x case to come in at the end of the month. As of right now, I’m using a (faux) leather g case I purchased from amazon and it is surprisingly really good. The lightning port opening is a little small, but overall, a high quality case for $10.
 
aforty said:
These are all so hideous... I've been going naked with this phone so far and I love it. It doesn't scratch and if I ever drop it, well, that's what I got Apple Care for.
Click to expand...
It's not if but when, especially when you get a little tipsy or something. I've personally witnessed dozens of people dropping their iPhones. With those cases on, everything was peachy. Without, that stunned look on their faces and the expletives coming from their lips. I understand not liking the added bulk of these cases and for you, the 200 bucks for Apple Care will be well worth it. It's all about having choices and living with risk or trying to avoid it.
[doublepost=1510970195][/doublepost]
steven3130 said:
I bought the totallee leather case and it is complete garbage. It’s so thin, you feel as if the plastic will crack. The leather also is not what you would expect. They claim it’s genuine leather, but it feels like plastic, as well. I’m waiting for my castify x case to come in at the end of the month. As of right now, I’m using a (faux) leather g case I purchased from amazon and it is surprisingly really good. The lightning port opening is a little small, but overall, a high quality case for $10.
Click to expand...

That Totallee case is definitely a waste of money if you're looking for a case that offers some protection. Any protection provided by that case is negligible at best.
 
aforty said:
These are all so hideous... I've been going naked with this phone so far and I love it. It doesn't scratch and if I ever drop it, well, that's what I got Apple Care for.
Click to expand...

I agree that a phone should be naked but just a word to the wise:

Apple Care only covers for 2 incidents only (i.e. 2 front replacements, or 2 rear replacements, or 1 front and 1 rear).

Given how fragile the X is, I see a lot of people that go naked with their X will end up using their allotted 2 incidents from one drop.
[doublepost=1510970766][/doublepost]
A.wang28 said:
Enough with cases with a cut out holes displaying the Apple logo! We get it, it's an Apple phone :rolleyes"
The practicality of this feature is beyond my mortal comprehension.
Click to expand...

I think it’s just plain ugly to have the hole cutouts in cases. Even Apple doesn’t design their cases with the hole cut out.
 
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Eww. o_O Not sure if the MR’s editors are choosing these funky looking cases to review or companies are sending it out to them randomly, but on every review posts all the cases are ridiculously bulky and ugly looking. :eek:
Spigen is the only decent one I’ve seen. Sad. Do reviews on cases that people actually like or buy.
Twelve South
Power Support
More Spigen products
Speck
Moshi
Apple Leather
MoKo (Amazon)
 
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MacGurl111 said:
Eww. o_O Not sure if the MR’s editors are choosing these funky looking cases to review or companies are sending it out to them randomly, but on every review posts all the cases are ridiculously bulky and ugly looking. :eek:
Spigen is the only decent one I’ve seen. Sad. Do reviews on cases that people actually like or buy.
Twelve South
Power Support
More Spigen products
Speck
Moshi
Apple Leather
MoKo (Amazon)
Click to expand...

I asked companies to send me cases they would like to see covered in my review, so these cases were not my choice, they were what the companies themselves chose. I did do Twelve South, Speck, and Moshi in other reviews.
 
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aforty said:
These are all so hideous... I've been going naked with this phone so far and I love it. It doesn't scratch and if I ever drop it, well, that's what I got Apple Care for.
Click to expand...

I have Apple Care for my X too and I’m still nervous to drop my phone. Now I’m not clumsy at all and rarely drop my phone but having a glass front and back makes me wanna rock a case. I feel like only having 2 accidental replacements isn’t enough.
 
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