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OtterBox Armor

thenumbersrbad said:
@dakota316

The first thing I saw before I got the email was that the 4/4s case would be Feb 22 and the 5 and Samsung would be later this year.

That appears to have changed. I'm still baffled how this case is still over a month away from being available.

Does anyone have tech specs to compare to LifeProof?
Click to expand...

Lifeproof:

Dimensions:
5.4” x 2.6” x 0.5” / 137.5 mm x 67.1 mm x 12.2 mm*
Weight:
1.05 oz / 29.8 g

Otterbox Armor:

Dimensions:
5.51 in x 2.97 in x 0.70 in / 14.02 cm x 7.55 cm x 1.78 cm
Weight:
3.91 oz / 110.88 g

The Otterbox Armor is HUGE! I will definitely probably be sticking with the Lifeproof. Their case keeps getting better with each improvement.
 
I think I'm going to need several reviews from all the iP5 waterproof players before I make up my mind now. We've got Lifeproof, Otterbox, Seido, Griffin and a few others to compare. Hopefully several sites put these guys thru the paces.

If Otterbox would have released yesterday, I'd have ordered, site unseen. But now there plenty of time to see the competition. Might as well see who's who.
 
I'll purchase the Armor the second it's available. At least I know that my phone will be safe in that brick.

I have been through a load of Lifeproof Fre cases and all of them pretty much suck with many of problems.

The latest LF I have is in the 450,000 range and still has those clear plastic pieces glued to the back cover. There is a lot of pressure on these pieces and I believe that over time they will damage the finish on the phone.

I refuse to use my phone in an $80. case that has foreign objects glued to the insides just to make a flawed design somewhat work.

Just what I think. :)
 
Just watched this video of the iPhone 5 version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQm-j3x1EaM&feature=player_detailpage#t=190s

I have to say it looks really sturdy and can handle a lot of drops BUT the usage of those coverflaps worries me since this means that if after a while they start malfunctioning, the case won't be waterproof any more. Also when you are using the case at the beach and you didn't cover the port the right way after listing to music with your headphones --> water damage.

I think Lifeproof, with all it's flaws, still is the better solution for protecting your iPhone from water. It won't handle the drops as well, but it tops in waterproofness I think :).
 
Jakkejakkejakke said:
Just watched this video of the iPhone 5 version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQm-j3x1EaM&feature=player_detailpage#t=190s

I have to say it looks really sturdy and can handle a lot of drops BUT the usage of those coverflaps worries me since this means that if after a while they start malfunctioning, the case won't be waterproof any more. Also when you are using the case at the beach and you didn't cover the port the right way after listing to music with your headphones --> water damage.

I think Lifeproof, with all it's flaws, still is the better solution for protecting your iPhone from water. It won't handle the drops as well, but it tops in waterproofness I think :).
Click to expand...

How many people really need all this protection 24/7? I don't but on some activities I do. What I want is a case that is easy to put on and remove for such occasions. I'm hoping this is the case, because I think that's where life-proof went wrong. Also, we have absolutely no idea what the 'waterproofness' is like for this case as its not even be reviewed or fully finished yet.
 
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kaylerrific said:
Can someone with actual knowledge explain what they mean when they say it can only be submerged for 30 minutes? If we're just bringing it to the pool and going in and out within the course of a few hours, that shouldn't matter right? Or maybe snorkeling in the ocean right at sea level. I understand the farther you go down in the water, the more pressure there is. But if you're right around sea level, why would it matter how long you're submerged?
Click to expand...

The 30 minutes was at like 3 meters deep or something. I think at 1-2 meters it is waterproof much longer (if not indefinitely).

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Tilpots said:
I think I'm going to need several reviews from all the iP5 waterproof players before I make up my mind now. We've got Lifeproof, Otterbox, Seido, Griffin and a few others to compare. Hopefully several sites put these guys thru the paces.

If Otterbox would have released yesterday, I'd have ordered, site unseen. But now there plenty of time to see the competition. Might as well see who's who.
Click to expand...

Agreed. I personally think the Griffin looks to suit my needs (easy on/off so I don't have to use it all the time), or the Incipio looks like decent LifeProof competition. I will wait for the cases and reviews to come out.
 
v3rn said:
The pictures make it look pretty nice. But I'm keeping my eye on the Incipio Atlas. It has a glass tempered screen instead of the crappy plastic ones that cause problems with the lifeproof and defender.
Click to expand...

Agreed. On all my lifeproof cases it has that rainbow effect which is annoying and ugly as hell
 
icecrystal23 said:
Based on the video here, the Armor is super easy to put on and take off. That makes it more attractive to me:

http://www.everythingicafe.com/hand...aign=Feed:+everythingicafe+(Everything+iCafe)
Click to expand...

Wow that actually is a very attractive feature considering the lifeproof case made us take the headphone jack cover out then screw it back in, also the possibility of losing it. I actually might consider this case, however still keeping my eyes peeled for that incipio atlas.
 
$100 is a serious chunk of change for a phone case. I think it's a nice investment if you own a 64 gig phone.
 
Having seen how quick and easy to put the iphone in and take it out, this its easily the best looking waterproof case so far. Like the idea of having something for occasional use at the beach, camping, cycling etc, and having a normal case for daily use. Seems a much better prospect than the Lifeproof which gimps the phone and needs to stay on 24/7.
 
The Lifeproof-Otterbox conundrum

Interesting. I've used both previous versions and would highly recommend both to friends, but that recommendation would be dependent on intended daily use. My only qualm with the Lifeproof cases is they're 'shock proof' not 'drop/crush proof' and every time I accidentally drop my device I'm worried that I may have compromised the integrity of the water proof seal. I believe that Lifeproof even recommends that you retest your case in the event of a drop, but who wants to test their case every time they drop their phone? Personally, I'm looking forward to the Otterbox Armor Series.
 
mackandproud said:
$100 is a serious chunk of change for a phone case. I think it's a nice investment if you own a 64 gig phone.
Click to expand...

Yeah, especially since all competitors are $80. I'm leaning towards the Griffin Suvivor+Catalyst, I think. A little more sleek than the Otterbox, but still easy to put on and take off.
 
People seem to be forgetting that products never sell at manufacturers recommend retail price. The Defender can be bought for half the price it is on Otterbox.com
 
domrevans said:
People seem to be forgetting that products never sell at manufacturers recommend retail price. The Defender can be bought for half the price it is on Otterbox.com
Click to expand...

That might be true for Otterbox, but try finding a LifeProof case for less than retail... Not sure about the other brands.
 
The Armor series went on sale today. Be aware that only cases sold at AT&T stores and thru Otterbox's website are legit. No other places are currently allowed to sell them so if you see them out there elsewhere, they're knockoffs.

Hopefully some forum member will post a review once they've tried it.
 
i picked one up today, the orange one. i like it a lot. the sound is loads better than lifeproof and seems to be dimished very very little. the home button could have some more feedback, but after only an hour of use ive gotten used to it. the screen protector has no rainbow or rings, however it has a slight slight gap that is similar to the defenders. the only other thing is that the back does not sit 100% flush with the case. this is simply because of the oring making a tight seal. however, it does not bother me much. size wise, it is a little bigger than the defender. i have slightly large hands so it is okay with me. all in all, it is very nice and definitely usable as a daily case as long as the bulk doesnt bother you.
 
Just received my case. It passed the water test with no issues. This case is a beast lol.

It is however very solid and there's no issues with screen responsiveness and volume and sleep/awake button feedback. You need to put slightly more effort to activate the mute switch. The home button should take some time to get used to. All it requires is a slight press on the button for the phone to recognize a command.

So far no audio issues or calling issues. Speakerphone so far has been very clear on both ends. Music playback through the phone's speakers is also clear and doesn't have the vibration that is noticeable on the Seidio OBEX and LifeProof Fre cases.

The clamps aren't that hard to pull off and installation of the case is a breeze. The headphone port cover and lightning port cover will take more effort to pop out when compared to the OBEX. The rubber that's used for it is pretty damn strong too.

The lightning port is very narrow. That means you can only use the Apple lightning cable and 30-pin adapter that has a cable attached to it. The hole that goes through the port is very narrow and not as open and wide like the LifeProof.

The clarity of the screen protector is similar to what can be found on the Defender case. My case doesn't have a noticeable gap between the screen shield and the phone's screen itself. I have no oil slick effect that has plagued numerous versions of the LifeProof. Screen responsiveness is on par with the Seidio OBEX, IMHO - and that's a really good thing.

Overall a very solid case and I can actually picture myself keeping this case.

Protection is obviously solid and the sides of the case has the same grip feeling that can be found on the Defender case. I feel more confident that my phone is fully protected in this case over the OBEX and LifeProof.

The case itself is pocketable but it does add a lot of weight and bulk. This is one of those cases where I have to keep my wallet and keys in one pocket while the phone stays in the other front pocket.

I'll be bringing this case with me whenever I go hiking and go to the beach.

With the Incipio Atlas being released in early April, the Otterbox Armor case is the one to get for full rugged protection. If you want something with less bulk and slightly less protection, I would recommend the Seido OBEX.

The Seidio OBEX would have been the perfect case if they used a similar design that Otterbox and LifeProof has for the mute switch.

I haven't taken any photos yet with the case on but video from the front facing camera and read camera came out clear.

If I do have time, I'll go out and take some pictures and proper video for you folks.

Overall a great case and I do recommend it to anyone that's looking for a durable case. Aside from the added bulk, one bad thing is that there's no holster which could be a factor for some out there. The included lanyard is nice but I don't plan to use it much unless I go out for some hiking or swimming.

*useless comment but I did type this entire post while using the Armor case. I had no issues with typing in the portrait and landscape orientation!

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Hooterville said:
Is it just me or does the home button really suck on the Armor cases?
Click to expand...

You don't need to press hard for the phone to recognize it. It's a different feel and it'll take some time to get used to lol.
 
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