Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Otterbox Commuter Case - iPhone 4
- Thread starter S1njin
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Nice case! I just got my tracking information today after ordering it on Fri. Does the silicone cover collect lint and is it thick? I am using the Incipio Silicrylic in the meantime and the silicone cover is a lint magnet and is pretty thin. It already has a tear with only a month of use.
Ive never really had lint issues before, but from a days worth of use nothings on it, so someone with experience with that will have to let you know
The thing is that when gripping the phone most of the time you wont even feel the silicone, just the matte harder plastic and I think that is great.
its nice and flush with the hard shell and does not shift.
Also, I highly doubt this silicone will rip unless you really try to.
I just got my Commuter earlier today, and it's a great case. As far as collecting lint, yes, all black silicone collects lint. It's my only beef with the Commuter. I wish that they'd offer other color silicone base layers for the Commuter, as silicone in other colors besides black are always a lot less prone to picking up lint. I was told by Otterbox at the first of the year that they were planning on making other colored silicone base layers for the 3G/3GS Commuter, but I guess they scrapped that idea. It would be a good one to do, in my opinion. I plan on posting pictures later tonight of my Commuter next to my Defender iPhone 4 case, so that posters on here can get a good idea of the difference in sizes between the two.
Added: I also have the Incipio Silicrylic that you mention, and yes, the silicone of the Commuter is a good bit thicker than the Incipio case. I had the Commuter for the 3G/3GS for almost a year, and never had a hint that it'd rip or wear thin.
I received mine today and its okay I guess. Not near and sleek as the
commuter for the 3gs. I am actually disappointed with the over all build quality. The silicone part is okay but the slit they left open for the sim tray is pointless. It makes the shell hard to adjust on that side. I mean if you have to remove your sim and the shell has to come off how much harder would it be to take the silicone off? It also doesn't feel as sturdy to me. The shell part feels way more flimsy than the 3gs version. Im on the fence about keeping it. We shall see. 7/10 in my book.
commuter for the 3gs. I am actually disappointed with the over all build quality. The silicone part is okay but the slit they left open for the sim tray is pointless. It makes the shell hard to adjust on that side. I mean if you have to remove your sim and the shell has to come off how much harder would it be to take the silicone off? It also doesn't feel as sturdy to me. The shell part feels way more flimsy than the 3gs version. Im on the fence about keeping it. We shall see. 7/10 in my book.
As I promised earlier, here are some pics of the Commuter next to my blue Defender. It doesn't photograph as a big difference between the two, but believe me, in hand, it's a very noticeable difference!
**One thing I've noticed about my Commuter is that it actually fits BETTER with a full body skin installed on the phone! I received my SGP Matte full body skin today as well, and installed it later on in the day. Before having the skin on, my Commuter had some gaps where the hard plastic shell wrapped around and met the silicone liner at the front of the phone, on the sides and top of the screen. With the full body skin on (including the parts that cover the antenna all the way around), those gaps are gone and the hard plastic fits very tightly to the silicone. Looks even better on the phone now than it did without the skins installed.
**One thing I've noticed about my Commuter is that it actually fits BETTER with a full body skin installed on the phone! I received my SGP Matte full body skin today as well, and installed it later on in the day. Before having the skin on, my Commuter had some gaps where the hard plastic shell wrapped around and met the silicone liner at the front of the phone, on the sides and top of the screen. With the full body skin on (including the parts that cover the antenna all the way around), those gaps are gone and the hard plastic fits very tightly to the silicone. Looks even better on the phone now than it did without the skins installed.
My case arrived today. Will post some pics a friend took when home.
Love the fit. No reception issues. Not that bulky in my pocket. Flash is not covered up. Be very hard to find any case I'd use over this.
I am using my own screen protector though.
Love the fit. No reception issues. Not that bulky in my pocket. Flash is not covered up. Be very hard to find any case I'd use over this.
I am using my own screen protector though.
Really wanted to love the Otterbox Defender....
But alas it was not meant to be.... really wanted a case that would protect but give easy access to getting the phone out for use in a car mount or a docking unit.
Best solution I have found so far is the Case-Mate iPhone 4 Carbon Fiber Case Holster Combo. Will miss the ports and buttons being covered with the Defender though...
But alas it was not meant to be.... really wanted a case that would protect but give easy access to getting the phone out for use in a car mount or a docking unit.
Best solution I have found so far is the Case-Mate iPhone 4 Carbon Fiber Case Holster Combo. Will miss the ports and buttons being covered with the Defender though...
It seems he's referring to the Defender, not the Commuter. At least, that's the case he referred to twice by name.
Just got mine about an hour ago. Love it!
A bit hard to fit at first but after its done, it looks great
A bit hard to fit at first but after its done, it looks great
Anyone know of a belt clip holster (similar to the Seidio Innocase holster)
that will work with the commuter?
that will work with the commuter?
Excellent Case
I own both the commuter and defender cases and I think I like the commuter just a little bit better.
They are both terrific cases, and in my opinion, the absolute best two cases available for the 4. The slimmer profile of the commuter strikes the perfect balance between protection of the phone and maintaining the elegant look. That being said, I think the defender is still an attractive case and it's protection can't be questioned. As a guy who never thought he'd ever use the defender on my 4 or any of my previous iPhones, I must say that it's a very close call between the two with the commuter getting the nod by a narrow margin.
You can't go wrong with either case, it ultimately comes down to the environment you most use your phone in. Each case has it's advantages, but for me, I can't see any other cases coming close to these two.
I own both the commuter and defender cases and I think I like the commuter just a little bit better.
They are both terrific cases, and in my opinion, the absolute best two cases available for the 4. The slimmer profile of the commuter strikes the perfect balance between protection of the phone and maintaining the elegant look. That being said, I think the defender is still an attractive case and it's protection can't be questioned. As a guy who never thought he'd ever use the defender on my 4 or any of my previous iPhones, I must say that it's a very close call between the two with the commuter getting the nod by a narrow margin.
You can't go wrong with either case, it ultimately comes down to the environment you most use your phone in. Each case has it's advantages, but for me, I can't see any other cases coming close to these two.
I was agonizing for a while too. I had a griffin reveal from launch to tide me over while i decided. That case was just ok, I was going to get the element case, if there wasn't the reception/production/customer service issues. But now that I got the commuter I'm happy and looking forward to getting different colors.
Apple is shipping out the pixelskin HD, so I'll see how that one turns out. Probably not going to be better.
and post what you think of the commuter, I'm hoping my pics didn't sway you wrong lol
I finally got my Commuter. I definitely like it, however I will say this, it definitely does not feel like the quality is that of the 3G Commuter.
The fit & finish is not as good IMO. Which is a little disappointing. I did get the Defender for the iPhone 4 and I have no complaints at all with it, they fixed any issues from the previous model and the fit & finish is great.
The Commuter just doesn't fit as snug as I expected. I may actually end up going back to my Defender for day to day use at some point because the fit & finish and even the quality of the case seems just a little bit better.
I'd say if the 3G Commuter was a 5/5, this one is a 4/5.
Here are some photos I took of the Commuter.
The fit & finish is not as good IMO. Which is a little disappointing. I did get the Defender for the iPhone 4 and I have no complaints at all with it, they fixed any issues from the previous model and the fit & finish is great.
The Commuter just doesn't fit as snug as I expected. I may actually end up going back to my Defender for day to day use at some point because the fit & finish and even the quality of the case seems just a little bit better.
I'd say if the 3G Commuter was a 5/5, this one is a 4/5.
Here are some photos I took of the Commuter.
I have to agree and disagree. There are some things I just do not like with my Commuter. You can see in your picks the gaps in the top and bottom. On the 3GS these were much better. Also the sides are not nearly as secure. The 30pin cover is much harder to get open as well. On the plus side, the camera cutout aligns better for me and the Apple logo cutout works much better. FInally I like the Otterbox Logo better on the bottom of the case instead of being huge on the 3GS.
When I got the Commuter on Saturday I thought my case search was over. Now I am already looking for my next fix. When I got the Commuter for my 3GS cases were not any sort of temptation.
Yeah, the gaps are a bit annoying, when I got my Commuter for the 3G I didn't need any other case. With the iPhone 4 version I thought it was going to be the same way but I doubt it. I had such high expectations.
As I promised earlier, here are some pics of the Commuter next to my blue Defender. It doesn't photograph as a big difference between the two, but believe me, in hand, it's a very noticeable difference!
**One thing I've noticed about my Commuter is that it actually fits BETTER with a full body skin installed on the phone! I received my SGP Matte full body skin today as well, and installed it later on in the day. Before having the skin on, my Commuter had some gaps where the hard plastic shell wrapped around and met the silicone liner at the front of the phone, on the sides and top of the screen. With the full body skin on (including the parts that cover the antenna all the way around), those gaps are gone and the hard plastic fits very tightly to the silicone. Looks even better on the phone now than it did without the skins installed.
Umm.. Where did you get a blue Defender!?
Umm...Best Buy? It's been talked about a bunch in this thread. Best Buy carries the blue and red Defenders, as well as the black.