Otterbox iPhone 3GS review!

[Kadman]

My main reason for getting the Otterbox Defender was more for the shock protection and I must admit I like the plugs that cover the ports. That said, I wasn't really looking for a totally sealed solution and while I could see mild rain protection, etc being of benefit, I wasn't after significant water protection. In addition I do use another case in some situations (Speck Candy Shell) so the baby powder trick, while it works, was annoying to get just right and prevented fast swapping between cases.

Therefore, I did something pretty dramatic to my Defender case but it's made all the difference in the world to make this the perfect case for my needs. I took a razor knife and carefully cut away the clear plastic film from the facing of the case. I now rely solely on my Power Support Crystal Film to protect the display. I did not peel away the clear plastic away (i.e. didn't remove the adhesive) as I wanted the part under the bezel to remain there so I didn't have a large gap between the face of the phone and the plastic bezel. Yes, I've reduced splash protection from the face, but the trade-off was worth it for my needs. I now have a very rugged case that still has the touch sensitivity and clarity of the naked phone (with the PS Crystal Film, of course).

I've been using it this way for about a week now and love it!

 

[Pika]

I have heard that otterbox has redone their cases to correct the echo issue and are working on the watermark.

They fixed those issues. They made the holes bigger for the echos and they have a new oleo screen protector.

 

[nezff]

they have a new oleo screen protector.

where did you hear this? I talked to a girl at otterbox yesterday and she said they were working on it, they didnt know why the watermark was coming up?

edit: Just talked to otterbox about a minute ago, No updates on the screen. There has been a update on the foam inside the case. There are now stiff foam donut-looking surrounds on the white this paper like covers on the speakers.

 

[KD7CAO]

Otterbox Defender Yellow

I purchased an Otterbox Defender (Yellow/Black) on eBay for about 1/3 the cost of ordering through Otterbox Direct. There are several reasons why I love this case. First, I wanted protection, I work in Emergency Management so I'm in the field, around hazardous areas, and I needed a case that could protect my phone. Second, I wanted to offer a little bit of water protection, I killed a previous phone with sweat and this would give it just that little bit of edge it needs. Third, I wanted to bulk up the phone. Whoever thought of the stupid idea of making the phone slippery as a bar of wet soap was using to much turpentine or living around Ethyl-Methyl-Death.

This case appears to have solved all those issues for me, the only complaints I have is no way to make it fully 100% Waterproof, the silence switch cover doesn't fit quite right, and the headphone jack is the same. The only other problem is that the screen has bubbles under it from the screen protector not having any kind of adhesive to it. Otterbox assures me they are working on a solution and it will be provided as a free fix to all users.

The phone is now a wonderful yellow/black, easier to hold, and easier to spot if I drop it somewhere.

Thanks Otterbox!

 

[newtomac1032]

where did you hear this? I talked to a girl at otterbox yesterday and she said they were working on it, they didnt know why the watermark was coming up?

edit: Just talked to otterbox about a minute ago, No updates on the screen. There has been a update on the foam inside the case. There are now stiff foam donut-looking surrounds on the white this paper like covers on the speakers.

what is the foam supposed to help with?

 

[nezff]

what is the foam supposed to help with?

It was supposed to help with the echo problem that some people were complaining about. I havent had this problem.

I purchased an Otterbox Defender (Yellow/Black) on eBay for about 1/3 the cost of ordering through Otterbox Direct. The only other problem is that the screen has bubbles under it from the screen protector not having any kind of adhesive to it. Otterbox assures me they are working on a solution and it will be provided as a free fix to all users.

Thanks Otterbox!

I ordered mine off ebay also for the price of $32.99
As far as the bubble problem. Take the case apart, wipe down the inside of it. Get a bottle of baby powder and shake it up real good with the lid closed. Take the inside of the case and hold it over the bottle about 6 inches or more. Lightly squeeze the baby powder and just DUST it on the inside of the case. A little goes along way. NO MORE BUBBLE/WATERMARK.

 

[equlizer]

I have a good question! How easily does the otterbox screen scratch? Cause once it has em, your pooched

If you already have a screen protector on the phone, do you have to take it off before putting the phone in the otterbox?

 

[Pika]

The only complaints I have is no way to make it fully 100% Waterproof.

Otterbox Defender case + Ziploc bag

 

[nezff]

I have a good question! How easily does the otterbox screen scratch? Cause once it has em, your pooched

If you already have a screen protector on the phone, do you have to take it off before putting the phone in the otterbox?

As I stated above. I have a screen protector film on all my gadgets and they are in the otterbox. You dont have to take the film off.

 

[topherg]

just got my defender case.... I hate the stupid water marks!! I tried to apply the full body zagg invisible shield but failed several times.. I finally gave up and just stuck my iphone in the defender case... should I be worried about the body of my iphone being scratched by the hard plastic inner case??

 

[nezff]

just got my defender case.... I hate the stupid water marks!! I tried to apply the full body zagg invisible shield but failed several times.. I finally gave up and just stuck my iphone in the defender case... should I be worried about the body of my iphone being scratched by the hard plastic inner case??

no you will be fine. i have had mine in it since launch day. no scratches.
If you dont like the watermark, use the baby powder solution I have explained.

 

[Che Castro]

im usin the sedio innocase 2

I will use the otterbox during winter when theres heavy snow

 

[topherg]

no you will be fine. i have had mine in it since launch day. no scratches.
If you dont like the watermark, use the baby powder solution I have explained.

Baby powder did the trick but didn't last very long... Water marks are back! My case also was missing the protective film that goes over the plastic screen and the plastic windows on the back plastic screens... My front screen also came with a nice scratch

 

[nezff]

Baby powder did the trick but didn't last very long... Water marks are back! My case also was missing the protective film that goes over the plastic screen and the plastic windows on the back plastic screens... My front screen also came with a nice scratch

your otterbox came without the plastic screen and the plastic window on the camera and apple logo? Surely not. I assume you mean the shield you peel off. There is not one. I have had four otterbox cases for the iphone 3g and 3gs and none of them came with that membrane you peel off like a screen protector has.

Also the baby powder should not wear off. I have had mine without watermarks for weeks now. Did you dust it on by squeezing the powder? If you dont have any luck, the Power Support anti-glare I heard will do the trick. I have two brand new ones sitting here, but havent tried them.

Here are a couple new shots of my 3GS and my wife's 3G.

 

[WPB2]

I have a good question! How easily does the otterbox screen scratch? Cause once it has em, your pooched

If you already have a screen protector on the phone, do you have to take it off before putting the phone in the otterbox?

No my buddy has a anti-glare on his screen under his otter box screen protector.

 

[Che Castro]

is the 3gs otterbox case the same from the 3g otterbox case?

I bought my ottoerbox case in june for my 3g

since the tittle of the thread says 3gs im assuming this is a new case that otterbox made for the 3gs, different then the one I have now for the 3g?

 

[Pika]

is the 3gs otterbox case the same from the 3g otterbox case?

I bought my ottoerbox case in june for my 3g

since the tittle of the thread says 3gs im assuming this is a new case that otterbox made for the 3gs, different then the one I have now for the 3g?

It's the same thing.

Here's my case.

 

[topherg]

your otterbox came without the plastic screen and the plastic window on the camera and apple logo? Surely not. I assume you mean the shield you peel off. There is not one. I have had four otterbox cases for the iphone 3g and 3gs and none of them came with that membrane you peel off like a screen protector has.

Also the baby powder should not wear off. I have had mine without watermarks for weeks now. Did you dust it on by squeezing the powder? If you dont have any luck, the Power Support anti-glare I heard will do the trick. I have two brand new ones sitting here, but havent tried them.

Here are a couple new shots of my 3GS and my wife's 3G.

thanks for the pics! I'm digging the black on white!! Oops.. On the otterbox it says to remove plastic membrane before putting your iPhone in the case. I emailed otterbox about my screen being scratched over the weekend and today I got an email from them with a tracking number for a new case! Man, I'm really impressed with their customer service!

I might go buy the antiglare screen protector.... Just something about putting babypowder on my iPhone/case that doesn't sit right with me!

 

[dukebound85]

otterbox is based out of my home town lol how cool is that

 

[topherg]

Im impressed with their iphone 3g/3gs case! I've always been skeptical about cases as some can do more bad that good when it comes to scratches! So far the defender case has been great! I'm excited to see what otterbox will come up with next!

 

[nezff]

thanks for the pics! I'm digging the black on white!! Oops.. On the otterbox it says to remove plastic membrane before putting your iPhone in the case. I emailed otterbox about my screen being scratched over the weekend and today I got an email from them with a tracking number for a new case! Man, I'm really impressed with their customer service!

I might go buy the antiglare screen protector.... Just something about putting babypowder on my iPhone/case that doesn't sit right with me!

I have never seen a membrane on the iphone cases. My ipod touch had one on it, but my iphone cases didnt have any membrane. Otterbox has great service. They sent me a whole new case just because of a little tear on the silicon. So I got a new one from otterbox in black. I just combined my white and black one.

The baby powder is not what you might think. There is so little of it on the inside of the otterbox, that you cant even see it.

I tell you what, take a pic of your phone in the otterbox before the anit glare, then take a pic of it after the anti glare and post it for me in this thread. I have two anti glares at home that I might use.

is the 3gs otterbox case the same from the 3g otterbox case?

I bought my ottoerbox case in june for my 3g

since the tittle of the thread says 3gs im assuming this is a new case that otterbox made for the 3gs, different then the one I have now for the 3g?

Yeah they are the same. I ordered mine about a week before the 3gs ipones came out.

 

[Pika]

Wich cloth should I use to clean the inside? Is cleaning the inside part screen shield frequently damage it? Is opening and closing the case damage the clippers?

 

[nezff]

Wich cloth should I use to clean the inside? Is cleaning the inside part screen shield frequently damage it? Is opening and closing the case damage the clippers?

I use a very soft microfiber cloth to clean the whole thing. I dont open mine all the time, I wouldnt know.

 

[topherg]

Wich cloth should I use to clean the inside? Is cleaning the inside part screen shield frequently damage it? Is opening and closing the case damage the clippers?

I use microfiber to clean the case... It's a really sturdy case, I've removed mine at least once a day and I've had my otterbox defender for a week... Clips still clip!

 

[jacobgaul]

this thing is seriously FUGLY