If you dont like it, stay out of the thread. This is not a beauty contest winner, but will protect the iphone better than many if not any other cases out there.
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 iPhone 3GS review!
- Thread starter nezff
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
If you dont like it, stay out of the thread. This is not a beauty contest winner, but will protect the iphone better than many if not any other cases out there.
I love the way my all black defender case looks!! My friends have dubbed my case "The Batmobile"
I like my Defender case but it absolutely changes the look of the device so drastically that it almost looks like some other brand of phone that happens to be running the iPhone OS. In fact, the first thing I would change in a new Defender design would be to scrap the idea of a window that shows the Apple logo. It serves no purpose except to "show off" that you have an iPhone. I really have no interest in that.
So is your mother, but obviously she was still able to trick someone into helping her conceive you!
I am almost positive at one point I saw an Otterbox case that actually was waterproof, to 12 feet. The case actually has a ear bud jack that plugs into your phone, and you can plug water proof ear buds into the Otterbox case. The only complaints I read were that you had to have ear buds to actually talk on the phone because there is water proof (resistant?) film over the mic and speaker. I just checked Otterbox's site though and I didn't see it anymore...
Thanks for the review nezff.
Thanks for the review nezff.
Hahah. Maybe they got tired of replacing water damaged iPhones!?
In case anyone is interested, here is another water proof case I came upon. Sorry, off thread topic because it's not otterbox, but here it is, and they have an iPhone replacement guarantee.
Http://www.h2oaudio.com/waterproof_armbands_and_cases.php
They only made that case for the original iPhone and everyone complained cause theres a jack built into case that gives you no option of using the phone without headphones....my brother has one that he uses for construction but takes it out whenever he's not working, mine has only left it's case to check the water sensor after dropping it in a full sink...(GB)hehe... and again when i dropped it in a wet gutter when drunk... glad to report im still under warranty
Otterbox is a cool company too they have awesome customer service...I got lucky (in retrospect) and got an opened package from them with my 3G and wrote a complaint to have them take it back and send out a new one and they just sent out another and said to keep the opened one... i left that one on my 3g and used the new one on my 3gs...
I had the watermark screen problem with the first one and kinda fixed it with the powder fix... although it would come back after a few days... so i switched to the using palm sweat/grease and spread it on the screen then wiped it so i couldn't see smudges and haven't seen a watermark since...
Otterbox is a cool company too they have awesome customer service...I got lucky (in retrospect) and got an opened package from them with my 3G and wrote a complaint to have them take it back and send out a new one and they just sent out another and said to keep the opened one... i left that one on my 3g and used the new one on my 3gs...
I had the watermark screen problem with the first one and kinda fixed it with the powder fix... although it would come back after a few days... so i switched to the using palm sweat/grease and spread it on the screen then wiped it so i couldn't see smudges and haven't seen a watermark since...
OK the otterbox defender adds a bit of bulk but it still fits in the pocket and is fit for everyday use (by some)...this h20 audio thing is more fit for snorkeling
The phone is only like 1/4 inch thicker. It doesnt add that much. the iphone itself is 1/2 thick. the otterbox makes it 3/4 thick.
no problem
are those the speaker holes at the bottom? I do know that some people were complaining about a echo from their speakers on the 3GS, but I have not had heard that on my 3GS. I know that otterbox also was taking the cases back from retailers and taking the foam out and sending them back.
Here is some quick pics of the black silicon over the white shell which i think looks pretty darn good.
Can you take a pic of the white silicon over the black hardshell? Im trying to decide on buying a yellow/black or black/black depending on how the black/white combo looks...
I have that combo in my desk. the white on black looks ok. the black on white just looks better.
clip issues
well got the otterbox. very nice, very nice. much less bulk than expected. really not bulky at all. it is the new 'no-echo' version with the foam doughnuts.
there is no echo. the watermark issue still exists with the 3gs. used anti-glare to alleviate but dont like the way the screen looks now. will try a clear protector instead and should be ok.
but my issue is this..... i have watched all the videos of people having one hell of a time getting the case out of the clip. because they were not sliding up just trying to pull outward. mine comes out easier outward than up. too easy actually. i dont feel safe with it at all. one nudge and it is free to fall. yes the screen is facing inward toward the clip. but if i bump it with my arm or apply any amount of outward pressure it is free. i dont like it.
i hope this is not yet another change made to the case. i sent them email about this and am awaiting a reply. i havent seen anyone else reporting this issue other than one here who had the screen outward. it all looks fine and assembled without glitch.
any ideas from the forum? something i might be missing??
thanx
well got the otterbox. very nice, very nice. much less bulk than expected. really not bulky at all. it is the new 'no-echo' version with the foam doughnuts.
there is no echo. the watermark issue still exists with the 3gs. used anti-glare to alleviate but dont like the way the screen looks now. will try a clear protector instead and should be ok.
but my issue is this..... i have watched all the videos of people having one hell of a time getting the case out of the clip. because they were not sliding up just trying to pull outward. mine comes out easier outward than up. too easy actually. i dont feel safe with it at all. one nudge and it is free to fall. yes the screen is facing inward toward the clip. but if i bump it with my arm or apply any amount of outward pressure it is free. i dont like it.
i hope this is not yet another change made to the case. i sent them email about this and am awaiting a reply. i havent seen anyone else reporting this issue other than one here who had the screen outward. it all looks fine and assembled without glitch.
any ideas from the forum? something i might be missing??
thanx
a dock extender [not the cable style] allows me to use my richard solo battery and my bose sound docks while in the case. the flap that covers the port has to be just right as it extends almost as far as the dock extender but its not a problem. it would also fit in the standard dock like this but there is no support behind the phone with my setup. in the bose it can only go backwards a slight bit before it rests on the speaker.....
I haven't had this issue with mine. I'm hoping your service call results in either a new clip, case or both. When facing inward I simply use their described method of pushing inward in the center and it pops up a bit then I just swing it out to the side from there. What you describe is happening when facing inward sounds like the way mine feels when it's facing outward. It doesn't really lock in very well in that position and I don't feel comfortable with it that way. I don't want the screen facing outward anyway, so it's not big deal (except when using it as a stand to watch video, but the lack of grip isn't really an issue then).
Good luck in getting that resolved. I can definitely say they aren't all like that.
I hate to say it but mine is the same way!
I thought I was just being too picky about it and that's just the way it is but I'm constantly checking it to make sure it hasn't fallen out of the clip. And this is with the screen facing in like you mentioned.
I'm paranoid it's going to fall out and I'm not going to notice.
Curious to see what they send you back. Be sure and post it for us! Thanx.
Well I sent email and they answered right away saying they are sending a new clip. Prob won't have it until after the weekend though. I will let you know if that fixed it. Very good service.
Do you guys know if a clear screen protector also fixes the watermark or does it have to be anti-glare? The grain is killing me. I have a DLO on there now and it's funky for me. Maybe a different brand is not so grainy?
Ultimately I was never happy with either the powder or the skin oil tricks so I ended up using a razor knife and cutting the film out of the Otterbox case. Now I rely on my Power Support Crystal Film to protect the display. Yes, I lose some splash protection this way but I'm 100% happy with it as I'm really just after the shock and port protection, like the better feel in the hand with the case, and like the stand that the clip provides.
what are these foam doughnuts you're talking about. i received mine yesterday, and have paper in them. did they send me the older style? mine has the 3gs sticker on the box
what are these foam doughnuts you're talking about. i received mine yesterday, and have paper in them. did they send me the older style? mine has the 3gs sticker on the box
the foam doughnut is inside. it seals the mic/speaker to the area covered by the white material in your photo. surely we have the same things..
they look like those adhesive paper circles you would stick on notebook paper to beef up the holes. but made out of foam. one of mine was stuck on slightly covering the opening and i slid it over a bit.