Review: OtterBox Defender one tough iPhone 3G case
Posted by Dennis Sellers 
Sep 30, 2008 at 7:00am
Otter Product’s Defender for iPhone 3G, a US$49.95 semi-rugged case, provides great protection for the communications device—even if it is a pain to figure out how to use the first time. It lets you access volume control, camera, touch-screen and phone functions.
The OtterBox for iPhone Defender Series includes a hi-impact polycarbonate shell that snaps together to safeguard the device and an interactive, scratch-resistant polycarbonate membrane to protect screens from dust and light water intrusion. However, opening the case requires releasing three snaps. Though I had printed instructions, it still took me a while to find and release the three snaps.
Eventually, I did and inserting the iPhone was easy after that. What’s more, a silicone skin wraps over the shell to add grip and absorb bump and shock. From my experience, the OtterBox Defender is one of the toughest, most productive iPhone cases around, if not the most svelte.
Three Donaldson Acoustic Vents protect front speaker, bottom speaker and microphone openings of the iPhone case to allow sound transmission while keeping out dust and moisture—which makes the Defender useful for active use (though it’s not—I repeat, NOT—waterproof).
The case—weighs 1.9 ounces and measures 4.81 by 2.675 by 0.76 inches—provides access to sync/charge and headphone jacks through a silicone plug, and the proximity sensor remains fully functional. Home, sleep/wake and volume buttons remain accessible through silicone pass-through buttons. The OtterBox includes a holster style swivel belt clip for hands-free carrying.
The Defender is available in black and coming soon in white, black/yellow and pink. It accommodates the iPhone 3G (both 8GB and 16GB models).
The OtterBox Defender is a sturdy, well-designed case. Just don’t get too frustrated the first time you use it.
Macsimum rating: 8 out of 10.
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Dennis Sellers
Dennis has been a newspaper editor/reporter (seven years) and teacher (seven years). He has over 4,000 magazine, newspaper and online articles to his credit. He has also covered the Mac and tech industries for over a decade for such online publications as MacCentral, MacMinute and now MacsimumNews.
