Protecting what is precious to you is a task not taken lightly upon by the folks at OtterBox. I have been using the Defender series for both the 3G and 3GS, and no harm has ever come to the iPhones. No matter if I have dropped the phone when exercising or if one of my children has used it as a chewing toy the Defender has taken the abuse without budging. After months of waiting for the iPhone 4 in Sweden I of course felt somewhat hesitant to handle the phone. What if I drop it, and there are no replacements to be found within Europe? Thankfully I got the sample from OtterBox the day before. With the Defender on I have been able to even hand the new object of desire to co-workers for a quick race in Real Racing.
The new iPhone 4 Defender looks, and feels like military grade equipment. Completely in black with an exoskeleton of rugged plastic almost impossible to dent. The silicone is fastened upon the exoskeleton using hooks, and edges along the sides. For the most time it sits completely in place, but often a part of an edge comes loose when extracting the case from the holster. Just like the original Defender the protection comes in three layers with a plastic sheet built in protecting the screen. This has no problem with watermarks anymore, which is a great development from the original. Instead there seems to be a risk of dust and for example small hairs to enter the case. After a couple of days I have had to remove, and clean out the screen protector. There are no problems using the touch screen, and it feels almost as responsive as if it was naked.
For protection the Defender is the best possible solution for the iPhone 4. The new, and improved holster holds the phone securely even when running. It has a prong holding onto an indentation in the case. The phone can be worn with screen facing in or out, and the holster can be swiveled if you prefer to wear it horizontally or vertically or anywhere in between. The holster is somewhat bulky though, and that is to be expected from a case focusing on survival. All aspects of the phone is protected in the Defender, and there are silicone openings for the headphone jack, ringer switch and charge socket. The case is not waterproof, but certainly water-resistant in a light drizzle.
The Defender feels cool, and mature with it’s almost military look and professional feel. It is pleasant to handle, cleans easily and allows access to all functions. There is one aspect that might be somewhat negative, and that is the fact that it hides the iPhone 4 a bit too well. The cutout on the back showcases the Apple logo but beyond that this could just as well be a really well protected Android phone. To show off the iPhone 4 I have taken the case off completely. The screen protection is somewhat interfering with the great screen when viewed from a slight distance. For my own personal use this is not as evident.
I am truly impressed with the Defender for the iPhone 4. OtterBox could have just made a new version of the 3G/3GS version, but instead they reinvented the entire case. With a secure holster it becomes a perfect choice for anyone working in a harsh environment. As it also looks like something that would be part of military equipment it would not surprise me to see a lot of use from soldiers. The same of course goes for the new case as the old, and that is if you have a clumsy lifestyle you better get one. You know who you are; at least I know I am. And with the carbon black Defender I can both live out my clumsiness, and look cool.
Final Rating
iPhone 4 Defender Series at OtterBox.com $49.95
