OtterBox is one of the most renowned case-makers in the smartphone industry, having a reputation for making cases that can withstand even the greatest of abuse from various kinds of treatment.
Among two of their most popular cases on the market are the OtterBox Defender Series and the OtterBox Commuter Series, and in this piece, we’ll talk about the ups and downs of each. As a bonus, we’ll even give you a look at OtterBox’s new Statement Series case.
All of these reviews will feature cases for the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus and iPhone 6s Plus because that’s the model of iPhone I have available to test these cases with. The actual product may vary based on the iPhone model you’re using, whether it’s the smaller iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s Plus, or the even smaller yet iPhone 5s, 5, 5c, etc.
Please keep in mind that there are also different color choices available, and I’ve chosen black on black for all my cases because that’s my style when it comes to using cases with my iPhone.
OtterBox Defender Series: The tank for any job
OtterBox’s signature case is certainly the Defender Series case; it’s got that signature round circle on the back that exposes the shiny Apple logo on the back of your iPhone. This is the case you see most OtterBox users using on a day-to-day basis. It’s designed with so much protection that you could probably drive your car over your iPhone and most likely not see any damage.
The case is designed with a durable plastic inner shell that is encased with thick and rugged rubberized sleeve. It’s really hard to imagine any kind of shock ever getting to your iPhone when you feel how thick this rubber sleeve is. All inside the plastic shell are light padding material inserts that your iPhone rests on to prevent scratching inside the case from friction.
I’ve personally used this case for ages before using what I use now, and I feel that it’s something I could depend on when I really need it. In fact, sometimes when I know I’ll be doing something rough, I choose to install this case on my iPhone just for the peace of mind.
Accessibility of buttons and ports
The rubber sleeve covers everything from the back and sides of the iPhone, including the buttons and the ports:
Although this provides a very decent amount of protection, it’s also one of the downfalls of the case. The thick rubberized coating can make it a pain to press the buttons because it requires a lot of force with your finger to actuate them. The ports and ringer/silent switch are also covered, which means you have to lift the flaps to get to each of the ports and the ringer/silent switch.
Fortunately, however, the ports are very effective at preventing lint and other debris from collecting in the Lightning port, headphone jack, and ringer silent switch like it loves to do when there’s no protection at all, and the OtterBox Defender Series also includes cut-outs for the microphone and speaker on the bottom of the iPhone so you don’t lose out on sound quality, whether incoming or outgoing.
Accessibility of cameras and sensors
In terms of accessibility to the iPhone’s cameras when using the OtterBox Defender series, you’ll be happy to know that the case keeps a large enough opening not to interfere with your device’s photography and videography capabilities, and that it won’t cause any glare when using the LED flash.
On the back of the case, the Apple logo is even covered by a thin strip of plastic to prevent scratching of the metal.
Accessibility of Touch ID
The OtterBox Defender Series case comes with a built-in screen protector, but it’s worth noting that it’s a plastic screen protector and is prone to waviness. The screen protector also covers the Touch ID sensor, but despite what you might think, the Touch ID sensor can still pick up your fingerprint through the flexible piece of plastic that is covering the sensor at all times.
Note: It’s a good idea to re-calibrate your Touch ID sensor when using a case like this, because it’s better that your Touch ID sensor gets used to reading your fingerprint through the plastic cover than trying to read a regular fingerprint through a plastic cover that could cause interference. Over all, taking this extra step can help speed up your Touch ID performance when using this case.
The included holster doubles as a kickstand
Now one thing to note about the OtterBox Defender Series case is, well, it’s a brick. There’s hardly any chance of you putting this thing in your pocket in your pants unless you’ve got the baggiest pants known to man, but that’s okay, because this case comes with a very utilitarian holster that doubles as a kickstand, as well as additional protection on the side of your iPhone of your choice.
The holster’s belt clip fastens to any pocket, waist band, or book bag, and ratchets in any direction you need it to in order to get the perfect reaching angle for you. I personally find that the kickstand mode is perfect for watching videos, looking at photograph slideshows, and having FaceTime calls.
Synopsis of OtterBox Defender Series
The OtterBox Defender series is a true tank of a case. It’s made one for someone that demands more heavy duty protection than the average Joe, and works great for people who work in dirty or rough job conditions, such as car mechanics and construction workers just to name a few.
But you don’t have to be a heavy-duty employee to use the OtterBox Defender Series case; it’s also great protection for kids, who you know darned well are going to be rough or careless with their stuff because they’ll rarely think about the fact that they’re holding a device costing well over half of a grand.
Here are some pros and cons of the case:
Pros:
Very durable outer rubber shell keeps most drops and shock at bay.
Inner plastic shell keeps iPhone secure under pressure and movement from falls.
Built-in screen protector offers additional screen protection.
Port covers prevent dust and debris from accumulating in small spaces.
Holster makes carrying easier and doubles as a kickstand.
Huge cut-outs make room for many third-party headphone/speaker/Lightning cables.
Cons:
Thick case makes the iPhone harder to put in your pocket.
Case’s port covers make docking stations incompatible.
Screen protector is wavy and can scratch easily.
Incompatible with tempered glass screen protectors without modification.
Rubber outer shell collects dust easily.
If you need protection, I would rate this case at an easy 5/5, but if you’re a minimalist, I’ll tell you now; you’re going to hate it. The OtterBox Defender Series case for iPhone 6 Plus and iPhone 6s Plus can be had for $39.49 on Amazon.
OtterBox Commuter Series: Medium duty without compromise
If the OtterBox Defender Series seems like a little too much for you, and we could understand why that may be the case (no pun intended), then we think you’ll really like this next one; the OtterBox Commuter Series.
This case is designed as a medium-duty case with similar protection qualities as the Defender Series, but is made to be easier to transport and much more minimalistic. Unlike the Defender Series, which had a rubber exterior and plastic interior, the Commuter series is the other way around, with a plaster exterior and a rubber interior.
Like the Defender Series, this case sports the iconic circular cut-out around the Apple logo on the back of your iPhone so it can still shine in the light.
Personally, this is my favorite of the OtterBox case lineup, because it’s relatively lightweight and slim compared to others, and it’s also still got many of the protective qualities of the Defender Series without being as bulky.
Accessibility of buttons and ports
With the outer shell being plastic this time around, the parts of the case surrounding the buttons and ports on the iPhone are crafted a little differently with the Commuter series.
Unlike the Defender Series, the Commuter Series leaves the iPhone’s ringer/silent switch accessible at all times, but the ports at the bottom of the iPhone are still covered by flaps that you can open or close to prevent dust from accumulating in tight areas and causing problems with using the ports later down the line.
The power button and volume buttons are covered by rubber boots, but they’re significantly easier to press than they were in the Defender Series case due to the fact that the rubber layer is much thinner (and harder).
The cut-outs for the speaker grille and microphone are plenty large enough to prevent sound quality issues when you’re trying to have a phone call with someone, or watch videos on your iPhone, so that’s another good feature of this case that many defensive cases lack.
The cut-outs for the Lightning and 3.5mm headphone jack are large enough to fit even the larger third-party accessories to your iPhone without the worry of fitment being an issue.
Accessibility of camera, Touch ID, and sensors
What you’ll see right off the bat from looking at the front are some of the biggest differences between the Defender Series and the Commuter Series. The Commuter Series, which is a medium-duty protective case, is 100% open on the front, meaning there is no integrated screen protector, and no part of the case covers any part of the front of the iPhone whatsoever.
Fortunately, this means you have very easy access to the front-facing camera, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, speaker, and Touch ID sensor, and it also means you can more easily use third-party screen protectors with your iPhone (Commuter Series even includes a stick-on screen protector in the box).
In terms of the rear-facing camera, you’ll find the same design as on the Defender series, with a cut-out large enough to not interfere with your photographs and not to get in the way of the rear-facing LED flash when you need to use it.
Because the Touch ID sensor isn’t being covered, you won’t have to re-calibrate the Touch ID sensor often, and it’s going to be much faster at unlocking your iPhone in most respects.