[Q] otterbox or case-mate

[AL01412]

I have an outerbox defender and I like it a lot. Ive had for about 2 weeks and no complaints so far.

 

[motherninja]

My Otterbox Commuter just delivered to my doorstep 5 days ago, and I feel just happy about it. The price won't lie, Otterbox price is so expensive compared to other cheap-ass hard rubber case from some Hong Kong based company (Ca****e), but I rest assured that you will have the best protective case for your DHD without any dissappointmen like loose fitment or bad materials.

 

[Zeitraffer]

I'm using my Otterbox Commuter for a couple of months now and it's great.

It keeps your phone protected all the time, it doesn't slip as easy as before and I can use my Desire everyday without fear that it gets broken after just one fall.

 

[cwhitney24]

Otter box for sure. It has saved my phone many times at work. I carry my otter box on one side of my body and my Springfield XD40 on my other. Best protection.

I got your 10 char right here

abso Bacon Mod

 

[dmatti01]

I've had the otterbox commuter for the last 11 months. It has survived kids dropping it, me dropping it and being bashed around airport security xray boxes too many times.

I can't recommend it enough, although I will agree that the plastic outer cover makes it easy to slide off a smooth dashboard etc, I think it actually makes it easier to hold than the the naked phone.

Mines lasted nearly a year... and still going strong.

 

[apad]

Just got my new phone (am i outdated?), bought Case mate barely there for RM30 (around USD 10), look good, not testing the GPS reception yet. but wifi got a weaker signal (-10db) from my previous HTC Hero. FM Radio also got difficulties to scan (related to the case or the headset?).

 

[mrpaulharris]

seido case

Just got my new phone (am i outdated?), bought Case mate barely there for RM30 (around USD 10), look good, not testing the GPS reception yet. but wifi got a weaker signal (-10db) from my previous HTC Hero. FM Radio also got difficulties to scan (related to the case or the headset?).

I love my Seido case, 2 slides over the sides and covers the edge of screen (just barely)

 

[matthew33]

Dropped my phone with the Otterbox Commuter on, a few times now...and that split-second gut wrenching feeling when it leaves your hands and heads towards the floor is horrible....but thank god for Otterbox, as each time i've picked it up.....NO damage......phew!!

Otterbox rocks.

I used to own a HD2 and bought a case similar to otterbox, but a cheap nasty non-branded Ebay version for about £2.00.....first time i dropped it, it hit the floor, the case broke into 3 pieces and screen smashed on my phone...I was gutted.

So, advice is...DON'T buy any of the cheap rubbish...go for the good ones, like casemate or otterbox etc.

Matt

 

[EvilDeadFan]

I have an Otterbox Commuter case. There is a thin section between the power switch and the volume rocket that cracked on me within the first month of ownership. Now I barely use the case, only as a rugged option when going camping.

When I thought about it, most of the phone is solid aluminum, and the glass is Corning's Gorilla Glass. Not a lot of need for protection since I don't drop the phone.

 

[_Man0waR_]

Well I know it was mentioned a few times already, but I have the same crackling issues with the Otterbox Commuter. I took great care of my phone and it never felt. I had the case for about a year though. I took the case off a few times to clean it, and it was enough to damage it I guess.

 

[Dlog]

I have an Otterbox Commuter case. There is a thin section between the power switch and the volume rocket that cracked on me within the first month of ownership. Now I barely use the case, only as a rugged option when going camping.

When I thought about it, most of the phone is solid aluminum, and the glass is Corning's Gorilla Glass. Not a lot of need for protection since I don't drop the phone.

I've recently seen an iphone 4s that was dropped on one of the corners. The glass has lots and lots of cracks in it. Gorilla glass is a great protection against things that scratch over the display but i don't think it will help much if you drop the DHD on one of it's corners.

On the other hand a lot of people drop their phone every other day. I wouldn't count on the aluminium unibody to just look like new after a year.

Well I know it was mentioned a few times already, but I have the same crackling issues with the Otterbox Commuter. I took great care of my phone and it never felt. I had the case for about a year though. I took the case off a few times to clean it, and it was enough to damage it I guess.

I got my first cracks from dropping the phone.
The small parts at the power button and the usb port are both broken and i've got cracks in all 4 corners.
As you said taking off the case only make it worse.

I used superglue to glue the cracks together and then glued paper stripes on the cracks.
After that i painted the stripes black with a permanent marker.
Now the case is as good as new.

 

[Outback_Jon]

My Otterbox Defender case has saved my phone several times already. Well worth the investment.

My only complaint is that the rubber is getting a little stretched out, but it is still quite usable. I figure with the abuse I put it through, if I have to replace it once a year (though I don't think it will be quite that often) it is still well worth it.

 

[TwistedSanity666]

So I've had the commuter for almost 5 months now, have dropped the phone on a number of occasions and its still going, albeit, it now has a major crack on the back of the case .

I will say one thing, the rubber at the bottom (near the USB connection) is quite thin, and becomes quite flimsy on this case.

It's definitely saved my phone, so I wouldn't bet against. In terms of useful life, I'd say it depends on how you personally use your phone. I'm generally quite careful, yet I've managed to drop mine on a number of occassions.

Have ordered the Case Mate tough case as a backup; will put that on once this one finally dies.

 

[EvilDeadFan]

My reply is to your comment that I highlighted in red, which was in reply to my post.

All iphones prior to the Iphone 4 and 4S used to use Gorilla glass, however "Lens Technology International" is the current supplier for all glass for the Iphone 4 and 4S.

I do realize that once I go camping, biking, hiking or something like that, I'll put the case on, but for the every day where it sits in my pants or jacket pocket, then makes a smooth transition to a table without dropping it, or just for other every day regular use in the car etc, there is no need for other protection since the aluminum frame can sustain quite an impact, and so can Gorilla glass for any "accident" that might occur during my own use as I'm quite careful with my phone.

I've recently seen an iphone 4s that was dropped on one of the corners. The glass has lots and lots of cracks in it. Gorilla glass is a great protection against things that scratch over the display but i don't think it will help much if you drop the DHD on one of it's corners.

On the other hand a lot of people drop their phone every other day. I wouldn't count on the aluminium unibody to just look like new after a year.



I got my first cracks from dropping the phone.
The small parts at the power button and the usb port are both broken and i've got cracks in all 4 corners.
As you said taking off the case only make it worse.

I used superglue to glue the cracks together and then glued paper stripes on the cracks.
After that i painted the stripes black with a permanent marker.
Now the case is as good as new.

---------- Post added at 01:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:48 PM ----------

I hope you realize that there is a lifetime warranty for your commuter case. If its broken, simply contact them and they will send out a replacement. My commuter case broke in the exact same way, but not from being dropped.. simply by using the power button and volume rocker often while in the case itself. Otherwise its quite tough for being so thin and small.

So I've had the commuter for almost 5 months now, have dropped the phone on a number of occasions and its still going, albeit, it now has a major crack on the back of the case .

I will say one thing, the rubber at the bottom (near the USB connection) is quite thin, and becomes quite flimsy on this case.

It's definitely saved my phone, so I wouldn't bet against. In terms of useful life, I'd say it depends on how you personally use your phone. I'm generally quite careful, yet I've managed to drop mine on a number of occassions.

Have ordered the Case Mate tough case as a backup; will put that on once this one finally dies.

 

[radtech777]

I had a nearly identical crack to the one pictured a couple of posts back on my Commuter. Yesterday I called customer service, told them what was going on. Just a few questions later, the told me they would put a new hard shell in the mail. Whole call took 5 minutes. I'll never buy anything but otterbox from here on. Great service.

 

[paul c]

I had a nearly identical crack to the one pictured a couple of posts back on my Commuter. Yesterday I called customer service, told them what was going on. Just a few questions later, the told me they would put a new hard shell in the mail. Whole call took 5 minutes. I'll never buy anything but otterbox from here on. Great service.

Excellent service, though it's bad that Otterbox cases are cracking always/often in the same place.

And as for taking care of the phone, so you don't need a case - those of us that use a case... it's not that we are careless, or drop our phones out of curiosity, sometimes despite the best will in the world, s**t happens.