Griffin GB02480 Survivor Extreme-duty Military case for the new iPad (4th Generation), iPad 3 and iPad 2, Black

by Griffin Technology

• Independently tested and certified to meet conditions outlined in US Department of Defense MIL-STD-810F and UK Department of Defense Def-Stan 00-35
• Integral Display shield deflects wind and rain (Test: up to 200 mm/hr for 1 hour)
• Rigid internal frame protects against shocks and drops (Test: drop on flat concrete surface from 6'/1.8 m)
• Sealed ports block blown sand and dust (up to 18 m/sec for 1 hour)
• Silicone cladding blocks vibration (18 hrs at 20 to 2000 Hz)

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 0.4 x 11 x 8.5 inches ; 8 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B004SPVZKW
• Item model number: GB02480
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1,268 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #268 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
  • #60 in Electronics > Computers & Add-Ons > Touch Screen Tablet Accessories > Cases & Sleeves > Cases
• Date first available at Amazon.com: March 17, 2011

Product Description

Color: Black

Ridiculously over-engineered? Or the perfect case for your iPad no matter where you're headed? We think it's a little bit of both. Simply put, the Griffin Survivor Case is the most protective case we've ever built. Tested and certified to meet or exceed US Department of Defense Standard 810F, Griffin's Survivor Military-Duty Case is designed from the inside out to protect your iPad from extreme conditions ... dirt, sand, rain, shock, vibration and a host of other environmental factors. Survivor is built on a shatter-resistant polycarbonate frame clad in rugged, shock absorbing silicone. A built-in screen protector seals your Multi-Touch display from the outside environment, while plugs seal the dock connector, camera lens, headphone port, hold switch and volume controls. The included stand clips on, then folds open for landscape viewing and typing. Survivor is independently tested and verified to meet or exceed environmental testing standards for blown rain, blown dust and grit, vibration, shock, temperature and humidity. Griffin Technology began designing and manufacturing technical solutions with an innovative flair in 1992. They have since grown to become one of the largest providers of accessories for personal computing and digital media. Griffin's approach has given birth to some of the best known accessories in the digital entertainment and personal computer markets, including the iTrip family of FM transmitters and the groundbreaking Evolve Wireless Sound System. Today, Griffin designs, manufactures and delivers useful and fun solutions for digital entertainment and personal computing to people in the Americas, Europe, and Asia, through major retailers and online.What's in the box: Technology Survivor Extreme-Duty Case for iPad 2 & new iPad (Black), Position Heavy-Duty Detachable Clip and 1-Year Limited Warranty.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

234 of 241 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Near Perfect June 6, 2011

By John Anderson

Color Name:Black

I love the griffin survivor case. I love the soft yet grippy rubber feel. I love the integrated screen protector. I love the military grade protection that keeps it safe from the curious fingers and inevitable blunders of my daring 9 month old. This case has truly allowed my iPad to become this stay-at-home mom's best companion.

I was at first considering the Otter Box, but after reading reviews on the iPad2 version, I had my doubts that it would have the ruggedness I wanted. And it really isn't that attractive. I also would have had to install Ghost Armor or something to protect the screen - a process that would have kept me from using my new toy for an additional 24-48 hours above the shipping time for all the protective iPad gear. Not acceptable. I have not noticed any loss of touch response from the built in screen cover either. The Survivor is also pleasant to look at. Sure, it's not purple (everything should be available in my favorite color) but it has an elegance to its slight bulk - like the beautiful muscular definition of a dancer.

The included snap on is plenty functional. I was at first worried that, like every case other than the Otter Box, it would require a desk to be functional. Needless to say, as a stay-at-home mom, I am rarely at a desk. With the stand popped open I can still rest it on my lap and type easily. Case in point: I am currently sitting on the bed next to my daughter as she falls asleep. I have not any any trouble using the buttons or accessing any ports with this case, even though they are all completely covered.

Sadly, it does have its faults. It is not ideal for photographers on the go as the camera connection kit does not fit the plastic framing around the connection port. The framing does not interfere with the charging/sync cable but the camera connector pieces are wider than the charger plug and hit the plastic framing before the plug can meet the port. This is a supper bummer for me because part of the reason I got the iPad was so that I could more easily blog and post pictures of my little been sprout for family to see. With the camera connection kit I would have been able to pop the SD card into the iPad at any time and edit, post, and share. As it stands now, I'm still stuck being dependent on the desk top to sync recent pictures.

The only other minor complaint, very minor, is that I think I may still want some kind of travel case for it, just to provide a hard cover over the screen in certain situations - like packing a backpack for air travel. Like i said this is a very minor concern at the moment, considering that I haven't done, nor am I planning to do, anything about this in the near future.

To conclude, the Survivor case has a striking balance between rugged functionality and sleek sensory appeal, like expertly designed kevlar lined leather chaps and jacket on a motorcycle hottie. The only way Griffin could improve on this lovely yet tough case is to widen the plastic framing around the connection port to accommodate the camera connection kit, and perhaps design an accessory snap on hard cover for the screen. This cover would of course have to be compatible with the current snap on stand. I wouldn't want to have to take one off to use the other.

182 of 193 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Design flaw...3 stars, could have been a 5 November 15, 2011

By Cat&Rus

Color Name:Black|Amazon Verified Purchase

We wanted optimum protection possible for our Ipad2 especially since we have two toddlers. After much review of different Ipad2 cases, my wife and I decided to go for the Griffin Survivor. Having served active duty in the Marines, I pushed for this product because unlike its competitors with almost similar protective design, only the Griffin Survivor has port covers! so come sand, rain, wind or shine this was going to be our be-all and end-all Ipad2 case. Well, at least that was the plan. The silicone that connects the bottom port cover is TOO THIN. A week after I started using it, the bottom port cover broke. Thinking that I may have received an anomaly, I contacted Amazon and immediately exchanged it for another...that ones bottom port cover BROKE FASTER THAN THE FIRST ONE(about 3 days). "You're only as strong as your weakest link," maybe I was unlucky with this product compared to others but this was my experience with the Griffin Survivor and with protection compromised, I cant recommend at this time. I will buy this product again once this design flaw is addressed.

57 of 59 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Totally Unusable As Is ... But December 7, 2011

By A. Rothschild

Color Name:Black

The Survivor heads the top of every list of tough child-proof, drop-proof, klutz-proof cases to protect the iPad 2. I've always been an Otterbox devotee but the reviews consistently criticized the Defender for its poor quality. Four or five other cases are on that list including the Gumdrop. I opted for the Griffin but it was on backorder and I needed a case before I got the iPad, so I bought the Gumdrop. My husband urged me to order the Griffin as well because of its reputation, and mine.

I tried out the Gumdrop for two weeks before the Griffin for another two weeks. Both cases feel strong and grippy and have built-in screen protectors. The lack of a built-in screen protector on the Otterbox Defender - which is included in all the other Defender series cases except this one - ruled it out for me. Griffin and Gumdrop weigh about the same as far as I can tell and both feel like they would be equally protective against damage from impact.

These are my findings:

Gumdrop:
- The tabs covering the different ports are very strong and thick. You feel like they're really doing something. I like that. The speaker and cameras are not covered, unlike the Griffin with tabs covering each, but I don't envision submerging my iPad underwater as much as I see it being dropped or thrown onto the floor so the lack coverage over those areas doesn't bother me.
- The thick tab covering the headphone jack prevents my L shaped earphone cord from going in all the way. I discovered this at the gym, to my embarassment. I either have to get new earphones (I'm not likely to replace my etymotic earbuds anytime soon), or get an adapter for them.
- The case smells VERY strongly of tire rubber which did not dissipate even after two weeks. Oddly, it actually looks like a tire. One would think with a name like Gumdrop the case would be slightly cute. Maybe Hummer might be a better name, or John Deere.

Griffin Defender:
- I love the grippiness of the rubber outer case of the Griffin. There's no pattern to make it grippy like the Gumdrop, which relies on the tire tread pattern, where the rubber itself is very smooth. The Griffin has no pattern, but the rubber itself is kind of brushed, and that makes it almost sticky. I prefer the Griffin.
- The stand is useless. The base is very narrow - about 1 1/2 inches. It falls over easily, but its removable.
- I HATE the flaps that cover all the ports on the Griffin, and I would be astonished if they actually provide any significant protection against damage to the iPad. They are thin and move around constantly and seem totally useless, wheras the tabs on the Gumdrop are tough and thick like the case itself. It takes effort to move those tabs. It's impossible to imagine the thin tabs on the Griffin make the case waterproof although they probably keep out the dust pretty well. Even worse is that the tabs covering the back camera and speaker will not stay open for more than about thirty seconds. Imagine your three year old trying to watch Winnie the Pooh with muffled sound. It sucks. The flaps are designed to be held open with a tiny protrusion on the tab that theoretically fits into a corresponding hole in the case. They don't work. They don't stay open. It is so frustrating. I tried taping the speaker flap open - tape doesn't stick to rubber apparently, not even duct tape. I tried to glue it down with rubber cement, and then fabric glue. No good. I finally had success with a rubber band wrapped around the iPad. Pretty. Pretty ridiculous. The flaps are so stupid. They render the case completely unusable.

So which did I keep?

The Griffin. It doesn't smell and it's prettier than the Gumdrop (I don't like the tire tread design). I also didn't want to get an extender cable for my earphones. I thought it would look stupid and make the cord too long, and somehow I resented that I had to adapt my own equipment to accommodate this case. So how did I deal with the Griffin flaps over the camera and speaker? I used an exacto knife and cut them off. Apart from the flaps and the stand I like just about everything else about the case. I like how it looks and feels. I feel confident that it will protect my iPad. And as I said, I don't plan on going swimming with it.