Customer Reviews

Otterbox 1942-17.5 Defender Case iPhone 3G WHT

5 star:		(55)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

As a person who purchased another case for my iPhone that eventually fell apart and contributed to my cracked screen iPhone, I decided not to take another chance with how I protect my iPhone.

My coworkers thought the black OtterBox Defender Semi-Rugged Case for iPhone 3G(S) was tacky and big. Well I don't care. Luckily I had insurance to cover the cost of the phone the first time around, but the new iPhone 3GS will cost more to replace if it gets damaged.

I was delighted at having this case in white. It's more visually pleasing than the black and pairs well with my white iPhone. It has caught many people's attention and they inquire about the case. To eliminate the echo sometimes heard when using this case, the filter that covers the speakers was eliminated by Otterbox. Excellent decision. No echo now. There is a little ring around the holes to cushion the bottom too.

The case also sits better in the holster with the ratchet clip. The bulk added by this case actually makes holding the phone with your shoulder to talk comfortable. The bulk added actually makes the phone about the same width and height and of other case that went defunct.

If you want to protect your iPhone, this case is the way to go.

First of all, let me say this is a great case for the iPhone. If you want to protect your baby from falls and boo-boos then this is the case for you. It fits well, has covers for all the exposed ports, and is cushiony enough for most falls. It's a bit bulky but provides a solid and non-slippery feel in my hand (I have average woman sized hands).

However, unless you live in a sterile cleanroom (or are Mr. Monk) don't get a white one. Especially if you wear makeup. I returned mine before it had a chance to get grimy but I'm sure it would've just been a matter of time and I didn't want to ruin it. I only got white because I have a white iPhone and was so caught up in the excitement that I didn't think it through.

I went back to the clear Case-Mate that my husband originally bought me with the phone, but otherwise I would get another Otterbox Defender in another color.

BTW, the suggestions on using baby powder to avoid the oil-slick problem really do work. Search youtube for videos showing how to do it. Since that was my main complaint with the Case-Mate I was happy to find that solution.

So if you're considering the Otterbox Defender in another color I'd say Go For It, but I have to recommend avoiding the white one.

I had an otterbox like this for my original iphone so when I upgraded phones I needed a new otterbox. I am out on the water in a small boat alot and I simply would not be comfortable using my iphone on the boat without it. I tried keeping it in a watertight box which was safe but i could not hear it ring or comfortably touch it since I was usually wet! This is an awesome solution. The are careful to say it is not watertight and it definitely is not but on more than one occasion with my previous case, I had a little puddle of water sitting on the screen and it never went through the case! I would not recommend letting this happen but it did not let me down in those rough conditions.
I have dropped it numerous times and never had any problems. On the other hand I dropped my phone face down on gravel a few minutes after taking it out of the otterbox and cracked the LCD screen so apparently you have to leave it in the case if it is going to help! LOL! I used the phone for 6 months with a cracked screen though and this case probably helped keep it from getting worse. The new case (I have had for 1 hour) seems equally well constructed and possibly even more secure but it could be that the silicone on my previous one was stretched out with use.
One thing that is significantly worse than the old version is the 'holster'. The original model would probably have held onto it while you did cartwheels whereas this one will not hold the phone with even slight wiggling. They attempted to make it so that you could use it while it was in the holster but in doing so they did not leave enough to really grab the phone. Although your phone might survive falling out of the holster that won't help you if you don't notice or it falls in the water! I may use this to clip in my bag so that the phone does not get buried but would not trust if for a second clipped anywhere it could fall away!
I chose white because my phone is white and it looks awesome plus it will be easier find in dark lined bags but I have a feeling it will be getting pretty dirty and suspect the silicone will not be cleanable. That is not a flaw with the case, just something to think about!
Also, lots of reviews have commented that this case adds bulk and that it does but there is no way around it for this kind of protection. If you are looking for day to day use and just worry about an occasional drop you may be able to get away with something thinner.
Note: if you used the old model you will be pleasantly surprised that you can now access the silent button through the case!

UPDATE: I just noticed on the MFR website that the holster is designed to hold the phone face in rather than face out as in the old model. It seems to be shown both way in the illustrated 'instructions'. I thought I tried that but must not have tried hard enough! It is quite secure when it is face in! Oops! I would change it to 5 stars if Amazon would let me!

This is one of those amazing products that you simply must have with an I-Phone. I placed a new 3GS in a White Otter Box clipped to the visor of my car.

Exiting the vehicle, my right shoulder knocked it out of the holder and the enclosed I-Phone hit the driver's door jam and rolled end over end 10 feet into a Wal-Mart parking lot.

Amazing product - absolutely no damage. One recommendation - you can remove the plastic film by pushing it off from the rear as the new polymer coating on the 3GS screen makes it seem "wet".

Performance is actually increased and unless you work in an adverse environment, dust, etc... No worries. The best protection period for the I-Phone.

This is the one that you want to protect your iPhone! It does add some bulk to the iPhone, but the trade off is well worth it for the protection. One hint to pass on - as you are putting a plastic case over the iPhone screen, a "bubble" can develope that makes the screen hard to see. Simple solution is to dust just a few grains of baby powder on the plastic case wipe it around and dust it off - then put the case together with the iPhone. You won't see the powder and the "bubble" will be gone.

Dropped my iPhone from pocket to concrete with the otter and no damage. Excellent product!

the otterbox defender case for the iphone is rugged case that will help to keep your phone protected from accidental drops. in my experience with the case for the past month i've noticed the following:

PROS:
1. the protetive silicone skin and hard plastic shell under the silicone skin is a perfect fit.
2. the silicone skin provides "flaps" to cover the ringer switch, headphone jack and port connector from moisture and dust. i don't know why apple doesn't provide a cover for the port jack themselves.
3. the silicone skin has raised indentions for power switch, volume buttons, and home button and they work flawlessly.

CONS:
1. the phone can swiped out of the belt case rather easily. if it drops on a soft surface, you may not notice that it's missing until it's too late.
2. the protective film layer causes a "water trapped under the screen" appearance that everyone complains about. this is a visual distraction and the best solution seems to buy another screen film, so figure another $10 on your total purchase. (be sure to check other recommendations to get the proper screen film!)
3. the shell is fairly bulky and will probably prevent you from dropping in onto a docking station though i haven't tested this myself.
4. certain cables have a flange that is too large to plug into the phone with the protective skin on.
5. the port flaps feel like they eventually tear off. i've been treating my reather gently to prevent this. i'd rather not test its limits myself.

in summary, though i find more faults than praises, the otterbox defender case does exactly what its supposed to do well - protect your precious iphone from damage. i got a few laughs from my friends saying the case is HUGE but i'm for protecting my iphone, not making a fashion statement.

Yes, this product will protect your phone from falls.

HOWEVER - I found it to be a total hassle.

The case takes work to get on and off. It's THREE pieces NOT counting the belt clip: a two-piece hard shell that fits under a silicone outer piece. At work, I stick the phone on the dock when I arrive and pluck it off to go to meetings several times throughout the day. Well - not with this case. The hard shell pieces must snap together and then once you get the silicone cover on, it has all these little plugs that fit into all the little holes in your iPhone AND into all the little holes in the hard shell piece. I counted them: the silicone cover has seven little plugs to fit snugly into the docking port, the headphones jack, the silent switch and then four other holes in the hard-shell case. This is great if you put the case on and just leave it, but it's hard to get at the silent switch even after you remove the plug covering it. You cannot dock this phone with this case on.

Also, with the case on, it is harder to text and sometimes the corner app buttons on the main screen require a few tries before I can get them to work.

I think this would be a good case if you want your phone with you while hiking or biking or something, but it is a giant pain in the neck for everyday.

The case is bulky- but does make me feel that the phone is secure. I do have one charger that will not work on the phone if it is in the case- my other chargers work fine. The case makes talking on the phone a little bit more challenging (you have to line it up just right.. and it may impact the touch screen wen using letters/buttons very close to the sides of the screen.
Overall satisfied with its purpose of protection- have a friend that has dropped his (in the defender) numerous times from high up- and had no trouble

Perfect way to protect your investment. It's really grippy and unlikely to slip from your hand. But even if you should have a mishap, no other case is going to protect like this one. It's a little tricky to remove, and it may need to be removed to fit some docking stations, you may want to take that into consideration. It's not something I do on a regular basis, so that's not a problem for me. I definitely recommend this case.