Otterbox SAM2-I515X-20-E4OTR Defender Series Hybrid Case & Holster for Samsung Galaxy Nexus - 1 Pack - Retail Packaging - Black

by OtterBox

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 4.2 x 1.9 inches ; 4.5 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B006JO232E
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: SAM2-I515X-20-E4OTR
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,167 in Cell Phones & Accessories (See Top 100 in Cell Phones & Accessories)

Product Description

The Defender Series is rugged, essential smartphone protection. This case is made of a clear protective membrane, high-impact polycarbonate shell and durable silicone. It provides added protection against scratches, dust, drops, bumps and shock.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Quality, highly protective case IF you're OK with added bulk..., December 23, 2011

By 

Nathaniel Allen (Oakland) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Otterbox SAM2-I515X-20-E4OTR Defender Series Hybrid Case & Holster for Samsung Galaxy Nexus - 1 Pack - Retail Packaging - Black (Wireless Phone Accessory)

Just want to start off this review with a disclaimer: Otterbox Defenders are known to be bulky compared to the "skin" style cases such as the popular Diztronic Flexible TPU Case. This review is written with that in mind -- I'm not knocking this case's size, because we're all aware of that going in.

And in answer to another question that is sure to arise, YES, this case is compatible with the Samsung Galaxy Nexus 2100mAh Extended Battery & Cover. The extended battery comes with a replacement back for the phone that results in perhaps an extra millimeter of thickness, making the fit of the Otterbox Defender snug, but just so. It fits.

If you're in love with the subtle curve of the Nexus' screen, a word of warning: this case makes it disappear. As you can see from the photos I've added, there is a slight curve evident when the phone is set, face down, on a flat surface. But the bulk of the case really makes the phone appear to be dead flat up front. The back, however, attempts to maintain a bit of the tapered curve, and even has nicely rounded edges that make this monster more comfortable and natural to hold.

The case is actually four components, as follows:

1. There's a hard plastic "inner" case that is actually two pieces, a front and a back that snap together around the phone. This hard plastic has cutouts appropriate for the display screen, front & rear cameras + flash, LED notification, speakers & mic, prox sensor, headphone & MHL (USB) port, plus the volume rocker and power button.

2. Glued into the hard plastic case is a "thicker-than-mylar, thinner-than-a-credit-card" screen protector. That's right, it's a rigid plastic screen protector, and it can't be swapped out.

3. The whole plastic shell is wrapped by a substantial silicone boot. The edges of the boot engage with a channel around the face of the plastic shell to "lock it in" and, for the most part, give it a very integrated look. The boot has two very pronounced solid block protrusions that carry button presses down to the power and volume switches on the phone. Cutouts are present for front and rear mics, camera & flash, rear speaker. Silicone flaps cover the MHL and 3.5mm audio jack, and these flaps are held securely closed by channels on the hard plastic shell. The back of the rubber is lightly textured for improved finger grip. The boot itself is soft and not overly sticky/grippy -- in fact, a little "slippery." So it doesn't give me too much of a problem in my pockets whereas some silicone cases tend to grip pocket material -- as in the actual cloth in my pants or jacket -- making inserting or retrieving my phone a nuisance, and collecting pocket lint in the process. The Otterbox boot *mostly* doesn't have a problem with that.

4. Lastly, there's the holster, which is, in fact, optional. The phone snaps in securely, either facing out or facing in, and the spring loaded belt clip rotates a full 360° to allow the whole contraption to be worn in any orientation. To round things out, the holster doubles as a desktop stand and holds the phone in a not-quite vertical landscape orientation, for media consumption.

One benefit of having a phone as thin as the Galaxy Nexus is that a relatively bulky case such as this can be fitted without causing the phone to resemble a paperback book. And without the holster, my rubberized Nexus still slides easily into pant, jean and coat pockets.

But let's talk about some of the negatives:

- The holster blocks the 3.5mm audio jack -- so no wired headphones if you're using it as a desktop stand.
- The case covers the 3-pin connector on the side of the phone. But considering the phone with *any* case will never fit into a Samsung desktop dock or vehicle mount that might make use of those connectors, it's a bit of a moot point.
- I've noticed the hard plastic frame around the screen obstructs the movement of icons and widgets to the next left screen on my Home page. It's just in the way by maybe a millimeter, causing me to have to "re-grab" the icon closer to its right edge to be able to force it on over to that next page. A minor annoyance that doesn't affect day-to-day use, except for when I'm rearranging icons & widgets.
- The cutout surrounding the camera lens & flash is a finger magnet. I almost wish this came with a removable plug to provide protection in day-to-day use, because having a recessed, oily camera lens is not good for snapping pics.
- The silicone cover is just every-so-slippery, and with the extra weight added to the phone (mine now weights 210 grams / 7.4 ounces with the case + extended battery), if I'm sitting around lazily ingesting a longer YouTube clip, the phone tends to want to droop a little out of my grip.
- The mic port cutout in the boot is just every so slightly misaligned. This hasn't caused a muffled audio problem on the other end of my calls that anyone has pointed out, but the potential is there. It would be easy to correct with some precise work with a razor blade.
- I don't want to knock the integrated screen saver too much, but it has these faults:
(1) It collects lint and dust underneath (between the screen protector and the screen)
(2) It has a slight, slight unevenness to it -- I can feel a "wave" as I run my fingertip across its length
(3) It is not independently replaceable if I scratch or damage it, and there's no way I'm going to slap a stick-on screen protector over it!
(4) It is a fingerprint magnet, especially in contrast to the bare Nexus screen, which incorporates a oil-resistant coating
(5) There is a slight rainbow discoloration to it at certain viewing angles and/or brightnesses, AND it makes off-angle reading slightly fuzzy

But in day to day use, the Otterbox screen protector is very invisible to me. I'm impressed that this hunk of clear plastic sitting between me and my phone doesn't present itself as more of an obstruction.

And that can be said for the Otterbox Defender case as a whole. Yeah, there's no getting around its bulk. But it has a level of finish that is betrayed by its size, and I trust it to keep my silicon, glass and plastic toy from getting too banged up -- because I know those few accidental drops my last phone survived are only going to be rougher on a phone with a screen this size.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great case with a few exceptions, January 16, 2012

By 

J. Greco - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Otterbox SAM2-I515X-20-E4OTR Defender Series Hybrid Case & Holster for Samsung Galaxy Nexus - 1 Pack - Retail Packaging - Black (Wireless Phone Accessory)

I have had this case for about a month now and the case that holds the phone has proven it does protect the phone. the other day my phone fell out of the clip and was kicked across the street into a snow bank. It was there for 15-20 minutes as I didn't immediately relize it had fallen. When I found it there were some scratches on the case and water all over, but the phone inside was unharmed. I took the case off the phone, cleaned and dried it off and put it back on the phone.

The downside to this case is the clip that holds the phone to your belt, I have had the clip pop off my belt as it catches on the stand somehow. this usually happens getting into out out of the car. The phone also does not always snap securely into the clip as mentioned above it seems like it's locked into place but does fall out. If you are in a rush the likelyhood of the phone securely locking into the clip is low.

From a protection standpoint the case around the phone is 5 stars. The clip that holds the phone to your belt is 1 star.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Belt clip breaks easily - Two failed for me, February 20, 2012

By 

Tony Lekas (Hudson, NH) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Otterbox SAM2-I515X-20-E4OTR Defender Series Hybrid Case & Holster for Samsung Galaxy Nexus - 1 Pack - Retail Packaging - Black (Wireless Phone Accessory)

The holster is great except for one problem that makes it useless. I bought the first one from Verizon when I got the phone. The case worked well for me. A few weeks later, as I was getting out of my vehicle, the back edge of the case, which I had horizontally on my belt, apparently caught on something and the clip broke. It did not just pop off. The part with the holes for the pin on the holster broke off of the clip on both sides. Verizon would not replace it.

I thought it might be a fluke and because I was otherwise happy with the holster I ordered another one on Amazon. Within two weeks the same thing happened in a different car. I am not small but not huge, 6'2" and 250#. I don't think I was doing anything unusual.

I will be looking for a different case. I understand that the clip cannot be infinitely strong but before breaking it should either come off of the belt or the clip should pop off in a way where it can be replaced. Other holsters do work this way. I was not applying great force to it. I did not get hung up on something and then force it. Just my normal movement getting out of the vehicles broke it. Because I had two fail in 2-3 weeks I am giving it one star.

My issue is not with the seller but with Otterbox.