Phones now are getting more and more complicated and more fragile. I remember my first cell phone and it would probably have withstood a nuclear attack. Thats ‘not the case with the new one. After one very scary experience I decided I needed to invest in some protection for my phone. The case I decided on was an Otter Box Defender series for my phone. I thought about and researched it pretty long. I’ll share with you the reasons I chose this one and why you need a case.
Drunk Hands
I went a few weeks without buying a case for my phone and was getting a little worried. I liked how thin and light it was, a Samsung Galaxy S III, but at the same time it felt fragile. The even that finally pushed me into getting one involves booze and trying to show off. One night in a parking lot after a night drinking I went to show a friend some YouTube video and the phone fell out of my hand. It seemed like it must have taken forever to finally fall. It hit the pavement to my screams of NO and bounced around. It left a nice chip out of the phone as a reminder to get off my lazy ass and get a case for it.
Research
I thought about hitting Ebay for a Chinese knock off Otter Box case at first. I am cheap and the $50 price tag for a plastic and rubber box seemed a little high. The long list of happy Otter Box customers and the horrible reviews on the Chinese knock offs persuaded me to buy the real thing. I figured if the case kept it from breaking at least once it would pay for itself. I can’t find it know but I read one article where an Iphone in an Otterbox fell off a Mountain on a hiking trip and survived. On YouTube are some impressive drop tests where the phones survive. Knock offs do not have a good track record.
Thoughts
So far I’ve been pretty happy with the Otter Box. It does add weight and bulk to the otherwise tiny phone. What made me think to write this article was that today I went to pull my phone out and it flew out of my hand and bounced around the concrete floor at work. No damage done to the phone at all. Heck It just might have dented the floor a bit. It is definitely a tough case built to take some damage. My only complaint about the phone is the silicone case it comes in. I’ve had mine only a few months and it’s becoming loose and not fitting well. All the people I’ve talked to that have the same case have the same issue. One friend has emailed Otter Box and they are supposed to be sending out a replacement. I’ll have to email them and report back on how they handle this issue. If they don’t I’ll be looking into DIY fixes to it.
What case do you use? Have you smashed a phone without a case? Let me know in the comments!
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I have had 4 Otterbox Defenders for 4 different phones. they really do save you money the first time you drop it on to concrete. I’m currently using a DBA Ultra for my S3. It offers slightly less protection but adds less bulk. I would recommend either based on your own needs.
I can’t use the Otterbox on my HTC Rezound since I put the extended battery in it with the bigger battery door. The battery door is made of a pretty sturdy material and has survived numerous falls. I’ve looked at buying one of the silicone skins for it for corner protection and to raise the edge of the screen up, but I’d have to mod the skin a bit to fit the bigger battery door.
However, the one thing I bought for the phone almost right away that I absolutely swear by is Zagg Skin for the screen protection. I can’t tell you how many times it’s saved my screen. I take my phone jogging and have had the face of the phone skid across the ground on gravel. Picked it up, wiped it off, heated the zaggskin with my breath and able to smooth out most of the dings in the skin. After all the falls it’s been through, it only has one minor blemish on the skin that I don’t even see anymore.
The only thing you have to worry about with Otterbox is make sure you get one and test the fit on it. The one for the Droid Razr Maxx allows a lot of dust under the skin for the screen. Can’t speak to the other phones, but something you have to pay attention to.
My phone (LG Lucid)…lol..i keep meaning to get a case…and maybe a screen protector…but ..it’s been a year without either and this little trooper is still alive after dozens of falls, fumbles, and who knows what else!
I have an Otter box case. I like it.
I have a sIII also and found the bodyglove brand case similar to the otterbox. The only problem the screen protector sticks to the screen. Other than that, awesome case.
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Finally broke down and got a smartphone last year. Got an Otterbox, pretty happy with it.