OTTERBOX DEFENDER SERIES Case & Holster for Apple iPhone 4/4S Retail Packaging - Black

So I have wanted one of these for a while now and went on and read a LOT of the reviews here on Amazon. To be honest some of the poor reviews had me a little worried! But I am leaving this review to ASSURE you that nearly ALL of the negative reviews were definitely coming from operator errors (if you get my drift) and people who didnt have ANY idea what they were buying... Clearly the Defender series is going to be a little beefy. Which I would HOPE is why your looking at this sort of case! For a big-bad iphone defending case! and that is JUST what you get! So the reviews on size I feel are unfair, based on the fact that you should have known its a sturdier case. (I find this NO problem for the protection it provides. Being a girl, I couldnt fit an iphone in my pants pocket to begin with, so its not an issue...And I would like to stress its not THAT big. Some people (a good number) have complained about a hole on the top being for the headphones being on the wrong side...This is NOT the case people! You must open the flap to use your headphones...The hole is for the MICROPHONE! So do not fret. There is NO issue there...just people simply misunderstanding the product. I read multiple reviews where people complained about being able to charge or undo the bottom flap, etc. Ok. It is silicone people. soft, flexible silicone...So NO you DONT need to completely take apart the cover to charge your phone. You simply lift that flap and plug in your phone. There is NO issue with it closing, because its not supposed to be closed OR completely open while charging...Again, silicone does not hinge... In fact, I am charging my right now with zero issue. All the flaps are really easy to open and close and I see no issue with them being flimsy, or too firm either. I saw one or two people say they thought it decreased the sensitivity of the screen. I have not had that problem. As long as you get the right model and it fits well there is no reason for it to have any effect, it is just a regular old screen guard just like any other you'd buy on the market and shouldnt (and wont) effect the use of your screen. The people who complained that it messed up the lightness of the screen may have had it set to auto, and I know mine sometimes in certain light decides to stick with a darker back light setting than I would prefer. So once again, I am sure this is something that one could adjust in the settings of your phone, and not be a problem with the case. So in conclusion, this is an AWESOME product. If you are looking for a really tough case, that looks great and you UNDERSTAND that a thin, one sided, snap on case will not be very tough...then this is for you! Please note that a LOT of the negative reviews come from people's misuse or misunderstanding of the product. NOT the product itself. I cant say how happy I am with this product and I am SO glad I went ahead regardless of those negative reviews.

I bought first OtterBox when I bought my iPhone 4s. Used it for 18 months and decided to replace it (more below). During the total of 2 year’s service, the iPhone took 3 drops over 6 feet, dozens from about waist/chest high, three drops into water deep enough to submerge the iPhone, and once into the potty i have just finished using. Pat drying for the submerging drops (after careful disassemble & rinsing THAT time,) and the iPhone worked perfectly every time, no blemishes, no scratches, just worked every time (I did leave it turned off a day THAT time to make sure it was dry.) No problem seeing, no sensitivity problems. Just worked. At the 11 month point I was carrying a heavy box which the OtterBox was providing a lot of support. (?? An iPhone case holding up a box?? Yep! The OtterBox has helped carry a lot of things.) Well, this time it was too much support- the OtterBox Belt Clip broke! (It had every right to!) And I had to replace the Belt Clip. What? Replaced the $5 Belt Clip?? Yes!!! I replaced only a PART of the OtterBox! Parts for an $30 product-Amazing! Amazing Amazon, again. While Apple gets some credit, OtterBox get some also! I have heard many stories of MUCH less damage killing iPhones. Then, at 18 months, I purchased my wife an iPhone and noticed how smooth and shiny it was. When I next used my iPhone, it was a little harder to read, very useable, but worn. I took the iPhone out of the OtterBox-it was still smooth and shiny! Like new! The iPhone, that is. The OtterBox was packed with dirt and lint in every nook and cranny and the screen was scratched with one REALLY DEEP cut that would have scratched the iPhone. Or broke it. I cleaned the OtterBox as best as I could and stuffed the cleaned iPhone back in the OtterBox My iPhone has spent less than 12 hours outside its OtterBox. Breathed a sigh of relief and ordered this replacement OtterBox. A well-deserved gift to my iPhone. (My only change would be to put a ¼-20 nut-insert into the OtterBox case or clip so it would be a tripod adapter for the iPhone. That would be sweet.) The iPhone 4s is once again very easy and bright to read and use-just like new. No one who has used my iPhone ever complained about the OtterBox in any way. Many have admired it and said they were going to buy one. Did I mention I am a mechanical engineer who carries my iPhone every waking hour, at work or play, in my home work shop, in industrial shops, in many difficult environments, and everywhere else I have been for 2 years. And my 2 year old iPhone 4s is still as smooth and shiny as the day I purchased it in the second week it was available. Thank you, OtterBox for a perfect job well done!! I am not sure I have had any product of any kind perform as flawlessly as my OtterBox. THAT is a very exceptional accomplishment! I would rate it a strong 6 stars on the scale of 1-5. Maybe even 7 out of 5. It is that exceptional. If you own an iPhone, put it in an OtterBox. It may not protect the iPhone from everything, but it has protected mine from everything, including the kitchen sink. And the bathroom sink, and that other bathroom thingy.

I've had this case for my iPhone 4S for 2 months now and it works great, and I just got a new one on Amazon for my wife's 4S. I'm amazed at how much trouble some people have when assembling it. If you watch the online video on the OtterBox site, it will take maybe 5 minutes total. Brain-dead easy. Regarding some of the other complaints people have made: - It's too bulky . . . Actually, it's a lot less bulky than I originally expected once I saw it in-person. Thicker than the typical rubber or metal 3-sided case or bumper, but definitely not "scary-thick." Plus, I'm a notorious "dropper" of phones, having ruined a few Razrs in the past, and this case really does a great job. I've probably dropped my iPhone accidentally from several feet onto concrete 4 to 5 times since I got my case, and have had no problem at all. - It's hard to pull out of my jeans . . . maybe for tight girl-jeans, but regular guy-jeans are fine for the most part, although you WILL see a small resistance due to the soft exterior. But nothing that's unbearable. Once again, the protection makes up for any small inconvenience, and I prefer the slightly textured rubber exterior for normal phone use versus smooth plastic. Makes for a solid grip that doesn't slip out of my hand. - It's hard to remove the case from its holster with one hand . . . maybe if you have arthritis or some other malady. But I do it with one hand while on a ladder or in similar one-handed situations all the time. - The belt clip is flimsy . . . by what standard? I've found it easy to use and it has held up well under repeated use. - The flap on the top covers my microphone . . . actually, the flap on the top of the 4S version doesn't cover the 4S microphone (the hole in the flap is for the mike), but it DOES cover the headphone jack, and that is by design in order to help keep dust away from the phone. If you have a 4S, you just need to make sure you get the case that's DESIGNED FOR the 4S, not the one for the 4. Some people find the flap inconvenient for headphone use, I like it for keeping dust out. And it's rubber, not plastic as one reviewer commented. - This case is a fake, and not a real OtterBox. That's why it's so cheap on Amazon . . . I've now bought 2 off this SKU on Amazon, and both are completely legit. Same build-quality as normal from Otter Products, and I've compared the box, print, etc. at 2 retailers. Exactly the same. If yours isn't, I would bet that Amazon will make it right. Most things cost less at Amazon. Enjoy it. - The holster is too geeky to use . . . well, yeah I get that, if you're trying to get a date or at least, not look like you're stuck in the '90's. But if you climb on ladders or climb rocks or hike a lot, you'll be glad you have one for those scenarios. Or if you need to transport it in a gym bag or piece of luggage and want to protect the glass front. My wife (as one would expect the case to be with most women) wouldn't be caught dead wearing one, but likes the idea of using it to protect the front of her phone when in a similar situation. I haven't had either of mine long enough to experience any tears or other fatigue on the rubber flaps, and I don't use a docking system, so I haven't experienced the problem others have encountered with their docks not being usable any longer without an adapter. (If I do run into problems with the flaps, Otter Products has already said they'll stand behind the design. Either way, I'll return here and report on it.) But this is by far the best overall case for the money that I've found in 6 months of searching. The only other case I considered seriously was the Lifeproof, but at $80, the price was a bit stout. However, if you expect to be in wet conditions a lot, and/or simply prefer a thinner case and one with a smooth plastic feel, the price difference is not that high when you consider it's protecting a $200-$400 investment at minimum, so you might want to check that one out. But at the Amazon price and for my purposes, the OtterBox Defender can't be beat.

First of all, if you want to protect your iPhone, this is a terrific case. If you want sleek and flashy, keep looking. Don't get me wrong, I like the way the phone looks with the Otterbox on it but there just are not any sequins or monograms. This is really two cases in one, or, a case with a rubberized cover. When you open the package, you will notice a plastic "clam shell" case that you snap over the phone. The second part of the case is the rubberized cover which wraps around the phone. The negative BUT NECESSARY results about this case is that it will double the thickness of the phone and make it heavier. This case includes a shield that protects the screen so no need to buy those expensive screen protectors. The only exposed area of the phone are the holes for the speakers, microphones, and camera lens. When I first put the case together, I thought the same as the previous reviewer that the earphone jack hole was in the wrong place. That assumption is incorrect. The hole on the top of the phone is for the secondary, noise-cancelling, built in microphone. The earphone jack is intended to be covered when not in use in order to keep dirt from getting into the hole for the jack. Just like the power cord and mute switch, the flap has to be opened in order to plug the earphones in. Speaking of flaps, they are a necessary evil when it comes to total protection. Putting them back in place requires a bit of patience but it is not a big deal. All of the functions of this case are protected. Each button, the volume, power, and control button are under the cover. The screen is also under a protective rubber shield. I was concerned that the interface would be hindered but everything works well even with the added layer between my hand and the screen/buttons. The buttons are quite responsive and the screen taps, scrolls, etc, seem to work just as well as they did before I installed the case. A huge bonus about this case is how my telephone reception IMPROVED. Getting my first iPhone was becoming a very frustrating experience due to a very high amount of dropped calls. For some reason, getting that barrier between my hand and the phone itself has dramatically improved my reception resulting in virtually no dropped calls. I definitely like the feel of my phone much better with the case than I did with no protection at all. Lastly, you may be surprised to find that this case may change the appearance of the color of your phone. My phone is black but the plastic case is white. From the front and side views, you would think my phone is white. It is not until you look at the back side of the phone that the black shows through the hole for the apple logo. The only thing I do not use or particularly care for is the holster that comes with the phone. I am using a leather pouch and prefer it instead of the snappy, hard holster. (Just a preference, not a knock) I recommend you look at the Otterbox at a retail store like AT&T before you buy it sight unseen from Amazon. The store I viewed them at was selling them for $50 and I purchased mine on Amazon for $32.60. Good luck!

UPDATE, SEPTEMBER 2013: I have good news, and I have bad news... but still 4 stars (actually 3-1/2 but I had to round up ). HISTORY: I just bought a new Defender case for my iPhone 4S, meaning the old one lasted about 1 year with daily use. The holster caught in my seat belt and when I got out of the car (not realizing what had happened), the belt clip snapped into 3 pieces. Over the course of the year, the "latch" that turns the holster into an easel snapped off (I never used it but it just cracked off one day on its own), and one of the all-important side clips on the inner case snapped off so I could only put the iPhone into it one way & the inner case loosened. Due to this damage & the ongoing loosening/stretching of the outer rubber case, instead of just buying a replacement holster (a GREAT "feature" of this case is that you can do that!), I went for a complete replacement. THE GOOD NEWS: Otterbox is listening; all those complaints about flaps tearing off or the rubber portion of the case deforming must've been heard because the new version is much sturdier, especially the big flap that covers the docking port. Also, the fit seems tighter, and the outer (soft rubber) and inner (hard plastic) cases seem to mate together more tightly. THE BAD NEWS: The bottom flap now puts noticeable pressure on the docking cable, so I'm a little worried about that. The case also feels slightly bulkier, and is a lot more persnickety about snapping into the holster (tighter fit). THE WORST NEWS: The screen protector is not flat; it actually bows up a little in the center, so I'm having to use more pressure to actually activate anything on the touchscreen -- a royal PITA in most cases. (If you're a gamer, this will definitely interfere with what you're trying to do.) I'll see how the new, heavier rubber case behaves over the next few months. ------- NOTE: SEE NEW MARCH 2013 UPDATE/ADDENDUM AT THE BOTTOM! Having read a number of reviews of different "heavy" cases for my new iPhone 4S, I went with the Otterbox Defender because it seemed to offer the best combination of price, ruggedness, and convenience. The reviews included problems that I felt were minor enough to overlook... and so far that seems to have been right. I needed the case for a trip to the beach (important note: the Defender is *NOT* waterproof, I knew this in advance) and it arrived a couple of days ahead of time. There were a few awkward minutes actually installing it on the phone (the inner plastic shell seems very, very picky about how its edges & latches line up) and it took a couple of minutes to get all the edges of the rubber outer case positioned properly, but since then it has held up to everything I've thrown at it -- including two unplanned drops onto hard surfaces from a height of approx. 36 inches. Now that I've had the case for two months (haven't taken it off the phone since installing it), here are some of my impressions & experiences: 1)The case is on the beefy side; it DOES add to the heft of the phone. The first time a relative with an iPhone 4S in a bumper-type case picked mine up, she immediately asked why my phone was so much heavier than hers. It's also bulkier; you'll risk ripping pockets off men's dress shirts. I'm very glad the case comes with a plastic clip/holster. On the other hand, the phone's been well-protected, and I even feel okay with my 3-1/2 year old niece playing with it (supervised), so the beefiness is actually A Good Thing. 2) The rubber outer case has stretched and loosened a bit since I installed it. Not much, but enough for the phone to sometimes feel like it's slipping around inside when squeezed (e.g., when playing a game). It's minor but definitely something I'm going to keep an eye on over time. 3) The flaps on the outer case that cover the iPhone's ports & sockets don't always want to stay in place. Again, nothing major (yet) but kind of annoying when they catch on things. 4) The big flap on the bottom that covers the docking port seems to be actively trying to get itself torn off the case. It gets the most action (I charge and/or synch the phone daily), and within 3 weeks seemed to be stretching a bit. Now it's definitely the loosest part of the case and doesn't always close & seal properly (even when I work on it). Sometimes it seems to be actively trying to catch on the edge of the holster, the end of the cable, or anything else within a few inches of the phone. This is the one real negative to date, and the most common negative comment I remember reading in reviews before my purchase. 5) A small, unidentified part of the belt clip snapped off after only a couple of weeks. Happily, the holster & clip don't seem to have been affected, but what snapped off sure looks like it wasn't supposed to be removable, and it snapped under very light pressure from my hand as I picked up the phone in the holster from a table (this happened before the phone was ever dropped). I'm watching the belt clip like a hawk and so far it seems okay, but am still a little worried -- this is not a case that's convenient if I can't clip it to my belt. 6) A minor point: the built-in screen protector seems really good at collecting "schmutz" from my fingers. I only used the phone for a couple of weeks before putting the case on, and also am a little less worried about cleaning my fingers because I know the screen protector is there, but I'm kind of wondering if a naked iPhone screen gets this gooped-up this easily...? Luckily, it's very easy to clean, and I can just barely tell there's an extra layer of clear plastic between my fingers & the surface of the iPhone. Bottom Line: I wish the outer case felt less like it's loosening and/or pulling away from the inner case, but at this point I would buy another identical case should the need arise in the future and have recommended this one to several friends & acquaintances. (I also made sure they knew it cost almost 40% less through Amazon than either in the phone store or from the Otterbox site directly!) FOLLOW-UP, MARCH 5TH, 2013: The rubber outer case seems to have finally stopped stretching; it's definitely looser than it was, but mostly stays in place. It's a minor annoyance to have to push/pull/maneuver parts of it back into place periodically, but both iPhone and case have made it through 3 waist-height drops completely unscathed so my complaints are minimal. Of increasing concern is the screen protector's ongoing ability to act as a dirt magnet, with some marks and "schmutz" apparently becoming semi-permanent. Still isn't interfering with operation of the phone, but there are a couple of games I like where my score's been affected by either dirt in a corner or the inner bevel of the case getting in the way. One important point is that I'm pretty careful with the case; I make a point of tucking in loose flaps, re-seating the edges of the rubber when they come loose, etc. Many of my co-workers have the same case (all purchased 1-2 months after mine) and those who don't take equal care in treating their cases carefully have missing flaps, gashes in the rubber, tears in the corners, and so on; one woman has completely lost the bottom 1/3 of the rubber case and is shopping around for a different product... So if you buy an Otterbox Defender, make sure you treat it kindly!

Otterbox Defender Series Hybrid Case & Holster for iPhone 4 & 4S - Retail Packaging - Black My wife's original Otterbox for her iPhone 4 purchased in July 2010 finally gave up the ghost. Don't get me wrong, protection was never compromised, but the rubber surround was tearing in various places because of the extreme duty the case had seen. When the port cover finally ripped off, it was time to replace. The new Otterbox Hybrid iPhone 4/4s Defender case is spectacular. The entire fit and function of this case seems leaps and bounds ahead of the Otterbox case I originally purchased almost 2 years ago. It appears that the rubber or silicone compound used for the outer layer has been reengineered to be much better. It is much stiffer, but more lightweight than the original. The updated form factor is smaller than the last generation case I had, but still makes me confident in the ability to protect the device. After installing the new cover, it was apparent that the old generation cover that I thought was the best protection for her iPhone just got a whole lot better! Pros: - Best protection for the iPhone of any case I have used (and that is quite a few) - New rubber compound is much better, fits tighter, and does not collect as much lint and dust from your pocket/purse - Feels much lighter than the previous generation - Gives me piece of mind that I won't have to worry about the phone when (not if) it is dropped next - New openings on the front and rear of the case cameras fix the deficiancies found in the last generation offering Cons: - A little bulkier than some slim cases, but they don't offer near the protection. In summary, this is a great case. Some people think the price is a con because it is too much. I have a friend that pays for monthly phone insurance and just dropped a $125 deductible down for a replacement phone after dropping theirs. If they had an Otterbox Defender on their phone, they would still have the $125. From my perspective, the price is very fair, and Amazon constantly has deals, so look back often for the best deal.

The Otterbox Defender case has to be one of the best cell phone cases on the market. I have purchased over 20 of these cases, mostly for iPhones over the past three years. You see, I have 10 phones on my account (2 Family plans) and at one time, nine were iPhones. Over 3 years, I went through several upgrades from 3GS to 4 or 4S. Two of my phones are now Android phones including the Galaxy S3 which is also protected by Otterbox. To begin with, the Defender case is well designed with a hard plastic case inside a shock absorbing silicon cover. The hard inner case includes a permanent screen protector that is thicker and more protective than the typical peel and stick variety. All ports and buttons on the phone are accessible through the case via pop-open covers, penetrations or button extensions on the outer case. The case also comes with a beltclip if you don't want to put it in your pocket. Many cases make it difficult to charge your phone while the case is on. The Otterbox Defender provides a port opening with silicon pop-open cover to charge your iPhone or Galaxy S3 with the factory charger. Some after market iPhone chargers won't plug in to your phone with this case installed because the dimensions are not per factory specs. I have personnally dropped my phones hundreds, if not thousands, of times and I have had only two phones get damaged while protected by an Otterbox Defender. The first was when my son dropped his iPhone 3GS on the sidewalk and it landed screen down on a pebble that was just a little taller than the recess from the case edge to the screen. I don't know of any case that would have protected against that fluke. The second phone went for a swim in the toilet. When you see the case construction you may be tempted to believe it is water proof... IT IS NOT! Nor does Otterbox make any claims that it is. Recently while climbing into my wife's SUV, my Samsung Galaxy S3 came flying off of my belt as I climbed in. It bounced off of the driveway a few times but sustained no damage. When I retrived it and the beltclip, I found that the clip had actually broken and that was why the phone had fallen. I called Otterbox warranty service and described the event. I did not have to fight them at all, they replaced the clip under warranty at no cost to me. Lastly, my youngest son is quadriplegic with limited arm movement and no finger or wrist control. The Otterbox case actually makes his phone more accessible to him since the silicon cover provides a grippable surface that keeps his phone from sliding off of his lap and makes it easier for him to hold between his hands when raising the phone to his ear. To sum up, I am sold on Otterbox Defender, not just because of the quality of the product but because of the exceptional customer service.

I wanted a case that would be a little bit feminine but not too girly and that would protect my phone from accidental drops, scratches, etc. This case is very sturdy and nothing is going to happen to my phone while in this case. If you order this directly from amazon and new, it comes with a tiny insert explaining how to use it (in response to the reviews about it not coming with instructions). It does take a few minutes (and by a few I mean MAYBE 5 at the most) to figure out how to pull apart case, insert phone, and re-assemble. There are 3 pieces to this case: A front and back plastic case that slides into an outer rubber shell. There ARE flaps that cover the port for charging your phone, and also a flaps over the headphone port and silence switch, so if you don't want to have to fiddle with those every time you charge your phone, use headphones or want to silence your phone then maybe this case is not for you. I will say, that it's not a big deal! So you have to lift a flap! So what!!? Personally I like having these ports protected. It is a little bulky, but someone on here already mentioned (and I read the comment before I made my purchase) that hopefully if you are looking at this, you are looking for something that is going to protect your phone. You probably won't want to have this in your pocket. My husband tried to put it in his pocket and said it was very uncomfortable and not his style. I usually keep my phone in my purse or in my jacket pocket so the size is not an issue for me. BE WARNED! My ONLY complaint and it's minor (if I could give a half star, I would have rated this 4 1/2 and not 5). The color that you see in the picture on amazon is not what you are getting. The case is a very girly dark purple and and almost hot pink color. The picture makes the "plum" part look more like a wine/burgundy, which is what I really liked about it when I saw it online. The color described in the name "Peony Pink/Deep Plum" which is what you get is NOT what you see in the picture. Having said that, I love the way this looks I just want anyone looking at this product to understand that the color might be a little more pink/purple than they might be expecting. There are plenty of other colors available if this is a big deal to you. If you want a case that is going to be well protected and you DO NOT care about it being a little (and I mean "a little") bulky, then I highly recommend these cases.