Although it’s made from toughend glass and stainless steel, the iPhone 4 isn’t as durable as some of us would like it to be. I’ve dropped mine countless times, luckily without causing any significant damage, but there are a lot of people out there who have found out the hard way that it doesn’t take much to crack the glass.
OtterBox Defender for iPhone 4
It goes without saying that if you work outdoors or in a tough environment the best way to protect your phone is to put it in a case. There are so many iPhone Cases to choose from, but without doubt, the toughest and most durable case you can get is the OtterBox Defender for iPhone 4.
Design
At first glance, the case doesn’t look too dissimilar from most other hard plastic iPhone covers. It’s only when you get it in your hands that you realise it’s a bit of a beast. Because the case is made of 3 layers – a thin film to protect against scratches, a polycarbonate shell and a silicone outer skin – it’s significantly chunkier than most other cases out there.
OtterBox Defender for iPhone 4
That’s not a bad thing though. The soft silicone skin does a great job of absorbing knocks and bumps while the tough polycarbonate shell can withstand drops onto hard surfaces and minor crush damage. The thin film acts to protect the screen against scuffs and scratches.
The case fits really well, it has cut outs for the camera, flash – even the Apple logo. The buttons on the side are accessible using some ‘push through’ buttons and the mute switch is covered over by a rubber flap. To give the screen as much protection as possible, the OtterBox Defender also includes a holster that can be worn on your belt or carried around. The holster holds your iPhone with the screen facing in and uses a secure spring clip to hold the phone in place.
Quality
OtterBox are a premium case. You can tell that as soon as you see it. All the cut outs line up perfectly and the case is extremely easy to put on (although getting it off again is a bit of a mission). Unlike some cheap iPhone 4 Cases, there are no rough edges on the polycarbonate and the silicone cover is aligned perfectly.
Why Buy
The OtterBox Defender for iPhone 4 is a great case if you want something extremely robust to protect your phone. It fits well and the build quality is superb. It’s not the smallest case on the market, but from past experience, small cases don’t offer up much in the way of protection.
OtterBox For iPhone 4 Defender Series
The belt holster for some is an unnecessary addition, but the extra size might make it a bit too big for your pocket, in which case the holster will come in handy. The screen isn’t as well covered as it could be, leaving it prone to impact damage, but at least if you drop the phone and it lands on a corner, your iPhone 4 should escape relatively unharmed.
Rating: 9/10
If this isn’t the right case for you, then head over to our iPhone 4 Cases page where you’ll be able to see all the cases available and find your perfect iPhone 4 Case.