As resident blogger of Mobile Fun, I’m lucky to always have plenty of opportunity to test out the new products that come in. Cases are always interesting; they’re the best defense against damage to your phone and there’s quite a lot of variety in the way they accomplish this. From simple soft silicone shells to tougher metal or plastic covers, there’s always this trade-off between bulk and protective ability; some cases have done well to combine different materials in order to surpass more simply constructed cases.
One of the most accomplished case makers to do this are Otterbox, who typically combine tough inner shells for solidity, soft silicone exteriors for shock absorption and grip and quality screen protectors. The American company has earned a reputation for excellence, so whenever I’m in the market for a new case, I’ll go for an Otterbox by default. Even when I’ve tried dozens of cases, Otterbox are usually at the top of the list.
That’s why I’m quite excited that we’re the first to show off the new Otterbox cases for the Galaxy Nexus; I just picked up the phone myself and I’m constantly worried about dropping it or scratching the screen somehow. Both of the new models will be stocked: the slim-but-sturdy Commuter and the hard-as-nails Defender.
Which one is right for you? Well, as always it’s a trade-off between bulk and protection. If you want a really protective case that doesn’t make it much bigger, then the Commuter is a good choice. It’s also a bit cheaper than the Defender. If you want to have top-of-the-line protection, then the Defender is the best choice – it’s slightly bulkier, but its protective ability is greatly increased.
Both cases include silicone plugs for the charging point (preventing grit and grime from accumulating there) and impressive shock protection thanks to the silicone outer layer. All of the ports, features and buttons (USB, audio, camera, volume, lock) are fully accessible, making it so that you never have to take it off if you don’t want to. Both packs also come with a quality screen protector, cleaning cloth and applicator card so you can keep that HD screen looking sweet and shiny.
- View the Otterbox Commuter for Samsung Galaxy Nexus product page
- View the Otterbox Defender for Samsung Galaxy Nexus product page
All in all, they’re great cases. We’ll have them stock after Christmas, so if you get a Galaxy Nexus in your stocking then we’ll be ready. We’ll likely write some more detailed reviews on each around the New Year, so look out for those. In the mean time, chat to us on Twitter, Facebook or Google+, and remember to keep warm!