Unfortunately, installation of the Otterbox Defender can be a pain; the Defender features a hard plastic shell on the inside which comes into direct contact with your phone, and then features a rubber outer layer. The inner plastic shell comes in two pieces, and snapping the two together can be tricky, particularly for someone who isn’t accustomed to the installation of Otterbox cases.

Once the plastic shell and rubber shell are fitted, you’ll notice that the rubber shell does not appear to fit properly; in this case, you simply have to massage the rubber into the correct position and it’ll form into place perfectly. While I had no issues with the installation of the case (I’d watched videos of the case prior to installation), first-time users may feel a little daunted by the task. However, there are plenty of excellent tutorials on YouTube on how to install various Otterbox cases, as the instructions provided in the packaging are somewhat unclear. It’s also worth noting that the screen protector is built in to the case itself, so it’s wise to clean both the inside of the screen protector as well as your phone screen in order to reduce the amount of dust that enters between them. Dust does still tend to accumulate under the screen protector, though, so if this bothers you then a periodic removal of the case and a simple wipe down will clear any dust from under the screen protector.

Once installed, the Defender does add a sizeable amount of bulk to your device; it certainly makes your phone feel bigger in the hand, but not ridiculously big. Even when wearing slim fit trousers, the case didn’t really bulk up the phone enough to make it uncomfortable to carry in the pocket. Surprisingly, it doesn’t add much weight to the phone either; this is most likely due to the plastic and rubber used. It also adds a huge lip to the front of the device, which means that when the phone is resting face down, the screen is not anywhere near touching the surface; this would also be useful if you were to drop your phone and it landed face down. The Defender also has cutouts for everything: front and rear cameras, 3.5mm headphone jack, both microphones, USB port, speakerphone, speaker grille, and LED flash. The headphone jack and USB port also have dust covers, which adds a nice touch and further increases the protection for two of the most vital ports on the device.

The Defender also has a belt clip included, which doubles as a rather useful kickstand:

The rubber finish also increases the grip of the phone enormously, and I would go as far as to say that you could easily grip the device even with wet hands. It’s important to note that this case is not submersible; while it is extremely waterresistant, it isn’t waterproof. Sure, if you take this case out into the rain your phone will be fine, but drop it off the side of your boat while fishing and your phone will almost certainly be ruined.

Where the Defender really comes into its own is impact resistance. This case will withstand all kinds of impact; dropping it outside your local coffee shop (because you’re too busy trying to wrestle with your umbrella while holding your skinny latte), or even falling out of your back pocket while you’re cycling. The combination of hard plastic and rubber make the Defender extremely impact resistant. The fit and finish of the case also make it feel extremely high quality, which further adds to the peace of mind that you get when using this case; your phone suddenly feels indestructible.

The Otterbox Defender is certainly the best way to protect your phone. It’s suitable for almost everyone, whether your a policeman, firefighter, or even in the military, as well as those who lead an active lifestyle or take their phone with them when playing sport and just don’t want to risk it getting damaged. I’d highly recommend this case as it offers unparalleled protection, and because of its super high quality build quality.

 

Finally, a big thank you to Mobilefun.co.uk, for sending this phone out to me for review. Mobilefun have the best selection of quality mobile phone covers at excellent prices; I recommend you buy your Otterbox Defender from them if you’re considering one after reading my review.