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Otterbox Defender -vs- Commuter : FIGHT (With Pics)

So The kind folks at Otterbox sent me not One but TWO replacement cases because my original defender had the rubber for the headphone jack and usb jack start tearing after use.
Let me start by saying they are an OUTSTANDING company ( And I dont own any of their stock, get paid to review or compensated in any form) . I called and asked if they could send me a new rubber outercase for my existing Defender because the two port flaps were tearing. Since they didn't have any of the silicone shells or Defender cases they sent me an Otterbox Commuter in my preferred color choice (Glacier White) until they had more Defender cases in stock. What did I get? at the same time a new full retail Otterbox Commuter in Glacier White and a full Otterbox Defender in Black (my original color).
I thought maybe showing them side by side may help others decide which case is a more suitable choice.
In the pics below the Verizon SCH-i605 is in the (OLD) Otterbox Defender and the NEW Otterbox Commuter is on the TMobile SCH-T889.
Long and short of it is each case has its merits and flaws. But both are great choices for protection on this expensive device.
Common To Both Cases:
+ Very good protection for falls. Corners, Screen, and back are protected.
+ Both have rubber flaps covering Audio and USB ports.
The Defender has 3 parts: Hard plastic back cover, Hard plastic front cover with integrated hard plastic screen screen protector, Soft silicon outer shell that wraps everything including the screen bezel.
The Commuter has 2 parts + a standard adhesive screen protector. Soft silicon inner shell that wraps the entire phone including raised screen bezel, a hard ABS plastic outer shell and also the adhesive screen protector.
Defender:
+ Exterior shell is Silicon. More tacky / sticky in hand and less slippery . Less likely to slip out of the hand.
+ The hard interior case has a raised rim around the screen in the harder ABS plastic and I think would help protect the phone screen from an off-angle fall .
+ Built in plastic screen protector as part of the top lid.
+ Feels more rugged and effective for extreme falls or clumsy ppl lol.
- Exterior is soft rubber and may also be more difficult to slide into pockets.
- Integrated hard plastic screen protector is full coverage BUT has cutouts top camera, sensors, ear piece and bottom home button, which allows dust to eventually get wedged between the actual screen and the protector.
- Is approx 3mm thicker overall and slightly heavier. Generally noticeably bulkier.
- Volume and Power button require more effort to press.
Commuter:
+ Less bulky then Defender. Slimmer, slightly less tall and def feels sleeker in hand.
+ Volume and Power button feel normal with minimal added effort to press.
+ Easier to disassemble.
+ Outer Shell is hard plastic and is mush easier to slide in and out of pockets.
+ Screen protector is a standard adhesive variety , but once installed is very smooth , bubble free and doesnt show fingerprints,
- Hard plastic is slippery and it will slide on a table or possibly out of your hand.
- Adhesive screen protector may be challenging to those trying to install one for the first time , especially one this large. It only comes with one.
- Offers slightly less protection then the Defender , BUT comes with a slimmer profile and weight.

Someone asked me about which of these two cases would offer better "crash" protection onto a sidewalk.
I personally prefer the Commuter case for its overall slender form factor. However ; I think the Defender offers superior protection.
The Defender has the soft (and thick) outer shell. In the event of a fall onto concrete or another hard surface physics would say the soft outer shell will absorb more of the impact shock then the Commuter. Why?
The soft exterior will absorb the shock and disfigure on impact where the hard exterior of the Commuter will transfer the impact to the soft inner shell. The problem is that since the hard exterior of the Commuter compresses the soft inner shell significantly once put on it minimizes the amount of cushion it can offer.
Basically once the silicon is compressed (pretty significantly might I add) and sandwiched between the outer case and the phone itself it wont have the cushion and recoil it would have if it were allowed to remain fully expanded on the exterior as in the Defender..

Cases from AT&T

FYI
Att is listing 3 different manufacturers (on the Premier site):
Insipio Silver/Black Dual pro shine - The DualPro™ SHINE Case for LG G Flex is two piece case constructed of a rigid Plextonium™ frame and an impact absorbing silicone core. Silver brushed aluminum outer shell and black inner core combine for a professional and chic look.
Designed with radio transparent material that will not interfere with signal reception.
Rigid Plextonium™ frame and soft silicone core create dual layers of protection, without adding bulk.
OtterBox Defender Series Black case and holster -OtterBox Defender Series encases your device in a high quality, tough protective solution. Every feature of the device is fully accessible while it is completely enclosed in rugged protection. The innovative multi-layer design protects from bumps, drops, scratches and dust while keeping it like new.
Case-mate Slim Folio Case = The Case-mate Slim Folio Case is the ultra-slim folio case that folds out into a stand for desktop viewing. Made with soft microsuede, the Slim Folio Stand Case protects both the front and back of your phone but remains pocketably slim.
I am going to order the Insipio. Will post a review when it arrives.

mrphil101 said:
FYI
Att is listing 3 different manufacturers (on the Premier site):
Insipio Silver/Black Dual pro shine - The DualPro™ SHINE Case for LG G Flex is two piece case constructed of a rigid Plextonium™ frame and an impact absorbing silicone core. Silver brushed aluminum outer shell and black inner core combine for a professional and chic look.
Designed with radio transparent material that will not interfere with signal reception.
Rigid Plextonium™ frame and soft silicone core create dual layers of protection, without adding bulk.
OtterBox Defender Series Black case and holster -OtterBox Defender Series encases your device in a high quality, tough protective solution. Every feature of the device is fully accessible while it is completely enclosed in rugged protection. The innovative multi-layer design protects from bumps, drops, scratches and dust while keeping it like new.
Case-mate Slim Folio Case = The Case-mate Slim Folio Case is the ultra-slim folio case that folds out into a stand for desktop viewing. Made with soft microsuede, the Slim Folio Stand Case protects both the front and back of your phone but remains pocketably slim.
I am going to order the Insipio. Will post a review when it arrives.
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They also list the Casemate pop... very similar to the incepio, except it has a kick stand...

Supcase Unicorn Beetle rugged case w/holster

This isn't a review. Just a first impression/initial thoughts.
I handle otterbox cases of all variety everyday. This unicorn beetle feels just as good, quality wise. Its mostly comparable to the defender series however. Both have built in screen protection, port covers. Both utilize a tongue in groove like method of securing the plastic 'inner' to the rugged rubber 'outer'
Overall it feels very secure and robust, but not quite as bulky as a defender in my opinion.
The orzly glass screen protector on my g4 (edge to edge) does not interfere with the 'front' cover of the case. I have removed the built in plastic protector, so i cannot comment on how it feels etc.
I should also note that i have the plastic back on while in this case. I have not and will not attempt installation with the leather back. This case seems to meet and exceed my needs for when rugged protection is required. My typical day to day is case-less, alternating between plastic and leather backs.
The holster seems to be robust. Made with thick plastic and a 360 degree rotating belt clasp. Almost identical to the defenders holster.
Please excuse the purple tint from my m7 camera.

Do you feel like the holster would snap eventually? How did you remove the screen protector? The screen protector is a major drawback to me.

The holster feels very sturdy. However it is plastic after all and im sure it will break under certain conditions. Im at work right now so ill take some photos of the defender series holster for the g3 and post a comparison in this thread later in the evening. The screen protector was attached to the 'front' with an adhesive. It was easy to pop it out. As i mentioned in my original post, my edge to edge tempered glass protector does not interfere with the fitment of this case.

I removed the screen cover the case had built in, and all I did was push it out and pull on it. The glue used is like a double sided tape, so get as much off when removing the screen and peel the rest. DO NOT USE GOO OFF, you'll mess up the case, trust me. Removing the sticky residue is the hardest part honestly.
Sent from my LG-H811 using Tapatalk

Review - BENTOBEN Shock Absorbing Dual Layer Hybrid TPU Slim Fit Hard Case - Black

Note: I received a discount on this case in return for reviewing it.
This case is better than others which claim to offer a huge amount of protection because it is not as bulky as most of the others. One reason could be also because it does not in fact include a cover with a built-in screen protector for the front, although there are lips which do stick up around the front to protect it when the phone is placed face down on a table.
Wireless charging works well with this case as well which can be an issue with other protective cases.
The back of the phone is a shiny plastic material which can be a fingerprint magnet to a very small extent, but that is not nearly as noticeable as an issue as the phone has on the back when it has no cover. The back is also curved on the sides like the bare phone itself, so it is very comfortable to hold.
In order to make up for some possible slipperiness on the very back, you can see by the photos included that that is more than made up for by the rubber "grippy" sides. I would have preferred the side on the phone with the volume buttons to have the same rubber material all the way up the side as the side of the phone with the power button, but that is just my preference with which everyone may not agree.
On the front, the top lip and the bottom lip around the screen are hard rubber, while the sides edges are in fact the same plastic as the center of the back of the phone. They do not fit right up to the edge of the glass the same way - so on the front you can see a little of the metal edge on the top and bottom front edges of the phone with this case. However, it is just this one 'slight flaw' that makes the next paragraph possible:
It may sound counterintuitive, but what I like most about this case is that is not only a very protective case for the phone, but it is also very easy to slip on and off the phone at the same time - the rubber and plastic pieces do not have to be pulled apart from each other to put the phone in or to take it out. Just grap a couple corners and with a little effort it will pop off - not so easy that it would ever slip off on it's own - it is very snug. It may seem like a silly thing, but I have a custom proclip holder in the car (for the bare phone) - and I like to slip my phone into that when I get into the car. As that requires removing the case and slipping it back on, when I am using the other protective cases for my phone I am forced to just not use the proclip holder those times when I am driving - except not with this case!
All in all I really like this case and I'll be using it a lot!

wondermanyoulove said:
it is 4.99 dollars in Ebay
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Probably one of the other reviewers. I still have mine.

iPulse Genuine Full Grain Leather Case Review

iPulse Journal Series Leather Wallet Case for the Galaxy Note 8
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074Z5TMY9
This is the first wallet-type case I've used with the Note 8 and it seems have everything I would want in a leather wallet case. It's smooth good quality leather, no jagged edges, multiple inner pockets, and straight matching black stitches.
Most importantly, it has a strong magnetic clasp, which is one issue I have with the wallet cases Samsung usually offers. While leather wallet cases aren't designed for maximum drop protection, having a strong magnetic clasp will prevent the phone itself from hitting the pavement. There's a gratifying snap when you close the cover and the flap won't separate unless you pull it with force.
A plus in my book is that the phone is kept in place with a soft TPU case attached to the leather. Some manufacturers like Samsung choose to use a polycarbonate case-like portion to hold the phone in place but the bottom and top of the phone is usually exposed to the elements. I had no issues inserting and removing the Note 8 from the TPU portion and it holds the phone securely. Phone port cutouts are where they are supposed to be, but be advised that the TPU does not cover the power, Bixbie, or volume rocker, which means the already shallow buttons are more difficult to press.
The brand logo is out of the way and is on the bottom left of the backside. It has a clean design on the front with no lettering. One thing I would have liked to see is an earpiece opening on the front of the leather cover so I could talk on the phone with the cover closed, but flipping the cover behind the phone is not too much of a burden. This choice also gives the front cover a cleaner look, like a leather journal would have.
I would recommend this case if you're looking for a simple and clean-looking genuine leather wallet case for your Note 8.

Mine need to push the magnetic piece where it connected to your phone away from the phone, so it wont affect S-PEN
how about yours

Kawaisa said:
iPulse Journal Series Leather Wallet Case for the Galaxy Note 8
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074Z5TMY9
This is the first wallet-type case I've used with the Note 8 and it seems have everything I would want in a leather wallet case. It's smooth good quality leather, no jagged edges, multiple inner pockets, and straight matching black stitches.
Most importantly, it has a strong magnetic clasp, which is one issue I have with the wallet cases Samsung usually offers. While leather wallet cases aren't designed for maximum drop protection, having a strong magnetic clasp will prevent the phone itself from hitting the pavement. There's a gratifying snap when you close the cover and the flap won't separate unless you pull it with force.
A plus in my book is that the phone is kept in place with a soft TPU case attached to the leather. Some manufacturers like Samsung choose to use a polycarbonate case-like portion to hold the phone in place but the bottom and top of the phone is usually exposed to the elements. I had no issues inserting and removing the Note 8 from the TPU portion and it holds the phone securely. Phone port cutouts are where they are supposed to be, but be advised that the TPU does not cover the power, Bixbie, or volume rocker, which means the already shallow buttons are more difficult to press.
The brand logo is out of the way and is on the bottom left of the backside. It has a clean design on the front with no lettering. One thing I would have liked to see is an earpiece opening on the front of the leather cover so I could talk on the phone with the cover closed, but flipping the cover behind the phone is not too much of a burden. This choice also gives the front cover a cleaner look, like a leather journal would have.
I would recommend this case if you're looking for a simple and clean-looking genuine leather wallet case for your Note 8.
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Is the magnetism strong enough to keep the case closed?