The IT Nerd

OtterBox has made a name for themselves in terms of making cases to protect your phones from drops and bumps for years. When I got my iPhone XS, I was gifted a Statement Series Case and it is a viable option for those who want protection in a bumper style case without adding a lot of bulk as it is very thin.

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The majority of the case is a polycarbonate shell which means that it will take a hit and come back for more. There’s also some rubber that surrounds the bezel to add to that. Also, the back has a leather accent to make the case feel upscale. On the sides are redundant buttons for the power switch as well as the volume controls. The mute switch is still fully exposed though. Along with the Lightning connector and speakers at the bottom of the iPhone, and the camera lenses at the back. But to me that’s not an issue. Since this is a bumper style case, you should really get a screen protector so that your OLED screen doesn’t get scratched or cracked. But other than that, this case should provide protection from drops and bumps. One thing to note on the screen front is the fact that the case extends slightly beyond the screen’s surface. So if it falls screen first, the screen should not take a direct hit.

Gripes? A minor gripe is the fact that some other brands that offer bumper style cases include screen protectors as part of the deal and OtterBox does not with this case. It’s not a deal breaker but I thought I would mention it as that stood out to me. Having said that, this OtterBox is a good option for those who want a bumper style case that will ensure that you get protection from drops without having a bulky phone to carry around. Expect to pay $ 39.95 USD for one.

I recently became the new owner of an unlocked iPhone 7 Plus. Seeing as it is one of the matte black models, and I use the phone to record my efforts when I cycle, hike or cross country ski, I wanted to protect it from drops and the like. But I also wanted a case that didn’t make the phone any bigger than it was. I recalled that I had previously used the OtterBox Statement Case for the iPhone 6 when I had that phone. So I decided that I’d try the version for the iPhone 7 Plus.

One of the things that I like about this case is that it is thin. The iPhone 7 Plus isn’t a small phone, and having this case on it still allows me to put it in my pocket comfortably. It has a bit of a lip around it that makes sure the screen is less likely to come in contact with whatever surface you put it on if you lay the phone on a table with the screen facing downwards, or if the phone drops and lands screen first. But the main reason why I wanted this case is that it is Drop Plus Certified. Meaning that they test it to make sure it will survive drops and bumps. That’s important when you’ve just shelled out $1200 on a phone. It also has redundant buttons for the volume controls and the power button. The latter I found harder to press which may be a good thing as your phone would be less likely to switch on in your pocket. All of this comes in a very minimalist package which adds to the look of the phone rather than subtracts from it.

The OtterBox Statement Case For iPhone 7 Plus is available from OtterBox directly or from the Apple Store and other retailers. I got mine for $49 CDN. You should seriously consider getting one if you want great protection in a minimalist package.

I like OtterBox cases because of the level of protection that they provide. However I am not a fan of the bulk that they sometimes add. That’s why when I tripped over the OtterBox Statement Case, I jumped at the chance to try one on my iPhone 6.

First off, this case is slim. It adds very little bulk to my iPhone. That allows me to put it into my pocket comfortably. It’s accented with leather as well which adds a bit of class to it. But the key feature is that this case lives up to the OtterBox heritage as is Drop+ certified. Which means that even if you’re a complete klutz when it comes to the handling of your phone, you’re covered. It has redundant buttons that work perfectly. The only exception is the switch to mute the phone. I’m cool with that as that’s hard to do properly. The back is transparent, so the world can see that you have an iPhone. Finally, the bottom exposes the headphone jack, Lightning port, and speaker. In short, it’s a pretty good case design. The only thing that is missing is screen protection as that would make this offering from OtterBox perfect.

The OtterBox Statement case goes for $44.95 CDN at the Apple Store. If you want a case that will protect your phone from drops without adding bulk, it’s worth a look.

It’s a good thing that I insisted that my wife get a case for her iPhone 5. Apparently she’s dropped the phone several times and she finally cracked it rendering it useless. Now the fact that her Tech21 case cracked is not the fault of the case. It’s a good thing because it dissipated the energy of the drop away from the phone. Sort of what a Formula 1 car does when it hits a solid object at 300 KM/h. Thus it did its job. Now it was time for a new case. I went to my local Future Shop and I was directed to the OtterBox Commuter Case.

OtterBox makes cases for extreme environments for a lot of smart phones out there. Some of which are even designed to survive water. So they are experts in making sure your phone stays protected. It has two levels  of protection. There’s a silicone inner layer, and a polycarbonate layer on the outside. Both work to make sure that your phone survives drops, bumps and other things that could damage your phone. It also comes with a screen protector to protect the screen. I would prefer some sort of flip cover to protect the screen, but the design of the case ensures that if the phone were to fall screen first, the screen is recessed enough so that the screen doesn’t take a direct hit as long as nothing like a pebble or something like that is on the floor. It comes in a bunch of colours so that you can express your own style. All the buttons are accessible except for the volume controls which have redundant controls.

I got a pink one for my wife which also has the added benefit of having a portion of the sale go to the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade.

Bottom line? iPhone 5 users have many case options. The OtterBox Commuter Case is one option that will protect your phone. You should take a serious look at it if you’re in a market for a protective case.

Now let’s see if it will survive my wife.

UPDATE: I forgot to mention that the screen protector comes with a TINY microfiber cloth and a plastic card to help you smooth out the bubbles. The screen protector is reasonably thick and doesn’t interfere with the quality of the iPhone 5 screen.