The Otterbox Commuter TL case is available in 7 different colors and is slimmer and more stylish that Otterbox’s Defender series.  It offers less protection than the Defender series, but you have a slim and sexy look yet it still offers decent protection.

After using this case for about a week, I have come to realize that this is not going to come off my iPhone.  I mean this in a good way.  Obviously you can remove it with ease.  I am going to keep it on as my main case.  Typically I like to have my iPhone in a slim sleeve and store it in my pocket.  The Otterbox Commuter TL case offers more protection and does not add much bulk.

The Otterbox Commuter TL includes three pieces.  The first thing you get is a clear protection film that adheres to your iPhone’s screen to protect it from scratches.  I bet most people already have this but it is nice to get a new one every so often.  The second piece is a silicon protection layer that helps your hands grip your iPhone with ease and dissipate shock away from your iPhone.  The last layer is a clip that offers extra support and protects and displays your Apple Logo and camera.

The Otterbox Commuter TL is priced perfectly at $29.95

Lastly all of your ports are fully covered by the silicon layer and can be easily opened to connect your headphones and cable.  Overall Limited Edition iPhone rates the Otterbox Commuter TL series a 10/10!

Something a little off beat.  Otterbox was kind enough to send us their Defender Case for the Blackberry Curve 8900.  I know what you are all thinking,  this is an iPhone site, not a blackberry site??  Well since we have someone here who happens to own a Blackberry Curve 8900, we decided to take Otterbox’s offer and post a review.To start things off this is very similar to the Otterbox Defender Case for the iPhone 3G.  Priced at $49.95 you cannot go wrong with the protection that the Defender series provides, but you sacrifice the sleek and slim feeling.  Both the iPhone and the Blackberry Curve 8900 are very slim and sleek phones.

On a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being the best, I rate the Otter Box a 4 overall. It really comes down to what you are looking for, either protection or appearance. Since it is a protective case, the Otter Box does just that. It protects every part of your blackberry from what I would consider incidental damage. Lets face it, nothing will protect your phone if you are exposing it to high heat or extreme force. With the case on, my blackberry remained unharmed (dent free!) when I accidentally dropped it on the cement floor. The case is basically composed of black rubber and plastic. The screen is protected by a clear plastic and a soft plastic goes over the keys, preventing particles from going into the little crevices. However, the rolling ball is not covered for obvious reasons. The rest of the phone is basically covered by black plastic with a rubber cover on top of it (well, the camera on the back is covered by a clear plastic). The rubber feels quite comfortable when holding it and there are even a couple creases on the back of the case for your fingers to rest when holding the phone.

The case has not distorted my phone conversations (I can hear and others can hear me) and it is just as easy to use the keys and text with the plastic over it. The lock and mute buttons on the top of the phone can still be pressed down with the case on, along with the volume and easy keys on the sides of the phone. The plug-in holes for the headset and charger are “covered” by the case, but all you need to do is lift the rubber piece covering it to access it. I have splashed a little bit of water at my phone with the case on it and it did not get into my actual phone so I guess you can say it is some what water-resistant. However, this case is definitely not waterproof. If you plan on going into water with it, your phone will surely get wet because there are a few areas that are not sealed.

As for appearance, the Otter Box case is definitely not what I would consider attractive. The phone with the case on makes it bulky and much heavier. The case makes it look like it is made for a construction worker (remember those Nextels that were indestructible?). Also with the casing, it is not a phone you can easily put in your back pocket or in a wristlet because of its size. Because of these reasons, I rate the Otter Box a 4. But hey, if you do not mind a bigger phone or only care about protection, this case would be perfect for you!

-Samly Ku

]]> http://limitededitioniphone.com/review-otterbox-defender-case-for-the-blackberry-curve-8900/feed/ 0 http://limitededitioniphone.com/review-otterbox-impact-case-for-iphone/ http://limitededitioniphone.com/review-otterbox-impact-case-for-iphone/#comments Mon, 08 Jun 2009 01:55:16 +0000 Limited Edition iPhone http://limitededitioniphone.com/?p=1704

The Otterbox Impact Case is an inexpensive case for the iPhone that offers good protection and does not add much bulk.  If you are looking for full protection check out the Otterbox Defender Case.  You can read our review here.  Priced at only $19.95, the Impact Case comes with a screen protector that will protect against scratches to the screen and the durable yet slim silicone case.  The silicone case is specifically designed to absorb shock and protect your iPhone.  The case was also designed to fit comforably in your hands.  Being that the iPhone is extremely sleek and smooth, it can easily slip out of your hands.  The Otterbox Impact case was designed to fit comfortably in your hands so that it will not slip out of your hands, but if does slip out and drops to the floor it will be protected with the shock absorbing features.

For only $19.95 the Otterbox Impact case is an excellent choice for someone who does not want to add more bulk to their iPhone and wants protection from small drops.  There are many silicone cases out there for under $19.95.  I personally always feel more comfortable buying products from a well know company like Otterbox.  Right Now you can pick this case up from Amazon for only $8.75. Impact Series iPhone 3G Case

The key features include: 3 layers of protection, Sync and charge through the case(see flaws below), Added bump, scratch, drop protection, and a sleek, slim fit to the Apple iPhone 3G.

Presentation:  The box is very nice looking at packaged pretty well.  Inside you get step by step instructions on applying the case to your iPhone 3G.  Some cases you can just take out of the package and put on your iPhone, but the Defender case is a bit more tricky.  The Defender comes with 3 main parts, the plastic shell, the rubber case, and a belt clip.  The directions are very easy to follow and are in multiple languages with photos.  They even have a video on their website with instructions.

Usage: The Defender Case for the iPhone 3G is an excellent case for those who want extra protection against drops and scratches.

Strengths:
- Very good drop protection.
- OK scratch Protection.
- 360 degree swivel belt clip.
- Hard plastic shell.
- Comfortable silicon case.
- Fully enclosed to protect against light liquid that could be damaging.
- Comes in 4 colors: Black, White, Yellow, and Pink.
- Reasonably priced at $49.95.

Flaws:
- Bulky.
- Air bubbles may form.
- Dust and hair are easily attached.
- Reduced volume.
- Can be tricky to remove from the belt clip.
- Protective screen can scratch easily and ruin the entire case.
- Cannot be used with some 3rd part charges.

Conclusion:  The OtterBox Defender Case for the iPhone 3G is an excellent case for those who want maximum protection.  Although the case fully encloses the iPhone 3G this case cannot be fully submerged under water.  That would damage your phone.  The plastic case offers great drop protection and the silicon outer case reduced shock.  Since the Defender Case has a built in screen protector you may get air bubbles due to the glass of the iPhone and screen joining.  This can be avoided by cleaning both the iPhone and the plastic screen on the case.  At first I had a major spot in the middle filled with air bubbles.  I took the case apart and cleaned both surfaces and only one tiny air bubble was left (probably because I missed that spot).  Another issue with the attached screen protector is that if it gets damaged the whole case is pretty much toast.

It is nice that the case is fully enclosed because it keeps the dust out which causes problems to the speakers and can affect picture quality if dust in on your lens.  I also like that fact that it will protect against light water damage.  Speaking of dust, the case attracts its.  I like to keep cases in my pocket.  I am not a fan of belt clips.  I noticed that the silicon case attracts a lot of dust and tiny hairs like to stick to the screen.  The fully enclosed case also blocks the speakers and so your volume is slightly reduced.  This is OK for me as long as I know my iPhone is protected.

The last major flaw that really upset me was the fact that my third party charger would not fit and so when I need to charge my iPhone I had to take the entire case off.  The OtterBox Defender Case is made to be a permanent solution and is not made to be taken on and off.  Overall I would rate this 8.5/10.  I would recommend this case to anyone who doesn’t mind bulking up their iPhone with full protection and likes to use belt clips for their cellphone.  Some people may say that this case is expensive at 49.95, but remember you probably paid a lot for your iPhone and if you drop it and it breaks you will definitely have to pay a lot to fix it.  So keep it protected and check out the Defender Case for the iPhone 3G designed by OtterBox.