Otterbox Defender for iPhone 3Gs
If you own a phone, especially an iPhone, and have ever entertained the thought of getting a case for it, you’ve probably heard of the Otterbox Defender. Here are my thoughts on the case after using it for about a day. As I mentioned in a previous post, I ordered the Otterbox Defender cases for my iPhone 3Gs and Black Bear’s Blackberry Storm.
I think the iPhone case is slightly better made than the BB Storm case, the Storm case’s plastic front screen cover isn’t attached to the bezel on the sides, to allow a little slack for the buttons that are under the screen cover. I am pretty sure that it will allow dirt to creep under the plastic. The iPhone case screen cover is fully attached since the button is not under the plastic screen cover. The iPhone case’s outer rubber cover also attaches more smoothly to the hard inner case.
Overall I am happy with my iPhone case, it was easy to install (there is even a video on the Otterbox site) and the screen sensitivity was not decreased much (and I even have a protective film cover on the iPhone glass). It is a little hard to hit the keys on the edges of the keyboard because of the bezel around the recessed plastic screen cover.
The one thing really didn’t like was the “oil slick” and air bubbles that appeared between the iphone screen and the plastic screen cover. I quickly googled the problem and found a video by Otterbox on how to remedy it with baby powder. Here are the solutions for the problem as stated on otterbox.com:
- One solution that has been tested by our Engineering team is to apply a very light dusting of baby powder to the inside of the built-in screen protector. View this video for easy to follow instructions on this solution.
- A second solution, which is easier but requires an additional purchase, is to get an anti-glare screen protector and apply it to your phone. Make sure the screen protector you purchase is anti-glare and has a matte-finish.
Tips for getting the powder trick to work:
I used the first option, and as you can see in the video, you barely use any baby powder. It took me a few tries to get the right amount. Here are my tips:
- wipe any excess powder off of the lid
- give the powder bottle a good shake
- turn the bottle top to open and wipe the excess powder off again
- holding the bottle horizontal, give the bottle a very gentle test squeeze to make sure a very fine dust of powder comes out
- hold the front of the case about 2 feet away from bottle, gently squeeze
This should cover the inside in a fine dusting that you can’t see, if you can see any spots, wipe the inside of the case off and start again. When you think you have it right, insert the phone into the front part of the case and press on the back to simulate the pressure of the back of the case and test out your screen, you shouldn’t see any powder, and you shouldn’t get any air bubbles. My case has a very very faint oil spill look when the light hits it a certain way when the screen is black, but it’s not noticeable in any other conditions. I was happy with the result, as I was tired of the repeating the powder process. I am sure you can get it perfect if you wish. Good Luck!
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