Smartphone cases from Otterbox are so well received
Cases protect your smartphone from scratches and broken glass. However, it no longer looks the way the designers intended. The winners of our Otterbox competition had around four weeks to try out smartphone cases. Here they describe their experiences.
Four different Otterbox cases for three different smartphones made their way to the winners at the beginning of July. The selection ranged from the very robust Defender case to a robust, black protective case and a colourful variant with Popsocket. The packages also included a matching protective film, charging cable and power supply unit.
Savina: Pop Symmetry Series for iPhone 11 Pro
Savina has received a protective case from the Symmetry Series including Popsocket for her iPhone 11 Pro. She immediately liked the robust appearance of the case. However, it also has a negative side effect: "The case is relatively thick." The smartphone and case just about fitted into the pocket of the jogging armband, but "I could no longer close it," reports Savina.
Savina is amazed at how precisely her iPhone fits into the protective case. The Apple device fits so tightly that it doesn't threaten to fall out. "I've had this experience in the past with very flexible silicone cases." She had to press harder than expected on the outer edges of her iPhone when inserting it into the Otterbox case, but she managed it. "I don't think you can go wrong here. I got it right away and instinctively," she writes by email.
The protective case proved its worth in the first week. Savina has already dropped her smartphone on the floor twice: "Once the road and once on a wooden floor." The asphalt caused slight scratches in the case, "which surprisingly became relatively smooth on their own." The iPhone remained undamaged both times.
In the hand, the Popsocket made a good impression on the back. However, it proved to be a nuisance - or rather annoying: "When the Popsocket is unfolded and you place the mobile on a flat surface, it tips backwards."
Savina was brief and to the point about the other contents of the package: "The charging cable and plug as well as the glass film are great so far and completely fulfil their purpose."
Benedikt: Defender series for Galaxy S10+
Benedikt received a particularly robust Defender case for his Samsung Galaxy S10+. However, he had problems with the instructions right from the start: "I didn't understand the pictures at all, but luckily there are videos about it on the internet." And with this help, he managed to assemble the multi-part case without any further complications. His smartphone fitted perfectly into it, as Benedikt happily realises.
It took him two days to get used to the new case for his Galaxy S10+: "I think it fits really well in the hand and gives me a good, secure feeling when holding it."
However, Benedikt has problems with the protective film from the package: "I don't know if I did something wrong or if the film doesn't quite fit. But after a while and in the heat, small bubbles keep appearing on the curves on the right and left and the cover and film don't seem to fit together completely in the top left corner."
On the other hand, Benedikt highlights the fact that the Defender cover protects the USB-C port. "Due to my work as a machining mechanic, a lot of metal shavings and dust get in there. In the past, this has often meant that I was no longer able to charge my smartphone properly. The case is now a great help." And he now also feels safe when jogging if he touches his smartphone with sweaty hands.
Katharina: Symmetry Series Clear for Galaxy S10+
Katharina has received a transparent and colourful case from the Symmetry Series for her white Galaxy S10+ and reports that she has received many compliments on it. "However, it probably wouldn't stand out as well with a dark back," she adds.
Her S10+ fits perfectly in the case, which is also "hardly bulky and doesn't make the mobile look wider". All buttons and ports are easy to reach and can be used without restrictions. However, fitting the case was not quite so easy: "Except for the bottom side, the case is quite bulky and it took a little more force to get the mobile phone in. But since you don't normally change a case all the time, I wouldn't consider that too problematic."
With two small children at home, Katharina's smartphone is constantly in danger. Minor accidents are the order of the day: "Whether it's a little bump against the door frame or a slightly rough placement on a table, etc., my mobile phone is always in danger. And so far, my mobile has survived everything with the case undamaged."
Katharina is not so happy with the protective film. It was easy to apply without forming bubbles and also protected her phone from the keys in her handbag. However, it made the fingerprint sensor in the display of the Galaxy S10+ less reliable. "I often had the problem that the sensor only responded after several attempts or not at all. That was also the reason why I removed the film again."
Julia: Symmetry Series for the Galaxy S9
We sent Julia a case from Otterbox's Symmetry Series for her Galaxy S9, and she was pleasantly surprised by it: "I imagined the case to be much chunkier." She says the mobile fits perfectly in the case and can be operated without any restrictions. She likes the simple design and the material looks high-quality and offers good protection.
Julia's five-year-old son is also allowed to take her smartphone from time to time. He sometimes drops it from the couch onto the laminate or even onto concrete when getting out of the car. But it hasn't broken yet: "So far, it has protected really well."
Julia applied the protective film "super quickly" with the application aid and without any air bubbles. It fits perfectly, but she had to get used to the strong reflections. . However, the display now reacts more sluggishly in the upper and lower areas than before. "The touch works great everywhere else."
A room for improvement
All four testers are satisfied with the protective cases from Otterbox. Criticism was only levelled at details: be it the assembly or the unexpectedly large dimensions of the case. The protective films, on the other hand, were somewhat less well received, although they are not a complete failure. There were some problems with adhesion to the touchscreen. The fingerprint sensor in the display became less reliable or the responsiveness of the touchscreen decreased in peripheral areas.
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When I was but a young student, I'd sit in my friend's living room with all my classmates and play on his SuperNES. Since then I've had the opportunity to test out all the newest technology for you. I've done reviews at Curved, Computer Bild and Netzwelt, and have now arrived at Galaxus.de.
