OtterBox Defender Black Case For iPhone 5 77-21908 OtterBox Defender Black Case For iPhone 5 77-21908

Pros: Very sturdy. The main button under the screen is still easily pressed. The screen is still responsive and clear.

Cons: The instructions were worthless. Look at a youtube video for how to install it. It was somewhat stiff and I was afraid I might break it, but it is high enough quality that did not happen. The screen film does seem to pick up dust/skin oil faster than the bare iphone 5 screen.

Other Thoughts: The materials are definitely high quality and feel like something that can handle the shock of significant drops.

Pros: I am very clumsy - I dropped my old phone so many times that the back cracked in the middle and I started losing data and configuration settings. So I decided to buy this Otterbox case for my new phone to protect it from dropping. This case feels great in my hand, it's the right size and shape, and the rubber outer shell has a subtle grippy texture. I haven't come close to dropping it even once. Very sturdy case, fits snuggly around the phone, good quality materials and construction, great protection, great feel. There's no screen protector over the camera lens and flash, which I like because it doesn't interfere with the quality of the picture or video. The buttons still function perfectly with the rubber covering them. The rubber flap covers over the ports are a nice touch, although they're very stiff (mentioned in the Cons section). Overall I'm really happy with this case. Good purchase, well worth the money at New Egg's sale price.

Cons: The case does add some weight and bulk to the phone, although it's an acceptable amount for me for the level of protection it provides. I hated the screen protector. As another reviewer said, it's a magnet for finger prints, which makes the LCD look a little cloudy. The screen protector's thickness also decreases the touch screen's sensitivity. I busted the screen protector out of the case, threw it away, and replaced it with a film screen protector directly on the touch screen. Big improvement on screen sensitivity and picture quality. The case still provides enough thickness around the edge of the screen that it should be okay if I drop it, unless the screen hits a rock or something. The grippy texture on the back of the case tends to pick up a little bit of lint and pet hair - not a lot, and it's easy to wipe it off. Not having a screen protector over the camera lens and flash is a pro for me, but might be a con for others. The flap cover over the headphone jack pushes on the cable, affecting the quality of the sound. My right ear bud went silent causing loss of stereo sound. Annoying, but easily fixed by pushing the cable back down into the jack. You really have to be sure that the cable is seated tightly in the port. I've only had this case for a week though - maybe the flap cover will loosen up over time. I have no use for the belt clip and would have preferred not to pay for it as part of the overall price of the case. I rated this case at 4 eggs instead of 5 due to these flaws, but none of these issues are a deal breaker for me - I still really love this case.

Other Thoughts: Do not buy this case from your cell carrier's store! My carrier, who shall go nameless, is charging $50. New Egg's price is a steal by comparison. I wasn't sure about this case at first because of the bulk, but I quickly got over that and the case has really grown on me. If you want something less bulky, I would suggest going with the Otterbox Commuter case - it's less heavy duty than the Defender, smaller and lighter weight, yet still adds a good deal of protection. If you're not clumsy like I am, the Commuter should be adequate. The Defender case comes in two parts - the inner polycarbonate piece, and the outer rubber piece. These can be taken apart and swapped out with different colors. I plan to take the inner part of a black case and snap it into the outer part of a purple case.

Pros: great protection

Cons: Too bulky, dust gets in between the case and the phone, screen is finger print magnet, ruins the clarity of the LCD, vibrate switch as well as charging port and headphone jack hard to access

Other Thoughts: When I received it I was so turned off by its bulkiness (it made my iPhone 5 look bigger than my 3GS) that I put it back in the box with the intent to return it. Two days later I dropped my unprotected phone and shattered the front screen in a way that few cases (the OtterBox being one) would have protected it. After filing an insurance claim, I put the OtterBox on my cracked phone while waiting for the new one to come in. Not only did I find it to be way too bulky for my liking, too many dust particles were found all over my phone, the screen was accumulating finger prints like crazy, and the screen protector also ruined the high quality of the LCD. Because the Otter Box still offered great protection, I eventually decided not to return it and instead keep it as an "emergency case" for times where my phone would be more prone to damage as well as when other cases broke. If you can look past all the drawbacks and/or work in an environment where your phone would take alot of abuse, this is perfect for you, but I would not recommend it for any other reason. There are other cases which are less protective but worth it in terms of money, looks, etc. I do regret not having it on when I damaged my first phone, but I just got a new case which I believe will provide adequate protection and be less bulky.

Pros: Very good case. I always buy Otterbox.

Cons: None