What case to buy?

Question

Hello.
I work in a woodshop where there is a lot of dust. I don't know if the Otterbox defender is the best way to go or if I should get a custom leather pouch to seal out all the dust. I have had a leather pouch with my other phones and I know that it really keeps the dust out but I did't know how the iPhone glass will hold up to the leather rubbing against it. What do you have to say?

Answer 1

I have the new Defender case that fits both the Verizon and AT&T iPhone 4s. It would be well-suited to your use because when it is on, most of the phone is sealed-off. It has a few silicone-rubber covers that bend out for access to the headphone jack, the silent switch, and the sync/charge connector port. When these are in place, they are secure. With them closed, dust could only reach the phone at the always-open places on the case: the speakers on the bottom, the earpiece on the front of the phone, the camera lens & flash on the back, and the microphone on the top.
If you read Otterbox's website, they explain that they leave the three speaker/earpiece holes uncovered because there is already a fine metal mesh there to keep things out. The microphone hole on top seems to small for anything to enter. The covers on the on/off, volume, and home buttons are permanently sealed and won't allow any dust in.
I am generally impressed with the case. It comes with a clear screen protector that I actually removed. I prefer the Invisible Shield, and if you remove the clear plastic cover built into the Defender, the Shield works very well (I have the case-friendly version).
For you, it would probably work better to leave the Otterbox's screen protector in place. It will keep dust out due to the way it is built. Think of it as the glass in a picture frame, only the glass is secured in place with a thin, clear, gummy adhesive around its edges (you can remove it very easily if you try, but it is secure). So, when it is in place, dust can't get around it.
I'm not going to test it, but the case seems well built enough to protect the iPhone from a five or six foot drop onto a hard surface.
If you want to see it before you buy it, I noticed Wal Mart had them in stock (though I'm sure they have the old, AT&T-only version). I looked at one there, though, and it had been opened so many times and played around with that it seemed very loose. After seeing it, I was wishing I hadn't ordered one. But, then mine showed up and it is very nice. It is not at all loose as I have read some reviewers state.
Many people say the iPhone 3G Defender case was much better and tighter, but I don't find this case at all loose. Perhaps Otterbox "tightened" its size when they redesigned it to fit both iPhone 4s.
(Note: On its website, in the FAQs, Otterbox states many times that its cases are not compatible with the Invisible Shield from Zagg. This just isn't true, at least not with the Defender. Having looked at the other cases on its website, I don't see how it could be true of them. You can very easily remove the clear screen shield that is built into the Defender case with just your thumbs. It pops right out, leaving behind an equally-easily removed gummy adhesive.
If you try to use the Invisible Shield with the Defender's shield in place, you get an "oil-slick" type effect where the two meet. Ultimately, I would much, much rather have the Invisible Shield in and remove the Defender's protector. Once you install the Invisible Shield, it is always there protecting your iPhone, even when it is out of the Defender case.
I don't know why Otterbox insists its cases are not compatible with the Invisible Shield. They clearly are, particularly with the case-friendly version of the Invisible shield, which does not extend all the way to the edge of the iPhone's front, allowing the lip that covers that edge with so many cases out there.
I am not affiliated with either company. I have always liked the Invisible Shield, and I wanted both it and a durable case like the Defender.)
Message was edited by: JDLee