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Products and Materials

Builder-Grade Smartphone Protection

The biggest surprise is how the textured slipcover prevents the user from bobbling the phone when retrieving it from a tool belt or pocket.

By Patrick McCombe Issue 274 - April/May 2018
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Given the nearly $700 price tag on my new smartphone, I wanted to give it every possible chance to survive a drop. Based on feedback from fellow carpenters, I bought an Otterbox Defender case. The setup consists of three components: a holster with a rotating belt clip, a hard protective internal case, and a rubberlike cover with a textured grip. The internal case has a clear-plastic screen protector.

Although I’m not really into the holster (not pictured), which doubles as a stand for watching videos, the rest of the setup is great. The biggest surprise is how the textured slipcover prevents me from bobbling the phone when I’m retrieving it from my tool belt or pocket. I also like how the screen protector saves the glass from construction grime and gritty fingers. What’s even better is all of the phone’s controls and connectors are unhampered. Prices start at about $30.

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  1. user-7040373 | Mar 19, 2018 06:37pm | #1

    Sprint has a nearly indestructible phone by Kyocera, the Torque mine has survived a 20' drop, a 3' dunking in really nasty water, and general abuse.
    Other carriers have similar phones. buy a heavy duty phone not a case.

  2. ddwieland | Mar 19, 2018 09:44pm | #2

    I've become a real fan of the Otterbox Defender. It's a welcome antidote to phone manufacturers' thinness obsession (I like having something substantial to grip), and I find the clip-on holster to be a great asset. With or without a tool belt, my phone is always handy on my pants belt. And when the screen protector got worn (as plastic always will eventually), I just removed it. Because the phone normally faces my pants, the screen stays clean and safe from abuse.

  3. User avater
    Jackmreyes | Apr 11, 2018 07:26am | #3

    I also want to bought an Otterbox Defender case.Will you plz suggest me if any?

  4. User avater
    CarlotaMDaniel | Jun 22, 2018 01:10am | #4

    Thank you for sharing this.

  5. User avater
    AllisonJMurray | Jun 26, 2018 06:29am | #5

    Thanks for sharing this amazing post. Keep it up!!

  6. BobboMax | Dec 19, 2018 09:16pm | #6

    I have an OtterBox and like it- one warning- there's a little notch on each side of the case, the part that clicks the case into the holster. The little protuberance (ledge) that forms the screen side of the notch can fatigue and break off, so it doesn't hold the case in the holster any more- when that happens, the phone can fall out. The short term solution is to turn the phone 180 degrees when you snap it in, so you use the notch on the other side of the case. The long term solution is to call Otter and ask for a replacement. 855 688-7269

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