Can you imagine what would happen if you dropped your BlackBerry and it didn’t work afterward? It’s a nightmare that few of us want to envision, but it does happen. That’s why we encase our BlackBerry devices. It’s almost like insurance against bumps and scratches. My love affair with OtterBox cases started at CTIA 2008, when I reviewed the Defender series case. It was super protective, but as a friend of mine commented, it looked like a UPS package scanner. OtterBox recently released the Commuter series, a lighter weight version that still provides plenty of protection. So let’s take a look.
NOTE: Be sure to read all the way to the bottom of the post for information on how you can win an OtterBox Commuter Series Case simply by leaving a comment on this post!
UPDATE: Congratulations to the Lucky Winners of the BBGeeks / OtterBox contest
Congratulations to Mallissa, Laura, Janet and Peachy! You are all winners of OtterBox Commuter Series cases from BBGeeks.
(One of you actually gets a different case but I will let you know that in the follow up email I am sending.)
Thank you all for the amazing comments/entries. We will absolutely run another one of these contests in the new year!
What it is
People know OtterBox as the case that most fully protects your electronic devices. The problem, as you can imagine by the UPS package scanner comment above, is that the cases are just a bit bulky. This is a problem for all types of smartphone users. It takes up a lot of room in a purse (though with the sizes of purses I’ve seen on the subway, that might not be an issue), and it certainly is too big for a normal pocket — unless you want to give people a different impression. Even if you clip your phone to your belt, it’s not a comfortable fit. The holster has to be as big as the case, and it creates a bit more bulk than is ideal.
This means that the Defender series is better for those working in heavy duty environments. A contractor, for instance, might find utility in the Defender series despite its bulk. The trade-off is different, because there are more risks of damaging the device. For white-collar folks, the trade-off probably isn’t worth it. Sure, there are occupational hazards there, especially during a commute. But the risk-reward payoff probably isn’t there for most people.
The Commuter series is OtterBox’s happy medium. It provides a level of protection not quite on par with the Defender series, but certainly better than most other cases on the market. At the same time, it’s not nearly as bulky as the Defender series. It makes your BlackBerry a bit bigger than before, but it can still fit in your pocket with ease.
Installation
The Defender series provides three layers of protection. First is a clear plastic screen cover, similar to Bodyguardz, but without the adhesive. It then has a silicon layer, much like a BlackBerry skin. The final layer is a hard plastic shell. It doesn’t cover the entire device, just the sides and back. That’s enough to help the BlackBerry sustain a drop onto the pavement. Just don’t do it too often.
Instead of describing the installation process, I’ve whipped up a quick video demo.
My experience with the Commuter case
Well, it certainly doesn’t look like a package scanner, which is a plus right off the bat. It fits in my pocket only a little more snugly than an uncased BlackBerry, another plus. It worked much better in dress pants and khakis, where you have a bit more pocket room than jeans. But even in jeans it wasn’t too bad.
One of my problems with the Defender series was that the plastic bar that separated the screen from the keys often got in the way of the top row and the trackball. Not so with the Commuter series, though that’s because there is no plastic bar. The case goes all the way around the main area, so there’s nothing hindering your typing or viewing. The case is so un-bulky, in fact, that I had no problem one-hand typing.
Locking your keys is essential with the Commuter series. Even when the phone wasn’t in my pocket, I found it depressed the left convenience key often. That’s actually my biggest complaint about the case. The button is super sensitive. On the right side, it took a firm depression to activate the convenience key. The volume keys, thankfully, seem to work just fine.
Need a holiday gift for a BlackBerry addict?
If you’re looking for a holiday gift for the BlackBerry geek in your life, the Commuter series could be just that. The lack of bulk and provision of protection make it one of the best cases on the market. Plus, it’s available for almost all BlackBerry models. They’re all $29.95, and can all be purchased from the BBGeeks Store using the links below.
As an added bonus, the kind folks at OtterBox have sent us a few cases to distribute to our loyal BBGeeks as early gifts for the holiday season.
If you want a chance at winning your very own, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post letting us know your BlackBerry model and why you or someone you love deserves to be the proud owner of a stylish OtterBox Commuter Series Case!
PS. We want real comments here folks so “I want one” or “Pick me please” will not cut it and will not be considered valid entries.
The contest will run for the next couple weeks and we will select the winners at random. The post will be updated with the winners information.
Good Luck!
Curve 8900
Curve 8520/8530
Bold 9000
Original Storm
Storm 2
Tour
Unfortunately, it appears the Bold 9700 case has not appeared in our store yet. Once it does we’ll update with a link. For now you can get it from the OtterBox website. The catch — and why we’ll link to our store soon — is that it goes for the full retail price of $34.95.
