Bought an Otterbox Defender case from a retailer about 18 months ago for $99. What a waste of money! After 10-12 months, there was noticeable deterioration. It had expanded and become loose. The port cover had already broken off and cracks had started to appear. After about 14 months, there were large cracks all around it and was unusable. … Read more
Otterbox advertises a lifetime warranty but offered nothing to me. I would never buy another Otterbox product.
Don't waste your money. Otterbox market their products as being extremely durable and go on and on about their warranty policy, but it's all puff. When the outer rubber on my Pixel 7 Defender started disintegrating within 3 years of purchase, I was told (after a week waiting for a response) that the product was discontinued and there would be no… Read more
replacement, but that they were "sorry for the inconvenience".
I was not offered any form of compensation.
A $100 case for a model that's barely 3 years old itself and that's the response. Absolutely feeble.
This is no doubt the best protection available and I have used it before but the problem is the rubber protection over the controls wears out soon after the warranty runs out. This makes it useless although the rest of the components are good forcing us to buy the entire unit to replace it. Otterbox needs to acknowledge this problem and provide… Read more
replacements of just the rubber protection rather than have us pay money for the entire unit which is a ripoff.
Reviews with attachments
Don't waste your money. OtterBox Defender cases disintegrate from normal use in under 1.5 years, and they won't honour their warranty in Australia. People in the US say they got their case replaced under warranty, they just pay freight. But not in Australia, they refused warranty replacement. A quick google search confirms their materials are low… Read more
quality. Google summary: "Yes, OtterBox rubber cases experience wear and tear over time from normal use, leading to issues like stretching, loosening, or tearing. This is generally considered a form of material fatigue.
My case had all of those issues and they refused warranty due to wear & tear. But wear and tear is literally what the phone case is supposed to do! I'm never buying OtterBox products again.
Absolute rubbish. That's all I need to say to describe it. Phone was dropped once close to the ground and it still smashed. Show details
Poor product – I’ve had two of these and both phones had the same dents and chips on the edge of the screen and phone frame after removing the defender case after 3 months of use. It’s not a cheap case and should protect the phone better. The company doesn’t respond to emails on their website either. Show details
- +1
Otterbox not as good as I thought – I have an S22 Ultra and it has been in the case since day 1. I remove the case every now and then to clean it. I just removed the case to clean it and the edges of my phone are completely scratched. The phone was in like new condition. I can not get full value for my phone now. I emailed Otterbox and they won't help. They are only offering to send… Read more
me a new case. I have used Otterbox cases on all my phones for years! After taking a close look at the frame for the case, there is nothing to protect your phone and frame from rubbing. This being said it has badly scratched my phone from the phone slightly moving while in the case.
Positive reviews
OtterBox Defender series – How many of us have felt that split moment of panic when we drop our IPhone on a hard surface and the astronomical cost of a cracked screen flashes before our eyes before we pick it up to inspect. Well that panic can be completely removed if you purchase the Otterbox Defender IPhone case. Durable, light weight and tough going the Defender has… Read more
shock absorbed every dropped IPhone I have owned without a crack to the screen. This has potentially saved me hundreds of dollars in absorbent repairs. Like many other products the Otterbox case has a life span. Eventually the tightness of the case will succumb to the normal wear and tear of our most used daily object requiring replacement. The protection the Defender provides however is worth the cost of replacement when required. Stylish charcoal black case with reliable functioning outer buttons. If toughness in a phone case is your thing the Defender will not disappoint.
Worked for me – I dropped my iphone 4 stories landing on a cement driveway below. The phone works and no damage. The protective glass screen had a small crack but the main screen was intact. The proof is in the pudding. Show details
Best case ever! – 2 years of use of the screenless edition on my 4XL and no damage in that time. I'm tough on phones, and this has been the best cover and only one that has completely protected a phone for me. Show details
Negative reviews
Absolute rubbish, had the defender case on my S21 Ultra since I bought it, removed the case to discover cracks on the back of the screen and that's why now sound's not working properly rendering the phone useless. I thought this case would protect my phone from falls, and it's never had any falls other than from a short distance from the ground,… Read more
but somehow it's still cracked in multiple places. What a waste of money this useless case was, did not protect my phone at all and otterbox does not refund my money for their case or my phone when their useless case fails to do the one job it was supposed to do: protect my phone from breaking after a fall. I also noticed the rubber backing had stretched so it was full of dust and debris further scratching up my phone. Given the case always made buttons hard to use and I only persevered with that annoyance and inconvenience because I thought this case was protecting my phone, I feel totally ripped off by otterbox and will never buy another and warn others away from them!
Appalling quality – Trash! Cheap, non-functional rubbish. How the mighty have fallen. Used to be the go to for rugged iPhone/iPad protection - now it’s a complete joke. $137 dollars later after purchasing the iPad Defender, the in-built screen in the cover does nothing but interfere with touch screen operations, the stand broke on the the third use… it’s overweight,… Read more
unwieldy, and clumsy with the rubber button tabs requiring significant effort to activate the device beneath. So if you want to protect you iPad, but don’t need a stand and don’t want to use it’s touch screen or buttons- it’s perfect!
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Overprice low quality product – It started falling apart within a few months. I believe the heat of the phone separated the plastic from the rubber. I went to ask for warranty and the answer from the shop was that I should have register the product and deal directly with the manufacturer. Right, I went and bought a different case protector. Show details
Recent reviews
What Warranty? – The warranty says 7 years for the smartphone, but they discontinue the product after 2-4 years. They won't honor the warranty if it's discontinued!
Terrible! Causes iPhone 15 pro to malfunction because the case wraps around front screen sensors. Bad Customer service – The worst customer service on the planet. Impossible to ring them, email them and if you fill out a request form, they don't reply. Bought my daughter the Otterbox defender case for Christmas and where is covers the edge of the iPhone screen, the phone's sensors detect this as someone gripping the case which means the screen is permanently on as… Read more
it detecting being wakened. The buttons don't accurately line up either. The volume button presses too deeply into the phone button and will cause damage to your phone. I contacted customer service through a form within the 35 day time limit but they don't reply. I will be contacting the ACCC and Fair Trading Australia as I bought this via the legitimate Otterbox website but they are rogue company. Do not buy from them!!!
Strong, but doesnt last long – Strong during falls Makes the mobile bulky Charging portal cover fell off afer an year. Rest of the rubber cover came apart by 2nd year. Getting a new rubber case is much expensive than buying a whole case of some other brands.
Not what they use to be - more “the death of quality” – In 2009 I bought 5 iPhone 6s for my staff. All installed in Otterbox. All survived Tradie use and mine dropped down two set of concrete interval stairs. So in 2022 when I left my office job to go on the tools I installed my iPhone XR in another Otterbox. October 23 and the other case is falling apart. Cracks everywhere. Cuts, scuffs , etc. I… Read more
think it’s got another month.
Use is in my pocket or in the Ute in a cradle while I work in forests cutting wood. Not abused.
Summary: not the quality they use to be and reading the reviews her on poor warranty response , i not even going to claim.
So sad.
Terrible – Small covers for charging port and ‘loud/silent mode switch’ break off after a year. Rubber casing loses it’s shape and catches dust inside. Look for something else!
Doing business with robots – Ordered a cover as a gift for a friend and organised postage to her address. An hour later I realised I had ordered the wrong type. Immediately emailed and asked to change order to different iPhone or cancel and I would reorder. First got automated “we’ll respond in 48hours”. Then got automated notice with tracking. Then got automated response… Read more
next day saying “this is an automated service and cancellation/order change not possible”. No humans despite all the profits. Shocker! Never again!
Bad product worse service and waranty – Purchased a Otter Box Defender series 18 Apr 22 for my iPhone 11 pro Reatil $99.95 ($89.95 with discount because I bought a lot in store) through a PTC store, for an overseas trip. By November 22 it started deteriorating and the charging portal cover was beginning to tear. The whole cover fell of at the end of December 22. Returned to PTC who… Read more
advised they do not handle this type of claim and only covered manufacturing faults and defects and that I had to claim through Otter Box direct. Went to the Otter Box site to lodge a claim and i was unable to lodge the claim because the site advised me the claim had to be handled through the retailer. Back to the retailer, "no they definitely cannot assist i must contact Otter Box. Email to Otter Box advising the problem. Response: Hello Sean,
Thank you for contacting us. We are sorry to hear that you are experiencing issues with your item.
Please return to the original point of sale for a replacement. If the shop is not able to assist you, please ask for their distributor’s contact for more help.
Sincerest Regards,
A....... OtterBox Customer Support.
So if you want a reliable product at a top price with good warranty and service backup, consider this and all other customer experiences shared here. I believe they sell the lifeproof brand also so not sure I can revert to that product either.
The fact that there is no response by Otter Box is indicative of their concern for their product quality and customer service.
You have been advised, I should have read the reviews forts, more foil me, I trusted the Brand and store advice,m givent to me by PTC (Phone Tech & Com Sean
Unimpressed – The silicon rubber inner case started to stretch on the top right-hand corner of my S21 after about 2 months of us. I never removed the phone from the case. At about 4 months of use, my phone was slipping out of the case several times per day. I tried the boiling water trick (I mean, seriously?) but didn't work. Show details
Find out how OtterBox Defender Series compares to other Products
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Terrible experience with retailer and product – Purchased an Otterbox react cover for my new iphone 13 pro in December 21. Cost $49.95. By June 2022 the case had fallen apart. I had retained all receipts and documentation. No service, offer of replacement or refund. Retailer was Platinum eStore in Broadway Centre Sydney. What a joke of a business. A total con who doesn't care about the… Read more
customer. These are expensive phone cases that do not do the job and these pop up style shops in centres should be avoided at all costs. Good luck.
Rubbish – After 18 months the rubber piece came apart & fell out of the plastic casing along with my phone, paid $60 for it, but 1 year warranty is up of course Show details
Won't refund or provide replacement – I purchased an Otterbox Defender case for our company's new Samsung phone. The phone had a fault and was returned and swapped for an iphone. The otterbox case was very expensive and barely used, yet Otterbox said that they won't refund or exchange as it is outside of their 30 day return policy. It was barely outside of this and the case was still… Read more
in perfect condition. If Otterbox is this inflexible, we won't be buying from them again. From other reviews here this seems like a smart choice.
Inner casing disintegrated – My casing that cost me $60. The inner clip in frame disintegrated after 18 month warranty is only valid for one year. Buy something else. The leather flip cases seem to be better constructed Show details
After sale service – Hi, I bought a otto box case for my phone that did not fit so I paid $15 postage to return it on the 19th January and still have not heard from them. They will not answer my emails so I would never recommend them to anyone.Think twice before purchasing from them. Just a follow up that I have now been contacted and told I will get a refund.
Not what they use to be! – After using otterbox defender cases in the past I figured I'd get one for my new S22 Ultra to ensure it had the best protection available. However the quality just isn't there anymore. When holding the phone the case creaks, the thin sides bend in and out against your phone and it just doesn't seem to be a tight snug fit, nor a solid case. At this… Read more
point I have doubts as to how protective it would be.
I've opted to buy a UAG Monarch case instead.
Was ok for a while – Yeh well I didn't learn by experience. My Telco provided me with an Otterbox"Pro"for my note 20 ultra.Removed 10 mins ago and noticed the bottom left of the top plastic that snaps over the bottom part...snapped.1 or 2 drops from less than waist height. At least it was the(expensive)but cheaply made case that was damaged and not my phone. The… Read more
plastic is as skinny as a small twig no wonder. I usually don't entertain the same company twice after first mishap. Not upset as didn't pay for but hey back to Tech 21.
S21 Ultra version does not protect as well as the older versions – I have sworn by OtterBox Defender cases for years. My Samsung S4 and S7 phones survived without damage for years. Not so with my S21 Ultra. The phone dropped onto it's edge from a table onto a wooden deck and the screen broke. Fortunately I had a Whitestone Dome Screen protector which was not damaged so the screen has held together and won't get dirt and moisture in. Otterbox will no longer be my case of choice. Show details
Rubbish product and bad customer service! – Used from day 1 on my Pixel 6 and in 4 weeks the case has let in so much dirt that its scratched all the back and put chips around the aluminium frame. Not what I was expecting after all the hype and from a $100 phone case! Contacted customer support and was told its a "wear and tear" issue and not a "defect in material or workmanship"... Even… Read more
cases less than half the price have better workmanship and are smart enough to put foam in places dirt can get under.
Overall way over priced and poor construction.
Terrible – Terrible case. Went to the beach and sand got under the screen. Has survived a couple of drops, but wouldn’t trust it like my old griffin survivor case. I could throw that. Show details
Case disintegrating after 28 months – Purchased my iPhone XS from Chadstone Apple Store in 2019 and the salesman recommended and also sold me the Otterbox cover. Last week a small portion came away and has systematically continued to break off in pieces. I've had to remove the remaining partial cover in order to use the side buttons on the phone. Show details
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