The reason they put rubber grips on back of Commuter is for more grip in hand as well as prior version was super slippery. I love the commuter not too bulky and protects great and feels really solid 👍🏻 thx for reviews.
Awesome review! As a faithful OtterBox customer, I totally agree on every point you made. I appreciate your attention to details. Keep up the good work! Much love from Michigan!
THanks for doing this. I was thinking that the Commuter was sort of flimsy now, but perhaps the materials are better. I had a Commuter on my 7+ the entire time; 2016-2021. When I took it off to trade the phone in, I felt kinda bad trading in what looked like a brand new phone. I know I dropped that phone MULTIPLE times over those years, without a screen protector, and it still looked shiny and new. I tell everyone to use Otterbox products, but it seems like I am the only one who does...and I've never had to repair/replace a cell phone. Otterbox FTW!
I got the commuter, has another layer more than the symmetry and I feel like it is a bit beefier and offers a bit more protection. I know if you want to go all out to get the defender but it’s just too big and bulky in my opinion while the commuter is a bit bulky so it feels protected but it isn’t super huge and bulky. It’s like a middle ground for the 3 in my opinion.
The majority of the back of the commuter feels the same way but it has some feet on it that are a bit grippy though to help keep the phone from sliding out of your pocket and whatnot. Check out this video for a more in-depth review : ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-LvDsSjGXghg.html
I bought Symmetry case and love the slim look and feel, plus it has Megsafe. When I first put the case on my phone, I was a bit concerned about it slipping out of my hands, however after 6 months of ownership I have not dropped it once. I highly recommend this beautiful quality made case from Otterbox
Defender is my favourite as someone in the trades I could use any other case aside from the defender, no other case gives me the confidence of protection that the defender gives.
Used commuter and the defender pro! I like the look more and less bulk of the commuter series BUT the grip of the defender pro is soooo nice. It feels perfect. A little more weight, not much and you get used to it very easily. The defender pro is truly so much better. The commuter doesn't offer enough protection from drops but I talked to the lady from Ottorbox and she said you don't get the antimicrobial protection but it's so similar. That's her opinion working for Ottorbox but the defender is much better. Yea there is a little more bulk but you do get used to it quite quickly and I have tiny hands and arthritis. The defender is good for me and I hike and need extra protection.
I am using the iPhone 12 mini with the symetry case. There’s no way my phone is going to break with this case on. Even if dropped on concrete from 5 feet up. The iPhones have come a very long way in terms of durability, to the point where you could drop a naked one onto tile and it’s very likely to not break. So the mute beefy otter box in my opinion is completely unnecessary.
I have a defender 3+ years old. 100s of drops. Phone is great. My only issue is install & uninstall. Real pain in the butt to install & uninstall. I never use the front. My phone looks brand new
I remember the iPhone 4. It was the most breakable phone to ever exist. Half of the ones I saw my fellow teenagers use had broken screens. A single drop on a hard surface and the fragile glass would shatter.
Nice video! Subscribed! I love the symmetry + such a nice case, i love it looks great with the magsafe wallets and goes with many outfits as its quite thin.
I have my s10 in the Defender case. This thing is a tank! It's taken more than a few drops (both at home and on the street) and the phone... not a single scratch. Can't recommend it enough.
I used the defender first and it was the first phone I've ever had where it didn't crack or break by the time of my upgrade. Now I'm trying the symmetry and I can't help but feel as someone who drops their phone constantly I have mad a grave mistake hahahahha
I know what you mean... Odd little trick, every once in a while - I would take off the outer rubber layer and soak it in HOT water to clean it, then soak it in ICE COLD water, and it seemed to shrink it down a bit. Good luck! Let me know what you think of the commuter.
I used to be a die hard fan of the Commuter case, I would get one for every phone I’ve had…. Only drawback I see with commuter, I feel the tab at the charging port puts a little too much pressure for the charging port and the cable. With my iPhone 13 Pro Max I went for the symmetry.
Had the defender pro for my google pixel 7 pro and did not like at all. As soon as you snap it together it puts bubble in your screen protector. Went through 3 screen protectors before I threw the thing out. Totally sucks.
@@UncleJay2k I tried posting a link to Otterbox's website but then RU-vid deleted the message as they seem wont to do nowadays. Anyway my point in the message was that it appears to me that for any given phone Otterbox sells either a "Commuter Series case" or a "Commuter Series Lite case." I didn't spend a huge amount of time looking though. Specifically there was no "Commuter Lite" option for the iPhone 12 Max or 13 Max. For a Samsung Galaxy A51 (my phone) there's a "Commuter Lite" but no "Commuter." Which simplifies things I suppose but I don't understand why. What's the practical difference between Commuter and Commuter Lite?
Very nice review. Most times I have a Samsung Note. Samgsung Galaxy on order. I've always had the Defender. With the cost of phones nowadays, It's automatic for me. Nice review.
The Otterbox Customers Service is Literally not existing. Something this simple as a Retoure is too hard to arrange, its unbelievable. It seems like everyone at Otterbox is Ignoring me. To anyone who is considering buying something, you better not have any issues with the Product.
It's a polycarbonate case the only issues you have is a really hard drop will break your phone if they didn't put a microphone hole for the V60 either no they don't give a f*** about you once they sell the case you're dead to them they have a warranty but there's leg work
They'll probably tell you and don't be cheap by the defender Pro or something cocky like that big companies are usually cocky blow them up man tell him you'll spread root bad reviews everyday for a year
Thank you for an excellent video. I would add a couple of extra observations. The commuter does a better job of keeping dust away from your phone than either of the other two, and the defender can actually trap dust around the screen and elsewhere. Also, the commuter is great for slipping into a pocket because it has a hard exterior. The defender is not easy to slip in and out of a pocket. Also, if you want to add an extra mag, safe magnet, the commuter provides the perfect place between the soft inside, and the hard outside, still protecting the phone from any ring caused by the magnet. The defender does not have that feature.
Can you confirm what you said in the video please. You said that the symmetry for the 12 Pro max fits on the 13 pro max….?? I have a 13 pro max and like the colors the made compatible for the 12, the colors specifically for the 13 are bland. Otterbox says on Amazon that the 12 case is not compatible for the 13 🤷🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️
I dont have any of these cases or an iphone 12 or 13 anymore unfortunately. BUT if memory serves me correctly (50/50 shot here lol) i believe it fit and was just a little tight around the camera bump. Buy on amazon so you can return if it doesn't fit.
I always had Defenders and I have always felt my phone to be really protected, never had any damage on my phones. For my last case I purchased a summetry because of the color variations and I wanted something a little less bulkier. I found the symmetry to be very slippery, I feel my phone can be damaged if I drop it.
Yeah I get what you mean - the difference in material is probably the culprit. In the Defender, the soft rubber is on the OUTSIDE with the hard plastic on the inside, the other cases are reversed.
Ugh well the damned symmetry case is the only one allowing MagSafe and that’s always the worst rated one. This is so frustrating as someone who wants MagSafe
@@UncleJay2k debating on defender pro and abandoning MagSafe since I abuse my phones or a mouse limitless and installing dragon grips on the sides. Spigen tough armor has a version with MagSafe but they reduced the inner protection , fml MagSafe cases are weak sauce basically, other heavy cases like Rokform aren’t nice aesthetically for me
Thank you. I have a defender and was looking into continuing when I get the next S23 Ultra. Was wondering what the difference was between the Defender/Communter/Symmetry cases. And will continue with the Defender
the best one is commuter..i have s21 ultra..just got s22 ultra and i prefer the commuter cause it protects it like a defender pro but it's slim and feels good in the hand
I have used the Defender on my old XR, just got an S22 and wanted a slimmer case, ordered the Symmetry, it feels like a wet noodle in my hand compared to the defender. Deciding between Defender and Commuter now, I dont want to live with a phone as bulked out as my XR has been the last few years tho 😅
Jay, it was really helpful to see the side-by-side profiles. Typically I carry my phone in a front blue-jean pocket. So that profile makes a difference. Initially, I was leaning toward the Symmetry case, since that's what I had on my old 6s. But after seeing your review, I'm leaning toward the commuter.
i got the symmetry for my 13 pro max, and i love it, i had a defender case for my 12 pro max and the back of the outer part of the case became warped and stretched out, so defender cases for iphones are a thumbs down for me, but it’s weird though because the defender series for the samsung s22 ultra is amazing and does not have that issue
They used to, when I last had a defender it was on a S8. It was a bit junkie tho, I cut the plastic screen protector out & put a glass one on. Then it was the perfect case back then.
Really hard to see each case because your moving them around so rapidly. Be great if you slowly turned around each model so we can see them clearly. Looking for thinnest lightest case but your measurements are in grams instead of ounces which is useless for Americans.
Take two : www.amazon.com/dp/B09BZ8QLWZ/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_api_glt_fabc_dl_3AZKAF63ANXRYX0PPCEG Mind letting me known how you make out? And also would love to hear your thoughts on it once you have it on your phone,
@@UncleJay2k Contacted Otterbox. Was told attached screen protectors were discontinued to give better “touch” response. Found it interesting that individual Otterbox screen protectors protectors were available for $$$ though. Hmmm . . .
@@alivenwell14 ohhh I see what you mean now, the screen protector built into the case. Yeah, wasn’t a huge fan of those - plus now they sell screen protectors so they can ding us twice for cash.
Me too on my iPhone 11 otterbox defender case fell out my hand from my window on the 3rd floor and only cracked the case and a little bit of the screen protector but phone was perfectly fine
@@UncleJay2k what I mean is that I would like the clip removed from the holster, so the holster can be mounted, and I can use the clip for something else. What I’d like to see is how to remove one from the other, without breaking either.
Brilliant review, UncleJay. Your channel definitely deserves more views and subs! I'm deliberating between the Defender Pro and Spigen Ultra Hybrid for my new Pixel 6, and it is clear which one offers what. BTW, is the Symmetry comparable to the Spigen in terms of protection?
I REALLY appreciate your kind words my friend. Made me smile :-) Your right on the money with comparing those two cases. I would say that the Symmetry probably offers something like 10 to 15% more protection, but they're both great cases that I would feel comfortable with. THANKS again. Have a great day!
Great question. It’s simply because all the dimensions are close enough. Camera bump outline, thickness, width and height. Hope that answers your questions.
Hey man great review! I own all 3 cases plus 1 UAG Pathfinder case. I have to say I always go back to an otter box. Out of these 3 though I’m torn between Symmetry and Commuter. The defender is bulky and you do get used to it but over time to rubber stretches and plus it isn’t easy to put in and out of a pocket (guess maybe that’s why it comes with a clip) but that’s good because it’s super grippy. The Symmetry is great but has absolutely no grip and I’ve slid my off the table my accident sometimes. I do like the thin ness and accessibility but I really don’t feel it’s as protected as it could be. The Commuter for me is the sweet spot. I had the iPhone 7 Plus and XS MAX. Both of them used a Commuter. Not a big fan of the little tab covering the lightning port but you get used to it and it does keep it clean from debris. For some reason that little rubber tab hasn’t stretched or anything so that’s cool. I hope they never stop making the Commuter.
In that video - yes. You bring up a good point though. Maybe in future similar videos I will edit out the time it takes to swap cases. I appreciate your valuable feedback!
@@UncleJay2k oh thanks man. I take youve seen who Jay Shetty is now. I hope i can become a part time lifeguard at UCalgary actually, it got my attention. Its you're not your but thats ok, hope youre also well in America i assume 😛
I hear you! A little trick: Get your screen protector, put the case on, and then apply the screen protector. It will help in ligning up your protector as well. For a decent screen protector check this brand out : ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ICbjPvxZ_mc.html
My screen protector is Spigen Glasr EZ Fit with alignment installation and work perfect with Otterbox Symmetry , Defender XT and Defender pro. Super easy screen installation.