Otterbox Commuter for iPhone 5 Review

The Otterbox Commuter has been a staple amongst iDevice owners for years now, providing arguably the best hybrid protection (that's a hard plastic and silicone layer) for your shiny iDevices. So how does the latest iteration of this immensely popular case stack up against the older generations, and competing cases?

Inside the box you will receive the case it self along with a screen protector, microfibre and squeegee. The screen protector is of very high quality, as one has come to expect with Otterbox products, and can be applied without much hassle. It provides coverage for the screen in its entirety as well as most of the coloured section above and below the display of the device.

Upon first glance of the new Commuter, you will notice that its design hasn't changed all that much from previous generations. The case is still comprised of a hard polycarbonate plastic on the outside, as well as a silicone layer on the inside. I did notice that Otterbox have beefed up the rigidity of both the plastic and the silicone layer, meaning they're not as flexible as before, but they do remain as one case even better.

One of my biggest complaints with previous Commuters was always that they were a bother to apply. However, thanks to the new, stiffer quality of rubber and plastic used on the case, application is actually much easier. The silicone layer slips on easily, and the hard plastic layer wraps around that, leaving access to all ports and connectors in tact (all of which are protected by silicone flaps that prevent dust clogging up in them). There is also a large circular cutout for the Apple logo at the back of the device, as well as one for the camera and LED flash. Due to the size and shape of said cutout, camera images with flash come out as they should, and are not affected by the black shroud that sometimes appear on images when other cases are used on the devices.

Once applied, the most noticeable feature is the enlarged lip of the case. It protrudes outwards far more than before and may be a tad annoying to some, although it does serve a good purpose. The larger lips means that when the device is face down, there is even more distance between the surface of the display (protected by the screen protector) and the surface the phone is on. This means better protection against scratches.

Aesthetically the black version of the case naturally looks sleek, sophisticated and discrete. However, if you do fancy something slightly more flamboyant, you can also pickup the case in Night Sky as well as a plethora of other iPhone 5 covers.

The case adds a bit of bulk to the device, but still manages to feel comfortable in the hands. The materials are heavy, but not too heavy, thereby retaining the premium feel of the iPhone 5, as well as giving you solid protection. The silicone layer will absorb shock impact whilst the plastic layer will provide protection against superficial damage like scratches. Thanks to the fact that the plastic layer is on the outside rather than inside, sliding this case in an out of your jeans pocket is extremely easy. Unlike other cases, the button protectors still allow easy to access to all the buttons on the iPhone 5 without having to push down overly hard. 

All in all the Otterbox Commuter is a solid update the series of cases and perfect for anything looking for good all round protection for day-to-day usage, all encompassed in a nice design.

The Otterbox Commuter retails for an RRP of £29.95 GBP at MobileFun in multiple colours. You can also check out their extensive range of other iPhone 5 covers too.