Lifeproof vs Otterbox – Which is the best phone case for your iPhone?
You’ve just bought the Apple iPhone X! Congratulations, that makes you one among the select few who own this incredibly expensive and highly anticipated smartphone.
As you are well aware, the Apple iPhone X is not a cheap phone. In fact, none of the iPhone models, whether it’s iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone SE, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, or iPhone X, are cheap.
An iPhone is a major investment. That’s why you need to have the best case and screen protector for your cell phone. There can be no compromise on that, surely!
So, should your phone case be OtterBox or Lifeproof? They are both excellent options to have. Both Lifeproof cases and OtterBox cases are waterproof and have many built-in protections. While Otterbox Defender and Lifeproof Fre are the two best products from either brand, it is not easy to pick a winner in an Otterbox defender vs Lifeproof Fre comparison.
But it is important to choose the right phone case, as it could make all the difference between an iPhone X that works well throughout its lifetime and a new iPhone X that gets damaged only a few weeks after you pay big bucks for it! It’s your investment, after all, you cannot afford any sort of accidents or mistakes when it comes to your iPhone, or for that matter, any smartphone.
A Lifeproof or Otterbox phone case or cover ensures maximum protection for your iPhone so that you don’t have to worry about it getting damaged after being dropped from a height. The last thing you want is a crack in the screen from a crash on the asphalt – you know your iPhone or for that matter, any cell phone is essentially worthless if it has a cracked screen.
Which phone case fares better in an Otterbox vs Lifeproof comparison? Both cases have their advantages and disadvantages.
Otterbox Defender does very well in most drop tests and offers one of the very best drop-proof protection for your iPhone X, or for an older iPhone model such as iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8 or iPhone 8 Plus.
Lifeproof, on the other hand, is known to be a very rugged case, which offers excellent resistance to dust, is reasonably drop-proof and offers protection against water, rain, and snow.
So, Lifeproof or Otterbox? Let’s quickly go through the many differences between the popular phone cases.
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Lifeproof vs Otterbox – What’s the Difference?
OtterBox vs. LifeProof: Which Provides Better Protection?
Both OtterBox and LifeProof are similar to each other in a lot of ways, especially when it comes to providing the best protection. Both phone cases claim to provide excellent protection against drops, dust, and dirt, and they both claim to be scratch proof.
Lifeproof is better in one respect, though – it is waterproof and snow proof. You can basically submerge an iPhone with a Lifeproof case in water for two hours and nothing would happen. Otterbox, however, is water resistant, but not waterproof.
This is an important difference between the two. The last thing you want is for your phone to get wet. However, most of the iPhones starting with iPhone 7 are waterproof. This means you don’t have to worry about the newer iPhone models such as iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, or iPhone X getting damaged by water or snow.
So, even if the Otterbox phone case is not waterproof, that’s fine, as your iPhone itself is reasonably waterproof. So not being waterproof is not as much of a drawback as you would think for Otterbox.
Another advantage is that both of these phone covers keep your phone 100% sealed and while providing full access to all ports and buttons. This ensures that the front side of your phone gets all the protection it needs around the display, especially at the sides. The cases come with a built-in screen protector that covers the screen very well. Only the camera and the flash are exposed, as they should be.
There have been a number of drop tests performed on these phones and the results are inconclusive at best. Let’s take the example of a few YouTube videos. In this EverythingApplePro video, phones with either of the two cases were dropped from a height of 50 feet. It was found that the iPhone with Lifeproof Fre case survived the fall, while the one with Otterbox Defender did not.
You may also want to have a look at these interesting videos from MobileReviewsEh where a phone with Lifeproof cracks after being thrown from a height of 40 feet, while one with an Otterbox Defender case survives the fall. The jury is still out on this one!
OtterBox vs. LifeProof: Which costs less?
Clearly, Otterbox cases cost less. Otterbox has 3 different case styles which work very well with a range of iPhones starting from iPhone 6. They are the Defender, the Commuter, and the Symmetry. These cases are priced between $39 and $60 – do check the latest prices by clicking on the links at the bottom of the page. Plus, these cases come with Alpha Glass screen protectors or Clearly Protected screen protectors.
With LifeProof, you will get two different case styles for the iPhone 6. Each of these case styles, the LifeProof Fre and the LifeProof Nuud cost more than comparable options from Otterbox. LifeProof Fre costs $79.99 and comes with a built-in screen protector. LifeProof Nuud has the same waterproof protection, however, it does not come with a screen protector. Nuud costs more than any case from OtterBox as well.
OtterBox or LifeProof: Which has the better Design?
OtterBox and LifeProof phone cases are known for being rugged. They are not particularly well known for their design. You really cannot expect much from these phone cases as far as design is concerned.
The Otterbox Defender is not the most looking phone case but that’s not what you are looking for. It is incredibly tough and rigged and has the following dimensions: 6.18 inches by 3.39 inches by 1.32 inches.
The Lifeproof Fre has the following dimensions: 5.9 inches by 3.1 inches by 0.53 inches. This phone case is not as large and bulky as OtterBox Defender and has a thickness of only 0.53 inches. The OtterBox Defender is 2.5 thicker, in fact.
Both cases are available in a range of colors and color patterns. The OtterBox Defender features many color options than Lifeproof Fre, but the latter is arguably the better looking of the two.
One of the negatives of OtterBox Symmetry is that it hides the Apple logo very well. The whole point of having an iPhone is for the whole world to know that you have an iPhone. That sort of defeats the purpose! But the OtterBox Defender and Commuter make it a point to showcase the iPhone logo very well.
Lifeproof or OtterBox: Which has the better set of Features?
OtterBox has more features than LifeProof and is certainly better in that respect. OtterBox Commuter Wallet, for example, comes with a storage compartment for storing your cash, cards or ID proof.
LifeProof has waterproof cases, but it does not come with any additional storage options. Also, as mentioned earlier, OtterBox has more color options than LifeProof.
OtterBox or LifeProof: Which has more Special Accessories?
Both OtterBox and LifeProof come with many special accessories. OtterBox comes with Clearly Protected and Alpha Glass screen protectors. The screen protectors come in two different options – Vibrant, which makes the screen clearer and more vibrant and Privacy, which makes it more difficult for people to observe whatever it is that you are doing on your phone. Alpha Glass is built with glass, while the Clearly Protected is built with polyurethane.
LifeProof comes with a number of unique accessories which work very well with their waterproof cases such as Life Jacket, which is a flotation device which ensures that your iPhone does not sink if dropped in a tub of water. It comes with an armband so that you can fasten the iPhone to your arm when you are walking, running or jogging. It also comes with a belt clip, which makes it easier for you to carry the iPhone around when you are at work or traveling.
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Otterbox Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Has a very good, streamlined design; provides very good protection.
- Offers a good grip, and yet can slip in and out of your pockets easily.
- Resistant to shocks, drops, and impacts from external objects.
- It does not hamper the audio quality. In fact, the case creates channels inside which improves the sound quality.
- It can be purchased in a number of different customizable color combinations.
Cons:
- The ports and buttons of the Otterbox are very well plugged, but it does give you the impression the iPhone is exposed at the time, especially when it comes to the rear and the front cameras.
- The touchscreen protector may not match the glass screen of some of the older iPhone models as perfectly as it should.
Otterbox Case
Lifeproof Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Great design, not as bulky as Otterbox.
- The iPhone is completely sealed by the case and offers excellent protection against the rain, snow and all weather conditions. It is completely waterproof.
- The touchscreen protector fits in well with the iPhone’s glass screen.
Cons:
- Lifeproof cases are not as bulky as OtterBox cases, so they may not provide your iPhone with the same sort of drop protection.
- The audio quality of the iPhone is slightly affected when you are using this case in comparison to using an Otterbox phone case.
Lifeproof Case
The Verdict: Otterbox vs Lifeproof: Which is the Best Case of the Two?
The Otterbox Defender is one of the very best products in the protective case category. Otterbox has consistently made some of the very best cases for iPhone and there is no question that the Defender is one of their most popular products.
This phone case is very rugged and comes with a built-in protective touchscreen cover. This rubber cover is Touch ID-responsive and covers the Home button. The product features a reinforced polycarbonate shell that comes with a thick rubber exterior. The seals that cover the ports are and the silent/ring switches are quite strong. You can be sure that the buttons and the ports are properly plugged, so there is no question of dirt or debris from getting into the case.
However, this case is not perfectly waterproof, which is probably a disadvantage. It is water resistant, which is good, and it also helps that the iPhone X is itself waterproof, enjoying a high waterproof rating of IP67. But if you want a perfectly waterproof case, you have to go for Lifeproof. This is certainly a disadvantage with this case.
Otterbox performs very well in most drop tests. Some YouTubers have claimed to drop their iPhones covered by an Otterbox case from the 3rd floor of a multi-storey building and say that the phone remains intact. Well, that’s impressive for sure! It is also very good that the Otterbox Defender comes with a built-in screen protector for protection from scratches and scrapes.
Let’s talk about Lifeproof.
LifeProof Fre is one of the most impressive products from LifeProof that comes with a number of great features. First of all, it is a slim case and offers excellent protection. Lifeproof is not one of those bulky phone cases that you may have seen on the market.
This phone case gives you a very good drop protection, but not as much as Otterbox Defender. However, if you have an active lifestyle and spend a lot of time outside, then this case gives you all the protection you need from rain, snow, and other elements. It is drop proof, snow proof, dirt proof and waterproof.
So, OtterBox or LifeProof? They are both very good, and you couldn’t go wrong with either of them. You can place an order either OtterBox or Lifeproof case for your iPhone by clicking on the links below.
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