Decoding OtterBox and LifeProof cases for iPhone X

Video: Will iPhone X explode if it wirelessly charges while plugged in?

I am a freak when it comes to cases for smartphones.

If I see a family member or a friend running around with an unprotected device, my first instinct, after recovering from a panic attack, is to fit that person’s device with a case.

I usually have a few models sitting in my “case box,” and if the case fits, it’s going on the phone if you show up at my house without one.

Because, if you don’t use a case, you will end up like my wife’s friend, Jenna. Jenna is a bad girl. Jenna does not use a case. Jenna’s iPhone is beyond hope now.

Yes that iPhone 6+ still works. I’m not sure how that’s even possible, but it does.

I used to say that any case on a smartphone is better than no case at all. The main thing you really need to be concerned with is bezel elevation to prevent the phone from falling flat on the screen and taking a direct impact.

Secondary to that concern, you want edge rigidity and shock absorption to buffer against hits on the side and corners.

Prior to the introduction of edge screen designs first seen in devices like the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, and now in the iPhone X, I would have maintained that yes, put on a case, any case.

But given how fragile the design is of this particular phone, and how much this thing dents your wallet when you buy it and god forbid have to repair it after drop damage, I’m going to have to change my mind on that one.

You want the most protective design money can buy.

Protective cases

There are a few companies that specialize in extreme device protection. One is UAG, whose iPhone X cases my colleague Matt Miller just thoroughly reviewed. I like UAG as well and it is an excellent company.

Otter Products is the other major player in this market and I am a huge fans of its offerings. When I am asked by friends and family which case to get, an Otter case is always my first answer.

Otter traditionally had one ultra-protective design, which is the Defender. And for years, I only used Defenders no matter which device I had. I still only use Defender on my 12.9-inch iPad Pro, because it’s the only case I trust on that device right now.

You could just go out an get a Defender for your iPhone X. You would be very safe with that decision and my work would be done. It’s a rugged, proven design, and it’s a whole $50, so it’s practically a no-brainer.

But over the last few years, Otter has really expanded its line of case designs not just in its own branded offerings but also with its acquisition of LifeProof, which was once a fierce competitor.

LifeProof cases once distinguished themselves from OtterBox cases in that they were targeting sporty lifestyle customers, with an emphasis on waterproofing. So, they were always a little bit more expensive than the OtterBox designs. The FRE, in particular, is its flagship.

Let’s go through the LifeProof lineup for iPhone X since it is a relatively easy decision matrix.

For iPhone X, LifeProof has introduced two new case designs: the SLAM and NEXT. Based on close examination, these seem to be very similar two-piece clamshell designs, although from the samples I received, I noticed that the NEXT had considerably more bumper material on it.

Both are very tight fitting designs and provide ample bezel elevation and side/corner impact protection. However, neither are waterproof or provide additional screen protection for scratches or front impacts.

I used both cases for about a day, and I would say that the NEXT felt thicker, but it’s not enough of a difference for me to sacrifice shock absorption with the SLAM. Personally, if I was inclined to get one of these two cases, I would get NEXT.

Waterproof cases

The iPhone X is already IP67 water resistant and can survive 30 minutes of immersion at depths of 1m, so if the primary concern is being dropped with occasionally being rained on, NEXT is what I would go with.

However, nothing is so simple when it comes to making case recommendations for iPhone X.

Read also: How iPhone X melds the best of Apple’s past and present | iPhone X vs iPhone 8: Price, size, camera all factor in your buying decision | Face ID is so good you won’t miss the Home button

I have not yet received the iPhone X version of FRE, as the company didn’t have a production sample ready yet, but I do have FRE installed on both my Pixel 2 and Samsung Galaxy S8+. So we can infer that the overall design is going to be similar.

FRE is LifeProof’s tried and true waterproof case design, which also incorporates a permanent scratch protector that is a flexible film. This is the case that traditionally provided brand differentiation from OtterBox and the Defender.

Now, with iPhone X already being fairly water resistant to begin with, it would seem that FRE is overkill.

Perhaps I would tend to agree with this — if we weren’t talking about a $1,000+ device that costs $275 to replace the screen regardless of whether you bought the thing outright or you are making lease payments on the Upgrade Program.

On iPhone X, FRE has a watertight lightning charge connector door latch in addition to a permanent screen/scratch protector. I’m not sure how necessary this is, but if you spend time near the water or on the beach, it might be a good idea to have this feature.

Read also: Should you upgrade your iPhone to iOS 11.1? | iPhone X reviews: It’s a journey not an impulse buy | Apple: We screwed up your iPhone X order, please come back | iPhone X screen: The cost to repair

Additionally, given the fact that you are now constantly rubbing your finger with nails on the screen itself instead of pushing a physical home button, I am inclined to say that a screen protector on an iPhone X is a requirement.

You just spent $1,000 or more on a phone, get the $80 case.

Done, right? Forget SLAM and NEXT. Get the FRE.

Not so fast.

With the iPhone X, Otter has introduced a new high-end case, the Pursuit.

It appears that the company has created something of a fusion design between Defender and FRE. It essentially merged the DNA between the two companies with this product.

According to the company, the Pursuit is a stronger case than Defender without the additional bulk.

It’s really more LifeProof than an Otter in terms of overall looks, but it isn’t inherently waterproof. The FRE still offers additional waterproofing. Pursuit doesn’t have a waterproof lightning latch; it has a rubber tab like the Defender instead.

So, is the FRE still better for the money? Well… no.

Scratch resistant cases

All the new OtterBox cases for iPhone X can accommodate the Alpha Glass accessory, which provides additional scratch and impact protection for $39 more.

Can you buy a third-party scratch resistant film to put on a Pursuit? Sure. But then you should get a FRE — it’s cheaper.

Would you rather have additional glass instead? In terms of aesthetic it definitely looks better and is easier to clean, and I think the few extra microns of glass gives me more peace of mind.

I see no point in using either Defender or Pursuit without Alpha Glass. So, really, in terms of overall decision matrix of which case to buy, in my opinion, it comes down to:

1. You want a holster and full rubberization and the tried and true Otter design (Defender + Alpha Glass)
2. You want it to be thin but still highly protective (Pursuit + Alpha Glass)
3. You want it to be more waterproof than what the device provides out of the box, and you want scratch protection but not additional screen impact protection (FRE)

I spoke with Otter reps and asked them why the company simply did not consolidate the product lines or replace the existing Defender with Pursuit and a Pursuit holster.

Otter and Lifeproof have already consolidated their e-commerce sites as well as the type of packaging used in order to satisfy carrier shelf space display requirements and in-store marketing needs.

This is very much like a Ferrari/Maserati or a Cadillac/Buick thing. Same company, same engineering principles, and likely the same production lines. Different brands appealing to similar but different legacy customers.

I think the company could have easily made an FRE that can use Alpha Glass as opposed to the integrated film, and then it could just put different branding on it for the OtterBox version along with a holster. This is what I would have done, personally.

I have to assume OtterBox has done its market research and determined that not everyone wants a true glass protector and that a certain amount of customers, particularly in the vertical market space (construction, military, etc), want the additional psychological protection of full rubberization with the traditional Defender design.

With any of these three case designs, you’re in good hands. Which one are you planning to use? Talk Back and Let Me Know.

Previous and related coverage

iPhone X suffers first-generation teething troubles

It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that a device as ambitious as the iPhone X suffers some teething troubles out of the gate.

iPhone X: This is how much it costs to make one, in components

Apple’s new flagship phone retails at $999, but how much do the components add up to?