I had purchased an Otterbox from the phone store when I originally got my iPhone 4S. It was one piece, all silicone and provided "good friction". I keep the phone in my shirt pocket and other covers were too "slick" and the phone would fall out when I bent over. First I bought an Otterbox Defender thinking it would be the same thing, it wasn't. The sides were the same type of silicone, but the back was smooth. It didn't stay in my pocket nearly as well, and the lens cover gets moisture behind it and it keeps the unit from working as well. I decided to buy the Commuter and it turned out even more slippery with the plastic insets on the side. I suspect that Otterbox changed the design because people probably complained that the Original was too hard to take out of their pocket, which was the feature that I liked! When I upgrade to an iPhone 6, I probably won't buy an Otterbox.
Pros: High quality, Durable
Cons: doesn't stay in pocket as well as the original, plastic lens is a negative
I love my new otterbox , except I wish I'd ordered a different color. The pink and white one was my choice, but I didn't realize the white would get dirty so easily. The next one I order won't have any white on it!
Coming from a Symetry Series, which is brilliant by the way. I got the normal case for an iPhone 4s for a friend and was shocked at how poor the quality was.
1: The rubber on the inside seemed flimsy and weak, like it would tear easily (Makes installing it hard as you fear ripping it, so your extra careful).
2: Randomly moving about can cause the phone to slightly pop out sometimes.
3: Constantly readjusting the rubber as it causes gaps which require a finger nail or such to pop it back out.
Again the Symtery Series was amazing, have it on my Galaxy S5 (current) and would not replace it. I've even had an otterbox for my Galaxy S3 & Note3. To be honest, this is the first time I've seen an otterbox case I was extremely disappointed in.
This is a great cover which is rugged but stylish at the same time, we have used this model in different colors in the past and we got his new one for our daughter who inherited "mom's" phone, all I gotta say is she loves it!
I enjoy my Otter Cover but I am disappointed that the white has discolored I have the purple and white for my 5 IPhone. So I will get another with out the white trim as it is embarrassing as it looks dirty. But it does serve the purpose to protect my phone from damage.