Customer reviews from otterbox.com
OtterBox - Defender Series Modular Case for Google Pixel - Borealis
Average customer rating
4.4
(85 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 85 reviews
5 Stars
53
4 Stars
20
3 Stars
7
2 Stars
4
1 Star
1
96%of customers recommend this product.
(
76 out of
79)
Customer Reviews for OtterBox - Defender Series Modular Case for Google Pixel - Borealis
Posted by: Booboo
Verified Purchase:Yes
Well built, reliable case that is stylish and most importantly provides an added level of protection to a fragile device. Adds some bulk to a slender phone, but this minor inconvenience is vastly out weighed by the safety it brings to the table. Hard to imagine that there's a better option on the market
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting otterbox.com
Posted by: LS337
Verified Purchase:Yes
I feel so much better and more confident having my phone in this case. Sturdy, adorable. A little bulky, and I wish there were more color and design options for Google Pixel. But I'm very pleased with my purchase.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting otterbox.com
Customer Rating
2
Same Good Protection but loss in Quality Features
on December 10, 2016
Posted by: Inferno505
Verified Purchase:Yes
I have two main points for this phone case. One, the protection is just as high quality as with my previous Defender Otter Box cases. Two, however, with the adaptation of this design to the Google Pixel phone, a ton of handy features I really liked are gone or not as good as before.
On the aspect of phone protection, this case is just fine as was the ones I had for my Samsung S5. There really is nothing about the protection aspect for me to say since it just works well and has left me with no issues or points to talk about. Personally, it's made me feel like I can actually use my Google Pixel phone, what with its no water proofing and extremely slippery "premium materials" composition. With the case I went from carrying my phone around in its box to being able to drag it everywhere and even toss it about with little extra regard. In addition, the customer support from Otter Box has been great, what with warranty replacements from my old cases that wore out in a year and getting money back from sales after I purchased cases.
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However, this case being specifically made for the Google Pixel has left me with a bunch of features missing that I didn't even think of when I bought this case. This has made the case much more frustrating to use than my previous version in ways I have not liked at all.
However, this case being specifically made for the Google Pixel has left me with a bunch of features missing that I didn't even think of when I bought this case. This has made the case much more frustrating to use than my previous version in ways I have not liked at all.
1st: The clip-on latch point for the belt clip/front protector part of the case is not halfway up the phone body.
I didn't even think of this when I bought the case because it has been that way on every other Defender case I have seen. This causes the really annoying problem where the phone will only fit in the case 2 of 4 ways. Literally 1/2 the time I go to put the clip on the phone and it's not lining up and I have to turn it around. Then about a 1/4 of the time I think I did it wrong because of the clip not closing easily. This was a completely non-present issue for my S5 case, leaving me with muscle memory that does not work well with this new case.
I know that it is the phone's button placements that stop the case from latching in the center like all other Defender cases models I've seen. However, It would have been really nice if there were something like 2 latching points (one right in between the buttons and one equidistant on the other side of the phone). This way the phone case would not have lost functionality in this really annoying way.
I didn't even think of this when I bought the case because it has been that way on every other Defender case I have seen. This causes the really annoying problem where the phone will only fit in the case 2 of 4 ways. Literally 1/2 the time I go to put the clip on the phone and it's not lining up and I have to turn it around. Then about a 1/4 of the time I think I did it wrong because of the clip not closing easily. This was a completely non-present issue for my S5 case, leaving me with muscle memory that does not work well with this new case.
I know that it is the phone's button placements that stop the case from latching in the center like all other Defender cases models I've seen. However, It would have been really nice if there were something like 2 latching points (one right in between the buttons and one equidistant on the other side of the phone). This way the phone case would not have lost functionality in this really annoying way.
2nd: There is no way to get to the fingerprint sensor on the back of the phone with the belt clip in place.
I have learned to always keep the belt clip on the back of the phone case, often using it for a stand, clipping to a belt, or just holding it easily. However this is really counter-thesis to the Google Pixel, because the quickest and easiest way to wake your phone the fingerprint sensor on the back. With that blocked off and there being no front facing buttons on the phone, it leaves only the power button to turn on the phone, which requires a pass code in my case. This is just bothersome because I'm paying so much for this phone just to have features blocked off if I want it to be protected enough to be a use-able phone by my standards.
I have learned to always keep the belt clip on the back of the phone case, often using it for a stand, clipping to a belt, or just holding it easily. However this is really counter-thesis to the Google Pixel, because the quickest and easiest way to wake your phone the fingerprint sensor on the back. With that blocked off and there being no front facing buttons on the phone, it leaves only the power button to turn on the phone, which requires a pass code in my case. This is just bothersome because I'm paying so much for this phone just to have features blocked off if I want it to be protected enough to be a use-able phone by my standards.
I am still actively considering just drilling a hole through the belt clip part of the case because its useful to have the belt clip on and its really annoying to take the phone in and out of the clip due to the first issue.
3rd: Shoulders on belt clip opposite of the ones the phone nestles into are too small.
On my S5 Defender case, the two corners that the phone did not slide into were big enough that it matched the size of the latch on the side of the phone. This way, when the belt clip was used as a stand these three points would keep the phone level. Now however, this case only rests on the latch, which is not in the center of the phone (1st issue). This leaves the whole phone tilted at an angle when used as a stand.
I know I can just rotate the clip and use the case the other way where the sides are level, however then this hides the volume and power buttons against the table. Combine this with the fact that I have to use it this way , since I can't flip the phone around due to the off center latch(1st issue), now I have no access to wake the phone from any means since the fingerprint sensor (2nd issue) and power button is hidden, and this design is a mess. The features of the case are specifically designed so that the only way you can use it is in one of a few different non-ideal states.
On my S5 Defender case, the two corners that the phone did not slide into were big enough that it matched the size of the latch on the side of the phone. This way, when the belt clip was used as a stand these three points would keep the phone level. Now however, this case only rests on the latch, which is not in the center of the phone (1st issue). This leaves the whole phone tilted at an angle when used as a stand.
I know I can just rotate the clip and use the case the other way where the sides are level, however then this hides the volume and power buttons against the table. Combine this with the fact that I have to use it this way , since I can't flip the phone around due to the off center latch(1st issue), now I have no access to wake the phone from any means since the fingerprint sensor (2nd issue) and power button is hidden, and this design is a mess. The features of the case are specifically designed so that the only way you can use it is in one of a few different non-ideal states.
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Overall, while the protection quality of this case is the same as before, so are a lot of the component designs with it, with slight edits to make it functional on the Google Pixel. Its these alterations that don't add well and have many issues that I would have thought would not have gotten out of the designing of the case. That's why it really seems to me that this was just old case designs reapplied to a new phone without enough planning for how the needed small changes would ruin the nuanced features of the design.
Overall, while the protection quality of this case is the same as before, so are a lot of the component designs with it, with slight edits to make it functional on the Google Pixel. Its these alterations that don't add well and have many issues that I would have thought would not have gotten out of the designing of the case. That's why it really seems to me that this was just old case designs reapplied to a new phone without enough planning for how the needed small changes would ruin the nuanced features of the design.
Maybe that was all just due to the release schedule of Google and the time it gave Otter Box to get the case out there, but I really wanted to get a case that would help me like this phone, instead of disliking it even more.
Thanks a lot,
Written by a customer while visiting otterbox.com
Posted by: Jack040
Verified Purchase:Yes
The design of the case certainly provides protection but makes the phone heavy and bulky to carry. Installing the case is difficult and the process of emoving the reinstalling is cumbersome when I want to use the phone in a VR headset.
My needs just don't suit this case but it was easily returned for a refund.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Response from otterbox.comBy OtterBox , Customer Service Team, December 8, 2016
Hi Jack,
We’re sorry that the Defender case did not work out for you. Perhaps our Commuter case would be a better fit for your needs as it is slimmer than the Defender. Check out the link below for more information on that OtterBox case.
http://www.otterbox.com/en-us/pixel%E2%84%A2-5-/commuter-series-case/ggl4-pixel.html#start=1
Of course, if you have any OtterBox questions please do not hesitate to give our friendly Otters a call at 1-855-688-7269. We are happy to help!
Cheers,
OtterBox Customer Service Team
We’re sorry that the Defender case did not work out for you. Perhaps our Commuter case would be a better fit for your needs as it is slimmer than the Defender. Check out the link below for more information on that OtterBox case.
http://www.otterbox.com/en-us/pixel%E2%84%A2-5-/commuter-series-case/ggl4-pixel.html#start=1
Of course, if you have any OtterBox questions please do not hesitate to give our friendly Otters a call at 1-855-688-7269. We are happy to help!
Cheers,
OtterBox Customer Service Team
Written by a customer while visiting otterbox.com
Posted by: Modders97
Verified Purchase:Yes
I have been using the Google Pixel™ 5" Defender Series Case for about a month now. It protects the phone fantastically but it's made the corners of the screen very difficult to use. The instructions provided with the case were very minimal, I spent about fifteen minutes trying to figure out how to actually open the case. Quick tip is to actually remove the rubber cover before you try to pry the locks open. Overall I am quite happy with this case and I'm glad I chose Otter Box.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting otterbox.com
Posted by: JayJ
Verified Purchase:Yes
Otterbox is the gold standard for protecting your phone. I'm not worried about damage to my phone with an Otterbox Defender.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting otterbox.com
Posted by: Jordi
Verified Purchase:Yes
I really love the color and look of this case but they ship it snapped together and several times while attempting to open it I was afraid I would break something. Once it was on my phone I realized taking it off probably wasn't an option, given the difficulty of opening the snaps of the inner case. That said though, I don't feel safe with anything but an OtterBox on my phone so it likely would never be removed anyway.
Written by a customer while visiting otterbox.com
Posted by: Gala
Verified Purchase:Yes
This is a great case, tough as, but not super big and bulky. The screen cover is still responsive and the little protective nodes that cover the power and headphone jack are easy to pop in and pop out.
The only thing keeping this from a five star review is that in the first couple of weeks I've owned it the outer case has already got a mark on it.
The only thing keeping this from a five star review is that in the first couple of weeks I've owned it the outer case has already got a mark on it.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting otterbox.com