And in the world of durable cases, one brand reigns supreme: OtterBox. OtterBox categorizes its cases into “Series,” and each series fits different budgets, styles, and needs. To help you choose which case will best suit you and your phone, we’ve tested, researched, and handpicked the best OtterBox cases—whether you’re on a budget, looking for something kid-friendly, or you want to make a more sustainable choice. Instead of lying flush against the display, the case has raised edges around the screen and the camera mount to protect the glass from damage. This design adds a slight heft to your device, but the impact is minor, and it doesn’t interfere with how you use or hold the phone. The slim design of the Commuter case also makes it easy to slide into the pocket of your jeans or coat. The grip sections on the rear detract a little from the sleek and stylish nature of the overall design, adding an almost industrial look to it. Yet as soon as you’re trying to use the case on a packed subway, you’ll be grateful for their added support. Material: Rubber slipcover with hard polycarbonate outer shell | Water-resistant: Yes | Wireless charging compatibility: Yes | Layers: Two Although the thin, transparent design doesn’t feel as robust as the Commuter collection, all Symmetry Series models have the same DROP+ 3X rating and raised edges to protect the screen and camera mount. The lower price comes from the fact that these cases are missing the port and jack covers seen on more expensive models. This Series also uses softer material that looks and feels less luxurious than the more rigid outer cases from the brand. In addition to the Clear range of cases, which are completely transparent on the rear and edges, you can also opt for variations of this see-through design. For instance, you can buy a clear case with a visible MagSafe charger built-in or clear cases with glitter, ombre effects, and intricate flower designs across them. These allow you to add a touch of style to the device while enjoying the color beneath. Material: Polycarbonate and synthetic rubber | Water-resistant: Yes | Wireless charging compatibility: Yes | Layers: One Although the addition of an extra layer makes these cases thicker than other OtterBox cases, you can remove each layer depending on your needs. The Defender Series slides easily into the pockets of most trousers and coats. For a better fit, you can either remove the holster or attach it via this holster to your belt. This accessory also doubles up as a kickstand for when you want to watch videos on the go or for hands-free viewing. As the most serious-looking OtterBox series, the Defender cases come in darker, more muted colors than seen in other collections. Options include black, navy blue, a deep lilac called Purple Nebula, and a soft red called Berry Potion Pink. These colors and designs vary based on your handset. Material: Synthetic rubber slipcover, polycarbonate outer shell, polycarbonate plastic holster | Water-resistant: Yes | Wireless charging compatibility: Yes | Layers: Three Design-wise, the Strada folios are the most sophisticated of all the protective cases. Available in brown, black, purple, cream, and pink shades, they’re made from leather, with a thin plastic shell fitted around the edges and the camera mount. This subtle design allows the case to offer DROP+ 3X protection without detracting from the smart fabric finish. The soft leather also adds a luxurious and expensive feel to the phone and doesn’t pick up scratches as easily as its plastic siblings. Despite this folio range’s larger, thicker nature compared to the broader OtterBox collection, the company has still managed to create a slim profile. The Strada fits easily in most trouser and coat pockets. You may struggle if your jeans are particularly tight, though. However, the sacrifice you make for its fabric finish and folio design is that this case is not water-resistant. Material: Polycarbonate shell, leather case, metal latch | Water-resistant: No | Wireless charging compatibility: Yes | Layers: Two These cases have a single layer of molded plastic fitted with anti-slip edges and strips along the rear of the case. This design not only increases your grip, but it makes the case comfortable to hold for long periods. It’s also sweat-resistant, even during the most intense gameplay. The range additionally offers OtterBox’s DROP+ 3X protection, whether you drop the phone accidentally or throw it in a game-fuelled rage. The inside of the case comes with what OtterBox calls CoolVergence technology. This material helps dissipate heat to draw it away from the handset and prevent overheating. Meanwhile, the outside of the case is coated with antimicrobial technology to protect it from common bacteria as standard. Material: Plastic case with anti-slip edges | Water-resistant: Yes | Wireless charging compatibility: Yes | Layers: One Each of these plastic cases comes with a built-in rubber PopSockets PopGrips. PopSockets are removable grips you attach to the rear of the handset, allowing you to hold the phone one-handed more easily. Whether it’s for taking selfies or watching TikTok, YouTube, or Netflix when placed in landscape mode, these PopSockets can also function as phone stands. The PopSocket matches the handset’s design. However, the universal design of the connector means you can swap PopSockets in and out as you please when you’re looking to switch up your style. OtterBox sells replacement PopSockets, or you can buy them directly from the PopSocket website. When the PopSocket isn’t in use, it’s removable, and the connector will lie flush with the rear of the case, making this design compatible with wireless chargers. Material: Polycarbonate, synthetic rubber | Water-resistant: Yes | Wireless charging compatibility: Yes | Layers: One While previous ranges have had sustainable elements—certain OtterBox + Pop cases are made from 50% recycled plastic—the brand claims its Core Series is its most significant commitment to sustainability. The range is relatively small. It’s available only for iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro models and comes with two transparent designs: a white, Funfetti design or a Black Carnival Night design. Both options have MagSafe connectors built-in. OtterBox claims the cases provide added protection against drops and shock, compared to no case at all, but they don’t meet the military standards seen across the rest of the range, and they’re not water-resistant. Material: Regrind silicone, synthetic rubber | Water-resistant: No | Wireless charging compatibility: Yes | Layers: One When each phone is open, the two parts of the case sit snugly against each other, side-by-side. Yet they’re also designed in a way that leaves enough room for the hinges on all models to remain unobstructed. Color options are a little limited: you can choose between black across all versions or pink and black in the case of the Galaxy Z Flip3. The DROP+ rating is slightly lower across the board, too, at 2X. This reduced protection is due to the fact that when the phones are closed, parts of the handset remain exposed by the case and represent areas of potential fragility. However, this case still makes the phones twice as durable as the US Department of Defense’s Military Standard (MIL-STD). Material: Plastic and rubber | Water-resistant: No | Wireless charging compatibility: No | Layers: Two layers on the rear panel. One layer on the front frame All models across the OtterBox collection also come with or without antimicrobial technology. The two options cost the same, but the latter contains silver additives that protect it from microbial growth forming.
Device Support
OtterBox makes cases for many handsets, from Apple to Samsung, Google, Motorola, Huawei, OnePlus, and more. Not all cases are available for all devices these brands sell, and the color options vary significantly depending on which device you have. Before purchasing an OtterBox case from any of the Series listed above, make sure it fits your specific make and model. If you select the wrong kind, not only will it not fit properly, but it won’t protect your phone in the way it should.
Warranty
OtterBox is so confident in its cases that it offers a Limited Lifetime Warranty on all OtterBox smartphone and tablet cases. This warranty covers the “Lifetime of the product,” which OtterBox determines as being seven years from the original date of purchase by a customer from an Otter-authorized dealer. Cases bought from non-authorized dealers and retail stores may offer different warranty protections.
About Our Trusted Experts
Victoria Woollaston-Webber is a freelance science and technology journalist, editor, and consultant. She has over a decade of experience in online and print journalism, having written about tech and gadgets since day one for national papers, magazines, and global brands. For this list, Victoria used the Commuter Series and Defender Series cases as her primary phone case for the iPhone 13 Pro for a week while commuting to work, at the gym, and while her toddler watched YouTube Kids. To select the remaining cases, she analyzed more than 100 models based on their specifications and scored each Series and the individual cases based on price, color selection, handset compatibility, and protection ratings.
