Otterbox are known for their ridiculously strong and robust cases, and their iPad iteration is no different. Despite adding some extra weight to your iPad, this case is the sturdiest and strongest case we’ve come across yet.
Building the case is actually quite a task, however it’s a fun one. Firstly you need to slide your iPad in to the cloth lined plastic outer, clip on the bottom, and then the Dock Connector cover slides on to the base. Then you ‘clip’ the rubber outer seal all the way around it. The design is truly fantastic. Even though all the buttons are covered, the clever design allows all the buttons to be accessible through the rubber seal. On top of the rubber seal clips the back cover (which also doubles as a screen cover for travel), giving it yet another layer of protection. When fully assembled the only exposed part of your iPad is the Apple logo at the back and the microphone and speaker holes, but they are recessed back so even that is relatively protected.
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This cutting-edge case incorporates three layers of hardcore protection plus some advanced features. Stowing your iPad away for the night or for your commute? Simply remove the back polycarbonate stand-cover and snap it over the face for ultimate touch screen protection.
The built-in stand-cover will come in handy while trying to watch a movie or video, and creates a comfortable browsing experience. When using your iPad on a flat surface, the silicone grip pads on the bottom will hold your device securely in place. Take your iPad everywhere you go knowing that it is safe from the occasional drop, bump and/or scratch.
Don’t be mistaken, this case definitely makes your iPad heavier and bulky, but for travel, or outside environments it is essential. The Otterbox case would be perfect for use on building sites or film sets or any location where there might be dirt or sharp/rough objects where you wouldn’t usually want to place your iPad down. The extra ‘lip’ around the front of the screen gives you the added reassurance that even if your iPad was facedown on the ground, the glass screen will not get damaged.
One final piece of design genius is that when your Otterbox case is fully installed on your iPad, the dock connecter is still easily accessible thanks to the slide out portion of the base enabling you to still fit your iPad in to your iPad dock from Apple without having to remove it.
The Otterbox also comes with a screen protector and cleaning cloth so even your screen will have some level of protection when you don’t have the clip on stand/cover attached to the front.
Holding your iPad in the Otterbox gives an unprecedented level of confidence. You won’t feel like you are holding a fragile little device that could break at any moment and it actually makes using your iPad outdoors far more enjoyable to use. The Otterbox should be an essential purchase for anyone using their iPad outside, in our experience, it’s the best case money can buy.
VERDICT: If you can put up with the slight size and weight increase, there is no better case for your iPad than the Otterbox Defender Case for iPad.
The Otterbox iPad Defender Series Case costs $89.99 with free shipping and is available from Otterbox.com
RATING: 98%
