Back when the HTC One was unveiled it was not long after that OtterBox revealed their range of cases to help keep the new handset safe. However, you were unable to get hold of these until the smartphone became available, and now you can visit the OtterBox website to see their new range.

Whenever a new handset is unveiled we always hope that OtterBox will release one of their cases, as they offer superb protection, but they only deliver this for the top handsets. There are three in the collection; these are the Defender Series with Realtree Case, Commuter Series Case and the standard Defender Series.

So let’s look at all three in detail to see how they differ from each other.

HTC One Defender Series with Realtree Case
The company first describes some of the standout features of the HTC One, as they want to build up why you would want to protect such a smartphone. The outer layer is made from silicone, and then there is the polycarbonate shell and built-in screen protector.

With all three of these features you will be able to accidentally drop your HTC One from a limited height without fear of damaging it. The protective case also comes with a holster, and that camo print makes it ideal if you will be taking your phone into the forest, or if you are into extreme sports, hunting or something else. The price for the HTC One Defender Series with Realtree case is $59.95.

HTC One Commuter Series case
This case is a little cheaper than the one above, but that’s because it does not offer as much protection, although it’s still better than a host of other cases on the market. What makes this so different to other cases in the OtterBox range is how more fashionable it is, this is because of its slim, appealing and sleek design.

The exterior has a hard polycarbonate shell, with the inner having the silicone layer instead of the other way around like the Defender Series. Because this case is slimmer it fits into your pocket much easier, which is a bonus because you know you have a light and slim case, as well as the knowledge that if you drop your HTC One you will not be picking up a broken device, unless you drop it from a great height that is. The HTC One Commuter Series case price is $34.95 and comes in a choice of five colors.

HTC One Defender Series case
This is the same as the first case we detailed above, but because it does not have the cameo you will only pay $49.95, which is $10 cheaper. There’s another difference, as there is a choice of 4 colors in this cheaper Defender range.

If these OtterBox cases are not for you, then we have several other HTC One cases for you to choose from. However, it would be such a shame to cover up such a beautiful looking handset, because it does not look as cheap as some of the other Android handsets on the market.

Those looking for suitable Nokia Lumia 920 cases will find the Defender and Commuter cases from OtterBox an easy choice, especially if protection is the most important factor for you. To compare what they are both offering we thought it would be a good idea to look through the features to see which one meets specific requirements.

The Nokia Lumia 920 Defender Series Case comes in a color regarded as Knight, which to us looks black. This case has been given a rating of 4.1 stars out of five according to OtterBox’s product page. For $49.95 the Defender case provides full-coverage protection and the inner shell is lined with high-impact polycarbonate with an in-built screen membrane to counteract any smudges or unsightly marks. The outer silicone layer encases your device to protect it from drops and bumps and includes a holster for all directions.

Those looking for something a bit cheaper may find the Commuter Series Case well worth getting for $34.95 and comes with a 90-day return policy. This involves a two-piece polycarbonate inner shell which clicks together around your Nokia with a built-in screen protector and silicone plugs to cover main openings, the charging port, the headphone jack and volume controls. Additionally, the Commuter case also comes with a holster containing a belt clip that rotates in any direction, with the option to place the screen face in or face out.

It is worth noting that the Defender and Commuter cases are not protective against water, we are intrigued to know which one interests you the most? You will also find a 7 minute video below that features a review of the Nokia Lumia 920 Otterbox Defender case.

For our PR followers out there that are already fans of the OtterBox Defender case or are looking for a unique case for your loved one’s iPhone 4/4S, then you may want to consider the OtterBox current Build Your Own promotion. For a limited time OtterBox are giving you the chance to design and put together a unique Defender case in your individually chosen color scheme. By playing around with and swapping the inner plastic casings and the outer silicone sleeve you can conjure up a truly one off case.

Maybe you’ll want to personalise it to match your mood, your outfit and accessories or even your favorite teams own colors. Be mindful however if you do want to spice up your Defender case OtterBox are only offering this promotion over the holiday season. With a choice of 7 colors for the inner plastic guard and 5 options for the outer silicone layer it may take some time to come up with the perfect combination. Luckily the official site allows you create your masterpiece in front of you before you commit to a purchase. These custom cases are available at just under $60, which is a slight mark up on the standard Defender range, and are available direct from Otterbox.

For those of you that are not familiar with the Defender range, they offer 3-layer protection and are resistant to drops, dust and the built in screen protector keeps the phones screen scratch free. We are left puzzled however, why OtterBox are only running this promotion for the iPhone 4 and 4S and haven’t broadened it to encompass other models of phones and tablets, we think a lot of people would like to put their own stamp on their gadgets. Personally, we would opt for the Blaze Orange inner with a Black outer sleeve.

How about you? Let us know what color combination you would opt for and would you like to see OtterBox roll this idea out to more of their range? You can also read about the upcoming OtterBox Armor cases for Galaxy S3, iPhone 5, and 4S here.

The tablet market is wide ranging and has seen many improvements with new models this year, and the Kindle Fire HD 7 and 8.9-inch models are certainly going to prove a popular present at Christmas. You may well be wondering how best to protect your Kindle Fire so we thought we would take a look at a few robust cases that are available right now. The three cases we will be taking a look at are the BodyGuardz Armor Carbon Fiber, the OtterBox Defender, and the Belkin Quilted cover.

The first thing you notice about the Kindle Fire HD cover from Belkin is the luxurious design that’s quilted and spongy. This cover is available in 3 colors and gives the tablet a majestic and bureaucratic look, as though it has just been removed from the shelves of your personal library. This Belkin case for the Kindle Fire HD allows for different viewing angles and stands positively in the chosen position for easy working, reading and viewing. The Kindle itself is held in place with a gripping corner design and the case features a soft interior lining.

Belkin keep this case closed by a magnetic tab that snaps positively and satisfyingly tight, the tab is also held out of the way by the magnet when the stand is in use making sure it doesn’t obscure the screen. Belkin’s Quilted Cover is designed for the 7-inch Kindle Fire and is available in red, black and cream with a price point of just under $40. The Belkin Quilted case is a smart looking product, and although perfect for everyday knocks and bumps we wonder how it would stand up to a serious mishap. The Belkin official page can be seen here.

If your Kindle Fire HD (8.9) is unlikely to ever leave the home or you use a separate sleeve then you may want to consider the BodyGuardz Carbon Fiber, although more of a skin than a full blown case. The BodyGuardz Armor is certainly eye catching and looks as hard as nails, which the official video shows the casing material being put through its paces in an intriguing test. You can see the Kindle Fire HD and BodyGuardz Armor in the video below this article.

The fact it is more of a skin, means it’s ultra-thin and barely noticeable to the Kindles overall size, and although excellent at protecting your device from everyday scratches and scrapes it does very little to protect it from a serious and clumsy fall. Also included with the Carbon Fiber is a ScreenGuardz screen protector allowing you to protect the screen as well as the back of your tablet. Available in Black and White and at just under $30 the BodyGuardz Carbon Fiber can be seen at the BodyGuardz site here.

If you are planning on putting your Kindle Fire through its paces during a daily commute, letting the kids loose with it or are just plain clumsy, then the OtterBox Defender may be the cover for you. Although bulkier than the cases above the Defender is built to resist even the harshest of drops and falls and designed to keep your Kindle safe. The case is constructed from 2 pieces of polycarbonate that snap together and a silicone outer layer that then fits tightly around the outside. There is also a built in screen protector, which saves the Kindle Fire screen from scratches and sticky fingerprints.

The OtterBox Defender case also has a screen shield that covers and protects the Kindle Fire HD screen when not in use, or is being transported, and the screen shield also has an inbuilt stand that allows the Kindle to stand-alone for hands free use when the shield is clipped to the rear of the case. This extra piece of mind knowing your Kindle is about as safe as can be obviously comes at a premium, and the OtterBox Defender is available from the OtterBox website for $69.99. Unfortunately at this moment in time the defender is only available in black.

OtterBox’s official video demo can be seen below, although it’s worth pointing out that the Amazon Kindle Fire HD (8.9) Defender Series case is also available for $10 more, which can be seen in the image below and on their website here.

So if you are hoping for a Kindle Fire HD 7-inch or 8.9-inch this Christmas, which type of case do you prefer? Do you like something that really protects your tablet as seen with OtterBox series, or are lighter options just fine for your needs? Let us know if you currently use any of the above cases, we would love to hear your thoughts.

We have seen some exciting news from OtterBox stating they will be launching the new Armor series at the 2013 International CES in early January. The new case is claimed to be the toughest case OtterBox have ever built and will be Crush Proof, Dust Proof, Drop Proof and more importantly Water Proof. The OtterBox Armor cases will be available for the iPhone 4/4S, the iPhone 5 and the Samsung Galaxy S3.

We have, for a long time, been fans of the OtterBox range, having used them on the iPhone 4, 4S and the new iPhone 5 and the cases have protected the phones from certain damage on more than one occasion and from many clumsy drops. Our review of the iPhone 5 Defender series can be seen here.

However, one of the gripes we have found with the OtterBox Defender series is that while extremely robust and able to withstand some serious daily abuse, we notice that dust always makes its way inside the case and before long we end up stripping everything down and have to clean both the phone and the case. The fact that the new OtterBox Armor cases include improved Dust protection is one of the reasons we will want to put the new product through its paces. Another positive, is that the case is Waterproof, how many phones a year are inadvertently introduced to water, ruining the phone and leaving the owner phoneless for a couple of days?

Protection also comes at a premium and the OtterBox cases tend to be a little more bulky than your average sleeve, but this certainly gives the phone a rugged look and we wait with interest for OtterBox to announce the technical specs and pricing information next month at CES 2013. Have a look at the video below this article, which had been released by Otterbox earlier this year and offers a little tease into the new Armor cases.

Will you be rushing to get your hands on the new OtterBox Armor series, and if so will it be for the Samsung Galaxy S3, iPhone 5, 4, or 4S? Do you already use the OtterBox range? We would love to hear your thoughts on your particular choice of case. How much would you pay for a case that fully protects your phone from dust, water and offers such peace of mind protection? The OtterBox official announcement can be seen here.

When we first got hands-on with the iPhone 5 it had been without a case, which is ideal considering you want to understand the hardware and design without any other factors involved, but this is not ideal for consumers that want to keep their new iPhone 5 scratch free. Two months ago we looked at the fortification process used when creating the new iPhone 5, and this seemed to show that the new hardware wouldn’t need a case thanks to being a lot tougher, although this would be an assumption to be proved wrong in real world tests.

We started to understand the need for an iPhone 5 case after being hands-on with the new hardware for almost a month, and we published a photo that showed scratches on the edge of the iPhone 5, which Apple’s SVP previously confirmed would happen thanks to the aluminum underneath. We found the solid aluminum design to feel a lot better than certain plastic Android phones, and the new iPhone 5 design delivers a device that is much harder to break, but sadly the downfall is this design means scratches can show in bright silver and are common on the Black and Slate iPhone 5.

Meet OtterBox and their iPhone 5 cases – this is where OtterBox come in and aim to not only help protect your new iPhone 5 from scratches, but also from some extreme punishment that could be found in certain jobs and environments. We’ve taken a look at the OtterBox Commuter and Defender Series cases for iPhone 5, which our review included 2 weeks of daily use for both the cases, so we had a really good idea of how these cases perform in the real world and not just an office environment.

You can see a screenshot above that gives you a quick look at the OtterBox cases and shows the different Series on offer, although the option you choose will depend on the type of case you’re after. When it comes to the Defender Series you’ll want this case if you expect your iPhone 5 to be taken to some harsh environments, which need some extreme protection. The Commuter Series does just what the name suggests, and this is ideal for regular travelers that need something stylish, which is easy to access while delivering good protection as well.

The OtterBox iPhone 5 Commuter case includes a silicone interior, rock solid plastic exterior, and also a microfiber cloth to clean your screen with before fitting the screen protector. We’ve used a number of iPhone screen protectors over the years and some just don’t fit well and leave bubbles even after fitting them correctly, although we can confirm the OtterBox screen protector included with the Commuter Series worked like a charm. You can see a photo above that we took after fitting the silicone interior to the iPhone 5, and just before we locked the phone inside the solid exterior that OtterBox are known for that just snaps in place.

The photo above shows the rear side of the iPhone 5 Commuter case once fitted, and below you can see the front, which certainly adds a little thickness to the thinner iPhone 5 but also a lot of added protection. This OtterBox Commuter case will leave the front of your iPhone 5 unprotected, so this is why they include a screen protector to offer that added protection, which we recommend you fit for added peace of mind.

In the next couple of photos you can see the iPhone 5 and OtterBox case from a couple of different views, which we used for at least a week and felt a lot safer while using it. There had been a number of occasions where our iPhone 5 flew across the room, not on purpose we promise, and the iPhone 5 had not been affected although we wouldn’t recommend you try this at home.

The downside for using this OtterBox case is the fact that it makes the iPhone 5 feel much bigger, which is not what the redesign had been all about although the only other option you could try is a bumper case to keep the original feel of the iPhone 5. There are pros and cons with every iPhone 5 case, and when it comes to bumpers you should be aware these would never offer the protection found with OtterBox cases.

The OtterBox Commuter Series retails for around $35, which can be seen on the official OtterBox website here. We’ve also included a video below this article that shows you how to install the Commuter Series iPhone 5 case, so feel free to take a look.

Features for iPhone 5 Commuter Series:

• Silicone plug covers keep dust and debris out of the main openings.
• All the normal iPhone 5 features and functions are still usable with the Commuter Series case, including the charging port, volume controls, microphone, and camera.

Material for iPhone 5 Commuter Series:

Prevent scrapes and smudges with the adhesive screen protector.
The new iPhone 5 gains extra protection with the sleek exterior shell.
Interior rubber layer cushions the iPhone 5 from bumps and drops.

Weight & Dimensions for iPhone 5 Commuter Series: – weighs in at 37.3g/1.32oz and measures 129.7mmx65.3mmx14.1mm.

Meet the OtterBox Defender Series for iPhone 5 – these cases are built with one thing in mind and that’s protection, which is shown by the all-round casing that covers the iPhone 5 from all corners but will make your new iPhone feel a lot chunkier. We’ve used this iPhone 5 case for over a week everyday, and even spoke to a few builders that also use the OtterBox Defender Series. The fact is there are a number of people that rely on the Defender Series to get them through a working day, and without it their iPhone would surly die a quick death.

The photo above shows the iPhone 5 Defender Series before it is installed and you can see there’s protection for the screen already in place, which is a great addition for those users that enter harsh environments everyday. The photo below shows the rear of the Defender Series and also the belt clip that OtterBox add to make it a lot easier to carry, which is especially good for laborers, construction, etc.

We’ve included a few photos below to show the iPhone 5 Defender Series case from a number of angles, although you’ll also find a second video below this article that shows how the Defender is fitted to the iPhone 5. This is well worth watching considering a lot more goes into this when compared to fitting most other iPhone 5 cases, which is due to the extreme protection OtterBox deliver with this case.

Features for iPhone 5 Defender Series:

• You’ll find the same access as the previous case, which means the Defender Series allows access to volume controls, charging port, camera, and more.
• Your iPhone 5 ports will be protected by rubber tabs that keep out debris, dust, and dirt.

Material for iPhone 5 Defender Series:

• Outer rubber layer wraps around the inner-shell to create a solid defense against misadventures such as drops and bumps.
• The redesigned holster has a slim profile and strong attachment to the belt clip. Face the iPhone outward for use and inward for ultimate protection.
• The plastic inner-shell snaps together around the device to create a solid cushion.
• A plastic screen protector is built in to the inner-shell to prevent scratches and smudges to the screen without compromising the sensitivity of the touchscreen.

Weight & dimensions for iPhone 5 Defender Series – this case weights in at 4oz/114g, and measures 135.12mmx69.9mmx16.18mm without the holster. You should expect to pay around $60 for an OtterBox Defender Series case and can see the official product page here. It is also worth noting that while the Defender will protect your iPhone 5 from shocks, bumps, and drops, it won’t protect against water.

One downside to the Defender is the bulk it adds to your iPhone 5, which can be seen in the photo below, although this is a downside expected by the majority of people this case is designed for.

The photos below show the iPhone 5 looking great without an OtterBox case, although as we found this created a number of scratches within a couple of weeks that showed us some sort of case would be needed, and even more so with the Black and Slate model that seems to scratch easier.

The Bottom-line: After using both of these OtterBox iPhone 5 cases for a couple of weeks we certainly understand how good they are at protecting an iPhone, but each case will be designed for certain users and for us the Defender made the iPhone 5 too big although the Commuter had a much better balance of protection and bulk in our opinion. If you’re in construction then we’d strongly recommend you purchase the Defender, as it doesn’t get much better.

Yesterday in another twist an ad banner that you can see below appeared on the Otterbox website seemly hinting the company promising the debut of two new iPhones. In reality the company is not, as TUAW are reporting that they contacted Otterbox about the image. Kelly Richardson of Otterbox said the company are not sure themselves if Apple is bringing out two new iPhone models.

She went on to say that the ad that was put up on the company’s site was reflecting all the rumors and speculation doing the rounds at the moment. The company does keep an eye to see what is going on and tries to plan ahead as much as possible. Richardson stated the company does” not have any confidentiality agreements with Apple”.

Otterbox are promising to support whatever model does finally get released though. The images that were around yesterday for a packaging design Otterbox are not sure of the source of them. Richardson said they were not trying to get a secret message out to consumers about the next iPhone, and do not currently have a date for the device.

Whether Otterbox does know anything about Apple’s plans, it’s a clever bit of marketing by the company. Do you think Otterbox knows anything about the new iPhone?

The new iPhone 4 is the most valuable yet, as features like a 5-megapixel camera, HD video recording and that sensitive external antenna. The OtterBox Defender Series is ideal for those who work in an area where they could drop their handset or could get scratched – this offers them peace of mind.

The case comes in three layers and will even keep the fourth-generation iPhone free from dust. This means that when you get home from work and take the handset out of the case – it still looks as good as new.

The main features of the OtterBox Defender Series include total interaction with all of the iPhones functions and a cool ratcheting belt clip holster. The price you pay is just $49.95 and only comes in black. For more details and ho to purchase visit OtterBox

If this is not for you then maybe this list of ten iPhone 4 cases will be more your taste?