Size comparison: Otterbox Defender vs. Seidio Active X vs. Seidio Innocase Surface
I'm still trying to decide what kind of case to get for my Epic 4G. To help me figure this out, I took the measurements of the Otterbox Defender, the Seidio Active X, and the Seidio Innocase Surface cases (as listed in the Amazon product descriptions) and put them into SizeEasy:
Otterbox Commuter - Samsung Epic 4G
(4.9in x 2.6in x 0.8in)
Seidio Active X - Samsung Epic 4G
(4.4in x 2.5in x 0.6in)
Seidio Innocase Surface - Epic 4G
(4.4in x 2.5in x 0.6in)
I was a little surprised to see the difference, so I checked the data sheet Otterbox presents on their website for this case and was surprised to see that they cite the size as being even longer: 5.08 in x 2.82 in x 0.74 in
Is the Otterbox really a full half inch longer than the Seidio cases? Can an Otterbox owner let us know about this?
Seems to me that the Active X might be the best compromise of size vs. protection.
Thanks DM. I might just order all 3 from someplace with a great return policy and check them out myself.
No problem. I currently have the innocase and like it. Not too big but i wanted a little better protection. It does not cover the power, volume, camera buttons. I left the plastic strips on the phone and attached the case so that would probably be why mine doesn't wiggle a little like others have reported.
The case has help up well, i dropped the phone only once from a few feet and all the happened was a few small nicks out of the case on the phone.
It adds very little bulk but its still noticeable bulk. I know Otterbox is bigger but i have always liked their products.
I have the active x and it is real nice. I picked up the blue. 3 pieces to put on but easy to remove. Does not add much bulk and I feel like the phone won't slip now. Daughter did drop it from about 3 feet on concrete and a slight scuff on the case that I wiped off.
I'm extremely happy with my active x case as well! I actually thought that it would cheapen the look and feel of the phone but that is not the case at all. Its not bulky at all either! If anything, its given it better grip for me. Phone was too thin and would constantly slip out of my hands like a juggling act, lol. Active x is the winner for me!
Just curious, if you're an Active X user, do you generally carry it in a holster, or in your pocket?
I'm generally carrying mine in a holster, but was curious to know if the rubbery outer grips on the Active X cause it to snag too much inside your pockets?
Just curious, if you're an Active X user, do you generally carry it in a holster, or in your pocket?
I'm generally carrying mine in a holster, but was curious to know if the rubbery outer grips on the Active X cause it to snag too much inside your pockets?
I carry it in my holster and it doesn't snag on my clothes at all. Its not a rubbery grip/surface but more like a soft plastic/velvet-like feel to the case.
Anyone have this Otterbox yet?!?! We'd like to see some pics around here ya know!
Mine is scheduled to be here on Monday (thanks to UPS being slow!) but my ship is going out to sea for the week so i won't have a review until at least next weekend. Hopefully someone else gets theirs in before then!
I received all three over the weekend. I'm trying each one out, and I'll post pictures later this week.
First impressions:
- contrary to the sizes posted on Amazon and elsewhere, they are all very close to each other in size (the Otterbox is really just about the same size as the Active X)
- they all fit the phone great
- each feels different in your hand
Last edited by bls; January 31st, 2011 at 09:24 AM.
I'm probably going to keep the Active X and return the Otterbox and Innocase.
Notes on the various cases:
- Size-wise these are all very close to one another in size.
- Otterbox is the only one with hard/non-grippy plastic outer shell. Felt too slippery in my hands, but YMMV. But it did have a very nice look to it. Had a little flap to cover the audio jack which I didn't see the point of (see gallery). They don't make a holster for it, but I found that it fit OK in the holster for the Active X.
- Innocase was fine, and was the slimmest of the four, but I didn't feel like it afforded much protection. The blue looked very nice, though. The holster fits well. Cutouts for all buttons.
- Active X is basically the same size as the Otterbox. Came with a holster, very snug. Really liked the grip/hand feel on this one. Only problem I found was that if you're used to gesturing/swiping and letting your finger slide right off the edge of the phone, that's not possible with this case. The top of the case is raised enough that my finger keeps catching on it before it slides off the phone.
- My wife uses the Sprint case so I took some photos of that one too. I think this might actually be the best compromise of all four cases: more protection than the Innocase, and less that the Otterbox and Active X; smaller than both the Otterbox and Active X; very nice feel in your hand; and cutouts for all buttons. No holster, but that's not a big deal for me.
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And you also forgot to tell them that out of all 4, the sexiest looking case is the active x! lol jk
Thank for your review and pics on all 4 of these cases bls! Glad to hear you chose the active x as your overall choice for your phone. I love mine! :-D
I have been using my Otterbox case for 3 weeks now and can say it is a solid case. It gives he phone some "heft" but I enjoy that. Makes it feel that I won't drop the phone. The cases does a good job of sealing the edges and the rubber lining keeps dust/dirt from entering the lower part.
The top part is on sturdy and the screen protector went on perfect with no bubbles and has no glare. The polycarbonate shell might give it a cheaper feel but it is a high quality case.
OK, so I have had the Innocase Surface Case for about 2-1/2 months. I also have multiple batterys, as I am big user, so I get about 8 hours out of a battery. So I at least once or twice a day, I have to pop the Innocase back off to get to phone rear cover for the battery. Well, a couple of days ago, one of the small tabs on th Innocase rear cover broke off so the rear cover does on lock on to the phone in that area. Does anyone else rotate between multiple batteries, and if so, what case do you use? Does the Active X Case look better for this? If so, would it work with my Surface Case holster?
Device(s): Moto Photon Q, Samsung Galaxy Tab w/CM9 ICS. Former Samsung Moment and Epic 4G owner.
Carrier: Sprint
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Nice reviews/comparisons. Thanks for taking the time to post them all.
I had a bad experience with two of the 2-piece covers on a previous model of phone (not from either of the manufacturers in this thread), so I'm reluctant to go that route again. Even with something as durable as an Otterbox, it's held to the phone by thin plastic tabs, and thin plastic can only be so strong.
I wish someone would make a cover that would completely replace the phone's back cover, as opposed to something that snaps over it. I think it would make for a sturdier case, especially if you swap batteries in the middle of the day (I see I'm not the only one).
Anyone care to manufacture one? You've got a guaranteed buyer!
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I'm probably going to keep the Active X and return the Otterbox and Innocase.
Notes on the various cases:
- Size-wise these are all very close to one another in size.
- Otterbox is the only one with hard/non-grippy plastic outer shell. Felt too slippery in my hands, but YMMV. But it did have a very nice look to it. Had a little flap to cover the audio jack which I didn't see the point of (see gallery). They don't make a holster for it, but I found that it fit OK in the holster for the Active X.
- Innocase was fine, and was the slimmest of the four, but I didn't feel like it afforded much protection. The blue looked very nice, though. The holster fits well. Cutouts for all buttons.
- Active X is basically the same size as the Otterbox. Came with a holster, very snug. Really liked the grip/hand feel on this one. Only problem I found was that if you're used to gesturing/swiping and letting your finger slide right off the edge of the phone, that's not possible with this case. The top of the case is raised enough that my finger keeps catching on it before it slides off the phone.
- My wife uses the Sprint case so I took some photos of that one too. I think this might actually be the best compromise of all four cases: more protection than the Innocase, and less that the Otterbox and Active X; smaller than both the Otterbox and Active X; very nice feel in your hand; and cutouts for all buttons. No holster, but that's not a big deal for me.
Great Synopsis.. Actually I remember looking at this forum before I actually got the phone because a case is always necessary in my opinion. But here is the deal I just got the Seido Active X, and like you I was thinking that it would provide a little more protection... that is the only con I have. I mean I think that it will do the job, but I haven't dropped it yet. I have only had it for a day... but I love holsters.... I dropped mine in the commode over the weekend and quickly remembered why I NEED one.
I like the look and feel of the Active X... but kinda of want the protection of the Otter box... I don't like the smooth slippery look of the otterbox, but I know that the plastic is a lot harder than the ActiveX case... It's like the Active X case only had the plastic where the Exoskeleton is and the corners around the phone is teh Silicone... I mean it is thick but not plastic.
I am really looking for something with a hard outer plastic shell and an inner silicone skin and a holster. If you are familiar with Seido... check out the Convert series... that is exactly what I want but they don't make it for this phone EPIC...
Ballistic is pretty cool but they dont make one either what's up with folks not hookin the epic up with a good case..... IS it because it is a slide out.....
Great Synopsis.. Actually I remember looking at this forum before I actually got the phone because a case is always necessary in my opinion. But here is the deal I just got the Seido Active X, and like you I was thinking that it would provide a little more protection... that is the only con I have. I mean I think that it will do the job, but I haven't dropped it yet. I have only had it for a day... but I love holsters.... I dropped mine in the commode over the weekend and quickly remembered why I NEED one.
I like the look and feel of the Active X... but kinda of want the protection of the Otter box... I don't like the smooth slippery look of the otterbox, but I know that the plastic is a lot harder than the ActiveX case... It's like the Active X case only had the plastic where the Exoskeleton is and the corners around the phone is teh Silicone... I mean it is thick but not plastic.
I am really looking for something with a hard outer plastic shell and an inner silicone skin and a holster. If you are familiar with Seido... check out the Convert series... that is exactly what I want but they don't make it for this phone EPIC...
Ballistic is pretty cool but they dont make one either what's up with folks not hookin the epic up with a good case..... IS it because it is a slide out.....
Please Help...
1. It sounds like you'd meet 90% of your needs by just getting a holster and keeping the Active X. There is a holster available for the Seidio Active X. I use it and it hold the phone very securely.
2. I have dropped the phone on hard surfaces a few times with the Active X shell on it, and as you might expect, the case will get a little dinged up. But that's what those cases are for, so I'm OK with the Active X case looking a little blemished. YMMV.
3. I've actually dropped the Epic on the sidewalk while it had no case at all. The screen was unharmed but the phone itself got minor dings on the corners.
4. I tried but returned the Otterbox. You are quite right -- the O case does provide more coverage on the back of the phone with hard plastic, whereas the Seidio Active X exposes more of the neoprene skin. But like you I felt that the O case was too slippery in my hands and much more prone to butterfingered drops.
5. As far as dropping either the phone or anything else in the commode, I think your best protection is to secure the phone prior to entry!
Size comparison: Otterbox Defender vs. Seidio Active X vs. Seidio Innocase Surface
