Otterbox Defender Pro Series ZDNET's key takeaways A well-engineered case that protects all the vulnerable bits of a smartphone
Yes, it adds some bulk, but this isn't too excessive
It's quite pricy, but there's currently $30 off the price. View now at Amazon
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A popular clickbait headline that has been around for so long it feels like it's been around forever is the "X hates this," where "X" can be your doctor, dentist, mechanic, hairdresser, lawyer, or veterinarian. While I don't think that Apple CEO Tim Cook hates the fact that I put my iPhone into a phone case, I'm a firm believer that a phone case is the best way to protect your investment.
Phones are expensive, and it makes sense to protect them. And I know firsthand the difference a simple phone case makes to resale value (those cosmetic scratches and chips can slash hundreds off the value of a handset that's a couple of years old).
Also: This overlooked phone accessory gave me a greater sense of security - and it's not a case
So I still put my iPhone into a case, but this time around it's been quite a journey finding the best of the best -- the Otterbox Defender Pro Series -- and I spent a lot of time testing ones that ended up not making the grade.
First off, I think the Camera Control button needs protection (because if you break it and don't have coverage for your handset, you'll have to buy a new one). I've handled a lot of great cases that didn't offer this button any protection, so they didn't make the cut.
A note on the Camera Control button -- I found that I had disabled the button from opening the Camera app (Settings > Camera > Camera Control) and had only allowed it to work within the app, as I was turning the camera on every time I picked up the phone.
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