5 Comments on OtterBox Commuter TL Case for iPhone 3G , 3G S

John Jay on Mon, 8th Feb 2010 7:59 pm


I’ve been using this case for 6-8 weeks now and today when I pulled the case off to clean my phone I found it is scratched all to hell. The silver frame around the screen is just plain tore up. This phone was pristine when it went into the case.
Rating: 2 / 5

M. Kwan on Mon, 8th Feb 2010 8:17 pm


The Commuter TL case for the iPhone 3GS is pretty good. The phone always felt too skinny to me but with the case, I feel like I have something to hold on to.

The reason I’m giving this 3 stars is the screen protector. It was very hard to get on without bubbles – but I eventually got a good seal after a lot of trial and error. I don’t know if other products are this much trouble to install. But the real problem is that there’s a sticker on the plastic screen protector that you’re supposed to remove after you’re done applying it to the phone. The sticker helps to lay down the shield and tells you which side is up. Well, the %$^@#$% thing stuck!! The sticker wouldn’t come off. I had to tear it off and it left a sticky residue on the screen protector. It took all sorts of horsing around and stress to get the goo off the screen to where it was clear again. Definitely a case of a small design detail ruining a reasonable product.

*UPDATE::
OK, time to eat a little crow. The shield actually comes in 3 layers. You peel the first layer off, stick the shield down, and THEN you’re supposed to peel the top layer off. That’s what that darn second sticker is for. But the instructions don’t say that. They just tell you to pull off the second sticker – which I tried to do. Here’s a youtube video of a similar product that is very clear: [. . . ]

Case is great. _Instructions_ for how to apply the screen shield are horrible. Still gets 3 stars for the grief it put me through.
Rating: 3 / 5

R. Kachurak on Mon, 8th Feb 2010 9:45 pm


I ordered this case in the color black. I have only had it a couple of hours and it is already turning grey from lining of my pocket. Hopefully this will be my only issue with this product.
Rating: 3 / 5

Clift B. on Mon, 8th Feb 2010 11:32 pm


I was looking for something tough but not too bulky to fit in my pocket. This is it! The hard cover makes it slick enough to slide in and out of pocket while the rubber sides make it easy to grip. I do construction work and end up with sand or sawdust in my pockets at the end of the day. The plugs covering the charge port and earphone jack do a great job of keeping the detritus in my pocket and not in my phone! The earphone jack cover is fairly smooth and flush when closed. Looks great, but if you use the jack very often it could be irritating to dig it out with your fingernail every time. Not an issue for me tho.
The cover arrived on time but was missing the clear shell. I called Otterbox and they sent me a new one without any hassles. Cust. Serv. was great!
The only issue I had that would give it 4 stars instead of 5 is that the clear plastic screen protector was a pain. The little tab that helps separate the protector from its backing wouldn’t come off. After applying the screen protector I worked for 15 min trying to remove the tab. Had to use alcahol and a plastic scraper to remove it. Needed a little alcohol myself after that! The end result is that the top left corner is buggered up a bit and won’t lay down completely. Hardly noticable tho.
Overall a great product! I’ve had it 3 months now and still lovin it. Would definitely recommend!
Rating: 4 / 5

KRoss on Tue, 9th Feb 2010 1:02 am


After reading a ton of reviews purchased the commuter case because of size. I was a little concerned that I should have gotten the defender. I am not disappointed at all. First week when I got out of the car, sent it on to the pavement. . . on a rainy day. I was please to say it defended my iphone perfectly. I like the commuter as it is smaller and the hard shell that covers part of the silicone makes it perfect for sliding in and out of the pocket. The only gripe is the shield for the glass. . . I did not like the bubbles on the screen, so just left it off. If you are looking for great protection but don’t want the bulky defender this one is perfect.
Rating: 4 / 5

Tell me what you're thinking...
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!