OtterBox Reflex Case for iPhone 4 Smartphone Review

OtterBox Reflex for the Apple iPhone 4

When some people think of Otterbox, they think of thick, bulky, and rubbery Smartphone cases. However, the reflex case seems to be a departure from the norm for most Otterbox cases. It’s slim, rigid, phone hugging design makes you wonder (at first glance) if you’re even looking at an Otterbox case at all. In fact, once you get your hands on it, it doesn’t really feel like anything special, or even all that durable. But don’t let it’s rather plain looking design fool you. There was some serious thought put into the design of this case, and what you’re about to read may surprise you.

For those of you not familiar with something called a “crush Zone” on an automobile, it’s an area designed to absorb impact and help protect the passengers of a vehicle. The Reflex series of cases were designed with similar intention in mind. The case is made from rigid polycarbonate, inlayed with TPE rubber around the outer edges to help absorb shock. Coupled with pockets of air positioned in the corners of the case known as the “Reflex Zones”, it allows for up to 3 times resistance of impact force! This is one amazing little case that offers a sleek, slim, design with the protection you’d expect from an Otterbox. While perhaps not as flashy looking as some of the $20 Smartphone cases found at your local Mall kiosk, when it comes to protection, you get what you pay for. And in that area, Otterbox always delivers. The reflex series comes with a one year limited warranty and retails for $44.95, but if you’re willing to hunt around, can be found on the net for as low as $23.94 shipped.

Like most Otterbox Smartphone cases, the Reflex comes with a screen protector, an installation card (to smooth out the bubbles) and a soft cloth for cleaning. The case comes as two pieces that slide over each end of the phone and snap together. This makes it quick and easy for taking the case off for docking, and putting it back on. The only complaint worth noting about this design is that the case doesn’t snap together as tight as one might like. While grabbing each end of the phone, it’s easy to “wiggle” the two pieces while on the phone. While this is more nit-picking than anything, it only serves to make the case feel somewhat cheaply designed, which couldn’t be further from the truth. All wiggling aside however, this doesn’t result in the case coming apart during normal usage, so it’s not a big deal.

Otterbox has already made a quick video on how to install the Otterbox Reflex case for the iPhone 4, so you can check it out above.

During the review process we only had access to a white iPhone 4, and this particular case would probably look much better on a black iPhone. And this goes for all four color schemes that the case comes in as well. As you can see, compared to other Otterboxes, this one isn’t as bulky as other models and isn’t much larger than the phone itself. One interesting item to note is the missing “vanity hole” in this particular case which we see on other Otterbox models to show off the apple logo.