Our OtterBox Commuter for Galaxy Nexus review

Sabesh's been busy! His beloved Galaxy Nexus has never been so safe - here's his OtterBox Commuters are 2-piece protective cases designed to withstand casual drops and spills. This case is designed to provide protection, yet be stylish. Hence, I was happy when Howard got me this to review. There’s no mistaking that it’s a classic OtterBox Commuter: A silicone inner core encompassed by a tough, polycarbonate shell. It comes in minimalistic packaging with pictorial instructions printed inside the box.



Durable silicone skin:


To add protection and guard against drops, the flexible silicone skin covers the rear & edges of the Galaxy Nexus. Ports and buttons are protected by silicone flaps & buttons, sealing the entire phone. There are openings for the camera/flash, microphones & speakers.




High-quality polycarbonate shell:


This polycarbonate outer shell wraps around the inner silicone core, giving the Galaxy Nexus a tough yet stylish protective case. The shell is slick, hence there is a slight tendency to slip.




Self-adhering clear screen protector:


The case is supplied with a clear screen protector. While not up to par with high end protectors like Power Support or Martin Fields, it does the job adequately. Since it's not a wet-application design, the screen protector is tricky to install on the Galaxy Nexus's curved screen (It tends to "bubble" at both ends, if not applied with care). The screen protector doesn't cover the entire front section of the Galaxy Nexus: Instead, it's a rectangular cutout which only covers the actual screen portion. I installed an XO skin instead, to cover the entire front.




Once everything is in place, the case provides access to the speakers, microphones, camera & volume/media buttons. It is a tough & durable case. Once the supplied screen protector is applied, the Galaxy Nexus is covered almost completely, except for the openings for camera/flash, microphones & speakers and most disappointingly, the areas above and below the screen. The polycarbonate shell is somewhat difficult to install over the silicone inner core but gets easier with practise. The exposed silicone corners and flaps attract dust, but not as much as the Otterbox Defender. The fit is perfect and I can't get over how nice it looks!




Pros:

• Highly protective case tailor-made for the Galaxy Nexus, providing good protection & functionality.
• Easily accessible media & charging ports.
• Ports for speakers, microphones, camera.
• Clear screen protector supplied.
• Fits perfectly with Samsung's official extended battery & cover.

Cons:

• Adds a bit of bulk and weight: Not a concern for repeat OtterBox buyers who expect this.
• Exposed silicone corners & flaps attract dust, but not as much as earlier OtterBox designs. I see that OtterBox has been improving their silicone to lessen dust attraction.
• Difficult to install the polycarbonate shell over the silicone inner core.
• Screen protector only covers the rectangular screen area. Portions above and below the screen remain exposed.