Review: OtterBox Commuter for N8
Score:
83%
After my initial roundup of traditional 'pouch' or enveloping cases for the Nokia N8, I've been trying a number of sleeker, 100% in-situ alternatives. The latest in this accessory genre is the rather sumptuous OtterBox Commuter, providing premium look and feel, together with what amounts to comprehensive protection. With only a couple of small caveats, this is a case well worth investigating.
The idea behind OtterBox designs is to provide ultimate protection. In the distant past, this was via all-enveloping designs that also stopped you from actually errmmm..... using the phones in situ. But this Commuter series design for the Nokia N8 is just superb. Aiming to combine the benefits of a silicone cover and a hard case, all in the one design, the result, surprisingly, adds relatively little bulk to the device:
I meantioned caveats above. The first is that you need a little patience getting the Commuter case on the N8. The silicone inner sleeve goes on first and is easy enough. But then you've got to lever this into the very tight-fitting polycarbonate outer shell (I used a small screwdriver!). The fit is tight - very tight, to ensure that the final result feels like 'one', rather than two distinct case elements. This works, but not without a few mutterings while you try to manoeuvre the parts into position.
The result is worth it though. Thickened, moulded silicone slaps protrude through gaps in the polycarbonate where needed (e.g. for microUSB port, 2mm charging ports, headphones) and stay in position thanks to little lugs. The mix of the two materials is all rather exquisite:
On the all important right hand side of the N8, we have hardened sections in the silicone that faithfully reproduce the look and feel of the underlying N8 buttons - I was again surprised how little difference the extra layer made. The unlock switch is left exposed for direct use:
On the Commuter top, there's the plug for headphones, a moulded button for power and the HDMI flap is left exposed - slightly oddly, since this is one of the less used features of the N8 and at the very least I'd have expected another silicone flap:
On the rear, OtterBox has wisely opted to leave the wide angle N8 lens and flash alone, though the exposed camera glass isn't too much of an issue as the thickness of the case is still enough to recess the optics and speaker. The latter is important because a lot of people have complained about the speaker getting muffled when putting the N8 down directly on various surfaces.
Crucially, there's a cutout for the N8 microphone - something which many other case manufacturers seem to have forgotten. So there's no danger of muffled video capture here. Well done, OtterBox:
The screen isn't protected in this design, but then the N8's display is Gorilla Glass and OtterBox even stick a screen protector in the case box, just in case you want to cover this too.
I mentioned another caveat to this case: the left-hand side microSD and SIM slots are covered. OtterBox presumably figured that most people don't regularly need access, but I'd beg to differ. I swap microSDs (different cards, different devices) several times a month and often the same with SIM cards. It's not a total showstopper, but it is fairly annoying to have to lever the N8 out of the Commuter (and back in again afterwards) just to take out the microSD card, for example.
Aside from this, it's hard to find fault with the OtterBox Commuter, which has to be just about the most secure and protective in-situ case for the N8 that I've seen so far. For anyone who doesn't need access to the N8's side slots, the Commuter comes highly recommended.
Steve Litchfield. All About Symbian, 9 May 2011
Reviewed by Steve Litchfield at