Otterbox vs Tech21: Which Phone Cases Have a Better Design?

If you want to make sure that your smartphone survives all your outdoor adventures unharmed, a reliable heavy-duty protective case is a must. Today we’re comparing two renowned and acclaimed brands: Otterbox vs Tech 21. Which provides the best value for money? We’ll dig deep into their similarities and differences to give you the complete picture.

The time you spend hiking or camping in nature should provide you with the perfect opportunity to disconnect from your smart devices. On the other hand, smartphones can also be handy on your adventures. You can use them to take photos, navigate through the complicated terrain, or even call for help in case of an emergency.

However, if your phone gets broken, it won’t help you in any way. That’s why you should consider investing in a reliable phone case that can prevent this from happening. Otterbox vs Tech 21 are both well-renowned producers of such cases, so I’ve decided to test them side-by-side and see which one is the best.

FYI, I’ve tried Otterbox Symmetry and Tech 21 Evo protective cases for my iPhone 12 (the same products also fit iPhone 12 Pro). Let’s see how they performed.

Main Differences Between Otterbox vs Tech 21

The main differences between Otterbox vs Tech 21 protective cases are:

• Otterbox cases are more expensive, whereas Tech 21 phone cases usually cost less.
• Otterbox is available in limited color variations, whereas Tech 21 phone cases come in dozens of trendy designs.
• Otterbox cases come with a lifetime warranty, whereas Tech 21 provides only a 1-2-year limited warranty on its products.
• Otterbox offers more heavy-duty cases, whereas Tech 21 is more focused on fashionable, sleek cases.

Exploring Otterbox vs Tech 21 features

Let’s compare Otterbox vs Tech 21 phone cases side by side, focusing on their most essential features and qualities:

Design

If you’re looking for a rugged phone case, you should be most concerned about its protective features and reliability. Nevertheless, no one likes to hide their super-sleek smartphone into an ugly case, right? The good news is that you don’t have to hide your beautiful phone at all since both of the cases I have tested for this comparison come in almost invisible transparent designs that show off your smartphone’s true colors.

Both producers claim that their clear cases are UV-resistant, so they shouldn’t get the ugly yellowish shade after some months of use.

Of course, you don’t have to stick to the clear versions of these cases since they are also available in various colorful designs. In this regard, Tech 21 seems to provide more fashionable alternatives in comparison with somewhat more traditional and modest Otterbox.

Both of the cases we compare today are super-slim (Otterbox Symmetry has been recently updated to be even slimmer than before), thoughtfully designed not to modify the dimensions of your phone any more than necessary.

Nevertheless, these brands (especially Otterbox) also have other, much more robust protective cases like Otterbox Defender. Tech 21 seems to be more oriented on sleeker designs, but their beautiful Evo wallet cases, for example, seem to provide excellent full-body protection too.

Materials

Otterbox Symmetry is a smooth one-piece protective case made of a combination of synthetic rubber (sides) and hardened polycarbonate (back). This allows some flexibility on sides, making it very simple to put the case on/off your smartphone.

The rubbery sides also have integrated protrusions for all the side buttons, so manipulating your phone feels very natural and straightforward.

Tech 21 is also a one-piece protective case, but it’s entirely made of TPU. The producer claims that the material they use is antimicrobial, which is certainly something worth mentioning since phone cases are allegedly some of the dirtiest things we come into contact with daily.

The case should also be ‘self-cleaning’ thanks to some unique integrated formula. I must honestly admit that I have no idea how this works, but the case really seems to be less prone to sticky and greasy patches of fingerprints. Tech 21 phone cases are also scratch-resistant, so they should stay in great shape for a long-long time.

Which one of these phone cases feels nicer in your hand or pocket? I must say that I found both of them a bit slippery, especially when I had sweaty or wet hands. Tech 21’s TPU case feels even smoother, making me feel even more clumsy when I held it in my hand. Symmetry’s rubber sides provided a somewhat more reliable grip.

Protection

As you surely know, the material of your phone case is not here just to provide you with a nice touch and texture. First and foremost, it should be able to protect your phone effectively when you drop it on a hard surface or when it comes into contact with something sharp. Which one of these cases is going to save your phone from harm reliably?

First, I think it’s imperative to say that both Evo and Symmetry cases do not come with an integrated screed shield. That means that for complete protection of your device, you should also get a separate screen protector, which can significantly improve the overall safety of your phone.

Just for the record, I have used both of the cases we compare today with the Maxx Protection by ZAGG tempered glass installed on my iPhone, which deserves some credit for keeping my device intact.

When it comes to Otterbox Symmetry, this is a sleek and fine, yet at the same time surprisingly tough and reliable protective case. It sports a thoughtful bumper that protects your screen at least from the flat impact (e.g., fall on a hard floor).

Otherwise, the case mostly copies the original proportions of your phone, adding a tough layer of plastic and rubber all around its back and sides. Otterbox is known to perform super-rigorous tests on all of their cases – allegedly, each of the products spends 200+ hours in the company’s specialized testing facility. From my personal experience, it really shows.

The case I’ve tested has withstood bumps, drops, and even one truly silly fall from the bar counter directly on the floor tiles. My phone didn’t even notice any of it.

I must admit that my expectations were significantly lower when I was testing the Tech 21 Evo case – probably because I already had some (good) previous experiences with Otterbox, whereas it was the very first time I had the chance to try Tech 21.

Nevertheless, the performance of this protective case truly surprised me – it seemed to work just as well as its more expensive competitor, keeping my phone perfectly safe throughout several accidental drops and numerous hits and bumps.

I particularly like the reinforced corners of this case since this is the soft spot where I have destroyed most of my previous phones. In combination with a screen shield, Tech 21 Evo case seems to be a very good solution.

Functionality

None of the protective cases I have tested for this comparison were indeed “rugged,” so I did not expect any of them to interfere with the overall functionality of my phone – and they really didn’t. Both of the cases work very well with wireless chargers, side buttons on my phone were also perfectly responsive through the cases, and the bumpers around the screen were designed precisely not to obstruct the touch screen itself.

Pricing

As we’ve already mentioned before, Otterbox is not among the cheapest brands on the market. After all, their rigorous tests, an excellent reputation, and lifetime warranty must be, logically, somehow projected in the price of their products too.

Comparing two similar cases like Symmetry and Evo, Tech 21 is undoubtedly a budget-friendlier choice. Depending on the reseller and current deals, you can save approximately ¼ of the price if you prefer Tech 21 to Otterbox.

On the other hand, should such an insignificant price difference even be considered when you’re choosing your protective case? Especially if it’s meant to save your $1000+ device from harm? In my opinion, unless you’re on a super-tight budget, this should not be the critical factor for your decision.

How to fit the Otterbox/Tech 21 protective case onto your phone

Unlike many other rugged phone covers, the slim and universal models I have tried for this comparison are both single-piece cases that are very easy to put on/off your device.

How to do it? Just make sure that you’re holding the case correctly (you can easily recognize the right direction by the location of side buttons, connectors, and camera protrusions). Then just pull the case on your phone like a sleeve, preferably starting from the upper end.

Make sure that the case fits on your device snuggly, the bumper should be overlapping your screen slightly, and the phone shouldn’t move within the case at all.

To put the case of this type off your phone, just peel it off, starting with either of the corners. Thanks to its rubber sides, I found Otterbox Symmetry slightly more convenient during this process than Tech 21 Evo.

Pros and Cons

Otterbox – Pros

• One of the most reputable producers of protective cases on the market
• Lifetime warranty
• Extremely rigorous testing of all products
• Wide range of products, including extra-rugged heavy-duty cases
• Cases compatible with most devices

Otterbox – Cons

• Limited designs to choose from
• More expensive than most competition
• Otterbox Symmetry case feels a bit slippery
• Screen protectors for most of their cases must be bought separately

Tech 21 – Pros

• Great value for money
• Many colorful designs to choose from
• Innovative features such as self-cleaning formula
• Wide range of products, including attractive wallet cases
• Compatible with most devices

Tech 21 – Cons

• Limited warranty
• Tech 21’s portfolio does not seem to contain super-rugged cases at the moment
• Their TPU cases can feel a bit too slippery in hands
• Screen protectors for most of their cases must be bought separately

Are there any alternatives?

If you’re not 100% convinced about either of the cases we compare today, check out these recommended alternatives:

Urban Armor Gear

If you’re looking for a real heavy-duty protective case and you’re willing to pay a bit more for it, you should definitely have Urban Armor Gear (or UAG) on your radar. This best-selling brand makes dozens of great cases designed especially for outdoor environments and tough workplaces (e.g. construction sites, etc.).

UAG cases are known to be lightweight, shockproof, durable, and attractively looking. They will protect your device with 5-layer construction.

Sonix

If you would like to find the best possible combination of protection and style, the American brand called Sonix has exactly what you’re looking for.

Their portfolio is full of stylish and tastefully original phone cases, including military drop test-certified, scratchproof, and UV-proof. These cases are compatible with all standard wireless charging methods, and they come with a lifetime warranty too.

If you would like to see more Otterbox/Tech 21 alternatives, check out our recent article on this topic.

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