[HTC Inspire 4G] BillTheCat:
There have been a great many "Which case?" questions here at XDA, and I have to admit I was wondering in which direction to go for my own use since there were no direct comparisons of what seemed to be the two leading products. So instead of guessing, I bought both the Otterbox Defender and Seidio Innocase II 'Rugged' combo and lived with them each for a week. Here, I'll share my thoughts on which one I prefer, and why.

While this case review is centered on the Inspire, in all probability it applies to the same product designs for other phones. However, please do check to be sure, as I make no claims either way.

Note: The Otterbox Defender for the DesireHD will fit the Inspire. Though Otterbox has not officially released a product for the Inspire, this one fits and functions perfectly and the DesireHD model will be used as a basis for this review. I will also comment on some 'mods' I've made which you might wish to consider for yourself.

Both cases are designed for robust protection from drops and impacts. They are similar in many respects in both design and function. A hard plastic shell is encased in a softer silicone skin. Both are high quality and designed very well. Both have hard 'holsters' with spring-loaded clips to attach to clothing, belt or bag. Neither case is waterproof, so put that idea out of your head, though there is a modest measure of protection against light rain since the phone sits in the holster screen side inboard protecting the display. The case from Seidio is lined with a felt-like material, the Otterbox case has a built-in screen protector.

Here, you see my Inspire between the Seidio on left, and the Otterbox on right. Though the Otterbox case ships with a sheet of crystal protective film (screen protector) built right into the top half of the case, I removed it from mine, because I already had a 3M Vikuiti protector installed on the phone, the two layers decreased the sensitivity to touch, and it created a 'bubbling' effect which was distracting. However when used alone, the Otterbox protector was just fine. One should keep in mind that should the screen protector get scratched, it's easier to replace a user-installed protector than it is to replace the top half of the case. The Seidio case ships with a traditional user-installed screen protector, but again, I decided to stay with my 3M sheet as it was already on the phone, and I like the idea that if I were to go caseless, the display is still protected which applies no matter what product you decide upon. In other words, the screen protector follows the phone, not the case.

Note: The Otterbox Defender ships with an integral screen protector built into the top bezel, which I decided to remove, therefore it is not shown here for the reasons stated above. Please bear this in mind as a factor when weighing your decision.

Compared side-by-side, you can see that the two cases are nearly identical in overall dimensions. Interestingly enough, I have a beef with both products in terms of button use. Where the Otterbox silicone caused buttons to be hard to actuate for power on and volume, the Seidio was on the other end of the extreme, that being too easy, and I find myself inadvertently triggering the ringer volume level when removing or replacing the phone into the holster, or even picking the phone up from the table. I'll probably wind up with a 'mod' on the Seidio case by placing a strip of electrical tape over the phone's volume rocker to see if that will offer some additional resistance to prevent accidental ringer volume changes.

Here, the two cases are shown on the profile. Each case adds considerable bulk, roughly doubling the thickness of the phone itself. There is a modest difference in the size of the Seidio case, being about 1/2 the thickness of a dime larger than the Otterbox, nothing noticeable in daily use, though.

Basic case construction is where things get interesting and the two part company. While both models have the same overall design (hard shell inner, soft silicone outer), they differ in a couple fundamental ways. The Otterbox is what I'd call 'clamshell' in that a top bezel and bottom half latch together on the longitudinal axis of the phone; the Seidio employs a 'desk drawer' metaphor sliding into itself and latching laterally. However, where the Otterbox must be completely assembled for use, the Sedio relies on a 2-layer system. The inner layer is one of their products in and of itself - the Innocase II shell with the 'rubberized' coating, underneath the outer silicone layer, which is covered by an 'exoskeleton' which clamps the silicone to the Innocase.

Otterbox:

Seidio:

Note that on the Seidio Innocase, it is not possible to use the silicone skin without the exoskeleton as shown in this photo where the skeleton clamps the skin to the Innocase II shell. Therefore, don't assume that (more pieces = better), as both segments of the exterior are required for it to fit properly.

This is a very interesting design, which for my needs represents a parting of the ways between the two. As a Freemason, I'm often called upon to participate in Lodge ceremonies, and those are typically held in Black Tie (formal) attire. The last thing I want is a big, bulky case hanging from my cummerbund. Or, even when dressed in business attire, having only the shell for the phone to reduce bulk but still offer a modicum of protection is an attractive feature. This is where the Seidio case has a distinct advantage for me, in that I can remove the 'exoskeleton' and still have protection for the phone.

So, the upside of the Seidio design for me is that I can "go light", but later revert to the ruggedness of the full case.

Now, don't take my personal preference and need as gospel. Using the Seidio Innocase II alone (without the rugged exterior) does not fully protect the phone. The camera lens is still exposed, and can be easily damaged if laid lens-down on an uneven surface, or dropped. Most of you will never be removing the outer case of either after it's been attached, so if this aspect is something which you'll never use, I wouldn't get too hung up on it and you should take my comments with a grain of salt. In fact, having a case which forces you to utilize 100% of its protective elements is not a bad thing, avoiding as it does any temptation to use the phone in its less-protected state.

Here, you can see how using the Innocase II alone can pose a risk:

There is another aspect to the Seidio case I prefer, which is the lower profile of the bezel as compared to the Otterbox. The Defender's bezel wraps entirely around the earpiece with a recessed cutout for the speaker, thus:

As compared to that of the Innocase, which had a lower profile:

This lower profile on the Innocase allowed for a closer finger swipe at the top to more easily actuate the Android notification bar, something we use regularly and which was more difficult with the Defender, because of the higher ridge of the bezel making it harder to get your finger into the corner and causing 'misses' when trying to activate the notification area.

Showing the reverse of each, the Seidio has a silicone flap which inserts into the hard 'exoskeleton' when the camera is not in use. The Otterbox protects the camera lens and flash with a clear sheet of film integral to the case, the same type which is used for the screen side of the unit. I have to say that I prefer the feel of the Otterbox case when in use because its complete silicone covering offers a more secure grasp on the phone as it introduces friction to the palm of your hand, where the hard smooth exoskeleton of the Seidio tends to be a bit slippery.

Closeups of camera lens protection show how the two differ markedly.

Otterbox:

Seidio:

Pros/Cons to the lens protection debate are as you might imagine. In the case of the Defender, the camera is always ready and there's nothing in the way when you need that fast shot, and while the lens itself is protected from dust, fingerprints and scratches, the clear film is not, meaning that you might wind up with blurry pictures or videos. The Seidio design, while completely protecting the lens and keeping it clear of debris, makes it somewhat less accessible in those moments where seconds count, in that you have to pull the flap off, and though not difficult by any means, it needs to be secured by inserting the round knob into the skeleton, or held back by one's fingers while using the camera. That said, I tend to prefer the Seidio design in this regard for its greater protection.

At the bottom of each case, there is a hatch to give access to ear and usb connectors, however on the Otterbox, there is a hole for the earphone jack, so that you do not have to open the flap to gain access, something the Seidio case does differently - they split the silicone between USB and earphone jack sides. However it's hard to open one without the other, so this is a dubious design element.

Otterbox Defender:

Seidio Innocase Rugged:

Both cases have a very sturdy belt holster, each of which has a spring-loaded clip. Where the Otterbox Defender is clearly designed to be carried horizontally, it seems the Seidio case was intended to be carried vertically. However, both belt clips rotate with ratcheting stops, so that you can carry each in either vertical or horizontal position.

Otterbox:

Seidio:

Conclusion:

There's no clear winner, there's only what you prefer. Both are fine products and will serve you well, in all probability outliving the phone itself. For my likes, I think that the Seidio Innocase is the 'keeper', based on the subjective observations i've made above. However I emphasize they're subjective and your needs may lead you to prefer the Defender.

Whatever you decide, please do pick some sort of case. As I said in my screen installation guide, despite the $50 price you paid to upgrade, the phone still has a $400+ value, and losing the functionality of it due to an accident can be an inconvenience to some, debilitating to others.