Is a new iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Pro in your future? Apple may have equipped its latest iPhones with a Ceramic Shield front (“tougher than any smartphone glass”) and built the iPhone 15 Pro with an aerospace-grade titanium frame, but dropping one of these sleek new smartphones can still be costly. According to Apple, repairing a cracked iPhone 15 Pro display will run you $329. If the glass back cracks, that’s $169. Worse, if you crack one side, there’s a pretty good chance you’ll crack both. If you paid for AppleCare+ this cost drops significantly, but the ideal outcome is avoid the damage altogether. And when it comes to protective cases, the Otterbox Symmetry series is a long-time favorite of smartphone owners.
Proven Protection
For as long as I can remember covering iPhone launches, Otterbox Symmetry series cases have been a top choice. They offer a high degree of protection without much in the way of bulk or additional weight. They don’t interfere with the operation of buttons, speakers, or mics, and they offer access to the Lightning port (or USB-C port for iPhone 15 buyers). They are easy to grip, but if you do manage to drop your phone, the protection kicks in to help save you from an expensive repair.
When I bought an iPhone 14 Pro Max, the first thing I did was to I order an Otterbox Symmetry case to protect it. I went with the Clear MagSafe Symmetry+ version ($49.95). The clear case shows off the purple iPhone back and fully supports Apple’s MagSafe charging and accessory system. It’s easy to put on and easy to pop off when I want to switch things up.
Most importantly, this case keeps my iPhone safe. Raised edges protect the screen and the cameras. It is certified to withstand three times as many drops as military standard (MIL-STD-810G 516.6). What does this mean? Well, that specification states that for testing, a device will be equipped with a case and dropped four feet onto concrete covered with two inches of plywood 26 times, so that each face, edge and corner is impacted. The device is then inspected for physical damage in addition to ensuring it still functions.
Slapping an OtterBox Symmetry case onto an iPhone doesn’t guarantee it will survive a drop with no damage (the company’s Defender series is even more rugged if you’re looking for enhanced protection), but it vastly increases the odds over dropping an unprotected iPhone.
A Wide Range of Options
One of the things I like about the OtterBox Symmetry is how varied the selection within the series has become. You can buy them in a wide range of colors, adorned with different pop culture collaborations such as Disney, with or without MagSafe support, with antimicrobial treatment, in a soft-touch silicone version or a more traditional hard plastic and even versions with a built-in PopSocket PopGrip.
If you think Symmetry cases can’t be whimsical, there are several version that feature free-floating glitter. I bought one of those for my wife’s iPhone a few years back and it’s her go-to “bling” choice. OtterBox recently sent this Paradise Print Trèfle case for my iPhone 14 Pro Max. It has a bright, Caribbean-inspired print, but still has the features I care about: drop protection, MagSafe support and a light weight (1.3 ounces). It’s also made of 50% recycled plastic, so there’s a touch of green in the mix.
Besides the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro, Otterbox cases are offered for the full range of iPhones–right down to the iPhone 5–and smartphones from several other manufacturers including Samsung. If you’ve just purchased a new iPhone 15 and you want to make sure it remains shiny and new looking for as long as possible without looking bulky, Otterbox Symmetry cases are a smart choice.
Disclosure: OtterBox provided a Paradise Print Trèfle case for evaluation purposes but had no input into this review.
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