7.8.2018

Having splashed out on an iPhone X, I wanted a case that would do it justice in terms both of looks and level of protection. My initial choice was Apple's leather folio case. Without going into too many details, I was disappointed both in the utility and durability of this case when considering its very high price. After much consideration as to a suitable replacement, I eventually opted for Otterbox's Strada case. On balance, I am glad that I did so, albeit it is not without its niggles. I had a firm requirement for a foilo/wallet style case as I dislike stick on screen protectors but nevertheless wanted decent protection for the iPhone X's lovely (and delicate) screen.I was attracted to the Otterbox owing to their reputation for protective cases and the Strada looked to be a good combination of protection without excess bulk.For those of you who want a case which lets you leave your wallet at home, this is not the case for you (in my opinion). Whilst the inside of the front cover has a slit within which a card could be stored. I would say that this is the extent of what it could reasonably hold. For those of you with multiple bank/credit/store cards, this won't cut it. On the plus side, the minimal storage capacity leaves the front of the case pleasantly unbulky, which is what I personally was after.The front and rear exterior of the case is leather effect, with a hard plastic border around the edges and, on the rear, around the camera insert. Having previously used Apple's leather folio case, the leather effect material does not scream quality, but I expect that it will withstand day to day wear considerably better than Apple's offering. There is stitching around the edge of the case and a metal section in the middle right edge which bears the Otterbox logo. All in all, its attractive enough in an understated way but won't win you any envious glances (if any phone case does).The front cover includes a cut out in the top middle for the speaker. Nice to be able to use the phone for calls with the cover closed. Not something I could do with Apple's folio. The cover closes magnetically, with a small magnet in the tab on the right hand side which attaches to the Otterbox branded metal section. Pleasingly, when you tuck the front cover round the back, the tab with the magnet still makes contact with the metal section, holding the front cover in place.The phone buttons have corresponding 'bumps' on the exterior of the case. In this case (ha), the Apply folio wins with its machined metal buttons. That said, with the Strada case you need to apply too much extra pressure to change volume etc. A further niggle is the fact that opening closing the case doesn't automatically switch the screen on/off like the Apple folio does. I find it annoying having to constantly manually switch the screen off (when I even remember to do so).My final niggle is perhaps slightly unfair. The hard plastic which surrounds the edge of the case is slightly thicker than I expected it to be. While this is no bad thing in terms of protecting your precious phone, it has the unfortunate side effect of making it impossible to use my existing desktop charging stand as the lightning connector is too short to reach the phone through the case. That said, there's no reason I can't splash out more money on a new wireless charging stand to solve this issue (grumble, grumble). I suppose that on balance, I'm glad to have the extra protection as I have managed to drop my phone on several occasions since purchasing this case and it is no worse for the experience.Finally, I'd comment on the price. I got this case for approximately 20% of the cost of a new Apple folio case. Notwithstanding my niggles, its a bargain at this price. It may not be the world's fanciest case, but its good quality, a nice balance of protection vs bulk and a very reasonable price to boot. Recommended.

7.4.2019

I just got my iPhone XS and I'm keen to avoid that £££ bill if I drop it on the floor.I had a wallet case on my old iPhone 6s and i used to chuck it about and generally take poor car of it. The wallet cases (I got through 5) took a beating but the phone survived for over 4 years with only cosmetic marks. I have also got used to not carrying a separate wallet.On the other hand - I really like the look of this phone and don't want to immediately hide it inside a bulky case. Perhaps there is a way of protecting the phone without hiding it?I couldn't decide and I've bought this case and also a thin clear plastic case so I can try both out.If you're having a similar quandary check out my review on the ESR Clear Case.The Review:It arrived the day after I ordered - I quite like the packaging.The build quality is pretty sturdy, leather outer, hard plastic back / rubbery plastic front, metal band and faux suede inner. I can see the seams in the plastic from the manufacturing process if I look closely - a small niggle. The leather can easily be scratched up with my nails. I should probably just cut my nails.The phone fits tightly and everything is positioned well as expected.The card holder is a little tricky to get cards in and out of. I tested it with 2 cards and a bank note in and it does close but I think it'll need to bed in as the magnet wanted to pop open (these always stretch and bed in)Here's the clever bit - the front flap of the case fits within the chunky outer frame so it does not add extra bulk on top of the protective case. My old wallet cases and this is actually thinner as a result despite this phone being thicker to start off with! Also the cards sit in a recessed area and are not jammed up against the phone screen so (hopefully) no more scuffed up phone screen.The front cover folds around the back and the magnet snaps onto the metal band on the back - this is good as I no longer have to deal with the flappy...flap thing I used to have on old covers.The 'hinge' part of the leather cover does crinkle up when you fold it round, not sure how this will age but I'm not sure I'll spend much time looking at my phone like this either.I have to admit that the thick protective case does take away from the elegance of the phone itself. when I put my phone in there I no longer have a snazzy new iPhone, I have an 'Otterbox' which is not nearly as impressive. Also it adds more bulk to the phone which is noticeable when using it, I can no longer reach the "Settings" app with my dumb for instance. There's the flap which you have to deal with when using the phone and can be annoying when taking pictures (this is nothing new to me though) Large handed people might appreciate having the larger sides, it definitely feels more secure to hold than the bare phone.A friend told me that it's a big phone already so putting it in a case would mean that it was no longer pocketable. I'm happy to say that this has not turned out so. It's not really worse than my old iPhone 6s with wallet case, although I might try and switch to 1 card as 2 cards is giving it a bit of a 'bulgy' appearance.iPhone XS Dimensions: 7x69x142mmOtterbox, iPhone XS, 2 cards & £20 note: 15x77x150mmPrevious wallet case, iPhone 6s, 2 cards & £20 note: 16x75x142mmVerdict - For now I've decided to try and get by with the clear plastic case as I want to enjoy (and show off) my new phone. I'm taking the Otterbox with me in my bag as a backup incase I have any scares with the thin plastic one and decide that I can't be trusted with such little phone protection.I'll probably switch to the Otterbox once the New Phone novelty wears off and I get bored of carrying a separate wallet. It seems like a well made and well thought out case for a good price.I'll try and return to add a longer-term review once I've given it a field test.

23.11.2017

After dropping the phone on day 5 without a case and having my heart in my mouth, it was time to put the phone in it’s case before something worse happened.Despite the fantastic look and feel of the iPhone X I decided I didn’t really want to chance it. I normally go for cases which just protect the back and sides, and just protrude slightly. Which in hindsight aren’t great cases if it lands screen side down at an angle or hits a stone or something, smashed screen for sure.So for my X I decided to go for a full wrap around flip front case, not only that I wanted something that clearly had a bit of bulk to it.After a bit of research I went for the OtterBox series which had,had some fine reviews on a number of sites.Of course it was difficult to trust reviews at the time as the iPhone X had only been out for less than a week. How many of the customer reviews were legit? None of the major Apple sites had yet to get their case reviews up. Although since a number now have, the Otterbox Strada Series for the iPhone X has been picking up some fine reviews.At time of purchase the case cost £36.37 which compared to prices I’ve paid for cases in the past is quite a significant amount. However when you’ve got one of the most expensive phones money can buy, that apparently also smashes pretty easily, skimping on a case seems like a really stupid thing to do.The case is pretty much full on plastic with a faux leather type back and front. The back is very strong as are all the sides.The front is slightly more bendy than the back, but not that much, it still feels pretty stiff, and although I'm not going to do any drop tests, I am confident that at least from hip height the the phone would feel well protected. The front case stays in place by a small magnetic clip. There's also space to keep bank cards and what not, but I'm not sure why anyone would want to do this personally, especially when there's a small magnet nearby. Doesn't seem a good idea for those strips on the back of our cards!The depth of the case is also good, allowing the protruding camera lens to be protected as well assuming it doesn't land on anything that just happens to be pointing upwards right at the point of the camera lens. An added bonus means the phone now lies flat on a desk!It weighs pretty much next to nothing, and despite the bulk of the case, it doesn't really feel that it adds to much size to the phone. No one is really going to know you've got an iPhone X in your hand either until you use it, so a little bit of added security, obviously this may also be a down side if you like to show off, but in which case you're probably using the phone naked anyway and stumped up for AppleCare.The side buttons you do need to give a bit of a decent push in order to press them, but that's no real biggie really.The only major complaint is perhaps that in an ideal world the front flip would actually be on the other side, in order to not be on the same side as the volume buttons which can also be used as buttons to take photos. Meaning you need to hold the front flip up with your finger in order to use those buttons to take photos, something which is much easier to do that trying to press the on screen button. Flipping the front flap all the way over also obviously blanks the camera out completely, but that's to be expected regardless of what side they put it.Overall I'm really pleased with this case and would recommend it for anyone that is feeling they need some decent protection for their iPhone X

13.4.2018

After 1+ Year Review: TL;DR: Meh on the aesthetics, but wow - the practical benefits (protection, and card holder): 5 stars.After 2 weeks Review: TL;DR: Love the aesthetics, and the practical benefits (protection, and card holder): 5 stars.After 1+ Year Review (Long)By far the best part about this case is the protection it offers. I have dropped the phone with the case on onto solid ground, which should have damaged the phone in every conceivable measure. (This includes dropping it from a speeding bicycle) I am glad to report that my phone looks brand new - even to this day. I have a friend who has the same phone, with the same case, who reports the sameIt also has a slot for cards.

13.2.2016

This case provides an excellent solution for protecting the iPhone 6S.The level of protection is good. The sides of the case rise to protect the screen from face down impacts. The phone is held securely. The access ports, camera and speaker are recessed with a chamfer to ensure protection without compromising access with the body of the case. The wake/sleep and volume buttons are covered by the case body but can be easily operated. The silent switch is not covered, but accessible in the same way as the ports. The function of the phone is in no way compromised by the case and the weight added, though discernible, only adds to the feeling of substance rather than suggesting bloat.I was concerned about the quality of the leather before purchasing the case.

27.8.2016

When I received my new Samsung S7 edge I thought this phone looks expensive and very fragile. I read multiple accounts on the internet of broken screens from minor bumps and drops. With my previous history of breaking phone screens I wouldn't even dream about taking it out of the house without a good case.I tried other combinations of cases and screen protectors but could not find anything that gave me the confidence that the phone would be protected enough.When the Otterbox Strada arrived I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the case. Right from the start I was impressed with the packaging and the presentation, it felt like I had received a rather special case. I cant overstate the feeling quality,

26.8.2018

For no reason that I can think of, my two year old Samsung S7 started to bulge in the middle. I decided that this was not going to be a good thing and replaced it with a S8.This of course meant that some of my existing accessories also needed replacing and my highest priority was to get a new case. Given the fragility of the S8, I felt that the case needed to enclose the whole phone but must also allow wireless charging.After a bit of looking around, I settled on the tan coloured Otterbox even though it was a bit more expensive.It looks good and I am generally very pleased. The whole phone is encased apart from apertures at the bottom for the headphone socket, microphone, media speaker and USB socket.

26.2.2020

Ive always been a little unsure when it has come to cases. Im very choosy, much like a woman with her handbag or purse. If youre gonna choose a nice phone and spend lots of money then dont be scroungy with the case!This case cost me £25 on Amazon and there was only one other that I would have gone for which was the Snakehive which cost even more. Ive got a Samsung S10 so not messing about, youre only going to drop your phone once with a rubbish case and its game over.Pros:Fits well and the front has a magnet which keeps the flap open or closed when youre using it. I havent dropped it yet but it feels secure and sturdy,

22.6.2019

Having just had to replace my Samsung Galaxy S9+ after the screen smashed to bits from rather stupidly having no case and dropping it onto the pavement, I was looking for a robust but aesthetically pleasing case that didn't add too much bulk but provided good protection from drops and scrapes.I haven't used an Otterbox case before but had heard great things about them and really liked the look of this model in the 'Expresso' finish. I almost didn't buy it though as there seemed to be a fair few low-scoring reviews here on Amazon with complaints about the microphone. I then read through all the reviews very carefully and noticed that all of the low scoring reviews are for iPhone models and

7.6.2015

I spent a lot of time researching a wallet/folio case that would hold at least one bank card and offer good all round protection for the phone. The Strada certainly fits the bill. The phone fits tightly within a rugged polycarbonate shell with Themoplastic Elastomer (TPE) over mould. The sleep/wake and volume keys are protected by and operated through TPE buttons. The ring/silent switch, lightening connector, headset jack, camera lens and bottom microphone sit out of harms way behind recessed 3mm deep ports. Once fitted it's quite difficult to release the phone from the shell but, other than for a SIM change, I don't envisage a need to remove it very often.

2.11.2018

Lots to like with this case.The protective performance - the main thing - is excellent. The phone is safely encased in a thick all-edge rubber bumper, and slightly recessed into the case. I was concerned that the ridge at the bottom of the phone would impact on the "swipe up" gesture that's essential on the XS, but in use it doesn't have a negative effect. The protection is delivered without adding too much bulk to the phone - it's certainly not an overly-aggressive case that disguises the phone's look.Lightning port, speakers and mute switch have physical cut-outs, while the on/off and volume buttons have moulded overlays, and they all work nicely in the case.Materials seem good.

12.2.2016

I was torn between this case and the Moshi-Sense Hardcover case but the Strada is a better case for numerous reasons. I really love my new case and think it looks smart. I cant really vouch for the drop protection and i am hoping i never have to find out if this case will save it from a great height but it dose seem to be well crafted and robust. The magnet works well and you know that it is going to stay closed. Unfortunately you cant get access to the mute button unless you open the case but i personally don't find this to be an issue. I did have to bend the cover backwards several times to soften the leather so that the cover sits better when holding it for a call but i am sure the leather will soften more over time.

12.7.2017

I've had this fitted some time now, so this is a long term review.The case fits perfectly and offers 100% protection to the phones edges, with the obvious exception of the socket cut outs. This is important to me, I am sad enough that I don't want the sides scratched by coming into contact with keys or coins in my pocket. I was surprised how many more expensive cases do not offer similar protection (including Samsung's own case).It grips very firmly and is very robust. I have dropped the phone twice from waist height and the phone and case sustained no damage at all, so it's already proved it's worth.It does affect the screen protector. I bought a relatively expensive glass protector,

6.9.2015

Deserves five stars, a genuinely good case IMHO. I'm a bit of a veteran on the buying wallet type cases for the iPhone 6, this OtterBox is my fourth different case since getting my new 6 last year. Two went back to Amazon pretty quickly (Great Shield and Torro) one after the other because of the camera cut outs on both cases, they were both too small/deep causing flare from the flash and washed out pictures (you'd think designers would pick this up) The third case was good and lasted for eight months, it had been okay with numerous light drops but the plastic phone holder part cracked in several places after a heavier drop onto a hard floor from waist height. Fair enough,

3.2.2016

After finally killing of my i5 though using and abusing the boss finally let me upgrade with a dire warning not to trash this so though i'd best get a case with decent impact protection. I didn't however want to carry a rucksack just for my phone and wanted something a bit more stylish. The perfect solution was the Otterbox Strada. Otterbox build and impact protection while looking good. I'll admit at first the case feels strange in the hand as the 'cradle' for the phone is made of plastic to provide the necessary impact protection but it then does have a leather panel on the back and the cover and hinge are all leather albeit a more hard wearing/harder then you might expect from the usual leather cases.

OtterBox Strada Case (iPhone X/Xs) - Reviews

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