Review: OtterBox Defender for BlackBerry Bold

DON’T BUY IF YOU PLAN ON EVER USING SPEAKERPHONE.
the seidio and oem cases have 2 holes on the bottom for the mics
The otterbox is missing the big hole, resulting is echoeing whenever on the phone, and even squeeling when on speakerphone.

I contacted them, they tried to tell me it isn’t the otterbox when infact it is.

…Btw by bold still has the otterbox on.. Go bluetooth

@nah.uhh crkbry- I have used the Otterbox cases on my Curve and my 8830 and I have never had a single issue with the speakerphone. I dont have a bold, so perhaps Remzi or Greg could confirm/debunk this.

@Phreqd- Again speaking from my use of the Curve case, the camera does not function very well at all with the membrane on it. The pictures seem blurred and I had focus issues.
Solution- I used a hole punch (one of my team members idea) and punched out a hole were the camera lens and flash led were located. I realize this will have an impact on the water resistance, but it was a trade I was willing to make.

Hey Everyone–

First, thanks for the review Remzi! Second, I just wanted to address some of the concerns above. We actually changed the design of the camera cover on this Bold case so the flash is not a problem. The screen is built in over the camera so it shouldn’t cause any issues. As for punching a hole in the camera screen, this is up to the user, but it voids our warranty. I also wanted to let everyone know that this case does NOT protect against water (it is not waterproof or water-resistant), see website for details http://www.otterbox.com. As for the echo with the speaker it helps to keep the volume at 6 or below and if you’re still having issues you can try opening the side flap (for charging). As for the rubber, you can contact our customer service department customer.service@otterbox.com for a replacement.

Thanks to everyone for your support,
Kristin Golliher
PR Executive

@otterbox
the echo isnt only on speakerphone, the otterbox messes with the noise cancellation on the bold and gives feedback to the person i am speaking too. honestly, try with and without the case. huge difference

@nate
the reason the olderbbs dont have the problem is there microphone isnt covered.

boldseidio http://forums.crackberry.com/f120/unboxing-seidio-innocase-144441/
bold oem skin http://www.shopblackberry.com/prodimages/researchinmotion/b/blackberryboldskinblack/l_bold_skin_black.jpg

no feedback since they have 2 holes on the bottom for the bold.

I too just got a Bold and Otterbox Defender. People are complaing to me that they hear themselves echo when I’m talking to them. They say about 90% of what they say is repeated back. I thought maybe it was software, but I’ll try removing the case today. It does make sense it’s affecting the noise cancelling as well, since it seems that (not on speakerphone) on my end, my listening volume fluctates as well.

Another web post says it’s the clear plastic membrane covering the mic. But what I can’t find docs for is which hole on the bottom is the mic? I assumed the small round since that’s what Otterbox made a pass through for. But that one is unobstructed by the clear plastic. So what is the other hole on the BB? It is half way covered by the clear plastic and there is no pass trhough in the hard plastic of the Otterbox for it.

I will try to do some testing later. It’s tiring to test solo as it’s not consistent. No one wants to play with me. I’ve made about 50 test calls to myself at another phone and all I can determine is, it doesn’t appear to happen if only the hard case is installed without the clear plastic and the outer skin. With one or the other of those it’s inconsistent, but as a rule, worse during the first few moments of my call and appears to fade. However, I don’t talk on the phone a lot, and when I do I’m driving (I know, not good, but with 1hr 15 minute commute, it’s better than sleeping and driving) so I really should try to test it with the same background noise. My friends complaining complained throughtout our calls, not just at the beginning, so either I need more background noise, or more two way conversation to try to duplicate. Hopefully I can come up with something.

Haven’t had much time to work on this. I have been using it without the clear membrane. I was in the truck on the way home when my boss called. Clear membrane not on. He complained. Removed black silicone. Still complained. Removed hard case. Fixed problem. Like I said before, in the quiet of my office with just the hard case on seems ok, with either plastic or silicone on seems to echo during the beginning of the call and then fade, although my testing was limited. Wish i could come to a conclusion on this. I’m guessing since it’s worse in the truck it has something to do with the level of background noise and the noise cancelling on the Bold. Not sure. I may have to just loose the case, as finding time to troubleshoot it has become difficult. It’s not really an option in the truck to turn the volume down much, as then I can’t hear the other person well.