The Otterbox Commuter TL is a case for the iPhone 3G or 3Gs. The Commuter TL comes in a variety of colors, including the black and pink versions shown in this review.
I have used a basic rubber-like case ever since I bought my iPhone 3G. It has been a decent case; however, it has stretched a bit over time and is now much looser on my iPhone than it used to be.
Since replacing the old cover with the Otterbox Commuter TL, I realize that the basic rubber cover that I had was much less substantial in terms of protection. The Commuter TL offers a hard spine cover that snaps across the back of the iPhone after the rubber cover is put on. With the hard spine on, the iPhone feels like it can handle some serious licks and feels much less fragile than with just a soft rubber cover on it.
Additionally, the Commuter TL features covers for all of the ports on the iPhone – like the 30-pin connector and headphone port. The power button and volume buttons are covered with solid ridges indicating their locations on the outside of the cover. Using the buttons is as easy as using them without the cover on the iPhone.
The only point of concern is using the Commuter cases with a dock. The rubber gasket covering the iPhone’s dock connector can get in the way if your dock is a custom fit for the iPhone. I generally using the standard cable for charging and connecting my iPhone, so it wasn’t a concern for me.
All in all, I’m a big fan of the Otterbox iPhone Commuter series and recommend the cases if you are looking for a tougher case for your iPhone 3G or 3Gs.
While the Otterbox Commuter TL retails for $35, it can be found for about $20 on Amazon.com.
