Otter Pop Symmetry Series for iPhone 11 Pro Max Review – Your Awesome Voguishly Violet Protector

Smartphones these days don’t come cheap, least of all Apple iPhones like the iPhone 11 Pro Max that can cost upwards of RM5,300 and woe betide you if you even so much as prang the display much less a corner of the chassis.

Rather than leaving things to the whims of Lady Luck and gravity, more prudent smartphone users will implement an insurance policy which is where the Otter Pop Symmetry case comes into the picture.

The result of a collaboration between Otterbox, the renowned purveyor of armoured casings and PopSocket, the Otter Pop Symmetry case is a wonderful blend of features from both disparate but very practical product lines.

We reviewed a similar case for the Galaxy S20 Pus awhile back and while the basics of the design are similar, there are some differences on account of the size, weight and button placement of the iPhone 11 Pro Max which the Otter Pop Symmetry case has taken into account.

Otter Pop Symmetry Case for iPhone 11 Pro Max Design and Build

Much like other Symmetry class cases from Otterbox, the Otter Pop case here consists of a form-fitted, single piece case that snugly fits onto the iPhone 11 Pro Max.

The case itself has a cutout at the back for the camera array along with the base for the Lightning port. The various buttons on the iPhone are overlaid by a corresponding set of rubber buttons that fit their exact dimensions. Where it differs from other Symmetry cases is that it has an integrated PopSocket on the back. 

For the uninitiated, the PopSocket is an extendable grip that sticks onto the back of your phone and allows you to comfortably hold a phone between your index and third finger which comes in extremely handy when you’re using your phone to take photos and videos.

In certain cases, it’s also able to be used as a stand. The magic here is that the PopSocket is integrated in a slight depression in the Symmetry case itself to make it almost flush with the casing without adding undue bulkiness.

Otterbox’s usual attention to details is apparent here with a number of small aspects of the design that enhance its protective qualities. The lips of the phone that line the touchscreen are slightly raised so that it prevents scratches if you place it face down on a table.

Each button on the iPhone 11 Pro Max is also covered with a precisely fitted rubber button rather than a mere cutout which would have been a more expedient case to cut corners but which was fortunately not undertaken here. 

The Otter Pop itself is done up in a sturdy polycarbonate with rubber on the edges and buttons in order to offer a measure of shock absorption in the event of an impact.

Our test sample was done up in a fetching shade of Violet Dusk which starts out in Violet at the top with a colour gradient that goes towards a pale orange at the base. It’s a subtle yet very distinctive finish. If that doesn’t work for you you can still get it in the usual classic black, a solid shade of purple, teal with gray trim or a neon yellow with orange gradients.

Otter Pop Symmetry Case for iPhone 11 Pro Max Performance and Verdict

As an iPhone user, I’m apprehensive of putting any sort of covering on my case that would make the phone any bigger or thicker. Seeing as I paid a good amount of money for it, I’m also leery of any case obscuring the aesthetics of my iPhone.

Where my other colleague who prefers Android phones intends to slap as much protection as possible onto his phones to the exclusion of other concerns I prefer something a lot slimmer which was why he assigned me to test this particular case on my iPhone 11 Pro Max. 

Granted, the casing blocks the Apple logo on the back but as a tradeoff, it’s slim enough that I could still use it comfortably with my small hands. The Violet Dusk colour also looks very fashionable too with my other accessories. 

I tested it over the course of a month and I liked how it feels. It’s smooth enough that it doesn’t catch on my keys or other things in my handbag. The Otter Pop case also doesn’t make my iPhone 11 Pro Max  appreciably thicker and the buttons were as responsive as ever with the case on. 

The rear PopSocket also makes it easy to use when taking pictures as it helps me get a firmer grip on the phone instead of relying on my little finger and ring finger to prop the phone up. There is one problem though – the phone is a bit too heavy to use the rear PopSocket as a stand for watching Youtube and Netflix movies. I tried but it was a bit too heavy and the slightest nudge would topple it when fully extended.

Still, the casing works as intended which made it a real lifesaver. I accidentally dropped my phone when I got out of my car so that it dropped onto concrete from my seat and there wasn’t even so much as a scratch on the iPhone. If you need a relatively slim and sturdy case with great protection, the Otter Pop Symmetry is a great choice.

What we liked Beautiful Violet Dusk finish, useful PopSocket attachment, great protection for the phone, easy to install
What we didn’t PopSocket covers the iPhone logo
We Say The Otter Pop Symmetry case for the iPhone 11 Pro Max is stylish and practical without hindering its functionality. Most important of all it’s highly protective too and will protect the phone from drops and scratches.

Review unit courtesy of Otterbox. Available for purchase at https://www.otterbox.com/en-us/iphone-11/otter-pop-symmetry-series/apl84-iphl19.html