Otterbox launches their new line-up of tough casings for Samsung’s Galaxy S8 and S8+ in Malaysia from RM159
Everyone has heard of the saying that ‘prevention is better than the cure’ but more often than not, people tend to overlook that timeless bit of wisdom when it comes to their smartphones until that heart-stopping moment when your phone encounters terminal deceleration trauma with the floor due to some misadventure or mishap. While a great many still invest in a phone casing as a matter of aesthetics, few are as robustly resiliently or actually rated to survive dents, drops and dings as a casing from Otterbox as even their most basic offerings are actually certified to protect a phone from a drop to the floor as well otherwise general wear and tear like nicks, scratches and the like. How tough are they? Well, Otterbox apparently puts them through a gruelling meat grinder of brutal tests: over 24 of them over 238 hours. Their survivability and resilience to damage and untoward mishaps can certainly be attested to as they’ve protected many of the primary devices that we use in the office since they’ve arrived in the Malaysian market several years ago and we’ve counted on them to keep our phones and tablets safe ever since.
Samsung’s new Galaxy S8 and S8+ will be making their official debut in stores nationwide next week and cost a pretty penny on account of their impressive wraparound curved Super AMOLED displays and glass sheathed chassis. Needless to say, Otterbox’s new range of protective casings are the ultimate insurance policy against physical damage. To wit, Otterboxs cases for the Galaxy S8 and S8+ actually have the ‘Made for Samsung’ seal of approval that attests that they’re members of the Samsung Mobile Accessory Partnership Programme and which also holds members to the same high standards of quality that Samsung is known for.
Otterbox will be releasing their full range of casings for both the Galaxy S8 and S8+ in Malaysia and will consist of their Defender Series, the Commuter Series, the Symmetry Series and the Strada Series Folio casings as well as their Alpha Glass screen protectors. All of them are available for purchase online at www.kws.my and at www.otterbox.asia. You can also check them out the following dealers nationwide:
-Samsung Experience Store @ KLCC (Thunder Match Technology Sdn Bhd)
-Samsung Experience Store @ Mid Valley Megamall (SBS Sales (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd)
-Samsung Experience Store @ Plaza Low Yat (MTCS Group Sdn Bhd)
-Samsung Experience Store @ The Gardens Mall (Welfon Telecommunication Sdn Bhd)
-Samsung Experience Store @ The Spring Shopping Mall (CG Computers Sdn Bhd)
– Digi @ Sunway Pyramid. (Digi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd)
Otterbox Symmetry for Galaxy S8 & S8+
For Malaysia, Otterbox will be releasing almost the full line-up of Otterbox casings. Users that prioritise slimness can opt for the one-piece Symmetry casings that consist of a shock-absorbing polycarbonate shell with a honeycombed inner rubber casing that protects an S8 or S8+ from drops. To ensure that the touchscreen is protected from wear and tear, the Symmetry casings have a slightly pronounced lip so that an S8 or S8+’s casing does not even make contact with a flat surface. The only downside is that the Symmetry casing doesn’t directly protect the touchscreen though it is compatible with Otterbox’s Alpha Glass screen protectors that can be acquired separately.
The Symmetry comes in a variety of different colours including special metallic finishes and a clear transparent version for both the Galaxy S8 and S8+. For the Galaxy S8, the standard Symmetry casing and Symmetry Clear variant retails for RM169, the Symmetry Metallic for RM179. For the Galaxy S8+, the standard Symmetry and Symmetry Clear variants retail for RM199 and the Symmetry Metallic variant retails for RM229.
Otterbox Commuter for Galaxy S8 & S8+
A step up from the Symmetry series is Otterbox’s Commuter series casings. Where the Symmetry consists of a single solid molded semi-flexible casing, the Commuter casings consist of two separate pieces – a precisely fitted latticed inner rubber sheath and an overlaid rigid armoured polycarbonate shell. Each port on the phone is also protected by a rubber seal to keep dirt, grime and dust out. Like the Symmetry, the Commuter also has a raised lip on each end to protect the touchscreen if you place the phone face-down on a flat surface. It’s a bit chunkier but the protective benefits are well worth it. The Commuter for the Galaxy S8 retails for RM169 while the Commuter for the S8+ retails for RM199 in a variety of colour choices including the eye catching aquamarine one below.
Otterbox Strada Series Folio for Galaxy S8 & S8+
If leather is your thing and you prefer a flip case, you’ll likely gravitate towards Otterbox’s Strada Series Folio cases. They offer a similar level of protection as the rest of the series but add in a front flip case and casing made of leather to offer all-round protection along with a modicum of style. The flip case also has an inner pocket on the front flap for credit cards and the like. The Strada is relatively easy to install with form-fitted hard rubber buttons that correspond to where the S8 and S8+ buttons are on the phones and a larger sized cutout on the back for easy access to the rear fingerprint reader. The Strada Series for the Galaxy S8 costs RM199 while the Galaxy S8+ casing retails for RM249.
Otterbox Defender Series for Galaxy S8 & S8+
If you absolutely, positively need the toughest thing that Otterbox can make, this is it. The Defender series is absurdly well armoured and allows the S8 or S8+ to survive almost anything short of boiling lava. All the usual means of smartphone doom: drops, dings, dents and the like are all shrugged off like spring showers on this casing. The Defender comes with form fitted rubber ports for the USB port and audio jack at the base and has a tougher, up-armoured shell that looks exceptionally rugged as well as an external clip that doubles up as a viewing stand. While prior versions came with an integrated front-facing clear plastic panel to protect the touchscreen, the newer variants eschew that option. You can however add in their Alpha Glass for all-round protection for the touchscreen. The Otterbox Defender retails for RM229 for the Galaxy S8 version while the Defender for the Galaxy S8+ retails for RM269.
Alpha Glass screen protector for Galaxy S8 & S8+
The curved nature of the Galaxy S8 and S8+ means that many unofficial film-based screen protectors and tempered glass screen protectors don’t quite work as they lose sensitivity around the curved edges of the screen, have horrific viewing angles from edge-on or simply curl up and fall off over time due to shoddy adhesives – we’ve tried plenty of the non-official stuff in the office with rather dismal results.
The Otterbox Alpha Glass has been specifically designed and engineered for use with the Galaxy S8 and S8+ and consists of a custom forged sheet of fortified glass that has been reinforced to avoid shattering and scratching, retains its responsiveness even around the edges and has nigh flawless clarity even when viewing the display from odd angles. Best of all, it’s now compatible with almost all of the Galaxy S8 and S8+ casings including the Defender, Symmetry and Commuter so you can get all-round protection of the casing and touchscreen when you get both the Alpha Glass and an Otterbox case. The Alpha Glass protectors cost RM139 for the Galaxy S8 and RM159 for the Galaxy S8+.
