Its been a little over 3 weeks now since I got me a black Otterbox Defender case on iP5 launch day from BB. I've had iPhone 4 and iP4s versions of Defender. The silicon is again different than before. Tactile feel touching it definitely feels nicer than before. Silicon seems more rigid and thicker. Case is definitely sleeker feeling. The holster is sleeker than previous versions, thinner now. Fashion alert, you still shouldn't be wearing it out on a belt though. lol. 
(I've only worn the holster a couple times, once at home with no pockets, and once at the gym with no pockets). FYI, the case with it's new silicon slips in and out of my pants/jeans pockets easier than previous versions.
Anyways, haven't dropped it on a hard surface yet so I don't personally know if it holds up in falls as good as the previous ones did.
From the few times I've used it in the holster, it's already started peeling at the contact points. It looks like the silicon has some thin top layer of silicon and that's what's peeling. Also, a couple other peeling spots starting. Good thing I bought this case for protection and not for its sexy good looks.
One think I do not like is the screen protector oil slick problem. Never had that problem on the iPhone 4 or iP4s versions, but this right from the start of my iP5 version. Right when I peeled the original plastic screen cover from the iP5, it went straight into the Defender case. Maybe a few seconds between removal and install... so, I'm happy no dust got in between the screen and protector. But the oil slicks! aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Since I use this case for protection, overall I'm happy... except for the oil slicks and to a lesser extent the peeling. Hope it lasts longer than the 6 months my 1st iP4s defender case lasted (stretched overall and cracked/ripped silicon at mute switch and charge port tabs). My iPhone 4 case lasted over a year before being too stretched out (and mute switch area eventually got weak and ripped) that I had to get a new one. I use assistive touch to toggle my mute now. lol. FYI, I don't remove my phone from my case often. Maybe once every few months to clean the dust out. If another good tough case comes out, I may switch from the defender series.
Maybe I'm getting old and my memory is going bad, but I thought we had a case sub-forum before...
***editing this post to include my 5 month update...***
Here are some pictures approx 5 months of use. Started using this the past couple months in its holster at the gym 3-4x per week just 1-2 hours a day... Otherwise case is in my pocket. Looks like this now.
On the plus side, after 5 months, no bad stretch or gummy feeling... I can feel a slight stretch in the case starting (the back has a very slight bulge I can feel but not see), but it's pretty minor compared to my 4's defenders. Only removed the case rubber maybe 5 times total.
Screen protector oil slick problem not as crazy as when it was new. Couple small spots but nothing crazy. Tactile response of protector is still fine.
(I've only worn the holster a couple times, once at home with no pockets, and once at the gym with no pockets). FYI, the case with it's new silicon slips in and out of my pants/jeans pockets easier than previous versions.Anyways, haven't dropped it on a hard surface yet so I don't personally know if it holds up in falls as good as the previous ones did.
From the few times I've used it in the holster, it's already started peeling at the contact points. It looks like the silicon has some thin top layer of silicon and that's what's peeling. Also, a couple other peeling spots starting. Good thing I bought this case for protection and not for its sexy good looks.
One think I do not like is the screen protector oil slick problem. Never had that problem on the iPhone 4 or iP4s versions, but this right from the start of my iP5 version. Right when I peeled the original plastic screen cover from the iP5, it went straight into the Defender case. Maybe a few seconds between removal and install... so, I'm happy no dust got in between the screen and protector. But the oil slicks! aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Since I use this case for protection, overall I'm happy... except for the oil slicks and to a lesser extent the peeling. Hope it lasts longer than the 6 months my 1st iP4s defender case lasted (stretched overall and cracked/ripped silicon at mute switch and charge port tabs). My iPhone 4 case lasted over a year before being too stretched out (and mute switch area eventually got weak and ripped) that I had to get a new one. I use assistive touch to toggle my mute now. lol. FYI, I don't remove my phone from my case often. Maybe once every few months to clean the dust out. If another good tough case comes out, I may switch from the defender series.
Maybe I'm getting old and my memory is going bad, but I thought we had a case sub-forum before...
***editing this post to include my 5 month update...***
Here are some pictures approx 5 months of use. Started using this the past couple months in its holster at the gym 3-4x per week just 1-2 hours a day... Otherwise case is in my pocket. Looks like this now.
On the plus side, after 5 months, no bad stretch or gummy feeling... I can feel a slight stretch in the case starting (the back has a very slight bulge I can feel but not see), but it's pretty minor compared to my 4's defenders. Only removed the case rubber maybe 5 times total.
Screen protector oil slick problem not as crazy as when it was new. Couple small spots but nothing crazy. Tactile response of protector is still fine.
