I have a love hate relationship with otterbox cases

That is a major pain. Stop using it for that. I have a nice case that is clear. You can see my 12 pro blue phone. Since I am going to get the 14 unless is more than normal phone. New case and screen protector.

Like you, I've been using otterbox cases for many years. The one I had for my 5S was great, and even the one I used for my 7 plus/8 plus was decent. The one I have on my 13 pro, though... Not so much. I've almost never had issues with taking the cases apart, and I love the grippiness of the rubbery outer shell. The colors aren't as plentiful or vibrant as they used to be, and it seems that the quality in general has gone downhill significantly. On the other hand, I had a very pretty and well-rated clear case picked out for my Sierra Blue iPhone 13 pro, and I liked it a lot, but it just felt too slippery. So, since this phone cost a fortune, at least in my book, I ended up putting an otterbox on it once again. Maybe someday, I'll go back to the clear case; would be nice to show off the Sierra Blue I paid good money for, but I just don't feel as though my phone would be quite as safe. Also, the otterbox is holding on my current screen protector; have had issues with liquid getting under the screen, mostly from when it's raining, and I don't have the skills to put on a new screen protector, even though I have a spare one sitting here ready to go. All this to say that while I don't have your specific issue with Otterbox, I do have a similar love/hate relationship with their cases.

I've never been a fan of Otterbox cases. Too bulky! I think they've had a line of slimmer cases for a few years now though.

I like Apple's own cases, though the first couple I had didn't last very long. I had their bumper case for my 4s which I loved because the buttons were covered with metal and were easy to press, but the rubber around the edges peeled off after a while. Then I put a Speck candy shell on it and the same thing happened.

When I got my 5s I went with Apple's leather case because it was the only choice from Apple at the time and I wanted a slim case. I liked how it felt, but it fell apart a couple weeks after I put it on my SE first gen. So I replaced it with a Tech 21 case. That case had tough rubber which was good, but it made the buttons a pain to press.

When I upgraded to a XR I looked at a few case options I liked the Apple clear case the best even though it felt a little bit slippery at first. It lasted me the whole time I had that phone. I went caseless with my 12 mini for the first year I had it, but thought it would be a good idea to get one along with the Magsafe battery pack. I thought about getting another clear case but decided to try one of the Apple silacone cases which has worked out well so far.

This is a quick follow-up to my original response. After writing that, I decided to go back to the Torras diamonds clear case that I bought for my iPhone 13 pro. I really love this case, but now, I remember why I had to replace it. For some reason, and I'll be the first to tell you it makes no sense, when this case is on my phone, many vo gestures get mis-interpreted. It frequently thinks I did the magic tap when I'm just swiping through items on my screen. With the otterbox case, the problem is resolved 99 percent of the time. Logically, the style of case on my phone shouldn't impact the interpretation of gestures in any way, so it's bery frustrating. Not sure if it's something bizarre with the screen protector I'm using or what. I really want to keep using this clear case if possible, but if my phone is just going to randomly start playing music or other unintended behaviors, I suppose I'll have to go back to the otterbox. Either that or perhaps I need a new/different screen protector? Has anyone else ever had anything like this happen before?

I’m really good at dropping my iThings, and that’s why I buy Speck cases. I have dropped both iPhone and iPad on tile floors uncountable times. No damage. Worth every penny.

My iPhone is in a Presidio Grip case that’s indigo with hot pink highlights. Indigo is smooth plastic (with padded silicone-type lining), highlights are grippy silicone lines. A pal carefully razored off enough highlights to fit my PopSocket on to the back.

I don't have a problem opening them, and I've only used Otterbox cases. However, the rubbery outer case seems to get loose and stretched after several years, also the lightning jack cover eventually came off on my last one. On my iPhone 7, I had a glass screen protector installed and the membrane protector of the Otterbox removed. I don't recall having an issue with the membrane on my iPhone 6, until the battery expanded and warped the phone and screen. On the glass protector, it seems like some of the gestures are mistaken, or maybe I'm just not perfect enough in making them for the phone.

I have a clear ESR Armer case for my iPhone SE second generation, also known as the iPhone SE 2020. it works great, and has room for my pop socket on the back. it was cheep, but has warranty. it was around 14 dollars, so not bad. I originally bought my phone with no case, but after I was shown my sister's iPhone 12 Pro with a pop socket, I wanted a pop socket for myself. she also put a screen protecter on its, too. I got a product red phone, so that's why I got a clear case, I wanted to show it off.

I used Otterbox cases for a while but had many of the same issues expressed in this thread. I started using Supcase Unicorn Beetle Pro cases and have had good luck with them so far. They are similar to the Otterbox in that they come apart and surround the phone, but they are thinner and lighter. They have pretty great drop protection ratings, and are only $20 on Amazon. They have a built-in screen protecter that I typically remove and replace with glass because it feels nicer, but I'll usually use the plastic until it starts getting dirty.

I had a Speck CandyShell case on my first phone (iPhone SE 1st gen) and never had any problems with it save the resistance of the buttons. Ever since I upgraded I've been using CaseMate cases on all my new phones. The newer ones are one-piece so they fit right onto your phone but they are very tight to increase protection so they will be hard to get on. They're also on the less economical side and are moreso for the aesthetically conscious (a lot of them have pretty patterns or are clear with gold foil, pearls, and other things embedded for visual flair so they aren't rugged like OtterBox). I know CaseMate also sells rugged cases but I've never tried them out.