You’re always ready to play with OtterBox’s protective Xbox controller case [Review]

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OtterBox Gaming Carry Case review
OtterBox Gaming Carry Case provides solid protection for your Xbox controller.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Slip your Xbox controller into the OtterBox Gaming Carry Case to protect it when gaming on the go. There’s a built-in phone stand so you can play anywhere, and the case makes room for OtterBox’s new phone mount.

I’ve used this Xbox controller case for several weeks. Here’s why I like it.

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OtterBox Gaming Carry Case review

Gaming is a social activity for me. I get together with friends to play whenever our schedules (and the pandemic) permit. I don’t expect my friends to have a spare controller for me so I bring my own. The OtterBox Gaming Carry Case make sure that crucial piece of hardware arrives safely.

It’s also well suited for travel. If you’re stuck in an airport, use the built-in stand to play games on your iPhone while waiting at the gate. Or use it in the break room at work. The Gaming Carry Case is all about taking your controller anywhere.

Hardware and design

An Xbox controller isn’t small, which puts a size limit on the OtterBox Gaming Carry Case. It’s 6.5 inches by 7.3 inches by 4.8 inches at its greatest dimensions, but has a very irregular shape. It weighs 0.6 pounds.

That makes room for an Xbox Series X|S Controller, and Xbox One Controller or an Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2.

There‘s a carrying handle made of webbing. And the case fits into a roomy backpack.

The black exterior is rigid enough to protect the contents. With it, you won‘t need to worry about the triggers and joysticks getting mucked up. And it’s solid enough to offer some drop protection. Water resistant, too. Not surprising from an OtterBox.

There’s a cable pass-through on the front edge of the case. This lets you charge an Xbox controller while it’s in storage. A rubberized slap seals the opening to keep out water.

A 4.5 inch by 1.2 inch zipper pouch inside the Gaming Carry Case makes room for extra batteries or a charging cable.

OtterBox Gaming Carry Case
The OtterBox Gaming Carry Case offers room for the Xbox controller, an OtterBox Mobile Gaming Clip and some extras.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Designed for the OtterBox Mobile Gaming Clip

There’s a lot of extra room in the case behond the zippered pouch. That’s because it’s designed to hold the Xbox controller with the OtterBox Mobile Gaming Clip attached.

If you don’t have one of these, there’s lots of space for other items. But not an iPhone 12.

Flip-up stand

You‘ll probably be happy the Gaming Carry Case is as tall as it is when you use it as a stand. Flip up a magnetized flap on the top of the case to make an iPhone holder. This can hold the handset at five different angles. The screen stand holds my iPhone 12 quite securely.

This is brilliant addition to OtterBox’s Xbox controller case. Not only does it prop up the handset, having the screen elevated 5 more inches above a tabletop makes the handset even easier to see and more comfortable to use.

OtterBox Gaming Carry Case final thoughts

OtterBox built up an outstanding reputation for phone cases, and its new one for Xbox controllers lives up to that tradition. It offers solid protection from drops, blows and liquids.

But it’s not small. That doesn’t matter if you’re just going across town to a friend’s house, but is more problematic if you’re flying to Katmandu.

Especially as about half the internal space is there to make room for the OtterBox Mobile Gaming Clip. If you’re getting that excellent phone mount, then this case is ideal. If you’re not, you might consider a smaller alternative. Just try to find one that’s equally protective.

OtterBox Gaming Carry Case
The flip-up stand on the Gaming Carry Case is surprisingly useful.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Pricing

The suggested price for the OtterBox Gaming Carry Case is $44.95. You can find it on the Microsoft store for the same cost.

The case is listed on Amazon but the giant online retailer doesn’t yet have stock at the time this review was written.

Comparable products

The biggest competition for OtterBox’s offering is all the sub-$20 Xbox controller cases on Amazon, etc. While these cost less, they don’t necessarily provide as much protection. And these definitely won‘t have some of the extra features, like the flip-up stand.

OtterBox provided Cult of Mac with a review unit for this article. See our reviews policy, and check out other in-depth reviews of Apple-related items.

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