LifeProof iPhone Case: Water, Dirt, Snow and Shock Proof

I’m always worried that my iPhone will meet an untimely death from a wayward drop of rain so when I heard about the LifeProof iPhone case that bills itself as water proof, snow proof, dirt proof and shock proof I knew I had to try it out. Having just come back from a rain soaked trip where I found myself cowering under my umbrella and beneath awnings in an attempt to keep dry, water proof held special appeal. The only problem was getting up the nerve to actually test the thing.

There are videos on the LifeProof website detailing precisely how to put your phone into the case. They’re very helpful but they made me a little nervous that if I did the slightest thing wrong, then my phone was a goner. The first step is testing the case while empty by submerging it in a sink full of water for an hour. I did this and when I took it out an hour later it was completely dry inside. Testing complete, I held my breath, closed my eyes, and tried it with my phone and was relieved to see that it worked perfectly.

The touch screen doesn’t function when submerged, but as soon as you take it out of the water, even with the screen still wet you can use it normally. This means it’s easy to take pictures while you’re in the pool or at the beach without worrying about sand and water. There is even a glass lens cover built into the case that covers the camera lens and ensures your pictures are still high quality.

Touch functionality through the protective screen was nearly the same as without a cover at all. There was only a slight difference between the light touch normally used and the slightly firmer touch needed when using the LifeProof case. It was a minor difference and not one that would caused any frustration.

Audio quality was also very good, with no one I called noticing a difference in sound quality through the water proof acoustic vents of the LifeProof versus the traditional open spaces in my usual case. I also found the sound coming through to be clear and interference free while making calls and playing music.

The LifeProof iPhone case is lightweight and slim enough to use everyday, but is especially suited to those times you’re at the beach, hiking, or in harsh environments that put your phone at risk. It retails for $79.99 and has a full range of accessories for mounting and carrying that make it a great case for those who want to enjoy the outdoors without worrying about the safety of their phone.

A copy of this product was provided for review.