Waterproof case for iPhone!

[ddavis]

I know a lot of people use their phones for ballistic apps, etc. I just got an iPhone a few days ago and it's an amazing device. There is even a Shot-timer by Surefire that is free. If it works well, it will save me the price of a real shot-timer, which will basically pay for the phone.

Anyways, a buddy and I recently got Lifeproof cases for our phones. They are thinner and lighter than an Otterbox, and WATERPROOF! They recommend you take it out of the package, snap it together without the phone inside, and submerge it for an hour to make sure everything is good. So far I love it. It's nice to know that if I get caught in a rainstorm, or drop my phone in the water, it will be ok.

They are twice as much as an Otterbox, but if it works as advertised, worth it. Look them up. As of right now I think you can only buy them from the manufacturer and Bestbuy, but my local Bestbuy was out so I got mine from the website.

Regards,
-Dan

 

[cruze5]

Re: Waterproof case for iPhone!

the review i read makes the screen alot harder to use. Can anyone verify that?

when i say harder to use it required alot more force when touching the screen..

I am not really happy with my commuter case, i'd like more protection

 

[ddavis]

Re: Waterproof case for iPhone!

Mine is great. I read some reviews that said the same thing, but they have since fixed the problem. If you tap very lightly right near the edges, it doesn't register everytime, but that's pretty rare. Usually there are little things I would change about a product, but so far I have not found anything about this case that I would change.

 

[Trevor300wsm]

Re: Waterproof case for iPhone!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: cruze5</div><div class="ubbcode-body">the review i read makes the screen alot harder to use. Can anyone verify that?

when i say harder to use it required alot more force when touching the screen..

I am not really happy with my commuter case, i'd like more protection </div></div>

This is just my opinion, but from my observation, they did not fix this problem. I bought one last month, had it for a day, then posted it and sold it on here. I hated it.

Also, on a side note. It is by far the worst customer service I've ever received. It is damn near impossible to get anyone on the phone there (the company). Many many emails asking them to please call me back and several messages. All I ever got was generic canned email responses. It's worse than a telemarketer.

It would be ok for a cover for a dedicated ballistics tool, but not for a phone you have to use everyday and type alot on. I can't help but think that anyone who says it's just as good as the normal screen with nothing on it is just lying to themselves trying to feel better about the $80 they spent.

 

[ddavis]

Re: Waterproof case for iPhone!

It's definitely not as easy as the bare screen. Maybe the reason I don't have a problem with it is that I've never had an iPhone without it. I'm not used to delicately tapping the screen. I don't have a problem with it all. Good to know about the customer service though. Hope I don't have to return it. Thanks for the input.

 

[bchibb]

Re: Waterproof case for iPhone!

How much for Lifeproof?

 

[cruze5]

Re: Waterproof case for iPhone!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bchibbs</div><div class="ubbcode-body">How much for Lifeproof? </div></div>

http://www.lifeproof.com/lifeproof-store/apple-cases/iphone-4


$69.95

 

[Trevor300wsm]

Re: Waterproof case for iPhone!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bchibbs</div><div class="ubbcode-body">How much for Lifeproof?</div></div>

They are about ~$70 new on the website.

What sucks is if you get it and dont like it, they charge a 20% re-stocking fee plus you have to pay the shipping back to them. It's better to just sell it on here once you realize that it's not for you.

I can't help but ask, how many people have alot of problems dropping their iPhones in water? Or using them in down pour rainstorms? I've had all the iPhones, the original, 3G, 3GS, 4, and just got the new 4GS yesterday in the mail. I've never dropped any of them in the water and I use it non stop all day everyday. There was one time where I was turning on a light switch and it fell out of my hand and damn near landed in the dogs water bowl, but thats the only close call I've ever had.

Check eBay for a better deal.

 

[Skyking]

Re: Waterproof case for iPhone!

This is a new product that my buddy just came up with. It it not a case but a coating. It coats all the internals on the device. Just getting his patents done on it. Waterproofing the phone down to 30 feet.
http://liquipel.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/liquipel

<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ln0daAowdJI&feature=youtube_gdata_player"></param> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ln0daAowdJI&feature=youtube_gdata_player" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"> </embed></object>
<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/b5Po9bQ2_QE&feature=channel_video_title"></param> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/b5Po9bQ2_QE&feature=channel_video_title" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"> </embed></object>

 

[DCR]

Re: Waterproof case for iPhone!

I use a ziploc bag for fishing, canoeing, and hiking. I've seen a more rugged underwater bags available at REI that still leave the screen useable. I think they were $30 and different sizes. I didn't get one becuase the ziplock bag worked well enough for my needs. I can however see that using your phone in the field you'd want something more durable and doesn't move around on the phone.

Huh...only $10. Apparently my memory is going to the crapper.

http://www.rei.com/product/808607/seattle-sports-dry-doc-waterproof-digi-case

 

[ddavis]

Re: Waterproof case for iPhone!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: trevor300wsm</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bchibbs</div><div class="ubbcode-body">How much for Lifeproof?</div></div>

They are about ~$70 new on the website.

What sucks is if you get it and dont like it, they charge a 20% re-stocking fee plus you have to pay the shipping back to them. It's better to just sell it on here once you realize that it's not for you.

I can't help but ask, how many people have alot of problems dropping their iPhones in water? Or using them in down pour rainstorms? I've had all the iPhones, the original, 3G, 3GS, 4, and just got the new 4GS yesterday in the mail. I've never dropped any of them in the water and I use it non stop all day everyday. There was one time where I was turning on a light switch and it fell out of my hand and damn near landed in the dogs water bowl, but thats the only close call I've ever had.

Check eBay for a better deal. </div></div>

I've had ruggedized flip phones (Casio G Z'one) for a few years before I got an iPhone. I was spoiled by them and swore I wouldn't get an iPhone til someone made a waterproof case. Why WOULDN'T you want one? For me it's mostly insurance. The replacement cost for my phone, WITH the insurance is $150. The case was half that. I like being able to jump in a boat and not worry about it. I spend about half my time at work in boats. Of course it's not for everyone, but if you are the type of person who lives a pretty active lifestyle around the water, it is well worth it in my opinion. Even if you don't it's good piece of mind. I remember a few years ago a flash flood happened and there was a guy hanging onto a tree in 10' of water. He had his Casio waterproof phone on him and was able to call 911 and get picked up by a chopper. I like to know my phone is going to work if it gets wet. They should ALL be waterproof, it's easy enough to do and doesn't add much to the cost.
-Dan

 

[Trevor300wsm]

Re: Waterproof case for iPhone!

Dan,
I guess it's really about application and person to person usage. People, like me, that use their phone all day everyday find cases like the Lifeproof more of a hindrance. My phone is my alarm clock. It's my comm at work for 12hrs a day. It's my work and personal email unit. It's my iPod at the gym 6 days a week. It's my main Internet connection all day everyday unless I'm at home and on the rare occasion I use my iPad. For people like me that are on/using their phone 10-16 hours a day 5-6 days a week, the lifeproof is a pain in the ass in so many ways from the reduced sensitivity of the screen, to the goofy ass earphone jack and waterproof plugs.

As for being on the water, well I'm in my boat, or on the lake just about all summer starting in may until the 1st of October. I'm no stranger to the boating life. I keep my phone tucked in a beer koozie on my dash in the boat and I never have any issues.

The concept behind the case is a great idea, no denying that. When I bought mine, I was under the impression that the front cover was actually some type of hard glass/composite material. They kept saying "glass", but the only glass was over the camera lense. It just wasnt what I consider user friendly when taking into account how much I use my phone everyday and how much it cost.

 

[ddavis]

Re: Waterproof case for iPhone!

Point taken. I use my phone regularly throughout the day for email, calendar, etc. also. If I was using earphones often I agree it would be a PITA. The case isn't for everyone, but for those who have been waiting for something like this, I wanted to bring it to their attention. I know the Casio waterproof Mil-Std. rated phones have a pretty good following, and this brings the iPhone up to their level of ruggedness. Thanks for the constructive criticism, that's what this place is all about and helps others in their decisions.

Regards,
-Dan

 

[kengel2]

Re: Waterproof case for iPhone!

I would stick with the otterbox, coworker had his iphone4 in the lifeproof case and dropped it. Shattered the back glass of phone completely.

 

[Jong]

Re: Waterproof case for iPhone!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: kengel2</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I would stick with the otterbox, coworker had his iphone4 in the lifeproof case and dropped it. Shattered the back glass of phone completely. </div></div>

How high did he drop it? My step daughter dropped her iphone in an otterbox and had the glass shatter but she dropped it from about 30 ft high.

 

[kengel2]

Re: Waterproof case for iPhone!

Dropped it out of his pocket in the warehouse getting keys out, probably around 3 1/2 ft drop.

 

[Remoah]

Re: Waterproof case for iPhone!

+1 on the otterbox defender series

was a surveyors assistant in my gap year over 2010. my job was to climb into drainage pits and culverts, some of which were very deep (6-7m or 18-21ft), and because we were away from the truck and i needed to be contacted, i had to have my phone on me.

One day i was pulling it out of my pocket and somehow i slipped, given my pocket was already a good metre off the ground, it fell all of 7m into the concrete bottom of an opened drainage pit.
Now, given, this was in the summer, in Northern Melbourne, so the pit was dry and there was no water. Climbed down to inspect the pit thinking my phone was f***ed, but, i got down there, it was still on. took it out of the case, wasn't even scratched.

later that summer, after a bit of rain, it bounced and fell (no worries about the drop, obviously) into an Electrical Pit full of mud. Sank about 40cm into very runny mud. Took it out, shook it off, no problems! Checked the little Water-Reactive dots inside the phone, nothing.
Since my company used to use iPhones as the standard, they're now giving them to the employees with otterboxes as standard, if you have a company iPhone, it has to be in a Defender case otherwise you pay for it if it breaks.

Anyone thinking of buying a Defender should. Yes, it's chunky, but having had mine for almost a year now, i do not notice it. The screen is just as reactive as any other, and i have no trouble operating it. I haven't tried the LifeBox yet, but my Otterbox has seen better days, and is due for a replacement, if i can scab the funds together, i'll buy the Lifebox and give it a try.

 

[bchibb]

Re: Waterproof case for iPhone!

+ 2 otterbox

 

[m1match]

Re: Waterproof case for iPhone!

I have Lifeproof cases on my iPhone and my wife's. To me there is a very slight degradation in the use of the touch screen, but it's is not very noticeable. I think that the extra protection the Lifeproof case gives is worth the trade offs of 1) very slight touchscreen degradation, 2) slight degradation of sound quality, and 3) a slightly longer length.

 

[CaptNemo]

Re: Waterproof case for iPhone!

Another iPhone 4 / Otterbox user, I work around water and have dropped it onto wet decks on boats and in the rain without issue. Best advice is to keep your phone in one piece is to keep it in your front pants pocket or a pocket with a flap or zipper.
A T-Shirt pocket is for storing an item in between trips to the ground. DAMHIK - Don't Ask Me How I Know.


.

 

[Remoah]

Re: Waterproof case for iPhone!

Mine is always in my front pocket. Never in a Jacket or anywhere it could be inadvertantly dropped/squashed. And i have the inane habbit of placing it so the screen faces my thigh. Just a habit i've always had