UPDATE: This case saved my phone today. I fell on a platform near water and it fell out of my hand and landed in the water. A friend of mine jumped into the water and got my phone out and it worked just as it did before I took it out, like nothing happened. I give my highest recommendation to this phone case.
The LifeProof iPhone 4/4S case is a waterproof, dirt proof, snow proof, and shockproof iPhone case available from LifeProof. The case comes in eleven great colors and is available from LifeProof directly for $69.99. This may seem expensive but I’ll tell you why it is money well spent especially when you like to be able live your life with your phone in hand whether in water, snow or dirt.
Form
The aesthetics of this case are some of the best I have ever seen in an iPhone case.
The case will transform your iPhone into another color. For example, I received the green case to review (LifeProof was actually so courteous as to ask what color I would prefer). I have people comment “How did you get your iPhone green?” and “That’s a great color”. It is kinda cool for people to ask how you made your iPhone your favorite color and all you did was put a case on it. From what I can tell, the other colors look really cool too. Also, if you want to just see your iPhone with no color, they sell a see-through case too. As I mentioned before there are 11 colors (excluding the see-through) to choose from so you have plenty of choices.
Another thing I really appreciate about this case is that it has a very thin and light profile adding almost no profile to it. According to LifeProof, it adds just 1.5mm to your phone. If you have the iPhone 4S, it will be about 10 mm, which in comparison to other cases is nothing. It is the thinnest iPhone case I have reviewed.
The material in which it is made is great. The outside is a big screen protector with the edges and back being a polycarbonate frame that protects the iPhone very well. The case is also non-stick material, therefore it will not stick to your pocket (like my OtterBox case for iPod touch will).
I am very impressed by the aesthetics of this case. In terms of aesthetics, it is actually the best I have reviewed.
Function
The case is called LifeProof and it is done so because life happens. Phones go in water, they get washed, they get dropped, they get dropped in water, they get snowed on, they get dirt on them, they are thrown, they are spilt on and they are scratched. Everything listed here and more is protected by this case. It literally is lifeproof.
Every port on this case is protected, the dock, the headphone jack, the cameras, the screen, the buttons. Every opening that’s possible on the phone can not be invaded by water. If it is one thing this case aces in, it’s protection and that is what we seek in a case isn’t it?
The case not only protects your phone but it also doesn’t add much thickness to it like the OtterBox does, for example.
The screen protector on it does not hinder the performance of the touch screen of the phone and that is important.
The case also adds a double AR coated glass lens for the camera to improve picture quality.
The speakers and mic holes are water proof but that doesn’t hinder their ability. In fact, it improves it! The case somehow makes it sound like the music is coming out of the whole case, the acoustics in it are very impressive. It is something I have never seen in a case. It is something quite remarkable.
There is one thing I have a minor concern about, however. In order to use the headphone jack you need an adapter to plug the headphones in since the case is raised above the headphone jack too much for the headphone to reach it. Of course the workaround for this is simple, just keep it plugged into your headphones. However, if you use multiple accessories that use the headphone jack, you’ll need to hold on to it. This for me isn’t a problem because I use headphones only so it doesn’t affect me much.
The headphone jack, by the way, has a port protector in it to prevent the water or whatever you may to go in there. I have been notorious for disliking these pesky protectors when I reviewed the SwitchEasy cases. However, this case is fine since the company also sends a holder that clips onto your headphones that holds the protector so when you take out your headphones, it can be found easily and you can put it back on. It also comes with a backup protector. The dock is protected with an attached protector.
Going along the same topic, it can not go onto a dock without an extension that you need to buy from them. However, this is the case with most cases and I am not at all surprised at that note.
Despite these few negatives, I feel the positives far outweigh them. This is, by far, the best iPhone case I have reviewed and I honestly think it will be the best one for a long time.
Conclusion
Pros
-Great aesthetics
-Great color choices
-Great protection from water (all cases have been water-tested before leaving the factory)
-Does everything to protect your phone
-Improves camera and speaker
-All ports protected very well
Cons
-Headphone adapter can be a nuisance for some
-Docking problems
This case has many great qualities about it that far outweigh it’s cons. I have been reviewing cases for a while now and this case has to be one of the best I have reviewed. I use it everyday, and I can imagine that in the not so distant future, it will save my iPhone from accidents related to water. I can do more with my phone now and I don’t have to be afraid that I’ll drop it, get it wet or get it dirty because this case has me covered. It has a few cons but these are easily offset by the protection and looks it provides. I easily give this case five stars. Great job LifeProof on your great case!
Thanks for reading,
Joe
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