REVIEW: LifeProof Case for iPhone 4S

A couple of Stackers talked about LifeProof cases recently and our own BHP did a review of one back in November, so I just had to see for myself what the fuss was all about. Our new friends at LifeProof were kind enough to send us a case to use and review, so here we go!

First, here are the features of the LifeProof case, straight from the LifeProof website:



Packaging is stylish and minimal.....kinda mimics the case itself which you'll see later. Cover pictures were taken with the 4S and blow away the other pictures I took with the camera I have......sorry about that. I need a new camera!



As the name of the case implies, the claim to fame of this case is that it is "life proof," meaning you should be able to take this case pretty much anywhere and everywhere and expose it to numerous conditions, trusting that your device is going to survive the adventure.



Looking at the case itself, you have to wonder to yourself if that's really possible because there really isn't a whole lot to it!

Instructions for installing the case on your device are explicit and easy to follow. The case isn't shipped with a manual. Instead, you are directed to their website for both written and video instruction on how to install and use the case. They make it a point to let you know that you need to test the seal of the case for a good hour prior to inserting your device to ensure that it is, indeed water tight. Well I did the test, without the device inserted and could definitely tell there was no leakage, but this is when you hear the chickens start clucking. I could not bring myself to submerge the case in water with the device inside it. I'm sure it would've been fine, but I don't have an extra few hundred dollars laying around to get a new phone on the off chance that the seals failed.



I did, however drop the phone a couple of times, as well as exposing it to other elements on a snow sledding trip with the family at which both mud and snow were present. The LifeProof case definitely did its thing and held together nicely.

As for installing the case, it is pretty easy to do. You basically start at the top, snapping the two polycarbonate shells together, working your way down on both sides. You can feel and hear that the pieces are snapping together properly.

Once you have your device in the case, you can close the Charging Port Door. It's a mechanism that closes over the phone's dock connecting port and snaps into place to make an air/water tight seal. According to the website, this door is rated at 10,000 cycles, which means you can probably open and close it that many times without worrying too much about wear and tear. You just open it when you need to charge the device and that's pretty much it. The only issue I had with this door is that you can't really use an aftermarket charger as it is obviously designed to accommodate the stock iPhone charging cable. I was finally able to get my car charging cable plugged into it with some effort, pushing the door slightly farther down than I'm sure it is meant to go. I won't be doing that many more times, though.

Based on the way the LifeProof case fits, I'd say their intent is for you to hardly, if ever take the case off. There's no reason to, really. It adds very little bulk to the phone and looks pretty stylish on the device.

Controls are easily manipulated with the exception of the mute switch, which takes some getting use to. On the bare phone, you basically flip the switch on or off with the finger or fingernail. On the LifeProof, they recommend you use your finger (not your fingernail, which is probably so it doesn't damage the rubber covering of the switch itself), and you actually have to move the switch in the OPPOSITE direction of what you're used to based on the switch's design. As I said, that takes some getting use to, and sometimes you even need to do it a couple of times in order to get it to work.

The LifeProof case has a cleverly designed cover for the headphone jack, that is also obviously designed to keep the elements out of the phone and case. There is a tiny cover that screws into the jack and seals tightly. The case also comes with an adapter for use with third-party headphones because, as is the case with aftermarket chargers, the opening won't accommodate a plug larger than Apple's stock earbuds.



The headphone adapter is a really cool design, too, in that it also screws into the headphone jack to seal out the elements. The little nub you see in the middle of the adapter is so you can store the screw that normally goes into the hole while you're using the adapter. The case comes with an extra screw already in the adapter in case you lose the original.

The LifeProof case has a built-in screen cover, of course, and all of the openings for the camera, ear and mouth pieces are covered with a membrane which allows sound through, but keeps everything else out.

While I love the added protection of the built-in screen cover, it does not sit flush against the device, so it takes a little more effort to use the device's screen. I think it helps somewhat that I also have another screen protector on the device, so the degree of separation between the LifeProof cover and the device screen isn't as drastic.

They mention the sound above in the features and I did notice the sound seemed to come through clearer from the back of the device, but overall, didn't really notice any degradation in the sound with the case on the device.

The case retails for about 80.00 and comes in black (as pictured), white, pink and purple. 80.00 is a lot more than I'm used to paying for a protective case like this. Offerings from other manufacturers, while more bulky, often include a holster, however with the LifeProof case, a belt-clip holster is an additional 30.00 expense.

Other options include a swimming headphone adapter for 20.00 and a bike and bar mount for 40.00.

Looks as though they are about to come out with a case for the iPad2, as well so stay tuned!

Overall, aside from the niggling little issues I mentioned above, the LifeProof case is a great case, and I would highly recommend it! It may be a little cost-prohibitive for some, and while I think that the 80.00 price tag should INCLUDE the holster, I would definitely agree that it offers pretty much the ultimate in protection from the elements.