Mobile Phones aren’t just Phones anymore. iPhones in particular are fully featured computers with an amalgam of numerous functions and technologies. All the gadgets I once carried in a bag have been combined into one remarkably small device that fits comfortably in my pocket.
It is a wondrous feat of engineering, its features make it an indispensable tool of productivity, and it is not cheap.
If you too own an iPhone and sometimes worry about the potential hazards that could destroy that investment, either of the following two protective solutions I regularly use may be what you’re looking for.
The Lifeproof Frē iPhone 5 Case and the Lewis N. Clark Waterproof Multipurpose Pouch are starkly different weatherproofing solutions that offer many of the same protections against the elements at significantly contrasted price points.
Helping An iPhone Withstand Mother Nature
First let’s talk about The Lifeproof Frē. It’s one of the thinnest and lightest all-weather cases you can buy for your iPhone. It waterproofs, dirtproofs, snowproofs, and shockproofs your phone and is submersible up to 6 feet (2 meters). This is an amazing level of protection but it comes with a few trade offs.
• Touch And Sensors Are Affected
• Audio Quality In And Out Is Muffled
• Dropping May Affect Waterproofing
The screen protector is slightly elevated from the glass. While this effectively allows audio to be heard through the earpiece, it causes a slight loss of touchscreen sensitivity near that area. The proximity sensor also becomes intermittent causing accidental button presses with my face during calls. And if dropped (which I have… twice) waterproofing can be compromised. For this reason, the instructions explicitly advise to waterproof test the case without the phone before use and whenever dropped to make sure the seals are okay before taking it into the water. So far it’s been fine.
The Lewis N. Clark Waterproof Pouch is one of the lowest cost protective solutions and is submersible up to 9 feet (3 meters) and works with most smartphones. But it too has trade offs.
• No Easy Access To Ports & Buttons
• Intermittent Audio Quality
• Intermittent Optical Clarity
• No Impact Protection
Because the Lewis N. Clark is a soft pouch, great performance can depend on how the device is sitting inside. Capture quality of the camera and microphones can be inconsistent, there’s no easy access to buttons or ports, and the pouch offers no protection for drops.
With all these deficiencies that stem from Weather-proofing my iPhone you may be wondering if these solutions Helpy-proof it as well. Well rest assured, there are redeeming qualities to each of these products.
The Helpy Features:
The Lewis N. Clark Multipurpose pouch is exactly that… Multipurpose. Whatever I can seal inside (e.g., a point and shoot camera or simply items I want kept dry) I know if done properly is waterproofed and submersible.
The Lifeproof Case is sleek and light enough to use everyday. It has a real lens that provides me crystal clear optics for taking pictures. And, it fully ruggedizes my iPhone while providing me with access to all ports and buttons without ever having to remove it.
Free Yourself From Worry
Like most people, my iPhone is my one device for work and play. Everyday use has its everyday hazards – with support generally nearby. When on holiday however, an everyday hazard can claim my one device that photographs the trip, allows me to share my experience with friends, or provides me with the unlikely phone call for help.
This makes the Helpiest feature simply Peace of Mind. Knowing my most important device in my pocket is incredibly protected is a hugely liberating experience.
The Lifeproof Frē iPhone 5 Case
is $80.
The Lewis N. Clark Waterproof Multi Purpose Pouch (medium)
is $10.
