Next time you go spelunking, make sure your iPhone's prepared for a dunking. All of these waterproof cases are available for iPhone 4 and 4S, and two of the three are available for iPhone 5. All three companies also make sealed cases for iPads and iPods. And although the iPhone 5 cases probably won't be ready for a few more weeks, you can pre-order them today.
Also, we wanted to test Otter's new iPhone cases, but they weren't ready yet. We'll give those a full review soon. But for now, let's start with the best of the bunch.
LifeProof iPhone Case
LifeProof's case ($80, iPhone 4/4S, iPhone 5, iPad and iPod) has the lowest profile of the three iPhone cases we tested, and it's the only one of the three that works as an everyday case. The Lifeproof case also has the highest waterproof rating. It has an IP-68 rating, which means it's been tested in a lab where it proved to be dust-proof and provide full protection against long-term submersion under water. I confirmed this claim by submerging my iPhone 4 inside it for an hour without any leakage.
When the case is on, you can use the iPhone with almost no restrictions. The touchscreen is very responsive, and you can still access all the ports and buttons. You can take it just about anywhere with you, too – LifeProof makes a slew of accessories, including a floating lifejacket, and an armband with a quick-release function for when you want to pop off a quick picture. On a sunrise trail run in Whiskeytown National Park, I was able to stop, disengage the case from the armband, then take a picture all in a matter of seconds. There's also a case add-on that integrates with any and all GoPro mounts, meaning you can lock it onto your bike or helmet and use it as an action cam.
WIRED Certified waterproof, including full submersion. Full access to ports and buttons. Protection against dust, drops, shocks. Great accessory integration. Low-profile. Responsive touchscreen.
TIRED Ports are too small for some inputs. Pricey. Headphone port plug is ridiculously easy to lose.
Rating: 9 out of 10
SealLine iSeries iPhone Case
SealLine's iCase ($35 and up, for iPhone 4/4S, iPod and iPad) is easily the lightest case of the three we tested. Plus, the fact that it folds up means you can just stuff it in a pocket when you're heading to the river, then stick your iPhone in it when you get in the boat. The integrated headphone jack on the iPhone-specific model allows for phone calls and tunes, and the clear polyurethane window provides a seamless response from the iPhone's touchscreen.
It has lash points, so you can tie it down to your kayak or lash it to your wrist if you need to take a call while climbing down a waterfall. (Hey, it happens.) The only real issue I had with the iCase's performance is the inconsistency of the polyurethane sleeve – on a stand-up paddleboard trip in Catalina, many of my pictures came out cloudy when the interior fogged up.
WIRED Easy to remove/insert iPhone. Stows away easily when not in use. Headphone port is a bonus. Nice touchscreen action.
TIRED Pictures come out distorted. Too wide to slip into your pocket. You'll have to remove your phone's everyday case to squeeze it into the iCase.
Rating: 7 out of 10
Outdoor Technology OT Waterproof iPhone Case
Outdoor Technology's waterproof iPhone case ($35 for iPhone 4/4S, iPhone 5 coming soon) sports a clear plastic shell that is held shut by some industrial-quality fastening mechanisms. Three flathead screws lock up the clamshell-style case tightly, protecting your phone against splashes, dunks, and the occasional drop in the urinal. (I'm not the only one, right?) It survived a 45-minute submersion test with no leakage, which is impressive considering its IP-X7 rating, which says it can only handle a 3-foot dunk for up to 30 minutes. Incidentally, that rating also means it's not dust-proof.
While I appreciated the screw-shut security when I was out on the water, I didn't dig it so much when I wanted to get the phone out to make a call. Unless you've got some change or your keys on you, your phone is locked up, and without any access to the ports or the sleep/wake button, you're phone's on lockdown as well. And when I answered a call, the person on the other end of the line complained that it was difficult to hear me through the case's shell.
The camera can still shoot good pictures through the shell, and it lets out a decent amount of sound when the iPhone's speakers are engaged, but if you want to use headphones or make a hands-free call, you're out of luck.
WIRED Screw-shut case provides security. Hard shell provides drop protection. Lets you shoot clear photos. Tie-down strap loop for watersports.
TIRED Heavy. Touchscreen performance lags. No port access. Can't access the sleep/wake button. Muddy phone output.
Rating: 5 out of 10Billy Brown lives, works, and leaps from various tall objects in Northern California. Follow him on Twitter: @trektechblog.