Lifeproof has made a name for itself making cases that provide superlative protection from the elements, without all the bulk typically associated with rugged enclosures. But the cases still made some compromises for the sake of full body protection—namely the plastic screen protectors that just look and feel like an affront to the high-res glass displays found on the products they protect. That's all about to change, though, as Lifeproof rolls out its new Nuud line of cases, which eschew the plastic protectors, but still retain the full waterproof guarantee. The Nuud for the iPhone 5 provides all the same dirt, shock, and water protection as the Lifeproof Fre case, but now nothing gets in between you and that Retina display.
Design, Features, and Setup
The Nuud($54.95 at Amazon) case closely resembles the company's Fre case, but there are a few key differences here. Instead of a thin plastic film covering the entire glass front, there's now a more robust plastic frame around the iPhone's display that covers the Home button and earpiece. The screen is recessed in the frame, but now that cheap-feeling plastic film is gone, leaving nothing between your fingers and the iPhone display. It's a serious upgrade in look and feel, as the Fre made the screen dimmer and touching the flexible film was a big downgrade from the iPhone's own glass. The Nuud is a hair thicker than the Fre, 0.51 inches versus 0.48 inches, but actually weighs fractions of an ounce less. The difference is negligible, though, and both cases are remarkably thin and light considering the protection provided. The back of the case is completely clear, exposing the aluminum iPhone 5 within.
You get the same raised rubber buttons, Lightning port cover, and screw-on headphone jack plug in the Fre, but again Lifeproof has made a worthwhile upgrade with the Nuud. The headphone plug is now attached by a built-in leash, which eliminates the risk of losing the plug. It's still a bit cumbersome to screw on or off, but you have to make some compromises for waterproof protection.
Lifeproof includes a headphone adapter for the narrow opening, a microfiber cloth for installation, and a separate screen protector for those who would rather have the extra scratch protection. Also included is a plastic iPhone-5-shaped rectangle for water testing your case before installation.
Setup for the Nuud is very similar to setup with Lifeproof's other cases. You need to ensure that as much dust and debris is cleaned off of your phone's screen, then check to make sure all the o-ring seals are free of dirt as well. I expected some extra steps or something to account for the lack of screen protector, but once you clean your phone and the case, setup is as simple as snapping the case together. The only thing I did differently was press extra firmly to make sure the front of the case created a good seal with the phone's glass display. Lifeproof includes an optional screen protector, which feels better than the plastic cover built into other cases, but still requires careful installation to avoid pesky air bubbles. I don't care for them, but if you're worried about scratching your display, the protector is a nice option.
Performance and Conclusions
I subjected the Nuud to the same tests as the Fre, dropping the phone from chest high, submerging the phone in water for 30 minutes, and generally roughing the case up as best as I could. The Nuud withstood everything we threw at it, even dropping the phone display side down. The display is not operational underwater, but you can fire up the camera app beforehand and use the Volume Up button to release the shutter. The lens opening on the back is covered in anti-reflective glass, which did not distort photos or wash out the phone's built-in flash. Unlike the Fre, the Nuud does not affect call quality in any discernible way. Audio comes through cleanly and clearly, without the muffled affect we noticed with the Fre. Volume through the speaker ports is noticeably lower, but not to the point of annoyance.
Lifeproof addressed pretty much every concern I had with its Fre case, which itself was no slouch. The Nuud for the iPhone 5 offers robust protection without any compromises. You get waterproof, dustproof, and shock proof protection, without the annoying screen protectors built into other cases. It's a top choice for anyone concerned about their iPhone's well-being.
The Lifeproof Nuud iPhone 5 Case provides robust protection from the elements without compromises found in other rugged cases.
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