Review: LifeProof frē for iPhone 5

Posted on March 5, 2013 by Teague Loughman under Reviews

When I reviewed the iPhone 5, I couldn’t stop talking about the new innovative design and larger screen size. That said, the iPhone 5 (like any other iPhone) is very easy to break or smash, so you need to invest in researching and buying for a good case. Enter, the new LifeProof frē case for iPhone 5.

Like the original LifeProof case for the iPhone 4/4S (my review here), the new LifeProof frē protects your precious iPhone from all sorts of weather/danger hazards like water,dirt,snow,dust, and shock. The frë also boasts a brand new thinner design, coming in at 0.5” thin & 5.4” long, as well as a much-needed audio sound enhancement for the speakers.

Can the frē live up to its predecessor and still be used on your iPhone? How does it compare to Otterbox’s Armor series of cases? Is it really worth $79.99 for an iPhone case? All of these questions and more will be answered in my review of the LifeProof frē iPhone 5 case.

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As soon as you take a look at the new LifeProof frē, the first thing that will catch your eye is the new contemporary design. LifeProof totally went back to the drawing board and thought up a slew of fresh new takes on the frē case, starting with the back of the iPhone accessory with a clear back window that allows the Apple logo to be displayed in all of its glory.

The frē for iPhone 5 has completely re-engineered speakers to deliver maximum acoustic output and sound quality. From booming, deep bass to pin-dropping whispers, the new Sound Enhancement System on the frē works and sounds a million times better than its precursor case for iPhone 4/4S.

As for protecting your iPhone, you can’t get any better than the frē. LifeProof tests all of their LifeProof line accessories to be up to standard with all military specifications (Military Standard 810F-516), which keeps the case strong and durable under any stressful conditions.

I have fervently tested the LifeProof frē for iPhone 5 Case with multitude of different trials and experiments, from dropping the frē from varying heights, to going for a swim with my iPhone, the frē case has passed all of my testings with flying colors (something that is not easy to do).

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Overall, I would highly recommend the LifeProof frē for iPhone 5 case to anyone that uses their iPhone in places where it can become easily broken or damaged, like working in construction or fishermen. The LifeProof frē can also be used for people like me, who want to have the best protection for their precious investment of an iPhone 5.

Compared to Otterbox’s $100 Armor Series, the $79.99 LifeProof frē completely outshines the Armor Series cases in design, functionality, as well as customer support. Plus, who doesn’t love saving money?!

The LifeProof frē for iPhone 5 is the perfect case for protecting your fifth-generation iPhone from all sorts of possible danger, while still maintaining the phone’s sleek design and form factor. You can read more about the LifeProof frē for iPhone 5 on LifeProof’s website and purchase the accessory here.

Review: LifeProof Case for iPhone 4/4S

Posted on August 28, 2012 by Teague Loughman under Reviews

Are you one of those people who like to tweet in the shower? How about Facebook in the bathtub? Taking pictures in the pool? There are tons of reasons, weird and not, why people would want to do these things, and that’s where the LifeProof iPhone case comes in.

A little about LifeProof:

LifeProof is a young, vibrant company based in San Diego that designs, manufactures and markets LifeProof cases for all-environmental protection, functionality and interactivity to SmartPhones and Tablet PCs.

The registered brand name ‘LifeProof’ is inspired by the protection and fully functional convenient operation of the device in rain, in water while swimming or surfing, in mud, sand, dust, snow or ice. The company mantra is ‘Freedom’ – freedom to be connected anywhere with your mobile device; freedom to build relationships, gain knowledge, exercise, and juggle work; freedom for all people anywhere to go everywhere.

So can this LifeProof case really protect your iPhone from all these elements? To find out, keep reading my review of the LifeProof case for iPhone!

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Quality

The LifeProof case is made out of very durable, hard plastic, that will protect your precious iPhone from scratches, drops, and more. All of the materials used in the LifeProof case are of very high-quality, and your paying for it. After my two weeks of testing the LifeProof case, I saw no signs of deterioration, scratches, or any of the color chipping or rubbing off, something that I feel is pretty incredible after all the torturous things I put the LifeProof case through. (If you don’t believe me, look at the image gallery.)

Usability/Design

Usually adding this much protection in one case makes your iPhone very bulky and heavy, but the LifeProof case manages to keep a sleek-profile by adding only 1/16 inches (1.5mm) to your iPhone.

The LifeProof case is also very light, weighing in at 28 grams, so you don’t have to worry about it adding any extra weight to your iPhone. Also, the LifeProof case is available in 4 unique colors; Black, White, Pink, & Purple.

The designers at LifeProof did an excellent job creating the LifeProof case as well, by adding slots for the charging port as well as the headphone jack at the top of the iPhone. Also on the back, the designers did a great job with the camera by making sure that it was very protected while taking away from the clarity of the 4S’ 8 megapixel and new optics.

Protection

This is the main thing that everyone cares about for the LifeProof case. Can it protect your iPhone if you drop it? What about going underwater? What happens if you run it over?

LifeProof has run many tests on their new LifeProof case (videos here), and so have I, and I can whole-heartedly say that the LifeProof case is a tank of a iPhone case.

LifeProof states on their website that the LifeProof case “has a unique design that makes it waterproof to a rated depth of 2 Meters (6.6ft)”, and I tested that thoroughly and I can prove this statement true, having submerged my iPhone many times in pools, bath-tubs, sinks, coolers, etc… and each time my iPhone came out of the LifeProof case dry as a bone.

LifeProof also states on their website that the LifeProof case “is designed for a high degree of shock and impact protection and has been tested to Military Specifications MIL-STD-810F-516.5. Meaning that it can be dropped on all surfaces and edges onto concrete from a height of 2 meters (or 6.6ft).” I can also say this statement is true and more so, as I have dropped my iPhone from greater distances and it came out of the LifeProof case perfectly fine.

Overall

Right now this is THE iPhone case to beat in terms of protection, functionality, and design. LifeProof has done an amazing job in creating their first product and I can’t wait to see what they come up with next. You can read more about the LifeProof case and purchase it on LifeProof’s company website here.

Review: Puurco iPhone Wallet Case

Posted on August 15, 2012 by Teague Loughman under Reviews

I love using my iPhone without anything on it. Who doesn’t? But to keep your iPhone protected from scratches, dents, or accidental drops, you might want to look into buying a sleeve or case for your precious iDevice, and that’s where the Puurco iPhone Wallet Case comes in to play!

A little about Puurco:

PuurCo is a European label for handmade sleeves and bags for your electronic devices. It was founded by Susan and Martin in the beautiful city of Prague, in the heart of Europe, in 2012.

The history and tradition of the Czech Republic has inspired them to make quality, handmade products from natural materials. Due to the time-consuming handmade process, though, their production is limited.

Want to know if the Puurco iPhone Case is the answer to all your “iPhone Accessory Dreams”? Keep on reading my review to find out!

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Style / Design

Made from a combination of anthracite 100% Merino wool felt from Germany and high quality leather, the Purrco iPhone case feels and looks great in your hand or pocket. Also, the credit-card-pocket is made from high quality 100% vegetable-tanned leather and hand-stitched to base, which gives it a very soft and elegant touch.

Usability

The iPhone 4 and 4S have a spectacular design and who would want to cover that up with a big, bulky case? A lot of people wouldn’t (myself included), and that’s where Puurco iPhone Case comes into play.

Using the Purrco iPhone Wallet Case on your iPhone is the best of both worlds – you protect your iPhone from getting scratched, dented, or dinged when you’re not using it, but when you are, you still get the amazing feel and look of the iPhone itself. Another great thing about the Puurco Wallet case is that it is super easy to fit into pocketbooks, purses, man-purses, pockets, or even briefcases!

It’s super easy to get your iPhone out of the Wallet Case, just pull the top half of your phone, and it slides right out of the case. No confusing pulley systems or flaps on this iPhone case!

Overall

Overall, the Puurco iPhone Wallet Case is an amazing sleeve for your iPhone. It looks stylish and sophisticated all while protecting your iPhone whenever you’re not using it.

Another great feature about the Purrco iPhone case is that it also has a wallet, so you can carry around your money, credit cards, hotel room keys, or frequent-Froyo-customer cards.

If you want to purchase or read more about the Puurco iPhone case, you can do all of that on Puurco’s website.

Review: Boxwave KeyboardBuddy iPhone Case

Posted on June 4, 2012 by Teague Loughman under Reviews

Millions of people are very happy with Apple’s on-screen virtual keyboard, but many still desire a tactile response only a physical keypad can provide. Apple has stated in the past that it sees no point in adding a hardware QWERTY keyboard onto the iPhone, but the company goes back and forth so many times with iOS products that no one knows what to believe.

Knowing this, BoxWave thought of a way to use the iPhone’s Bluetooth technology and build a case that had a physical QWERTY keyboard. It’s great for people who want Apple to add a QWERTY to the iPhone, but will it lure over virtual-keyboard-users over? How is it compared to the other Bluetooth Keyboard Cases for the iPhone? I’ll answer all of these questions and more in my review of the BoxWave KeyboardBuddy case for iPhone 4 & 4S.

Design

Design wise, the Keyboard Buddy is very sleek, especially considering that it adds a full hardware keyboard to the back of the device. The sliding mechanism is very solid, and there’s an enthusiastic click as you open and close it. It’s reminiscent of the slider on a device like the T-Mobile Sidekick – and that’s a good thing!

There’s also more than enough room to hit the top row of number keys, something other sliding cases often have trouble with. It charges via miniUSB, and BoxWave claims you should be able to go a huge 45 days without having to re-charge. The whole kit has a matte white, soft touch finish that adds a nice grip to the all-glass iPhone. Pairing the Keyboard buddy was an uneventful affair; the BoxWave was up and running in about 30 seconds after typing in a passcode. That’s when I could start putting this thing to the test!

Keyboard

The actual keyboard on the Keyboard Buddy is very similar to the one found on the Droid 2 or 3. Keys are laid out edge-to-edge, and there’s a decent amount of give with each click. The space bar is perfectly placed in the center of the keyboard, unlike some of the other Bluetooth keyboards on the market today. There’s a home key on the top left as well as a lock key right below it, two nice touches for sure.

It’s important to point out that when you choose to use a physical keyboard with your iOS devices, you lose all autocorrect functionality. I longed for things like automatic capitalization of “i” for example, and wish that it would automatically add apostrophes to words. Hopefully this is something Apple could enable as an option in a future version of iOS.

Overall

Overall, the BoxWave KeyboardBuddy case is an excellent option for BlackBerry users wanting to switch to the iPhone but not wanting to sacrifice their physical keyboards, as well as for older iOS users who have trouble seeing the letters on the iPhone’s virtual keyboard and like the satisfying click of a button when using a physical keyboard. I can type faster on the iPhone’s virtual keyboard, but I do like using the KeyboardBuddy to type out long emails or blog posts when I’m on my iPhone. You can read more about the BoxWave KeyboardBuddy and purchase it here.

Full gallery below: