Ondrej Holzman There are countless durable iPhone 5 cases on the market. However, Hitcase Pro deviates from the line because it does not only offer protection to the Apple phone, but also makes it similar to the popular GoPro camera. It has a special mounting system and a wide-angle lens.
Hitcase Pro is designed for extreme use - it won't be surprised by mud, dust, deep water or falls from a height. At that point, you're also able to shoot high-definition video with your iPhone, as it's expected that you'll have the Hitcase Pro strapped to your helmet, handlebars, or chest. The inspiration from the already mentioned GoPro camera, which is also super durable and widely used by extreme athletes, is obvious here.
However, the makers of Hitcase Pro are betting on the fact that not everyone wants to spend several thousand for a separate camera when they can find similar functionality directly on their iPhone. iPhone with Hitcase Pro offers several advantages and disadvantages compared to GoPro.
In terms of protection, the iPhone 5 with Hitcase Pro is as impregnable as a GoPro. The hard polycarbonate case protects the device against all falls and impacts; three strong clips, which you use to snap the package together, then ensure the maximum possible impermeability. The silicone layer around the entire iPhone also contributes to this, so even the finest grains of sand don't stand a chance. Installing the cover is very simple and takes only a few seconds. Unlike other cases, the Hitcase Pro is one piece – you fold the front and back together like a book and snap it together with three clips. No special tools or special skills are needed.
Thanks to several security features mentioned above, the Hitcase Pro can withstand not only the antics of cyclists and skiers, but also, for example, surfers. With the iPhone 5 and the Hitcase Pro installed, you can sink to a depth of ten meters for 30 minutes. And underwater, your wide-angle videos can take on a whole new dimension. You don't have to worry about the display either, because it is protected by a lexan film that can withstand water pressure. The advantage is that the film adheres very closely to the display, so the iPhone 5 is easy to control despite it. However, greater pressure needs to be exerted in the edges of the display, where the foil is more prominent.
To ensure the highest possible protection, the Hitcase Pro does not allow you to access all the controls. The Home button (hidden under the rubber) as well as a pair of buttons for volume control and the button for turning the phone on/off are easily controlled with it (for the latter, it depends on how ideally you place the iPhone in the cover). However, the volume on/off switch is completely hidden under the cover, and therefore inaccessible, and if you want to connect headphones to the iPhone, you have to open the bottom flap and remove the rubber plug. However, you will not succeed at all with connecting the Lightning cable. The front camera works without restrictions thanks to the cut-out.
It's worse with call quality. It decreases quite significantly with the use of Hitcase Pro. Not that you can't make calls at all with the cover on, but the other party may not be able to understand you as well because of the covered microphone.
The call quality is therefore not dazzling, but the highly durable case has other advantages. In the case of the Hitcase Pro, these mean integrated three-element wide-angle optics that improve the viewing angles of the iPhone 5 up to 170 degrees. Photos, but especially videos, have a completely different effect with the so-called fisheye. Owners of GoPro cameras could relate. However, the downside of the Hitcase Pro may be that the lens is not removable. As a result, the already relatively massive case increases in size and, for example, the Hitcase Pro does not fit very well in a pocket due to the "growth" (lens) on the back.
extreme conditions is related to the mounting system that Hitcase patented under the name Railslide. Thanks to it, you can hold the iPhone in several ways - on a helmet, on the handlebars, on the chest, or even on a classic tripod. Hitcase offers several types of mounts and what is interesting is that this cover is compatible with GoPro camera mounts.
An app can be used to capture videos with Hitcase Pro Vidometer direct from Hitcase. This handy application will supplement the footage with interesting data such as movement speed or altitude. The use of Vidometer is of course not a condition, you can film with any other application.
In the basic package of Hitcase Pro for iPhone 5, in addition to the cover itself, you will also find one Railslide mounting bracket, a tripod bracket and a bracket for sticking to flat or rounded surfaces. There is also a wrist strap in the box. You will pay around 3 crowns for this set, which is certainly not a small amount and it is up to everyone to consider whether to use such a cover.
The Hitcase Pro is definitely not a cover for everyday use. It definitely didn't work out for me, either because of its dimensions or the rear lens, because of which the iPhone often doesn't even fit in my pocket. As an alternative to the GoPro camera, however, the Hitcase Pro will serve very well. One thing is 100% clear here – with this case, you practically don't have to worry about your iPhone at all.
We thank EasyStore.cz for lending the product.
How about posting some video and photos when you're already reviewing a cover that has a fisheye ;)
I agree, I think this is valuable information. Otherwise, it is written on the Internet that when one of the buckles is opened (probably the lower one), the call quality is almost at the same level as without the cover.
This is similar to Optrix.
I use the case and it has no faults, I can only recommend it.