Dan Pražák While basically everyone wants to protect their iPhone with simple cases only against scratches and possibly light falls, there are also those who need to protect it in extreme conditions. Examples can be mountain climbers and other outdoor enthusiasts who often find themselves in inhospitable areas and thus their phones. There are ultra-durable cases for just that, and we're going to take a look at one of those today.
In the last week, we had the honor of testing a real tank in the field of Apple phone cases. This is a case made of high-quality durable aluminum in combination with rubber accessories. While the edges and back are mainly made of rubber and aluminum, there is a durable protective glass on the front that preserves the tactile properties of the display. The glass also has a cut-out for the home button or for the top speaker, where the hole is additionally provided with a special layer. It goes without saying that all buttons are accessible, as well as the side switch, where a special slider is incorporated into the aluminum frame for easy operation.
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Even the ports did not come short. While the Lightning is protected by a rubber cover that you can easily surround, there is even a metal cover for the 3,5 mm jack that folds to the side. Protected vents in the metal frame are reserved for the microphone and speaker, so with the case the sound rises from the front of the phone, not from the bottom. The rear camera with flash and microphone was not forgotten either, and the manufacturer prepared tailor-made cutouts for them. Despite the packaging, you can make calls, listen to music, use the phone and, of course, take photos of your adventures.
Putting the phone in the case is a bit more complicated than we are used to. Six screws are embedded in the metal frame, after unscrewing which you can separate the front part from the rest. The iPhone then needs to be placed in the inner part consisting mainly of rubber, fold the front part again and screw in all six screws. The package includes the appropriate Allen key and, together with it, a pair of spare screws in case of loss of one of the original ones.
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Despite the robustness of the packaging, the phone is handled quite satisfactorily. The display touch works fine, but I recommend removing the tempered glass from the display, because while one phone with the glass had the touch working fine, another with the protection from Aliexpress didn't work at all. Similarly, 3D Touch also responds well, although more force is required. The home button is recessed, but it's fairly easy to press. Likewise, using the side buttons and the silent mode switch is no problem. The phone is of course a bit heavier with the case, as the weight of the iPhone SE case is 165 grams, i.e. 52 grams more than the phone itself. In the same way, the size of the phone will increase considerably, but this is a normal tax for real durability.
However, it is understandable that the case is not for everyone, but only for selected users who will use its extreme resistance. The phone is able to protect even the ugliest falls, but it doesn't handle water so well. The cover is only water-resistant, not waterproof, so it will only protect against snow, rain and minor surface wetting. On the other hand, its price is not exorbitant and almost 500 CZK is certainly worth investing for some adventurers.
- Extremely durable, it can be purchased in a pro version iPhone 5/5S/SE, iPhone 6 / 6s, iPhone 7, iPhone 8 a iPhone X
home button = desktop button. The "Home" button tears the ears and pulls the eyes towards almost everyone who calls themselves a Guild :(
just at first glance compared to the Lifeproof cases: they are a little more expensive, but they can be snapped on or off without tools at any time and are fully waterproof and undoubtedly lighter. In about 6 years of use, I have not encountered that the durability of Lifeproof was not enough :)