Are lifeproof cases worth the money?

[pantherlj]

my daughter wants one for her iPhone. Is it as good as it claims? I would rather not have her taking extra risk with her phone because she thinks nothing will destroy it if she has it

and, which one is better - looks like there are 2 versions? I assume the more expensive one is better

http://www.lifeproof.com/en/iphone-5/?path=TopNav

 

[blessedby3]

my daughter wants one for her iPhone. Is it as good as it claims? I would rather not have her taking extra risk with her phone because she thinks nothing will destroy it if she has it

and, which one is better - looks like there are 2 versions? I assume the more expensive one is better

http://www.lifeproof.com/en/iphone-5/?path=TopNav

Someone posted on another thread that amazon has them for $45
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=lifeproof+case

 

[bumbershoot]

I have one for my iphone 4.

I love it. One of the first days I had the case on it, I was visiting my MIL in the hospital, very tense and nervous, and put my phone on top of my coat. 5 minutes later I got cold and whipped my coat off of the surface it was on, and my phone went sailing and hit the hard hospital floor. It was FINE. Whew.

Some people have issues with muffled sounds. For me, I always take a good bit of time to put the case on, make sure the touchscreen is sensitive (I end up really (but gently) pushing the phone into the front screen part of the case, to make sure it's right up on there with no air pockets), make sure it's securely closed and fastened, and then I call DH. If either one of us feels the sound is bad, I start over. This does take time, but I haven't had the problem that others have experienced, with sound issues.

But if you have that problem and it won't go away, I believe the company does stand behind their products if you got a faulty one.

 

[kristenrice]

LOVE my Lifeproof case! I work as a paramedic and my phone has been dropped more times than I can count. My case has survived rain, puddles, snow...you name it. I ran in the recent 1/2 Marathon and it flew out of my hand onto the concrete when I went to take a picture on the fly. It scratched the edge of the case but it would have destroyed the phone. My DD8 was in Target with me and she dropped it on the floor. She picked it up and looked at me and said, "Lifeproof!" I will NEVER have an iPhone without a Lifeproof case ever again. In fact, I am going to try and find one for my iTouch too.

 

[mjkacmom]

Dd17 begged for one (she had an otterbox). I relented, a friend threw her phone in the pool (because it's waterproof, right), it hit the side of the pool, and opened. By by phone....

Never again. I think it's not good for kids, because then they keep them around water, and I don't care what kind of case you have, pools and phones don't mix.

 

[wiigirl]

My DH loves his lifeproof case....probably saved us a fortune in fixing his phones.

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

I was told Lifeproof is better for water and dust, OtterBox better for drops.

I went with OtterBox but I think either is worth the money!

 

[sharon_wv]

Dd17 begged for one (she had an otterbox). I relented, a friend threw her phone in the pool (because it's waterproof, right), it hit the side of the pool, and opened. By by phone....

Never again. I think it's not good for kids, because then they keep them around water, and I don't care what kind of case you have, pools and phones don't mix.

My SIL went on a log flume and had a life lock case on her phone. She thought it would be dine. My brother put his phone in a ziploc bag. Guess whose phone got fried? Not the one in a ziploc. She called life lock customer service and they told her they'd send her a new case. She told them to forget it since she didn't have a dang phone to put it in.

I had an otter box that saved my Iphone from a toilet drop though.

 

[mdrob214]

We took photos and video with DD's phone in Lifeproof and it was fine! Even when the big splash soaked us. If you'll be around water, it's worth it. She's a swimmer, so it's worth it. I wouldn't purposely take it in the pool, but we have it for those "oops" moments.

otterbox does sell a waterproof version now. Never used it, though. Love my Otterbox Defender. Got it cheaper on Amazon. And when the outer, rubber part stretched out, I called Otterbox and they sent a free replacement case. GREAT customer service!

 

[aprilgail2]

Had a lifeproof-HATED IT!! It was fine for texting but try to make a call and the voice is horribly muffled to the point you can't even understand what the person is saying! Switched to Otterbox, love it!

 

[dawnhaze]

I was told Lifeproof is better for water and dust, OtterBox better for drops.

I've used both; this is accurate. I used to work retail sales with people who would demo the Lifeproof case by putting their phones into glasses of water on the sales floor. I used to demo the Otterbox by dropping my phone off tables.

Otterbox has a waterproof case of their own now, at least for certain phone models, but I've never tried that one.

 

[tnhillbilly]

on my second lifeproof case. First one tore down the side after a year. My phone was taken out of the box put into the first one, and only been out when I replaced the first one with the second. I enjoy the fact I don't haft to worry about being caught out in rain on vacation. went on a cruse and on the rain days the camera had to stay on the ship but I was still able to use my phone to take pictures I would not have without the lifeproof case. Never had an issue with the voice.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I have both Otter Box and Lifeproof, between the two I like the Otter Box better. I believe the statement about drops vs liquid, I know the Otter Box does a great job protecting against drops, the protection against liquid pretty much is non-existent with the Defender series at least. I am pretty confident with my Lifeproof's ability to protect from water, I did that water test about putting it in a bowl of water for an hour and it passed. I do not have a lot of confidence in the drop protection though. It just doesn't feel too tough, and I also have a friend who broke a screen carrying one around in a book bag in a Lifeproof case.

It is kind of a tradeoff which kind of protection you want/need the most.

 

[lauradis]

Otter box

Otter box

Otter box

I drop my phone daily on concrete and otter box has saved it every time.

Dropped phone in toilet at home for couple of seconds an it didn't die.

 

[tajz90]

I think it depends on what you want. We own both and like them both for different reasons.

Lifeproof for wet situations and otterbox for dropping.

Otterbox now owns lifeproof so maybe the two qualities will join into one fantastic case.

 

[lucyem]

I have an otterbox defender and three years later is still going strong. My phone has survived many many drops onto the ground and a few that involved some flying. It was also dropped into a fish tank once and my phone was perfectly fine. I have no experience with the life proof.

 

[Ed J]

I've owned both and lifeproof wins hands down.

You can't do this With the OB

The LP case does need to be tested once in a while and if it fails the leak test (test with out your phone in it) simply contact LP and they will replace it.

I carry my phone in my pocket a lot and the LP case lets it slide in and out way easier than a OB case.

 

[meliss8599]

DD had a Lifeproof which was phenomenal in water. She took it in pools, the ocean, the shower--no problems. It was really neat for her to take pictures and video in the water and to listen to her music in the shower.

Unfortunately, it fell from her hands while we were on a hike (so no more than 3 feet off the ground) and the phone's screen SHATTERED. Not just cracked--I mean completely shattered. Shards of glass falling OUT of the phone. RIDICULOUS. And Lifeproof will only send you a new case, not a new phone.

SO, with this being said, we will never buy a Lifeproof again. A Ziploc baggie around her phone has been working perfectly fine in the shower. I'd be interested to see what Otterbox's waterproof version will be like as it was, again, awesome to take photos and video underwater.

 

[RCBA]

I watched a kid pour pool water out of his Lifeproof case this summer. I don't need a false sense of security due to a case so no Lifeproof cases for me as replacement phones are not in my budget.

 

[Swimnoid]

We got lifeproof cases for our mini iPads at work for the specific purpose of being able to use them underwater for video. Mine cracked within 3 months. It has never been mishandled or dropped, it just cracked.