The Seal Case by Concord Keystone is a fully waterproof, sand, dirt, and shockproof case designed for the iPhone 5, that allows you to actually take pictures or videos underwater for up to 6.6 feet deep!
As a mother of 2 young kids, I'm not as worried about taking underwater pictures as I am about my kids dropping my phone in the toilet, on concrete, down the stairs, into a can of paint... you get the picture. So when I was given the opportunity to review this case, I was more than happy to try it out.
This is not my first attempt at an indestructible case, so I was familiar with the common concerns: will it look pretty? Will it be too big? Will I be able to hear?
I was pleasantly surprised by the color and size of the case. The one I have is teal with black accents and it's a nice change from the usual black. In my opinion, the touch screen works great. It's almost as though I didn't have a cover on at all. And to be honest in many ways (for me anyway), it works better with the case because grubby, wet hands are touching it all day long and without a cover, that seems to affect the sensitivity more.
The bottom port for charging the phone is a little difficult to open, but that is not a deal breaker for me at all, and I believe that is pretty much par for the course with these heavy duty cases as that is part of the waterproofing.
I have also found that the sound quality is not as clear as it would be with no case or a more lightweight case. However, it is much better than it was with my previous waterproof case. Again, I think that this is something that is bound to be a tradeoff when you are going for complete waterproofing. Luckily, I do a lot of talking via a bluetooth, so it does not affect me too much.
This case also came with a lanyard, which I have to say as a busy mom has been a complete lifesaver for me. Chasing around after two kids, I was often guilty of putting my phone down and then dashing away. I have never really been a big fan of the belt clips, and it is uncomfortable to have a phone sticking out of your pocket all the time. I love the convenience of having the phone simply dangling around my neck. It is always there when I want to grab a quick picture, shoot a text to a friend, or answer a call. There is no more digging around in my bag or running back to the playground because I left my phone laying next to the slide.
All in all, any minor sacrifices, such as sleek aesthetics and muffled sound at times, are completely worth it for the peace of mind this case brings me. Never again will I have to worry that I will turn around to see my toddler handing me a phone with a shattered screen, saying, "Here, mommy! Fix it!"
Available at Concord Keystone for $69.99, this case is worth every penny and is available for iPhone 4, 5, and 5s as well as the Samsung Galaxy.