This is truly one of those specialized cases with a really narrow audience. If you are planning a trip by means of any mode of transportation in water this is something you should consider. It is hence really hard to properly review, and especially mixed in with my usual case reviews. The amphibian case is not meant for everyday usage at school, or work. It isn’t really meant for your usual gaming sessions, video viewing, image editing or surfing the Internet. No, this is meant to allow you to have the iPhone 4 as a phone in wet conditions. For those keen to take underwater photos this is a quite good option as well. It is also great for all those who use the iPhone 4 instead of a GPS to track their nautical routes.
Assembling the Amphibian Waterproof Hard Case (AWHC) is a true challenge. There are no less than six separate pieces to fit perfectly. You can’t mess this up, and especially the yellow waterproof insert has to close securely. It took me ten minutes to get it right, and especially the fiddly moment when three pieces have to align is hard. The inner hard shell consists of two pieces, and is perhaps the easiest to assemble. A hard plastic back piece is then stuck on, and the yellow insert is wrapped around the inner edges. At the same time the silicone cover is applied, and the outer hard shell is aligned. Two large screws fasten the outer shell to the inner shell, and at the same time clamp the silicone firmly to the base. This is a really cool piece of engineering, but it takes time to get it right the first couple of times.
When inside the AWHC you do not have access to any opening on the iPhone 4. You cannot use headphones, and you cannot charge the phone. Bluetooth works just fine for any headset you want to use. You also have access to the volume controls, and silent button that can be pressed through the silicone cover. The mute button is hard to reach, and it is wise to set it to the desired setting before putting your iPhone inside.
Using the iPhone 4 with the AWHC is cumbersome, and it feels like a foreign device to me. The touch screen works, but feels slow. There is a whole lot of watermarking to the screen cover, as it is made from thick silicone. You can use a small whiff of talcum powder to remedy some of the watermarks, but sadly they tend to come back. The silicone is highly receptive to picking up dust, and dirt and hence also the talcum powder. It is by no means easy to go from the naked phone to this quite hefty impractical brick. That is why I can’t review it compared to other cases, as it provides a unique service.
This is guaranteed to be waterproof down to 9 feet/3 meters if assembled correctly. I have not dared to try it out with my working phone after my previous water experience. I have tried it using both a piece of paper inside the shell, and my water damaged bricked iPhone 4. Both trial runs worked great without any water leaking in, or condensation inside. This is what it is all about right. Worth noting from my dry run with a working iPhone 4 is that the silicone cover can interfere with the camera slightly. If it has picked up dirt it shows, and especially if you use the flash when taking images.
If you are looking for a way to securely take images in your aquarium, indoor swimming pool or shallow waters outside the AWHC is a good option. It also works quite well if you need to have a waterproof case for your naval sea charts, or in other wet conditions. Be aware that it is cumbersome to assemble, and has to be almost completely disassembled to be charged. If I was on the Deadliest Catch show I would probably leave my iPhone 4 in my bunk instead of bringing it out on deck. It is cumbersome to assemble, and the watermarking hurts usability.
Final Rating for usage in wet conditions.
Inno Pocket Amphibian Waterproof Hard Case at Proporta.co.uk £29.95
