Whether that’s hanging out by the pool or going extreme white-water rafting, these cases will protect even the most expensive smartphones from the elements. That’s not just water, either. The best waterproof phone cases also keep out sand, dust, and dirt, and often provide some drop protection too. They provide significantly more water resistance than even the best smartphones offer on their own, and many will also float to make sure you can easily retrieve your phone when it falls into a lake or river. The best waterproof phone cases are a must-have for anybody with an active lifestyle, and especially those into water sports, but many are also a solid choice for anyone who’s just worried about dropping their phone outdoors. It’s also a remarkably slim case considering the amount of protection that it offers, and Catalyst has made sure that it won’t get in the way of using your iPhone. The touchscreen is fully responsive, and the hard-coated dual optical lens covers won’t interfere with the iPhone 12’s outstanding camera capabilities. You can even make calls and listen to music without any problems, thanks to Catalyst’s True Sound Acoustic Technology. The iPhone’s Lightning port is accessible under a waterproof cover, although you’re better off with Qi wireless charging or MagSafe charging, which will work just fine through the case as well. Price at time of publish: $90 Compatibility: iPhone 12 Series | Drop Protection: 6.6 feet | Water Resistant: 33 feet | Screen Protector: Yes Certified to depths of up to 20 feet for one hour with high-quality lens covers, you’ll be able to take great underwater photos and videos without worrying about water damage. Meanwhile, the 12-foot drop protection and anti-slip hand grip means you won’t have to worry about dropping it during your above-water adventures, either. A raised bezel protects the extra camera lens, flash, and LiDAR sensor, and a built-in screen protector covers the super-AMOLED display without interfering with the visual quality or the fingerprint sensor. You can also charge wirelessly through the case, in both directions, with full support for Samsung’s wireless PowerShare feature. Price at time of publish: $35 for Galaxy S21 Plus Compatibility: Galaxy S21 Series | Drop Protection: 12 feet | Water Resistant: 20 feet | Screen Protector: Yes The full 360-degree protection that FRĒ offers will also keep your iPhone SE safe from drops of up to 6.6 feet, plus keep out dirt, snow, and other debris. Despite all this, however, the case is remarkably slim, so you don’t have to worry about adding needless bulk just to get solid protection. The front screen protector is also so thin and responsive that you’ll forget it’s even there, and FRĒ doesn’t block any of your buttons, or even get in the way of using the Touch ID sensor or cameras. Price at time of publish: $64.50 Compatibility: iPhone SE (2020) | Drop Protection: 6.6 feet | Water Resistant: 6.6 feet | Screen Protector: Yes The TPU material and hard plastic frame offers full-body protection without bulking up your phone. This includes drops of up to 6 feet and submersion in 2 metres of water for up to an hour—although you can go down to as deep as 20 feet for shorter periods of time. The front screen protector offers responsive touch sensitivity and even supports fingerprint authentication. An included strap and textured sides let you keep a good grip on your phone, and the clear back cover lets you show off your Pixel 5. Price at time of publish: $19 Compatibility: Google Pixel 5 | Drop Protection: 6.6 feet | Water Resistant: 6.6 feet | Screen Protector: Yes It’s also more protective, since Vansky doesn’t have to worry about making allowances for ports and buttons and other orifices on your smartphone. It can keep your phone safe and dry down to 100 feet for up to 30 minutes, but it also floats, so it’s great for activities where you’re concerned about your expensive smartphone going into the water, like boating and rafting. You also still get full touchscreen functionality, even through the pouch, and there’s even an external 3.5mm audio jack to pass through a connection to a set of wired headphones, so you can listen to your favourite tunes while your smartphone remains sealed safely inside the case. Compatibility: Universal | Drop Protection: N/A | Water Resistant: 100 feet | Screen Protector: Yes Like most universal cases, Submariner offers expanded depth protection by keeping your smartphone fully sealed inside. You’ll be good for depths of up to 100 feet, and the strong welded seam means you won’t need to worry about it popping open if it bounces off the side of your boat before hitting the water. The crystal clear case won’t get in the way of the touchscreen or cameras, so you can even use it for underwater photography. Price at time of publish: $10 Compatibility: Universal | Drop Protection: N/A | Water Resistant: 100 feet | Screen Protector: Yes Large enough screen sizes of up to 6.9 inches, there’s virtually no smartphone the Joto case can’t handle, and it’s clear on both sides, so you’ll be able to see what’s on your screen—and even access touchscreen controls—as well as taking photos and videos without any distortion. A simple snap-and-lock design makes it easy to get your smartphone out when you need to access it directly, while remaining water- and dust-proof when closed. The included neck strap also means you won’t every need to worry about how to carry it, even when you’re wearing nothing more than a set of swim trunks. Price at time of publish: $20 Compatibility: Universal | Drop Protection: N/A | Water Resistant: 100 feet | Screen Protector: Yes CaliCase still offers up to 100 feet of water protection for up to 30 minutes, but thanks to built-in foam padding that will keep it bobbing to the surface, it’s unlikely your smartphone will ever reach that depth. Dual-layer PVC plastic makes the case sturdy enough to handle everyday bumps and drops, and clear windows on both sides let you use your phone and take pictures with it still in the case. It’s available in a whole collection of fun colours, and fits all common sizes of smartphones. Price at time of publish: $30 Compatibility: Universal | Drop Protection: N/A | Water Resistant: 100 feet | Screen Protector: Yes While most waterproof cases can be used to record underwater, the Willbox specifically turns your smartphone into an underwater camera. For example, you get an external shutter release button and camera grip, so you can snap photos quickly and easily, and a standard threaded tripod mount lets you attach your smartphone to professional underwater photo equipment. It’s worth noting that this isn’t really a case for everyday use, however, as the hard screen protector blocks a lot of the touchscreen capabilities. This is a highly protective case for underwater use, but it’s the sort that you put on before going for a dive and take off when you’re done. Price at time of publish: $45 for The First Generation case Compatibility: Universal | Drop Protection: 10 feet| Water Resistant: 50 feet | Screen Protector: Yes
What to Look for in a Waterproof Phone Case
Compatibility
Waterproof cases come in two general styles—those that are designed for specific smartphone models and “universal” cases that can fit several models. It’s obviously not hard to determine compatibility for model-specific cases, but when buying a universal case you’ll want to make sure that it not only fits your phone in terms of size, but also that it passes through all the necessary buttons, ports, and other functions that you may want to use while it’s in the case.
Versatility
If you’re planning on using a waterproof case while on vacation or even just a day at the beach, it’s handy to get one that also can replace your wallet by allowing you to store a few other important items, such as the card key for your hotel room or a little emergency cash.
Bouyancy
Protecting your phone against deep water doesn’t really help if you can’t get it back after it goes into the lake, so if you’re into activities like boating, kayaking, or rafting, you’ll want to look for a floatable case. These generally offer good depth protection too, but chances are you’ll never need it because your phone will simply float back to the surface, where you can easily scoop it up and carry on.
