Clear the deck, seal all hatches, and prepare to dive! Okay, maybe this isn’t a submarine, and I’m definitely not a sub-commander. Yet, with the Escape Capsule submersible iPhone case by Catalyst, you can certainly dive down to its rated max usable depth of 6.6 feet and have fun shooting underwater photos and videos.
The Escape Capsule iPhone case is made of a rugged plastic exterior and a rubberized ring internally to protect the iPhone against impact. Nearly all of the case is transparent, which allows you to inspect the O-ring while the case is closed and keeps the lens free from obstruction due to the case. To insert the iPhone, the entire back of the case is removed using the included plastic mini pry tool. This tool attaches to the included stretchy rubber lanyard and will stay securely fastened while you swim. Once the iPhone is securely in the case, the removable back can be reattached. It’s great to see a lanyard hole built into this case, and it’s especially nice to have a lanyard included. So many manufactures these days seem to overlook this simple-to-add design on their protective case products. However, I would recommend replacing the included wrist lanyard with one that can fit around your neck. Even though this case is waterproof down to 6.6 feet, it probably won’t survive if you drop it into deeper water. Plus, the odds of you being able to find it so you can utilize that fancy iPhone protection plan, which requires you have the damaged iPhone to receive a replacement, will not be in your favor.
Nearly all iPhone functionality is maintained while inside the Escape Capsule. I say “nearly” because there are a couple features on your iPhone that you will not be able to utilize while inside this case. First and foremost, you will not be able to charge, sync, or use any accessories that utilize the 30-pin charge/sync port. This can be a bit frustrating if you use your iPhone extensively and need to charge up a few times throughout the day. The other feature you will not be able to utilize while in the Escape Capsule is the silent/vibrate switch. This isn’t that big of a deal because you are probably going to be at the beach in some tropical paradise, and you won’t care if your iPhone rings or not. An issue I did run into was that in several cases while above water in the pool, I had considerable trouble touching some of the smaller onscreen buttons near the edges of the screen in some apps. This may have been due to the fact that I had left a screen protector installed on my iPhone. It may also have been due to some water still left on the screen while I was attempting to use some apps. Or it could be due to a combination of both.
I tested this case in a full sink of water for starters without incident. Next, I went to a local pool for more rigorous testing. First, I waded in and swam around a bit with the Escape Capsule just below the surface. I then moved on to 3-4 feet, again no issues at all. I ended up maxing out at nearly 8 feet deep purely by accident while I was goofing off. Remember the rated maximum depth is 6.6 feet for up to 30 min. I proceeded to shoot some video clips underwater and the results were very impressive. The iPhone was able to focus through the clear case and the video footage was sharp and free of any noticeable distortion. I then tested playing music while the iPhone was inside the Escape Capsule. The results were not what I expected. As anticipated, the music could easily be heard through the case while above water. However, below the water the quality of the audio was actually considerably improved. I wish I had brought my snorkel so I could have stayed underwater longer to keep listening to my tunes. Once done at the pool, I headed back and ordered a pizza with my iPhone in the case. After all, rigorous product testing can work up an appetite! The call volume level was reduced but not to any great extent and the pizza I got was the pizza I ordered, so I would say the person on the other end could hear me well enough.
All in all, I have to say I think the Escape Capsule is a very effective waterproof iPhone case that is worth every penny to keep your iPhone from an untimely watery death. I recommend it for anyone wanting to do some (literal) iPhone web surfing as well as for those who want to shoot some action video while they do some snorkeling, boogie boarding, kayaking, or some other kind of awesome water-sport.
Pros:
- Durable
- Submersible to 6.6 feet for 30 min.
- Access to headphone jack while in case
- Rubber lanyard and extra O-ring included
- Great video image clarity
- Good sound quality above water
- Great sound quality underwater
Cons:
- Doesn’t float
- Can’t charge iPhone while in case
- High price
- No mention of shock resistance from manufacturer
- Not very quick or easy to remove iPhone from case
Designed in USA
Assembled in China
Price: $89.99
For more information on the Escape Capsule, visit the following web-link: www.catalystlifestyle.com
