Aquabox- waterproof smartphone case review

I have been using the Aquabox for a year now, since January 2010 after trying several other waterproof bag type products.  The Aquabox provides great protection for the phone and seals water out effectively using a silicone seal and touch screen surface.
I have been very satisfied with this case and have been recommending it to customers.  The main reason to take the phone in the water with you is safety, but smartphones also allow many other uses, which make them a great multi purpose water gadget.
The Aquabox allows full use of the phone, including texting, phone calls, taking pictures and video and applications, with the exception of using the buttons on the sides on the phone.  On the iPhone, this means you can't adjust the volume or turn off the scene after using it.  The iPhone screen automatically turns off when inactive, so it has not been a problem.  Some of the other features are:  it allows use of GPS enabled apps, so your phone can be used as a fully functional waterproof GPS training device.  I have used it with the RunFree application that allows you to automatically save training sessions to review/ compare on the RunFree website.  The only downside is that using GPS apps uses quite a bit of battery power, which limits the length of time/ distance you can use it for (depending on phone).  So if you are into serious endurance training, a dedicated GPS is more practical.
It does not allow headphones to be plugged in, so you can not use it as a music player unless you use waterproof bluetooth headphones, which I will review in a later post.


I have used the Aquabox with both the iPhone 3 and iPhone 4s and it fits both phones although the slightly smaller 4s has some play in the box.


For list of phones it is compatible with, more information, and to order it from Blue Planet Surf, please click here.

Click here for customer reviews of  the Aquabox on Amazon.com 


pros:
inexpensive and effective safety device
solid protection and very good waterproofing
allows for most functions with case on, including calls, texting, photos, videos, applications
fits many smart phones, easy to use, safety latch is foolproof


cons:
can't use buttons on side of phone when in case
does not fit all types of phones snugly (iPhone 4 is loose in box)
does not have external headphone plug
battery life limits use of power hungry applications


Below, find a video showing use and features of the Aquabox smartphone case:

Welcome to H2O Gadgets

I love water sports and have been writing about Stand Up Paddling for the Zen Waterman blog.  I also love gadgets.  Lately, more and more gadgets have come to market that are not only smaller, cheaper and better than anything available just a few years ago but also waterproof so you can take with you into the liquid realm.   I have been using many of these gadgets over the years and spent a lot of time looking at reviews that are not always helpful.  Some of the gadgets I bought were great investments, others a complete waste of money.  I thought it would be fun to review and write about some of the gadgets I use and how they perform so others can make better buying decisions.  Hopefully I can score some promotional products along the way.
Disclaimer:  I own Blue Planet Surf Shop and may sell some of these items.  I may also get some of these gadgets for free from the manufacturer.  Despite this I will do my best to give objective and fair reviews of product with pros and cons listed.  Any comments are welcome.

Some of the gadgets I plan to review to start with:

Clockwise from top left: GoPro HD vs. HD2, Aquabox smartphone case, JLAB mp3 player, Garmin GPS, Contour GPS camera

Have fun and get wet!

Aloha, Robert Stehlik