Earlier this year, I connected with Lifeproof and they agreed to send me both a Lifeproof Fre for iPhone 5 case and a Lifeproof Nuud for iPad case. I’ve had them for nearly a month and used them indoors and out. Here’s why I think these products are awesome.
Lifeproof Fre with Bike Mount for iPhone 5 Review | Lifeproof Nuud for iPad Review
Lifeproof Nuud for iPad
Overview:
The Lifeproof Nuud is quite the product. It is completely waterproof like all Lifeproof cases, yet it doesn’t have a pesky screen cover that diminished touchscreen performance.
It’s no secret that I post to instagram (@PhotoJbartlett) regularly and that I seldom post mobile photography. I just don’t understand shooting with my iPhone if I am also holding a professional-level camera. I don’t believe in sacrificing quality. Yet, the biggest issue with posting from an SLR is the need to process images. On recent trips, I have been editing jpeg images on my iPad, using snapseed and Lightroom Mobile.
I use the iPad, rather than a laptop, because its more portable. I simply don’t mind carrying it on multiday hikes, bike tours or into random coffee shops.
Performance:
Because I have been and plan to carry my iPad into some rough country, I knew I needed to protect it. I don’t expect it to take the same beating as my iPhone, because it will only come out when it’s being used to surf the web or edit photos, so I opted for the Lifeprood Nuud for iPad, rather than the Lifeproof Fre that protects my phone.
There isn’t a screen protector, so iPad performance is identical to an unprotected device. And I know the case is 100% water tight, not because I had the courage (or reason) to dunk my iPad in the bathtub but because the Nuud case comes with a plastic iPad clone that allows the owner to test the product before putting their beloved Apple product at risk.
Nuances:
It is really hard to find a downside to the Lifeproof Nuud case. I do wish that I’d had the foresight to purchase the portfolio stand/cover; however, I am quite happy to slip the iPad into a safe spot when not in use.
I find that the case adds some significant bulk to my iPad, it seems far more robust than my Fre case; however, it’s to be expected from a sandwich-design case that must maintain a perfectly tight seal against the glass iPad screen.
Overall:
What strikes me as amazing is that this is the first waterproof case (which I have seen) that doesn’t add unnecessary layers of plastic. Glass is waterproof. Why add another waterproof layer above it, if you can simply seal the edges and close off all access to the internal electronic bits.
In a word, it is brilliant.
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