Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Is a Apple Silicone case enough protection to go on a tropical vacation with?

felixroqu3

felixroqu3

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Mar 5, 2012
649
685
New York, NY
Going to Mexico next week and will be taking the iPhone Max. Really excited to take pictures with the much improved camera. I've heard if sand gets into the case it can scratch the phone pretty badly, is this true? Just wondering if I should buy a different case just for this trip.
 
Yes, but it leaves the bottom exposed, which I don't like. I took my X to Aruba recently with just a thin Caudabe case and had no issues with sand/scratches. Personally I hate the silicone cases as they get lint/dust on them very easily and are hard to pull in and out of the pocket. I recommend a thin case from Caudabe, Totallee, or Peel, unless you are prone to dropping your phone.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 212rikanmofo and onepoint
I went to the Caribbean 3 times with just a fake leather case on, had no issues! All depends how well you look after it!
 
  • Like
Reactions: SaltedV8
I have the silicone and my husband has the leather. I MUCH prefer the silicone because the leather is a little more slippery, to me. The silicone is just "tacky" enough to grip but not so much that it won't slide in and out of my pocket. I have dropped my phone a couple of times afraid it broke the screen but it didn't.

I have taken mine to the Caribbean a few times and it performed perfectly. I think you will be fine. I you are like me, you may be over worrying? Not sure but I plan on getting a silicone case for my Max.
[doublepost=1537364796][/doublepost]
peejay1977 said:
I went to the Caribbean 3 times with just a fake leather case on, had no issues! All depends how well you look after it!
Click to expand...
This
 
As long as you keep it out of the water and the sand it will be fine. I have traveled the world with my iPhone x and q silicone case and it's the best combo with a glass screen protector. I love it. Might get the blue one with my new Max
 
I went to the US VI for a week and didn't bring a case for my iPhone. Nothing happened to it.

Just go naked for a few days.
 
The bigger risk is you coming back with no iPhone to speak of.

That said, the silicone case IS NOT enough protection. I've seen more than my fair share of iPhones smashed while using these apple cases. The biggest screen-breaker in iPhones is case torsion when the phone corner hits the floor.

The best case I found for impact protection is the one below - yes it's generic and not very pretty but you can find it for $5 at pretty much any mall in the world:
ureparts-black-corner-silicone-cover-case-apple-iphone-7-plus-8-plus-transparent-black-160433.jpg
 
I haven’t been on vacation in a tropical location since Christmas 2015 when I had my iPhone 6, but I kept it in a small plastic zip-bag when I was walking in the desert or hitting the beach. Would only take it out of the bag, when I took pics. Oh, god. I just thought about the Apple Watch.. that would be even harder to protect on a windy day in the desert...
 
  • Like
Reactions: 212rikanmofo
Definitely zip-lock bags for times at beach when it isn’t in use.
A good & inexpensive ‘rugged’ case the Magpul. They don’t overcharge.

When you ‘clean’ the phone/screen in a sandy environment I would blow it off before wiping with any cloth.. and also consider having a cloth in a ziplock bag to keep sand off of it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 212rikanmofo
DNichter said:
Yes, but it leaves the bottom exposed, which I don't like. I took my X to Aruba recently with just a thin Caudabe case and had no issues with sand/scratches. Personally I hate the silicone cases as they get lint/dust on them very easily and are hard to pull in and out of the pocket. I recommend a thin case from Caudabe, Totallee, or Peel, unless you are prone to dropping your phone.
Click to expand...
Im going to be using it in the water as well. With a strap of course. So with the new IP68 I SHOULD be fine, right?
 
felixroqu3 said:
Im going to be using it in the water as well. With a strap of course. So with the new IP68 I SHOULD be fine, right?
Click to expand...

Put it this way, IP67 is "Supposed to protect for 1.5 meters for 30 minutes. While I was in Cancun I had my X in my bathing suit pocket, totally forgot. Went waist deep in the pool for less than 30 seconds, and then realized it and jumped out.... Phone was done. IP67 "SHOULD" have allowed for that mistake but it didnt.

Remember Apple Care does not cover water damage. I had to pay $99 to get a new one.
 
  • Like
Reactions: felixroqu3
Brett1203 said:
Put it this way, IP67 is "Supposed to protect for 1.5 meters for 30 minutes. While I was in Cancun I had my X in my bathing suit pocket, totally forgot. Went waist deep in the pool for less than 30 seconds, and then realized it and jumped out.... Phone was done. IP67 "SHOULD" have allowed for that mistake but it didnt.

Remember Apple Care does not cover water damage. I had to pay $99 to get a new one.
Click to expand...
Yikes. Thanks for the advise!
 
  • Like
Reactions: C7 POWER
Brett1203 said:
Put it this way, IP67 is "Supposed to protect for 1.5 meters for 30 minutes. While I was in Cancun I had my X in my bathing suit pocket, totally forgot. Went waist deep in the pool for less than 30 seconds, and then realized it and jumped out.... Phone was done. IP67 "SHOULD" have allowed for that mistake but it didnt.

Remember Apple Care does not cover water damage. I had to pay $99 to get a new one.
Click to expand...

Then again, there’s these as well.


So to the original poster, pick your poison.
 
  • Like
Reactions: vidjahgamz and C7 POWER
felixroqu3 said:
Going to Mexico next week and will be taking the iPhone Max. Really excited to take pictures with the much improved camera. I've heard if sand gets into the case it can scratch the phone pretty badly, is this true? Just wondering if I should buy a different case just for this trip.
Click to expand...

I've used the silicon and leather cases since the 4s I think. Never had any issues with significant dirt getting between the phone and the case and I've had it on/near the beach countless times. I just don't like the exposed bottom portion of the phone which is why I may choose something else next time around. The only place I've ever chipped a screen is along the bottom. But I will admit I am a bit clumsy with my phones at times. I've used a Speck Candyshell a few times for extra protection but they are way too clunky for me for daily use.
 
jp1212 said:
I've used the silicon and leather cases since the 4s I think. Never had any issues with significant dirt getting between the phone and the case and I've had it on/near the beach countless times. I just don't like the exposed bottom portion of the phone which is why I may choose something else next time around. The only place I've ever chipped a screen is along the bottom. But I will admit I am a bit clumsy with my phones at times. I've used a Speck Candyshell a few times for extra protection but they are way too clunky for me for daily use.
Click to expand...
Apple is now selling this "Otterbox Traction" case that I'm going to look into tomorrow. It doesn't seem bulky in the slightest. If its not bulky I might end up exchanging the green Apple leather case I preordered with the Max.
 
  • Like
Reactions: vidjahgamz
811E0444-0934-4290-A3E8-5DB0A3DDA609.jpeg Not saltwater but I took this picture under water with my X in a lake in Michigan. Make your own choice but I had no issues whatsoever. I scuba dive 2x a week and rinse off the phone with fresh water since we leave our phones on the center console when we go in. Salt is the real enemy, not so much the water itself.
 
felixroqu3 said:
Apple is now selling this "Otterbox Traction" case that I'm going to look into tomorrow. It doesn't seem bulky in the slightest. If its not bulky I might end up exchanging the green Apple leather case I preordered with the Max.
Click to expand...

I ordered one of these.. it arrived today! I can post some pics later if you want.. I’m afraid I’m not gonna like the specks all over the edges...
 
Nope, if you're planning to take your phone on any sort of vacation the silicon case won't help you. I def recommend Speck's Presidio line of cases or something more durable.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back