LifeProof Nüüd (iPhone 5s) Review

[KAMB]

Finally received mine today and also water tested it.

Below are some of my findings:

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Updated 12/11/13:

Call quality - I have had no complaints about anyone not being able to hear me and I have had no issues hearing anyone on my end.

Speaker - The sound quality if audio (both music and phone conversation) is definitely impacted some even more so if you put pressure on the back of the case itself.

Notifications Center Access - Very easy to get to and works every single time.

Command Center Access - This is a little more difficult. The area above the home button is oddly angled (although glad along the sides it is a straight piece above the home button) and your thumb will hit it oddly so this takes a few attempts (I'll have a video up ones I get onto a computer.

Waterproofness - So far no issues with waterproofness. I've been using the case in the shower and tossing it around and it's held up perfectly find (knock on wood).

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Update: 12/8/13:

I've been using the case for a few days not and another thing I've noticed is that if you have sweaty hands or greasy hands you might find the back all plastic cover to be a pain in your hands. When holding the phone I feel like it's going to slide outta my hands all the time. And on a hard surface like a table or countertop the phone slides all around which becomes anyone. I think of the back was more textured it would make a world of a difference. Just my 2¢ on that.

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Update 12/7/13:

#1) The screen side of the case has a nice solid grip as the front is rubberish on the sides. The rear however does slide around when phone is places screen side up.

#2) Being bored at work all day today with nothing to do I have been using my phone a lot and have noticed something that is just slightly irritating with the home button. Instead of being a complete circle the top portion is cut off slightly making a straight line across and the button itself is pretty recessed making it a bit of a task to push the home button in. The fingerprint scanner however works without any issues so far (I am a little worried that the membrane will come lose after time and allow water in however so I till be taking the case off I'm about a month if not sooner to inspect and water test again).

Here is a photo of the home button to kinda out it into perspective:

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1) Sound quality isn't bad especially for a waterproof case (I have never had previous versions.

2) Command center is defienitly a little more difficult to get at but still works.

3) The membrane over the flash does sit flat it kinda bubbles and mine actually has an indenting in the bubble that I couldn't push out. I think Lifeproof should have just left this with the hard plastic or glass that they used previously as I think this will not be good if the membrane sustains a puncture.

4) Sleep wake button doesn't have much tactile feedback.

I will update with more findings as I run into them but for now the goodies

TROUBLESHOOTING:

• Touch ID not working all the time: To trouble shoot this issue try re-registering your fingerprint with the case on. After doing this you'll notice touch ID works better.

 

[hwojtek]

4) Sleep wake button doesn't have much tactical feedback.

You mean it doesn't fire back, or you wanted to use the word "tactile"?

 

[KAMB]

You mean it doesn't fire back, or you wanted to use the word "tactile"?

Haha thanx for pointing that out

 

[tomoye]

are you using the screen protector or is it bare? does the case rattle when playing music?

thanks for the review!

 

[KAMB]

are you using the screen protector or is it bare? does the case rattle when playing music?

thanks for the review!

No problem at all; I'm going to be trying my best to update my point of view on the case as I use it daily.

I've never been a big fan if the regular screen protectors; I'm a anti-glare kinda guy. Thinking about getting some anti-glare screen protectors off of eBay and cutting them up to fit the screen and aww how that works (idk why someone else haven't done this already).

 

[tomoye]

I've never been a big fan if the regular screen protectors; I'm a anti-glare kinda guy. Thinking about getting some anti-glare screen protectors off of eBay and cutting them up to fit the screen and aww how that works (idk why someone else haven't done this already).

I used a power support (not anti-glare) for my 4s and after 1.5 years took it off and it was like someone turned the lights on! so far haven't used any for my 5s so might just keep it that way...

 

[KAMB]

LifeProof Nüüd (iPhone 5s) Review

Reserved for Lightning Cable Fitment Confirmed (pending cables provided or info provided from other members).

Apple: Lightning Cable Fits

TechArmor (Fitment Confirmed): Received a 6ft. Black version is the cable today (12/13/13) and man I gotta say right out of the box this thing is heavy duty. IT ALSO FITS THE LIFEPROOF CASE! I will be using this cable as my main cable and will be putting it through some heavy uses over the next couple weeks. Keep and eye out for a review thread.

Amazon Basic: E-Mail sent (pending reply).

EZOPower: Per user tomoye this cable fits.

 

[BrettDS]

No problem at all; I'm going to be trying my best to update my point of view on the case as I use it daily.

I've never been a big fan if the regular screen protectors; I'm a anti-glare kinda guy. Thinking about getting some anti-glare screen protectors off of eBay and cutting them up to fit the screen and aww how that works (idk why someone else haven't done this already).

Personally I've never liked the antiglare screen protectors that I've tried... they all seem to affect image quality to some extent. However, I did cut down a Zagg Invisisheild screen protector for my wife's iPhone 5 Nuud case and she's been using that for several months now without problems.

Apply the screen protector after the Nuud case is on and be very careful that you don't cut it too large so that it interferes with the seal between the case and the screen.

 

[KAMB]

Personally I've never liked the antiglare screen protectors that I've tried... they all seem to affect image quality to some extent. However, I did cut down a Zagg Invisisheild screen protector for my wife's iPhone 5 Nuud case and she's been using that for several months now without problems.



Apply the screen protector after the Nuud case is on and be very careful that you don't cut it too large so that it interferes with the seal between the case and the screen.

Yeah I agree it does effect screen quality some bit since I've been using them for so long I'm just use to it.

Absolutely! What I actually plan on doing is tracing out the LifeProof provided screen protector and using that as my template for cutting a new one. Just need to find a cutting board somewhere to get straight lines.

 

[Dmaynard83]

Anyone else get theirs? Would like to hear some thoughts on:

Call quality
Speaker
Access to notifications and command center
Waterproofness

 

[KAMB]

Anyone else get theirs? Would like to hear some thoughts on:

Call quality
Speaker
Access to notifications and command center
Waterproofness

I updated the main post with answers to all your questions.

 

[rechna]

good review.

I think you should put some picture about iPhone on the water. Maybe it is exciting .

 

[tomoye]

here are my initial impressions since I just got the case after UPS mailing innovations debacle (tracked shipping from TX->MD->NJ->PA->NJ->MD - makes no sense).

- had moisture around the o-ring seal after the water test. I will let it dry out thoroughly and try again later

- cannot get control center to work, have gotten lucky a few times but so far seems useless with my fingers

- touch id works perfectly

- the corner where you use a coin to open up the case has some wear already from one removal and has some play when pressed together (worried about the seal here - again will redo waterproof test later with the dummy phone that comes in the box)

- the back is super slippery and should have a more rubberized finish on the edges, makes no sense that the front does and the back doesn't have anything

I'm on the fence right now with this case... if I can't figure out a way to get command center working regularly, will probably send back to lifeproof along with the water seal concerns.

I still need to test some calls and photos.

 

[nwmtnbiker]

Got my case the other day and am overall impressed. The touch id works flawlessly, the case is obviously water proof, no proximity sensor issues.

I have used LP on my iP5, iP4s and they have great customer service to boot!

One thing I noticed with the 5s case is that it's shiny around the screen, didn't remember seeing that on the iP5 case?

Here's a couple wallpapers from the wallpaper thread. Thanks to the creator

 

[tomoye]

Command Center Access - This is a little more difficult. The area above the home button is oddly angled (although glad along the sides it is a straight piece above the home button) and your thumb will hit it oddly so this takes a few attempts (I'll have a video up ones I get onto a computer.

this is a deal-breaker for me so far. i'm having a REALLY hard time opening command center... when it does open, i can't figure out why it does versus all the other (10+) swipes. anyone have any insight on this issue?

 

[nwmtnbiker]

this is a deal-breaker for me so far. i'm having a REALLY hard time opening command center... when it does open, i can't figure out why it does versus all the other (10+) swipes. anyone have any insight on this issue?

I was having problems with it on my iP5. Then I realized I was swiping to slow. Now I can do it 4 outa 5 times but just gotta remember to swipe fast...

 

[tomoye]

I was having problems with it on my iP5. Then I realized I was swiping to slow. Now I can do it 4 outa 5 times but just gotta remember to swipe fast...

thanks! I tried every way and ended up needing to do a restore on my phone last night and it seems to be working a lot better (worked fine prior without case so might be unrelated).

it really takes a very light touch and quick swipe to make it work. now I'm getting about the same results... can launch about 4/5 times.

 

[tomoye]

T
Amazon Basic: E-Mail sent (pending reply)

FYI, I have this cable and it fits: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00EP3NE7Y?vs=1

 

[richxps]

Well I've been using this case for over a week and the back is scratched all over and I baby this thing, kind if upset at 90 bucks this happens so easy. May go back to the apple case

 

[KAMB]

FYI, I have this cable and it fits: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00EP3NE7Y?vs=1

Thanks; I'm at work now but I'll add it to the list ASAP.

 

[tomoye]

i did the water test 3 times and kept getting moisture around the back plate o-ring every time. i cleaned the case and let it dry out completely before each test and made sure the o-ring was seated correctly and free of debris. the corner where you use a coin to pop the case open and remove it has some noticeable play when i squeeze it together. it clicks closed, but definitely doesn't feel as sealed in this area as the rest of the case.

i called lifeproof customer service today and they are sending me a replacement for free.

 

[bhags8]

I'm very confused on how this case works... Seems as if the ring on the backplate gets debris stuck to it very easily. I have zero faith in this case with my phone under water. It seems to me that the more you remove the backplate the more bent it gets and that worries me. There's no real way of telling if the case is on perfectly.

 

[BrettDS]

I got some good news today... Life proof finally shipped my order The one that I placed on 12/2. I'm hoping to see it early next week and I'll post back and let you know what I think of it.

 

[JetBlack7]

Got my case the other day and am overall impressed. The touch id works flawlessly, the case is obviously water proof, no proximity sensor issues.

I have used LP on my iP5, iP4s and they have great customer service to boot!

One thing I noticed with the 5s case is that it's shiny around the screen, didn't remember seeing that on the iP5 case?

Here's a couple wallpapers from the wallpaper thread. Thanks to the creator

These were the wallpapers I asked @tiggger to do. He is awesome

 

[BrettDS]

I finally got my case today I've been using the Lifeproof Nuud for the iPhone 5 with my 5S since I got the 5S, so I'll just cover the things that are new about the 5S case.

First, TouchID/the new home button. I think the front of the case looks somewhat better in person than it did in the pictures. From the pictures I saw I was afraid that it was going to be terribly ugly. I'm not sure it's quite as pretty as the iPhone 5 Nuud case, but it's not as bad as I was expecting. I have a white phone and a white case. Since the actual home button is exposed now, using the lifeproof case to switch the color of your phone might make the home button look a bit more funky.

Actually using it is a different story. The finger hole is definitely a bit cramped and it's a bit inconvenient to push the home button now since it's so recessed. I'm sure it's something that I'll get used to over time, though.

TouchID seems to work. Since I had been using the other case I haven't really tried TouchID with my phone until now, so I trained my fingers with the case on. I'm not sure if that's necessary or not, but I figure it can't hurt and it might help. Oddly enough it refuses to work with the tip of my thumb... I need to put my thumb on the button a bit flatter than seems natural. I'm not sure if this is the fault of the case or just because the phone doesn't like the fingerpint on that part of my thumb. At some point when I'm feeling ambitious I might take the case off and try it with a naked phone.

Second, the bezel around the screen is definitely a bit more sloped than it was on the iPhone 5 Nuud case. This does make it easier to activate the control center, but it's still not as easy as it would be on a naked phone. One tip I've found for activating the control center is to start with your finger on the angled part of bezel of the case, then slide your finger down onto the screen and then up in one fluid motion.

Third, there is an extra window next to the front camera on this case. The iPhone 5 Nuud case only had one window to the left of the camera and this one has a window on each side of the camera. I'm not sure if there is a new sensor on the iPhone 5S that the iPhone 5 didn't have or if they just wanted to make things more symmetrical, but I never had any issues with the prox sensor or anything else with the iPhone 5 case on my 5S.

Finally, the flash hole in the back is bigger to accommodate the dual flash. Pretty self explanatory there