LifeProof NÜÜD Series Waterproof Phone Case

Plain and simple: this thing works. My phone survived days-long exposure to heavy rain with no damage whatsoever.

Very simply, it seems to work as advertised.

For two years or so, my general impression was that it was simply functional and practical. It provides solid protection from drops, dust, and moisture with a less bulky profile than either LifeProof's larger cases or waterproof cases from some competitors because instead of covering the screen, it seals the rest of the case around it with a rubber gasket. All of the buttons work well while in the case.

It exceeded my expectations last fall, in September 2016. While in the Catskills for a weekend hike of the Devil's Path, I accidentally left my phone on the roof of my car at the trailhead on Friday evening. It rained steadily throughout the weekend, and when it was not raining the weather was misty and generally wet. When I returned to my car on Sunday, not only was my phone still there (a small miracle itself), but was still on and working perfectly inside its case despite its thorough drenching. 

I was, at first, hesitant to purchase this case for my iPhone 5S, but it has performed admirably for two and a half years (July 2014-January 2017). While I'm still not sure I believe the price is justified and have subtracted half a star for that, it has definitely saved me the expense of a new phone. (And if I divide the price by the 30 months I've used it, it works out to $3 per month, or less than the cost of the phone insurance plan most carriers offer.)

At the time of writing, it has just begun to break down at the seals, so is likely no longer waterproof, but this seems due to use and getting dropped and general wear and tear, not exposure to water.