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Kwilt2 personal cloud hub device review


REVIEW – Early in 2018, I got the opportunity to test the first Kwilt cloud device called the Kwilt Shoebox Mini that is primarily designed for storage of photos from your mobile device or other devices and access anywhere in the world. I really enjoyed it and jumped at the chance I received to test and review the 2nd version, the Kwilt Shoebox Plus. Now I have found myself in the great position of being able to review a new version called the Kwilt2. So, let’s get started.

What is it?

The Kwilt2 allows you to transfer/backup your photos and videos from your phone or tablet, and to have access to them and any other media attached to the shoebox from anywhere in the world and at any time, as long as you have internet access.

What’s in the box


1 x Kwilt2
1 x 16GB Thumb Drive
1 x Ethernet Cable
1 x HDMI Cable
1 x AC Adapter
1 x Informational Guide

Design and features

Specifications

Processing power: 1.2 GHz Quad-core CPU; 600MHz Quad-core GPU;
Input ports: 1 x USB 2.0, 1 x SD/SDHC/SDXC;
Storage ports: 3 x USB 2.0;
Networking: 802.11 a/b/g/n 2.4GHz + Ethernet 100Mbps;
Video out: 1 X HDMI 4K @60 fps;
Bonus storage: 16 GB USB 2.0 memory stick;
Software: Android 7.1, Open source components, Kwilt firmware;
Device size: 4.56” x 4.56” x 1.18”;
Device weight: 6.6 Oz.

Features

  • Offload and backup your phone’s photos and videos seamlessly on the go;
  • Enjoy unlimited mobile storage sitting safely at home;
  • Keep original full resolution photos and videos;
  • Access your photos and videos from anywhere, on any platform;
  • Upload photos and videos directly from SD card to the connected storage hard drive using the built-in SD card input port;
  • Free Android and iOS apps;
  • Store and access any file type;
  • Easy photo and video sharing;
  • Rich mobile photo editing;
  • Play your photos and videos on your TV (via Kwilt HDMI port);
  • Directly order custom photo prints from your phone;
  • Web, Windows and Mac compatibility;
  • Supports multiple Kwilt devices per account and multiple users per device.

The pictures below show the ports on the sides of the Kwilt2. On one side from left to right, the ports are USB, SPDIF, AV, HDMI, Ethernet, and Power.


On one other side of the Kwilt 2, there is an SD port and a USB port that are input ports and 2 storage USB ports.

Performance

This Kwilt2 is so easy to set up and to start using that I was amazed. To start using it, you plug in the ethernet cable, the included thumb drive (Or any USB hars drive), the power adapter, download the app and that is it. Once you open the app and select the + sign to add a device, it finds the device, and the setup is done (As long as you are on the same network. I mention this because I have more than one network at home). It is that simple. You can go from taking it out of the box, to copying /moving photos/videos from your mobile device to the attached storage in under 5 minutes. It also has input ports that you can plug in any USB drive and/or SD card and copy the files and photos to the attached storage. For example, if you attach 2 x 4TB USB drives, you then have 8TB of cloud storage. For additional operational informationwhich is basically the same for all of the Kwilt devices, you can read my previous reviews here:
The Kwilt Shoebox Mini review
The Kwilt Shoebox Plus review

App

The following are some of the screenshots from the Kwilt app:








What I like

  • Built quality
  • Compact size
  • Number of i/o ports
  • Ease of setup and use

What can be improved

  • It does exactly what it is designed to do. I do not have any suggestions for improvements

Final thoughts

The Kwilt2 offers performance and expansion improvements over the previous models and it works very well without any issues. I love these devices because they provide a really easy solution for my own personal and dedicated cloud storage for my photos, and I can show them to friends, family and clients anywhere and at any time as long as I have internet access. The setup is so darn easy, and their customer support is A+. After my review of their first model, several readers indicated that it was just a Pi Raspberry OS in a box. I have to say that for me, it does not matter when it is already designed and built for me in one package and works perfectly. And with this model, they also include a 16GB thumb drive all for a great price. There is a more powerful version to the Kwilt2 called the Kwilt3, and hopefully one day I will get my hands on that version too. I give Kwilt another well done and two thumbs way up!!

Price: $89
Where to buy: Kwilt website or Amazon
Sample: The sample for this review was provided by Kwilt

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Kwilt2 personal cloud hub device review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 14, 2019 at 9:00 am.

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YubiKey 5 NFC security key review

REVIEW – In a previous YubiKey review, I mentioned how we now live in a world where many websites are being compromised. Along with mobile authenticator apps available, using a hardware device such as the YubiKey is great for extra login security. I had the opportunity to take a look at the newest of Yubico’s hardware keys; the YubiKey 5 NFC. Let’s take a look!

What is it?

The YubiKey 5 NFC is a hardware-based authentication device that provides extra authentication over NFC (Near Field Communications). It also supports FIDO2, allowing organizations to enable passwordless login on a computer that supports FIDO2 open authentication standards.

Hardware specs

  • Dimensions: 0.7 in x 1.8 in x 0.13 in
  • Weight: 0.04 oz

What’s in the box?

  • YubiKey 5 NFC along with paper documentation

Design and features

The YubiKey 5 NFC looks much like any traditional USB device, but is flat and with a gold disk in the center of the key. It also has a keyhole to keep it on a lanyard with your EDC gear. I find it useful to keep in my backpack since I have it with me every day and keep it separate to my cell phone that I carry in my pocket.

Setup

Just like with the YubiKey 4 and other series, you can add this hardware key to tons of online services that support two-factor authentication. You can look into account preferences for an option along the lines of “set up a hardware key”. Then insert your YubiKey into your computer’s USB port, follow instructions, and all is set. When logging in, you touch the gold plating on the YubiKey to activate log on.

With this YubiKey 5 NFC, you can simply touch the key to the back of your phone (if your supports NFC). I have the Google Pixel 2 XL, and was able to set up my second Google account easily. I touched the key to the back of my phone shown above. It buzzed and then logged me in. It’s a little bit easier than using my mobile authenticator app, copying the password, and then logging into the site directly.

The software and services that support two-factor authentication with YubiKey are listed on their website. You can also use the YubiKey Authenticator for desktop or Android to generate OATH credentials on your YubiKey. Note: Since I already use the Authy Authenticator app with all my online services, I didn’t test this out. It’s also possible to log onto Windows 10 and all Microsoft accounts using the YubiKey. (Windows 10 version 1809 update and Microsoft Edge need to be installed for this to work.)

What I like

  • Extra security for most online services such as Google, Dropbox, most social media sites etc.
  • Durable, waterproof, and crush resistant
  • Fits on a key chain for portability

What needs to be improved

  • If you lose your YubiKey, then you’ll need to reconfigure all of your apps to use another authentication method
  • Expensive for a small usb device

Final thoughts

Overall, as someone who appreciates an extra layer of security in her web apps, I really love using my YubiKey. It puts my mind a bit more at ease when logging onto my laptop, work machine, or phone. I think it’s very much worth grabbing one if you can!

Price: $45.00
Where to buy: You can purchase the YubiKey 5 NFC directly via their website or various online resellers including Amazon.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Yubico.

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YubiKey 5 NFC security key review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 13, 2019 at 11:00 am.

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Roland Go:Mixer Pro review

REVIEW – Do you like to mess around with a guitar, vocals, keyboard or other musical instruments? Are you looking for a cleaner way to record audio into videos that you upload to social media? A yes to either one of those questions identifies you as the target for Roland’s new Go:Mixer Pro.

What is it?

The Go:Mixer Pro is an audio mixing device with easily understandable analog controls for capturing multiple input sources simultaneously and streamlining the output for capture directly to a mobile phone, laptop, or another similar device.

Hardware specs

Audio Channels: Input – 9 channels, Output – 2 channels
Connectors:
– Instrument (L/MONO, R) jacks: 1/4-inch phone type
– Line-in 1&2 jacks: Stereo miniature phone type
– Guitar/bass jack: 1/4-inch phone type (supports high impedance)
– Plug-in mic jack: Miniature phone type (supports plug-in power)
– Mic jack: Combo type (XLR, 1/4-inch TRS phone, phantom power DC 48 V, 6 mA max.)
– Monitor out jack: Stereo miniature phone type
– USB port: USB Micro-B type
Controllers:
     – Knobs – Instrument, Guitar/Bass, Plug-in Mic, Mic, Monitor Out
– Switches – Loop Back, Center Cancel, Phantom Power, Battery
Indicators: Power, Peak
Power Supply: USB Bus Power or 4 AAA batteries – Alkaline (LR03), or Rechargeable Ni-MH (HR03)
Current Draw: 170mA
Battery Life: ~4.5 hours on Alkaline batteries
Dims/Weight: 104 x 155 x 41mm / 220g

What’s in the box?

  • Go:Mixer Pro
  • 3 USB micro cables – Lightning, Micro & USB-C
  • Guides for registration, downloading the digital manual and using the device safely

Design and features

First off, the Go:Mixer Pro solidly builds its look and capability from a baseline of Roland’s original Go:Mixer which we reviewed in May of 2018. Take a jump back to read about some of the core functionality which remains largely intact.

From a visual perspective, there are some key design changes. As you can see above, the orientation is now squared up versus the diamond positioning of their original unit on the left. As a result the knobs have a more traditional layout which translates to faster adjustment in the moment.

The square itself is a bit bigger as are the knobs including a 5th knob for the additional microphone input. Roland has added a large section to the rear of the unit that houses optional AAA batteries as well as the combo port.

The left side has a well designed, spin-to-unlock battery door and the two 1/4″ instrument inputs.

The front panel has 1/8″ inputs for lines 1 & 2 with a center cancel function on line1. There’s also an 1/8″ monitor out port and an off/on switch for loop back.

On the top face, indicators for power and peak sit above control knobs for the mics (top two), instruments (left and right) and master volume (center).

On the right side, you’ll find inputs for the Guitar/Bass 1/4″ along with Plug-in mic 1/8″ and a phantom power switch for the combo mic port already mentioned.

On the back is a battery switch and the USB port for connection to a device.

The biggest visual change is that new back section shown here with the door off and battery orientation. It’s a welcome addition and doubles as a device rest.

Setup

You’ll want to add 4 AAAs and then you’re ready to connect your devices. Each input is clearly marked with the controlling knob right next to it. I’m going to make the assumption that you don’t need much help connecting your instruments or mics.

If you do connect a mic that requires power, make sure you slide the phantom power switch to on.

Roland made device compatibility as broad as possible by including 3 different device cables. Lightning, USB-C and USB-Micro are all included for you to select from. If you use the Micro cable, please note that the white end should connect to the Go:Mixer Pro. Connect the other end to your device, rest it in the cradle and launch your favorite recording app.

Performance

Having reviewed the original Go:Mixer, Satch and I weren’t sure how much difference we’d find in the Go:Mixer Pro.

Just to list out the key additions over the original. They are…

  • Combo mic/XLR input
  • Phantom 48v mic power support
  • Loop back switch
  • Batteries

Overall, it has a cleaner, more expensive look along with more heft adding to the perceived value. It’s not much bigger, so still very portable. The new layout results in a more balanced workstation that isn’t likely to get pulled off the table by heavier cables and easily supports a 10″ iPad as you can see here leaving you free to record with the device of your choosing.

The device stand functionality is a great addition, but be prepared to remove the case from your device as it’s unlikely to work with anything but the thinnest of protective cases.

The new knob layout just makes sense instantly and paired with the larger diameter, taller knobs, much easier to use.

The original Go:Mixer relied on your device for its power and while initially convenient, ended up being a pretty significant draw on battery life with your screen on. As phones, and more specifically apps, get more powerful, battery life becomes an issue. Big kudos here to Roland for addressing this with the addition of batteries.

As for recording, it’s just as easy. Actually, more so now that everything feels better situated. Here’s a song Satch wrote and recorded the night it arrived. Shot on iPhone8 using the stock camera app with audio through Go:Mixer Pro’s instrument input and the phone resting in the stand.

 

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What I like

  • Battery powered
  • Built-in device stand
  • Large analog knobs
  • Understandable layout

What needs to be improved

  • Stand support for devices with cases on

Final thoughts

This is a solid addition to a recording musician’s toolkit. The ability to capture directly from multiple devices, instruments, and mics simultaneously is key. It’s easy to understand and even easier to use. If you have the original Go:Mixer and it’s working great, you may be able to skip this version. If you need support for a phantom power mic or want the addition of a loopback switch, dedicated batteries or the device stand then the upgrade is worth it at $169. [Both links below have been showing $129 since the start of the new year and at the time of writing this post]

Price: $169.99
Where to buy: Amazon or Guitar Center
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Roland.

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Roland Go:Mixer Pro review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 13, 2019 at 9:00 am.

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Mohu AirWave Premium OTA Antenna review

REVIEW – As cord-cutting becomes more popular and America’s TV viewing habits keep evolving, a number of innovative new products have come to market to fill the gaps created by the shortcomings of traditional media devices. Mohu has been at the forefront of this cord-cutting revolution with their now oft-copied Leaf indoor HDTV antennas. As the technology for Mohu’s antennas has matured it was inevitable they would expand the functionality of their products. Enter the Mohu AirWave, a small network device that allows you to stream live HDTV content from a Mohu HD antenna to a set-top box, tablet, or phone.

What is it?

The Mohu AirWave is basically a wireless streaming device. It takes content, in this case, live HDTV signals from the included HD antenna, and streams it over your home network. For the best setup, the AirWave can plug right into your router to work over your network. The Mohu app is available for Roku, Apple TV, Android (but not Android TV), Amazon Fire TV, and Apple iOS devices. By using the Mohu app on your device, you can access the HDTV signals from the antenna along with a basic program guide. The app is not available for Apple or Windows computers though, which limits a lot of the functionality right out of the box.

At $199.99 for the Basic 30-mile range option and $219.99 for the Premium 70-mile range AirWave that I tested, this new technology does not come cheap. And, like a lot of cord-cutting technology, while the AirWave does do what Mohu claims it can, there are many caveats for such a pricey device. While effective, the Mohu AirWave is not for everyone, it can be very tricky to set up and has some limited functionality, such as being a single-tuner that can only stream one channel at a time simultaneously to all connected devices.

The AirWave Basic kit comes in its own package, the antenna for the Premium kit, which I reviewed, comes separately in its own box.  The box showcases the antenna upon opening, with the components tucked away behind it.

The Premium kit 70-mile antenna is basically a Mohu Sail HD antenna which comes with a mounting bracket, a power booster, and 30 feet of coaxial cable.

What’s in the box?

  • AirWave Basic Contents
    • Basic 30-mile indoor antenna
    • Power Bridge unit
    • WiFi antenna dongle
    • Power Supply
    • Coaxial Cable (arrives attached to antenna)
    • Ethernet Cable
  • AirWave Premium Contents
    • Mohu Sail 70-mile HDTV Antenna
    • Coaxial Cable (30 ft.)
    • USB Antenna Power Injector
    • USB Power Adapter
    • Coaxial Adapter
    • Antenna Mounting Hardware

Setup

Setting up the AirWave takes a lot of time and patience. The ideal setup has the HD antenna located near your home router so that the length of coaxial cable from the antenna can connect to the AirWave Power Bridge which also connects to an open port on your router.

Unfortunately, because everyone’s home is situated differently, your router might not be accessible by the length of coaxial cable from where your antenna is mounted. Mohu addresses this scenario by allowing you to connect the Power Bridge to your wireless home network much like you would set up an IoT switch or an Amazon Echo. But, no matter how hard I tried nor how many times I reset the AirWave and dutifully followed the setup instructions, I was never able to set the AirWave up with the wireless configuration. I was able to successfully set up the AirWave by plugging it into my home router though since luckily my router’s location was close to where I had the HD antenna mounted.

The AirWave Power Bridge looks like the power brick for a computer. This device is heavy, metal, and has large cooling fins on top.

One end of the Power Bridge has a male connector for the coaxial cable that goes to your HDTV antenna.

The other end of the Power Bridge has ports for the power supply, an ethernet connection to your router, and a USB port for the included Wi-Fi antenna.

The Wi-Fi antenna is adjustable from 0 to 90 degrees, but I could never get it to stay vertical for very long. The USB head of the antenna also has a WPS button that seemingly serves no purpose whatsoever.

It’d be nice if all the connections were on one end of the device, but I can understand the decision since Mohu crammed a lot of tech into this little brick. One pro tip, after reading the support documents over and over, I finally found the reset button for the device hidden in one of the air vents on the bottom of the unit.

This button is only mentioned once in some online documentation and not pictured at all. And, when you’re pressing it, you barely have any indication that it’s a button at all. This was a very frustrating, un-user-friendly design choice.

The HD antenna included with the AirWave Basic kit looks like most of Mohu’s HD antennas, mimicking the flat square form of the original Leaf antennas except that it has its own base.

The AirWave Basic antenna comes with a short length of coaxial cable already attached to the back of the unit. This cable attaches to the Power Bridge to deliver the HDTV signals.

For most city dwellers or people who live close to a transmitting tower, the included Basic 30-mile antenna should work fine.

Placing the antenna as high as possible in your home and keeping it away from any large metal structures should allow it to pull in all the available HD signals for your area. The Mohu website has a cool tool to help you determine what package will work best for your location and there are a number of websites that detail the locations and signal strength of HDTV stations once you input your address.

Assembling the 70-mile Mohu Sail Antenna is pretty basic. The antenna comes with a 30-foot length of coaxial cable, which, depending on your home, may not be enough to position the antenna correctly while still having enough cable to reach your Power Bridge. In that case, good luck setting up the AirWave via the wireless configuration.

The Sail antenna is made of hard plastic and has one male connector for the coaxial cable that goes to your Power Bridge.

The back of the Sail has molded holes for attaching the mounting bracket and a stop plate for the mounting bar.

Because the screws anchor in a plastic mount, be very careful not to torque them too much or you will strip the holes out.

The mounting bar is held in by an adjustable bracket secured with wingnuts.

Again, be sure not to over tighten anything because the plastic can break. Tighten the wing nuts down just enough to hold the mounting bar in place.

Once the mounting bar is attached to the antenna you can use the bottom mounting plate and included screws to mount the antenna to the outside of your house or the interior of your attic.

The bottom mounting plate attaches to the mounting bar with two screws. One screw holds it centered while the other can be adjusted before locking it in.

This adjustable swivel on the bottom mounting plate allows for positioning the angle of the antenna for the best reception

Now that the antenna is assembled and the Power Bridge is plugged into your network via your home router, or by some miracle you got the wireless configuration to work, it’s time to get the signals up and streaming.

Install the Moho App on your phone, tablet, or TV top streaming device. Again, I’m pretty disappointed there is no option to stream these signals to a Mac or PC. Mohu claims that they were never able to get the app to work correctly with any browser they try. This is a huge shortcoming of the AirWave. Links on the Mohu website will help you find the correct working app for your device. Once you open the app, it will guide you through finding the AirWave, getting the right program guide for your area, and searching for available HDTV channels.

This worked fine for me when I hooked everything up via my home router, but when I tried the wireless set up option all I got was nothing.

Nothing I did worked and the app never found the AirWave at all.

After several tries, I got the app up and running on my Roku, my AirWave updated, my channels downloaded, and my guide refreshed. But then, every few channels I went to triggered the dreaded Weak Signal Detected error.

The error was also on my phone’s Mohu App. I experimented with a bunch of different spots for the AirWave and the HDTV antenna and eventually found a position that yielded more clear channels than not.

Performance

If you’re a channel surfer, the Mohu AirWave is definitely not for you. There’s a significant delay when switching channels as the AirWave changes signals and buffers it to your device. Also, there is no indication on your program guide that a channel’s signal is clear enough to appear. After the initial channel setup, the best you can do is go through all of the channels individually and add them to My Channels. By doing this, you’ll know that all the channels in that group are ones that you receive clearly.

When the AirWave did find a channel with a strong signal and my Wi-Fi was working fine, I was able to enjoy watching an HD program much like I would with a cable hookup. But, the channels that work are not up to you, so it can be frustrating checking the program guide only to find that the program you want to watch doesn’t have a clear signal.

Since the AirWave streams video content over your home network, the signal clarity is also very dependent on the strength of your home’s Wi-Fi. This is especially true in the wireless configuration since the HDTV signal is sent from the Power Bridge to your network via Wi-Fi and then on to your viewing device via Wi-Fi again.

Another big shortcoming of the AirWave is that since it’s a single-tuner device, any viewing device that opens the app has to watch the same channel. So if you don’t mind having the same channel streaming to all your devices at once, this will work for you. But if you have a big family all expecting to watch different channels via the AirWave this is not the cord-cutting product for you. Additionally, there are no options to view the content from your AirWave outside of your home network. And again, it’s really frustrating to not be able to access any of this content on a Mac or PC, especially because Mohu originally promised that option when the AirWave debuted and it’s still showcased in their media kit.

What I like

  • Able to watch some OTA content via your streaming device
  • Antenna works well when properly placed
  • Built-in channel guide is effective

What needs to be improved

  • Signal strength dependent on location and Wi-Fi strength
  • Wired connection to router and antenna problematic
  • Single tuner device: all devices have to watch the same channel
  • Wireless setup ineffective, extremely frustrating, and poorly documented
  • Can’t stream to a desktop or laptop computer
  • Can’t stream outside of home network

Final thoughts

The Mohu AirWave does what it’s supposed to do; it can pull in HDTV signals and stream those signals to devices on your home network. Unfortunately, the antenna and AirWave setup can be extremely frustrating and/or unusable depending on your home network logistics and Wi-Fi strength. The signal streaming can be laggy, pauses on channel changes, and is not on par with regular cable or OTA TV viewing. Only one channel at a time can be streamed to your connected devices and none of those devices can be a desktop or laptop computer. But, when the AirWave does work it works well. I feel like the Mohu AirWave is still a couple of iterations away from being a totally functional cable TV alternative, but if you’re willing to pay a premium to give it a chance, it might work for you in certain situations.

Price: $219.99 for AirWave Premium with 70-mile antenna, $209.99 for AirWave Plus with 40-mile antenna, $199 for AirWave Basic with 30-mile antenna
Where to buy: Mohu and Amazon (Basic version only)
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Mohu.

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Mohu AirWave Premium OTA Antenna review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 12, 2019 at 10:00 am.

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LifeProof FRĒ Series iPhone Case review

REVIEW – It’s fun to play outside, but nature can do a number on your precious smartphone! Today we’re checking out the FRĒ series from LifeProof for the iPhone Xs, Xs MAX, and Xr. It’s designed to keep the elements from ruining your day if you lead an active lifestyle. To the review!

What is it?

It’s an iPhone case that features an integrated screen cover for complete protection against dirt, water, snow, and shocks.

Hardware specs

  • 6.68″ x 3.58″ x 0.55″
  • 1.6 ounces
  • Rated to protect against drops of 2 meters
  • Submersible up to 2 meters for 2 hours
  • Sealed to protect against water, dirt, and snow (IP68 protection rating)

What’s in the box?

The package includes the case and setup instructions.

Design and features

The LifeProof phone case lineup is organized based on levels of protection. The FRĒ series is the max-protect option, with an integrated screen cover that seals the phone completely to protect against drops, dirt, snow, and water. It’s a two-part shell construction, with a rubber gasket that seals the housing against the elements.

While the unit is water tested prior to shipping, LifeProof recommends that you do a second water test before installing the case. You’ll snap the two sides together without your phone, close up the lightning port seal, and submerge the case in water for 30 minutes. If you see any liquid in the case after this, you will be advised to contact LifeProof for a replacement. I had no issues with water during my test.

Passing that checkpoint, I moved on to install the case on my phone. Here I noticed some installation challenges that made things a bit tricky. The instructions say that you can remove the case by popping open the charger port and using a coin to separate the halves… but there’s nowhere to stick a coin in there. I ended up using a butter knife in that slot you see to the left of the charger port, and did some damage. Kind of a bummer.

With the shells separated, you’ll insert the phone in the front shell first. It slides right into a pre-defined slot. The rear shell pops on top, and you’ll press firmly to get a super-tight seal. I did find that the rubber gasket could be a bit persnickety and took some tweaking to lock in on the rear case, but it wasn’t a huge issue.

If protection is your goal, you’ll appreciate the tank-like feel to the case once the install is completed. Your phone is locked in place with no waggle or shimmy to be found in the housing. The whole build feels solid, with tight seals throughout. It will add noticeable bulk to your phone, but not as much as I expected. You’ll feel confident in the case’s ability to take punishment.

Here’s a shot of the front face. Note that I have full edge-to-edge exposure for the entire front screen on iPhone Xs Max. I did find that there’s a *slight* gap between the case cover and the phone screen. It works fine for the most part, but there are times when I have to give it a double-tap or I have to press down harder to get it to respond to my inputs. I think that’s part of the trade-off for the extra layer of protection. The cover doesn’t impede the light-sensing feature of the phone that adjusts to the brightness of the environment.

The rear face provides clear ports for the apple logo, camera, and sensor elements. Checking out some reviews on Amazon I saw comments about picture quality being affected by these covers, but I did not notice any issue with picture quality.

The charger port is protected by a hinged cap that seals completely when not in use. It does a nice job sealing the port against the elements. If you’re using wired headphones, note that you’ll have to keep that port open for operation. Wireless headphones are the way to go here if you want to maintain that maximum protection against the elements.

Your buttons and switches are all rubberized and fully integrated into the phone case. The volume rockers and mute switch also incorporate a pair of tabs to protect against accidental brushes or knocks while carrying the phone. The mute switch uses a “reverse toggle” setup (“down” is up, and “up” is down) that takes some getting used to. Otherwise, normal operation is just fine for the volume rockers and the side button.

I did notice that the case does impact the use of the speakers and the built-in microphone. You’ll get some interference with the clarity of the speakers when playing music or using the speaker for calls, and others have reported that my voice sounds slightly muffled on phone conversations. Considering the level of protection, it’s actually pretty good… but that’s the tradeoff you get for a complete weatherproof seal on the phone. I’d recommend using wireless accessories for playing music and making calls.

What I like

  • Excellent protection from shocks and all the elements
  • Precise, solid construction
  • Surprisingly lean for the level of protection it offers

What needs to be improved

  • Installation and removal can be tricky
  • Slight gap between the cover and phone screen can require extra taps in normal operation
  • Muted audio is a tradeoff for the level of protection

Final thoughts

Overall, I think the LifeProof FRĒ is a great choice for those who expose their phone to a lot of hazardous situations for professional or recreational use. Not only is the protection excellent, but it offers a stylish alternative to some of the industrial or military-inspired case designs that you see in this segment. There will be some performance tradeoffs, but I think the FRĒ handles them quite well considering the level of protection you’re getting…. not every phone in this class offers true waterproof protection. LifeProof offers the FRĒ in a variety of interesting color combinations so you can find one to match your personal style. Mine’s called “Tiki” (heh), and the lineup includes a variety of primary colors, pastel tones, a camouflage theme, and basic black. They also offer models for Galaxy and Pixel phones.

Price: $49.99 to $119.99
Where to buy: You can buy direct from LifeProof or check out their Amazon page.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by LifeProof.

Filed in categories: Reviews

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LifeProof FRĒ Series iPhone Case review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 12, 2019 at 9:00 am.

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