Updated June 25, 2013, with three new cases (Ballistic, Cascade Designs, and Lifeproof).
Waterproof smartphone cases used to be bulky, ungainly contraptions, but they’ve been trimming down lately.
That said, building a truly waterproof case is not easy (a waterproof case is defined as one that can be fully submerged underwater for at least 30 minutes). Often there are trade-offs in creating a waterproof design, the biggest of which usually involves access to the headphone jack on your phone. They also tend to be pricey, usually costing more than $50.
In boiling down the best of what’s currently out there, I tried to provide a good mix of well-designed cases with a few more-affordable options that are a step up from a Ziplock bag.
There still aren’t a ton of great waterproof options, but ever since the Lifeproof cases became so popular, plenty of competitors have jumped into the ring. If you think I missed any or have used any of the cases in the roundup, feel free to post a comment. I’ll be updating this list as more products arrive.
Click on any image below to start the slideshow. (Products are listed in alphabetical order).
Waterproof iPhone 5 and 4/4S cases (pictures)
+12 more