LifeProof nüüd Case & Cover/Stand for iPad Gen 2/3/4 Review

By Bayle Emlein

LifeProof nüüd Case & Cover/Stand for iPad Gen 2/3/4

$129.99

www.lifeproof.com

1.888.533.0735

LifeProof

15110 Avenue of Science

San Diego, CA 92128 USA

In the box: a LifeProof nüüd, Quick Start Guide, Owner’s Manual

As you know, in my other life I work in an environment full of folks who test the durability of all kinds of products. The LifeProof case seemed like it might offer an answer to our iPad problems, or at least those involving shattered screens (three and counting this quarter).

The case is certainly elegant, much lighter and less bulky than any other protective case we’ve tested. Like other case support systems, the kickstand on the back adds to the functionality of the iPad.

The whole team of Assistive Technology specialists was assembled for the unboxing. Actual trial was delegated to the specialist whose iPad did not already have a cover. Once we wrestled the LifeProof out of the box and plastic, we were confronted by a great many pieces and parts. The Quick Start Guide doesn’t mention the Water Test Unit, a clear plastic screen that one is to use for testing the specific case in hand >before< inserting the iPad. The Owner’s manual does describe how to water test, but it is not very clearly pictured or described in the regulation flyspeck font. A plea to our resident techie, who eventually figured out that the clear plastic that looks like it should be a screen cover is not part of the final assembly. (Could they have labeled it?)

Moving right along, we finally wrestled the case on to the iPad. Pyrrhic victory (Check Dictionary.Com or Wikipedia). To keep the case watertight (water resistant if you read the French on the box), there’s a tight plug to unscrew for the earphone jack. Makes sense, but our hand model absolutely refused to sacrifice her manicure. Don’t really need sound.

Once assembled, the iPad with its snazzy new case went home to the 3- and 5-year old product testers, guaranteed to put ascertain the protection level of any protective covering. Oops. We didn’t read the fine print at the end of the Owner’s Manual before installing the case with the iPad 4 Lightning Connector adapter still in place. Our brave volunteer figured out that she needed to remove the connector to charge her iPad. Not so easy, and the suggested disassembly process didn’t work as suggested. Maybe that had something to do with preserving her manicure; however, it’s absurd to suggest that iPad users of LifeProof products would not want to take as much care of the bling on their fingertips as the bling on their iPads.

An hour on hold with tech support, no satisfactory disassembly guidance. But the LifeProof case did come off the iPad. In pieces.

Not relevant to much, but I’m wondering why a company with corporate headquarters in San Diego has a bilingual Owner’s Manual–in English and French. Also, why the English promo says that the case is “Water proof, dirt proof, snow proof, shock proof” but in French it’s only resistant to all those hazards of mixing the real and virtual worlds. According to product literature, an iPad in a LifeProof nüüd would be safe if dropped into 2 meters or less of water or dropped from a height of 1.2 meters or less. Unlike the PR department, we don’t have a spare device for testing.

A tablet is a serious investment, even if it doesn’t quite require a mortgage. And there are many facets of a tablet that just cry out to be taken along on every adventure. So a system that protects it from the usual hazards of the active life–water, dropping, dirt and dust–is a great asset. But the protection needs not to interfere with use and operations.

The verdict for the LifeProof nüüd is a guarded “maybe.” With so many “gotcha’s” in the assembly, the Quick Start Guide and Owner’s Manual need serious rewriting if a user is going to get value from this $130 add-on.