Review: Helian Waterproof Phone Case

These days, most of us use our phones as our dedicated cameras when going hiking. And why not? They’re light, the modern phone cameras are excellent, and you need to have your phone with you anyway in case of emergency. The only catch, as with any electronics, is that they don’t play well with water, and when we’re out hiking, there’s always a chance of being caught in an unexpected shower. Some of us bypass this problem by sticking them in a drybag or a ziplock, but that means no photos until it stops raining.

That’s where touch-sensitive waterproof phone cases come in – enabling full use of all your phone’s features while protecting it from water damage, dust, and debris. Waterproof phone cases, as with many other products, are not all created equal, and when you’re out hiking in the rain or jumping into a mountain pool, you don’t want to find out that yours is of the lesser type.

I recently got my hands on the new Helian Waterproof Case and this might just be the answer to all my aquatic phone conundrums!

Key Information

Price (at time of writing): R350
Dimensions: Fits all smartphones with dimensions up to 15 × 8 cm
Waterproof rating: IPX8

Similarities

As with all other touch-sensitive waterproof phone cases, the Helian case allows full touchscreen functionality – you can navigate across screens, type messages, and even take calls. Basically, your phone as you know it, just waterproof – or at least water-resistant; not all phone cases are waterproof…

Full touchscreen functionality through the waterproof cover.

What Sets It Apart

The closing mechanism: As just mentioned, not all phone cases are waterproof, but merely water-resistant, or at the very least, splash-resistant. Most other phone cases either use a zip-seal, which will always let water in where the zip terminates, or a roll-top closure. The roll-top closure does a pretty good job, but still allows for air to escape, depending on the velcro mechanism. The Helian case uses a clamp-type closing mechanism with two pins that ensure everything lines up correctly and almost guarantees a 100% watertight seal every time.

Clamp-type closure provides a near-perfect watertight seal.

Proper waterproof rating: The case is IPX8 certified, which means it has been tested to be waterproof down to 25 metres for up to 30 minutes — more than most of us will ever need from a phone case.

The welding style: Most other phone cases are welded at the seams in a face-on-face manner, which ends up being a weak point when pressure is exerted from the inside. The Helian case’s layers overlap at high-stress points, allowing for side-to-side pressure instead of opposing forces. They’ve also kept the seams to a minimum, with a wrap-around design and one seam, as opposed to two.

Reinforced overlapping seams for added durability and pressure resistance.

Camera and button functionality: Ninety percent of the cover is clear on the front, back, and sides, offering unrestricted access to all side buttons, as well as no lens obstructions, irrespective of your phone model.

Accessories

The case comes standard with a 47.5 cm long nylon lanyard, but you can also buy the Helian Float separately — a bright yellow floatation device for your phone. It fits snugly around your wrist and ensures that your waterproofed phone doesn’t end up at the bottom of a rock pool.

Optional bright yellow float keeps your phone safely buoyant.

Comes with a sturdy nylon lanyard for easy carrying.

Cons

I can’t fault the Helian case on a design level – it‘s a well-made product – but as with any sealed unit, when it moves from cold to warm temperatures quickly, there’s always a chance of it fogging up. For instance, when you leave your cold hut or tent in the morning and want to take a photo in the warm sunshine, you might need to open the case to allow the air inside to adjust to ambient temperature. Not really a con, but something to be aware of.

Conclusion

Brilliant value for money, excellent design, ease of use, and total peace of mind. In a nutshell, the best waterproof phone case I’ve seen thus far!

This phone case was provided by Helian for review purposes and can be purchased from their online store: https://helian.online/