Thin, light and waterproof? Will your iPhone notice it?
Dog and Bone Wetsuit Impact Review – A great day-to-day waterproof case for the iPhone 7
This is the smallest iPhone 7 waterproof case that we’ve used to date. If you need the water and drop-protection for every day life, you’ll want to go with the Dog and Bone Wetsuit Impact. Now the Wirecutter has named this the best waterproof case for the iPhone 7 but we don’t agree. It’s a decent case but not the highest rated according to our scoring method. There is one case that scores better the Dog and Bone Wetsuit Impact because it offers a bit more versatility.
For our Dog and Bone Wetsuit Impact review, we’ve given this case a score of 3.8 Eh’s out of 5. The LifeProof Fre scores a bit lower than the Impact at 3.7 Eh’s out of 5 and is few points shy of the Ghostek Atomic 3. This doesn’t mean the Atomic is the best overall case. Our scoring system does take into account extra features that you might not need. We’ve done a quick comparison at the bottom of this post.
Design – Better than the iPhone 6 version
For design, the Impact only adds about 3 mm’s the the thickness of the iPhone which makes it thinner than most cases on our Top 10 Slim iPhone 7 case list. However, the width of the Wetsuit Impact is noticeable. The design of the Impact for the iPhone 7 is quite different than the design of the 6. The overall package is slimmer while mantinaing the same level of protection. The ribs on the inside on the inside of the case is much smaller but the back has this rubbery piece which feels neat?
The membranes on the front cover are a little different than the previous version which is good thing because iPhone call quality is decent in this case. The case fits well together but the front of the case is quite slick so it will slide around easily. Not a great quality to have with a case that you might go use around a body of water. The iPhone doesn’t feel as stable in our hands because of the slick front, especially when compared to the Ghostek Atomic and Lifeproof Fre.
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Protection – Go ahead. Have a bit of fun with the Wetsuit Impact
For protection, the Impact is drop-rated and waterproof up to 6.6ft and 2m which is nothing spectacular for a waterproof case. Surprisingly, the Dog and Bone Wetsuit Impact comes with a flexible glass screen protector which hasn’t cracked like our iPhone 6 version.
The durability of the Dog and Bone Wetsuit Impact is top notch. During our durability test between the LifeProof Fre, Ghostek Atomic, Dog and Bone Wetsuit and Wetsuit Impact, the Wetsuit Impact was the only case that stayed together during successive drops on sidewalk. If you’re planning on being very rough with your iPhone, the Dog and Bone Wetsuit Impact is going to be the way to go.
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Functionality – Average access to the iPhone
When it comes to functionality, the Wetsuit Impact, like every waterproof case we have ever used, will reduce the sound quality of the iPhone. From our pink noise test, the Impact is great in terms of call quality but the overall loudness of the speakers is muted . Not enough that you’d want to take the iPhone out of the case but the difference is still there.
For versatility, the Wetsuit Impact allows you to attach a wrist-strap which is necessary for a waterproof case. We also gave the Wetsuit Impact an extra point for the removable plugs. We know from experience that people tend to pull on the plugs of their devices when they unplug their cables resulting in torn plug ports. This isn’t going to be an issue with the Impact but if we remember correctly, previous versions included spare plugs. So don’t lose them.
The buttons on the case are a tad tougher to use than other cases. The port cutout is big enough to use our Belay Cord cable but not our Awesome Cable. The case is so thin that there is no way for the camera flash to be cropped. We didn’t have any issues taking photographs with the case on our iPhones. Last but not least, one-handed usage isn’t great because of the slick front but it is manageable.
The screen protector is actually made from a piece of thin glass rather than plastic so viewability of the iPhone’s touchscreen is great. Maybe Lifeproof could take a look at this case.
How does the Dog and Bone Wetsuit compare against other cases?
Now why did the Ghostek Atomic recieve a higher score? The Ghostek Atomic 3 is compatible with both a screen protector and a skin. The Dog and Bone Wetsuit isn’t. Why is this important?
It’s more flexible. We personally don’t want to use a waterproof case all the time. The reduced call quality and reduced handling would be annoying to us. Aaron’s generally careful with his devices so he can easily get away without a case. If he wasn’t reviewing cases, he’d keep a skin and screen protector on his iPhone on a day-to-day basis to protect against day-to-day scrapes. The Ghostek Atomic would then be used for times where water protection is needed. Perfect for those who need a bit of waterproofing for a vacation near water or at a pool.
If this flexibility doesn’t matter to you, then the next best case is going to be the Dog and Bone Wetsuit.
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Sue Turner
May 2, 2017 at 4:57 pm
Very very disappointed with my dog bone wetsuit case. I purchased one for myself and one for my husband Christmas of 2016 for our new iPhone 7’s. This was highly recommended by the salesman at the phone store. Within a month, I had to request a replacement, the case was peeling apart. Now 3 months with the replacement, I have had to replace it again. The side corners cracked and again the case was peeling apart. I have replaced it with an otter box, much more sturdier. I will be replacing my husbands also, his is cracked and people have problems hearing him with it on. Not happy at all.