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Optrix XD6 Review – One of the only cases that we’d take into the ocean
Right off the bat, this is the best iPhone 6s waterproof case. It is rock-solid. Perfect for any vacation by a body of water.
The iPhone sits in a sled that slides into the XD6, which is handy. You can easily remove the iPhone and still have a bit of protection on the device when you aren’t near water. This extra case is nice because you don’t want to be hauling this beast of a case in your pockets all the time.
For our Bodyglove Optrix XD6 review, we’ve given this waterproof case a score of 3.9 Eh’s out of 5. It’s a bit better than the HitCase Pro on a case basis, and as a waterproof case, is a magnitude better than anything from LifeProof. If you want to see how the XD6 fares against other waterproof cases, check out our top 5 list for waterproof iPhone 6 cases.
(Click the table to see the FULL rating table)
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Design – It’s a monstrosity of a case
The Optrix XD6 is one of the most unique cases that we’ve come across. Rather than snapping everything together, the top of the case flips over, and you slide the iPhone lengthwise into the case. Removing the iPhone is very simple with the XD6 and the latching system on the xD6 is a big confidence booster when it comes to bringing your iPhone into the water.
The XD6 is made from an impact resistant, custom polycarbonate unibody design which sounds quite fluffy. Our extreme drop test with the XD5 has made us a believer as the iPhone 5s came out with minimal damage. The transparency of the polycarbonate also helps you see if the case has been compromised when you’re in the water.
The XD6 is not a small case. The hinge is very noticeable, and the attachment point sticks out like a sore thumb. As we mentioned at the beginning, the iPhone sits in a sled that can double as a slim case which means the bulk of the case doesn’t mean as much because if you’re annoyed you can quickly take the iPhone out of XD6 is still have a bit of protection for you iPhone.
And if you’ve noticed in our Optrix XD6 review video, you may have noticed that the iPhone’s we used in the review video had screen protectors on them. The XD6 is the only case we might suggest that is compatible with a screen protector in the water.
The Optrix XD6 does have a lens system, and if you’ve got the cash, you can get four different lenses to use with the case. Lenses are attached easily by screwing them into the case. Regarding the quality of the picture, here’s a comparison between the wide angle lens and the Moment Lens, our current favorite. As you can see, the XD6 photo does suffer from a lot more distortion along the edges which may bother some people.
In our opinion, this doens’t matter much because you will be shooting mostly video with the XD6 and the blurry edges won’t mean much since the subject is almost always going to be in the middle of the shot.
Protection – Go ahead, swim the turtles with your iPhone!
For protection, the XD6 will protect your iPhone from 20 ft drops and is waterproof up to 30 ft. That 30 ft water protection is one of the reasons why we say this is the best waterproof cases because most people aren’t going to come close to that depth.
At the beginning of the review, we said that the XD6 was a magnitude better as a waterproof case than anything LifeProof offers. The design of the Optrix XD6 is simpler which means there is a lower chance for things to go wrong. Over the last few years, we’ve taken Otterbox, Catalyst, LifeProof’s and HitCases into the ocean but we end up constantly checking the case for leaks while we’re in the water.
And that sucks because when you’re nowhere near land and you see water in your case, what are you going to do? Nothing. You’re going to float there and let your iPhone done. We didn’t feel like this when using the XD6 in the ocean.
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Functionality – You won’t be using your iPhone much in the full XD6
Accessing your iPHone inside the full case isn’t great as the buttons are a little tougher, the mute switch is covered up though the cutouts at the bottom of the case are quite large. TouchID is completely unusable.
The sound coming from the iPhone is quite muted in the case. Screen sensitivity is also quite horrendous as the gap on the case is quite noticeable and will make long-term usage of the iPhone inside the case quite painful.
Now if this were any other waterproof case, we’d be pretty animated right now about the poor functionality of the iPhone in the case. But since you can easily remove the iPhone from the case, any long term usability issue goes away. And since you can use a thinner screen protector with the device, coupled with the easy install, the poor handling of the iPhone in the full XD6 case is almost a non-issue.
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Have questions about our Optrix XD6 Review for Mobile Reviews Eh!? Please ask them below, or on our Google+ page or our Facebook page or our About Us page. To stay up to date on everything we’re doing, check out our Twitter and Instagram feeds!
Chris
June 14, 2016 at 11:12 pm
Do you have a review for the ProShot Case yet? I’d like to see how this one compares because it is compatible with GoPro accessories like the hitcase. I just hope it has the same trustworthy waterproof housing as the optrix xd.
Aaron Ho
June 15, 2016 at 10:19 pm
I’m waiting for my review unit to show up!
Debra
July 16, 2016 at 8:21 pm
Is it hard to use the camera under water?
David Dimond
November 21, 2016 at 6:52 pm
Hi Aaron,
Thanks for the in-depth product review–very helpful! The Optrix XD6 is currently selling on Amazon for $60 and I’m seriously debating buying it for my trip to Tulum, Mexcio, where I plan to take lots of underwater videos and photos. I like the idea of being able to take it out of the waterproof case when on dry land and quickly having waterproof capabilities when desired. I’ve also been researching the Fuji XP90 camera and, of course, GoPros, but they cost significantly more. At this cost it seems pretty tough to pass up.
All that said, I’ve read a few reviews about the XD6 leaking and others complained that it’s very difficult to use the once inside the waterproof case. My concern is the ability to easily toggle between videos and camera setting in the water…as someone who’s reviewed, can you offer any thoughts or advice?
Thanks!
Aaron Ho
November 22, 2016 at 12:41 am
The leaking is a risk you take for every waterproof case. When I use them, I take great care in keeping the seals clean or else your $1000 iPhone is done for.
Use the Optrix with the ProShot Case App. You can start/stop video and scroll through video modes using just the buttons.
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/proshotcase/id976628185?mt=8
One more tip, change the auto-lock feature to never right before you go in so that you don’t have to deal with trying to unlock the case while being awesome.