How’d you like to put your iPhone into a case that could survive just about anything short of a nuclear blast? If your job takes you outdoors on a regular basis, or even if you just want to know that your phone will be safe by the hot tub or pool, the LUNATIK TAKTIK 360 could be your perfect solution.
Featuring “an airtight compression closure system” that creates “a fully submersible waterproof case with drop and dust proof protection”while still being Touch ID compatible, the TAKTIK 360 has high-impact ballistic bezels, a Corning Gorilla Glass screen protector, non-slip impact bumpers, and a secure latch closure system.
So let’s take a look!
Included in the box are the inner and outer parts of the case, a key for locking the outer shell pieces together. and a 3.5mm headphone jack extender.
Anyone who’s ever owned a previous version of LUNATIK’s TAKTIK line will immediately notice that the need for screws to lock down each corner of the outer case are gone; this is a definite improvement, as those pesky screws could sometimes work themselves loose with hard use. Of course, previous versions were just water resistant, so this is a whole new level of badass.
This is the inner membrane. It’s composed of two pieces of plastic that seal around the iPhone. The front has a built-in Gorilla Glass screen, and the back has optically clear camera lens and flash cover.
Available in black or white, the exterior shell has “high impact ballistic bezels” with a “non-slip perimeter bumper”; the latch is made of stainless steel.
The case has a non-slip rubber coat on the back, with cutouts for the camera and flash.
Before you ever install it on your phone, it is important to put the pieces of the case together properly …
Note the hydrophobic membrane over the speaker; this allows you to hear when making calls, even in the worst weather.
… and place them in a bowl full of water. You’ll want to weigh the case down so that it is fully submerged (a coffee mug works well), and you’ll leave it sitting in the water for at least 30 minutes. Assuming there is no water inside the case when you remove it from the soak, it will then be ready to be wiped off and installed on your phone.
The first part of the installation is a little bit tricky; you have to insert the side with the volume buttons and mute switch into the top half first. Before you go any further, you’ll need to make sure that the screw on the side is lined up properly with the mute switch, so that when turned it activates or deactivates properly. Yes, it took me several tries to get it right.
Once you’ve got the screw and mute switch properly lined up, you take the back of the case and insert it on the volume button / mute switch side, then close it down over the iPhone’s back.
It will look like this.
Here’s the back of the inner shell, which has a triangular lattice-work design.
Next you slide the inner case into the outer shell bottom, and then you add the cap.
Everything locks together with a turn of the special screw.
As you might have guessed, the TAKTIK 360 uses the compression from the outer shell to hold the inner waterproof case components together. What you see here is a complete case that is “designed to meet or exceed IP68 technical specs and MIL-STD-810G drop test standards.” In other words, it is drop-proof, shockproof, impact protected, airtight, waterproof, and dustproof. The TAKTIK 360 is rated waterproof in up to two meters for as long as an hour.
There’s even a lanyard hole on the bottom, if you’d like to attach a neck or wrist loop.
On the bottom, there is a sealed waterproof chamber that is protected by a stainless steel clasp with a bit of rubber that completes the seal when the clasp is closed. When open it allows access to the 3.5mm headphone jack, the speaker, and the charging port. Even when the clasp is closed, you’ll still get sound from the speaker, as there are two hydrophobic membranes in place to allow sound in and out without letting water in.
The only negative to this system is that the charging port hole is smaller than many after-market cables, so you’ll either need to stick with the OEM or other similarly sized cables for charging.
Since there is now a tunnel being created that goes to the 3.5mm headphone jack, an extender is included so that when the clasp is open, you can still attach your favorite headphones.
The sum of all of these parts produces a case that protects your phone so that you can confidently take it outside in any weather or adverse conditions. Even though your phone is now in a weather-proof box, you can still easily swipe from screen to screen and use the Touch ID; the covers over the power button and the volume buttons are stiff, but they are still quite usable. The knob turns down to activate the mute switch; turning it up removes the mute feature.
The LUNATIK TAKTIK 360 is built like a tank; with the iPhone inside it weighs 9.6 ounces; it measures approximately 6.25″ long by 3.5″ wide x 0.75″ thick. This case is on my husband Kev’s iPhone 6; at first he was afraid that it would make his already large phone too big for his work shirt pocket, but he was pleased to find that it wasn’t an issue. While it does annoy him that he can’t use all of his after-market cables anymore, the tradeoff is that he never has to worry about dropping the phone; he even brings his phone to the hot tub with him now in case he gets a text or call (which is handy when I am trying to reach him), which is something he could never do before.
The TAKTIK 360 isn’t going to be for everyone; it does add a lot of weight and bulk to the previously svelte iPhone 6 or 6 S, and it does add a bit of inconvenience when you want to charge your phone or listen through headphones; pushing the buttons does require more force than before, and turning the knob for the mute switch takes some getting used to. Even so, if you are looking for the ultimate in drop, shock, impact, water, dirt, and dust protection, it simply can’t be beat.
The LUNATIK TAKTIK 360 for the iPhone 6 / 6S retails for $119.95, and it is available directly from the manufacturer.
Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample
What I Like: Exceeds military drop protection standards, Phone stays dry in up to 2 meters of water for up to an hour; Dustproof, dirtproof, and waterproof; Touch ID still works; It’s still easy to swipe from screen to screen; Your phone is still pocketable (assuming that you have larger pockets or you aren’t wearing skinny jeans); The new locking mechanism eliminates worry of screws coming loose
Caveats: Buttons are harder to press when phone is inside case; You can’t use all after-market charging cables with this case; you have to use the 3.5mm extender to use headphones; It’s heavy and a bit cumbersome
