Ever since I accidentally washed my iPhone a few years ago, I’ve been very cognizant of its limitations when it comes to the exposure to the wet environments. Now I will (hopefully) not make the same mistake again, but I do occasionally take my iPhone to a beach. Usually I make sure that I am far away from the water, but I do dread the prospect of getting my most precious gadget wet. The Frieq universal waterproof case is designed to give me a piece of mind. So far it has been proven very reliable.

The case is pretty large and made out of very durable plastic. It can fit most smartphones. I’ve tested it with Galaxy S3, iPhone 3G, iPhone 4S and iPhone 5S. I am not sure if it would fit a larger smartphone, such as Samsung Galaxy Note.

The two latches on top of the case make it easy to shut it off and seal it – you just have to twist them and everything is taken care of. The top attachment on the case might be the weakest link in the long run – I am not sure how it would handle repeated opening and closing.

To test this case I had dunked my iPhone 3G into a big water-filled pot. There was no leakage and the phone continued to function. I was even able to use it while inside the case, but NOT while it was submerged.

I think this is a great case to have if you engage in a lot of outdoor activities, especially near water. It’s an ideal case for a beach or for fishing. It can also probably be used for other more water-intensive activities (swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, etc.) But in those cases I would go for something even more robust. Overall, a pretty good phone case.