LifeProof is considered to be the go-to name when looking for a waterproof case to protect your iPhone in extreme and uncertain conditions that life calls for. We thought the LifeProof case for the iPhone 4S was the best performing waterproof case money can buy you, but it also left us wanting more. The latest LifeProof Fre case is a breakthrough slim waterproof case designed not only to keep your iPhone 5 safely protected against water, but also against every other element including drops and rough handling. It is, the ultimate protective iPhone case without a doubt. Incredible capabilities do come at a cost however, the Fre comes with its fair share of drawbacks. Get more details on LifeProof's Fre in the full review after the jump!

Over the years many companies have tried to make a fully waterproof and rugged iPhone case, but none of those cases were as good as the LifeProof case. The Fre for the iPhone 5 is of course identical in design and performance as its shorter equivalent, and it'll even set you back . The Fre is the unseemingly submarine of iPhone cases. Looking at the Fre, one will never guess it is fully capable of being submerged under water to depths of up to 6.6ft (2 meters), for 30 consecutive minutes. If that doesn't impress you, which I'm sure it does, then the klutz in you would love to know that the Fre case meets military standards in surviving impacts, shock and even your real-life scenario, accidental drops of as high as 6.6ft (2 meters). With such an impressive case as your side, who even needs AppleCare+?

Although early adopters of the Fre case won't enjoy the wide selection of colors currently available for the iPhone 4/S version, LifeProof is expected to release additional colors as well as spare parts that'll be available for separate purchase in case you'd like to create a custom color or replace a scratched up front screen assembly. One of the great things about the LifeProof case is that you can completely cover up and change the appearance of a black iPhone 5 into a white one and vice versa thanks to the Fre's colored front shield. A pleasing and painless way of changing things up a bit for sure.

What initially surprised me was that the Fre did not seem noticeably slimmer than its iPhone 4/S equivalent. If you take a closer look at the specs of both cases, you aren't going to find any significant difference between the two and their thicknesses. Nevertheless, the Fre is a very slim case that keeps a low-profile for what it has to offer. On the other hand, it does add a noticeable extended length to the iPhone 5 because of the watertight design.

The Fre features a new sealed, squarish rear window that showcases your iPhone 5's Apple logo and parts of the original color so that your iPhone will never be mistaken for an Android phone. It's a bit pretentious if you ask me, but I do see the value in it which shows an appreciation towards the incredibly design of the iPhone 5. Come to think of it, the Fre blows away just about every heavy duty case with its minimalist design that actually is loaded with extreme fire power. It was unheard of for a waterproof iPhone case to have a low-profile, until LifeProof came along.

The Fre in general is a comfortable case to hold despite its robust and overly protective design. It's a rather slim protective case that you can quickly get adjusted to. It remains true to LifeProof's original concept in that it features a hybrid construction comprised out of hard plastic and shock absorbing rubber. The rubber provides a great grip when holding the iPhone in the hand while it also surrounds the iPhone 5 like a rubber bumper from the inside out. The Fre's integrated buttons are all very easy to press and give you superb tactile feedback; and that includes the easy to flip silent switch.

There have been some uncertainties from consumers surrounding the LifeProof case and call quality. For most users, this is obviously a very important topic. In the few weeks of testing the Fre in the daily life routines, I have not experienced any issues with call quality. People could hear me loud and clear and I had no trouble hearing them clearly thru the Fre's watertight membrane-protected earpiece. Right beside the earpiece, proximity light sensors are doing their expected job without interference.

Interior wise, you can spot that precision rubberized construction along with a host of strategically placed layers of foam.

Source: gadgetmac.com