Five smart smartphone accessories: Lifeproof Fre, Dog & Bone Backbone, Moshi Digits and more
LOVE your phone? Jennifer Dudley-Nicholson and Rod Chester look at the add-ons that can keep it safe — and help you use it in the cold.
TECHNOLOGY writers Jennifer Dudley-Nicholson and Rod Chester rate five accessories for your smartphone.
Lifeproof Fre for Galaxy S5
Verdict: 4.5/5
Why add a waterproof case to a waterproof phone? The Lifeproof Fre for Samsung’s flagship phone provides many reasons.
For starters, it doubles its water resistance to an hour in 2m of water, it lets you drop it from up to 2m, and it makes the phone resistant to snow and ice.
If you’re taking your phone to the slopes, the beach, or into the shower, it’s a solid investment.
The Fre also covers the screen, features anti-reflective glass over its camera, and retains access to ports, the fingerprint scanner and heart-rate monitor.
$89.95
Tech21 Impact Herringbone
Verdict: 3/5
Physics can break your phone — more specifically, the energy created when you drop it to the floor does it — but Tech21 promises an antidote.
It has created a dense polymer called D30 that claims to absorb shocks and dissipate energy away from your device.
In the case of the Impact Herringbone, it’s the Samsung Galaxy S5 being protected and the D30 looks like thick, transparent, blue plastic.
The case does make the phone’s power button tough to press, adds bulk and doesn’t protect the screen but, in the right buttery fingers, could be a saviour.
$29.95
Otterbox Symmetry
Verdict: 4.5/5
Shock-absorbing phone cases are rarely subtle or stylish so Otterbox deserves credit for delivering both in its Symmetry range.
Available for Samsung, Apple and HTC handsets, the colourful cases feature two layers — shock-absorbing material inside, hard material outside — moulded into one for easy installation.
A raised edge keeps the phone’s screen off the table and limits damage, and all ports and buttons are easily accessible.
The lightweight case doesn’t come with a screen protector and Otterbox doesn’t promise a definitive level of protection.
But the Symmetry is by far the most practical tough case of the bunch.
$54.95
Moshi Digits
Verdict: 4/5
The weather may be chilly but there are ways to stay warm while staying in touch.
Moshi Digits are smart gloves that feature conductive threads in the lining of the fingers, allowing users to register touches on tablet and phone screens without removing them.
The system works flawlessly, as long as you don’t use a fingerprint scanner.
The thick Moshi gloves also feature a swirling pattern on the palms for grip, but the woollen gloves are still slippery and gadgets require a firm hold.
$39.99
Dog & Bone Backbone Wireless Charging Case and Pad
Verdict: 4/5
Australian-based Dog & Bone are known for making impressive tough phone cases but they’ve gone a step further with Backbone.
This is a tough case that protects your Apple iPhone 5 or 5S and lets you charge it wirelessly by sitting it on top of the Backbone charge pad.
Heavy phone users will appreciate the optional extra battery you can slide into the case.
This clever case adds protection and functionality.
$149.95
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