Catalyst Case for iPhone 6s Review

catalyst case for iphone 6

Now that it’s summertime, many of us are heading out to the beach, going camping, mountain biking, and doing lots of other outdoor activities. Aside from family and friends, your gadgets and smartphones will also be joining you on these trips.

If you’re looking for a reliable, heavy-duty case for your iPhone make sure to check out the Waterproof Cases made by Catalyst. In spite of its slim profile, it is one of the best protective, waterproof, and impact-resistant cases available on the market.

To learn more about it, check out this product video.

For this review, I’ll be sharing with you photos and my hands-on experience with the Catalyst Waterproof Case for the iPhone 6.

This case is made from impact-resistant polycarbonate materials and has a IP 68 rating meaning it is waterproof (up to 16.4 feet), dustproof and snowproof. It also meets military standards for drops of up to 6.6 feet.

PACKAGING & COLOR OPTIONS

First off, the packaging of the Catalyst Case is very nice and displays the case as well as its important features on all sides of the box.
catalyst case for iphone 6

Catalyst sent me the Marsala model for this review which is the white and dark red combination. They also have other color options like Black & Space Gray, Rescue Ranger (Black & Orange), White & Mist Gray and Green Pop (White & Yellow Green) displayed in the photo below.

catalyst case for iphone 6

INSTALLATION

Installing the case was a breeze. The included instruction manual features easy to follow instructions and it took me less than 5 minutes to completely install it on my wife’s iPhone 6. It would have taken me less time but I had to remove the previously installed screen protector and clean the screen before I could install the Catalyst case.
catalyst case for iphone 6

catalyst case for iphone 6

The manual also includes instructions on how to waterproof test the Catalyst case, removing the case, troubleshooting acoustics, and cleaning the O-ring and plug.

DESIGN & BUILD QUALITY

I’ve tried a few rugged cellphone cases before and I can safely say that the Catalyst case has one of the slimmest profiles. Although it is designed to be a rugged and heavy-duty case that provides protection from accidental bumps and drops, it doesn’t add a lot of bulk and weight to the device.
catalyst case for iphone 6

The build quality is also very good. Just from looking at it and holding it, you can say that the case was built with premium quality materials. The iPhone 6 fits perfectly into the case (no gaps), cutouts are perfect, buttons and switches align well. There are no rough edges or excess material (common in cheaper cellphone cases) and the case feels solid and easy to grip.

Users still get access to all the necessary buttons and switches – power, mute, and volume. The Catalyst case features a unique rotary dial for the Mute switch as you can see in the photo below.
catalyst case for iphone 6

The case has an integrated touchscreen film so make sure that you don’t have and/or remove any kind of screen protector. Users who have enabled Touch ID will not have anything to worry about because it works perfectly fine with the Catalyst case installed.

In the first couple of days, the touchscreen film felt a bit awkward to use because there was space between the film and the screen. Because of that, some of the screen touches weren’t registering that well. However, after a few days of using it, the space I mentioned earlier was no longer there because the touchscreen film has attached itself to the screen.

The lower right corner features a slot for the wrist lanyard that is included in the package.
catalyst case for iphone 6

The audio jack, lightning port, and speakers are protected by a plug pictured below.
catalyst case for iphone 6

To plug in earphones or charge the iPhone, the plug has to be removed.
catalyst case for iphone 6

As you can see in the photo below, the Apple earbuds fit perfectly to the audio jack even with the Catalyst Case installed. However, the same can’t be said for other earphones/headphones like the Sony MDR-ZX100. I tried plugging it in but the plug was too big to fit into the audio jack cutout.
catalyst case for iphone 6

Another issue is with third-party cables, chargers, and docks. The official lightning cable fits fine but other charging cables might not work if the plug is too fat/thick. My wife bought a charging dock to use in her office but can’t use it anymore because of the Catalyst case.

WATERPROOF TEST

I haven’t had the opportunity to perform a waterproof test on the Catalyst Waterproof iPhone 6 case because it is installed on my wife’s iPhone. She uses it all the time and brings it to work with her. I will update this post and share the results of the waterproof test once I’m done with it.

SUMMARY

Overall, the Catalyst Waterproof iPhone 6 case is a very durable and heavy-duty case. I know it’s a bit pricey but a device like the iPhone is an expensive investment that deserves maximum protection. This case will protect it from bumps, accidental drops and will keep it waterproof, dustproof, and snowproof so you have peace of mind knowing that your device is well protected.

The product is ideal for outdoor activities and trips. It is also good for iPhone users who work in construction, landscaping, and other jobs that are exposed to water, dust, and other weather elements. If you are a student or someone who has a white-collar job, then you probably won’t appreciate or think that you need the Catalyst Case. However, you still need one for when you go to the beach, camping, fishing, mountain biking, snowboarding, etc.

PROS

  • Waterproof, dustproof and snowproof
  • Protects from bumps and drops
  • Slim profile
  • Integrated touchscreen film
  • Touch ID access

CONS

  • Compatibility with third-party accessories (cables/docks)
  • Power and volume buttons need extra effort to press
  • Sound is muffled when audio jack plug is installed
  • A bit pricey

The Catalyst Waterproof iPhone 6 case I used for this review is available from their official website for $69.99. Catalyst also offers waterproof cases for other iPhone models – 4/4S, 5/5S, 6 Plus, 6S, 6S Plus, iPhone SE, iPad Mini 4, iPad Pro 9.7″, iPad Pro 12.9″ as well as the Apple Watch.

Anyone here owns or have tried a Catalyst Waterproof iPhone 6 case or any Catalyst case? What are the things you like/dislike about it? Please share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.

DISCLAIMER: The product used in this review was provided by Catalyst but all opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine.

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