PRODUCT | Hitcase - CRIO - for iPhone X

Hitcase CRIO with Wide & Ultra Wide Lens

When you trust your phone to Hitcase it can go from the sweat factory to the glacier to the lake and back again without worry. Poolside Cancun, I've brought it there. Tut tut riding in Vietnam, I've brought it there. Parasailing in Thailand and, ya, I brought it there.

Now I've been loving my iPhone 6 Plus for the last 3 years, but finally it was time to upgrade. I'd been drooling over the iPhone X ever since its announcement back in September and I was able to get my hands on one in November and, of course, I was excited to also upgrade my Hitcase to protect my new baby and I was delighted when I came home a few days ago to a package of Hitcase goodies had arrived in my mailbox!  I couldn't wait to open the package and out came a Hitcase CRIO, 2 Magnetic TrueLUX Lens (wide & ultra wide) and a car mount. I was set!

The main thing to me is, of course, protecting my $1800 iPhone for which I had to pay cash for to keep my sweet cell phone plan, but we'll save that for another post. After a few days' use, I feel the CRIO will do just that. I'm usually pretty careful with my tech toys, but there will be times when I get clumsy and it slips from my hand. The Crio is lightweight, but yet thick enough for a 'harder-than-you-thought' drop onto the table.

The Crio also has a built in magnetic plate in the back of its case for all your mounting needs! My package came with this car mount which is super easy to 'mount' onto your car. You simply have to clip the claw onto your vent, lift your phone up to the magnetic circle on the mount, and TA-DA, your phone is now securely mounted onto your car.

One of the biggest difference I noticed with Hitcase's newest offerings is the new lens system. They're now magnetic, snap-on lens instead of their tradition screw on lens.  This makes obtaining that wide & ultra wide angle that much easier! Just take off the protective plastic caps & let the magnet do its job - VIOLA, now you can capture the whole room without moving 10 steps back!

Here's some of the tech specs from their website:

THE NEXT GENERATION OF TRUELUX OPTICS

Completely redesigned for even better optical clarity. Available for HITCASE PRO, SHIELD LINK & CRIO

• Refined optical design produces the sharpest image in its class

• No vignetting, edge to edge clarity

• Very low chromatic aberration

• Completely waterproof, dust-proof, snow-proof with or without a Hitcase

• Two start thread and magnetic LINK™ mounting for ease of use between all Hitcase products

• Anodized aluminum construction

• Anti-reflective and anti-scratch coatings on all lens elements.
   

THE NEXT GENERATION OF TRUELUX OPTICS

Hitcase Wide & Ultra Wide Lens

Regular iPhone X lens

Hitcase Wide Lens

Hitcase Ultra Wide Lens

I can highly recommend Hitcase and have counted on them, almost from their inception, to keep my iPhones safe, especially on vacations, as well as allowing me to capture some spectacular angles without having to lug my 90 lb DSLR around everywhere!  I can't wait for the Pro & Shield to come into rotation for the iPhone X and I'm sure I'll write another review!

Product Review: Hitcase Shield & Hitcase Snap

How much does your phone cost? I doubt many people would bat an eye to the fact that the phone I'm typing these words on is worth $1,300... $1,300!? Enter Hitcase, who now boast the world's thinnest waterproof case; the Hitcase Shield! I was fortunate enough to get my hands on both the Shield and the famous Hitcase Snap for my iPhone 6S Plus. We'll start our review with the Shield that hasn't left my phone since I got it.

The feeling of a 'naked' iPhone is such a sweet thing. Think about it. You pull it out of its case and peel of the dingy old screen protector and give it all a thorough wipe. The feeling of that little chunk of aircraft glass and plastic so slim and smooth in your palm; all at once exhilarating and terrifying. If you're like me you re-armour your trusty companion and go on about your day, but with the Shield you still get that slim, 'naked' feeling! It's shockproof, not resistant, waterproof, not sprinkle proof!  Drop it, kick it, take it in a tsunami and Hitcase has you covered!

The Snap is the heavy duty big brother to the Shield. Bulky for that extra shock protection during whichever extreme sport you're recording. It comes with the trademark Hitcase fisheye lens for that GoPro-Essie footage and is mountable on any Hitcase selfie stick or other accessory. I have literally never taken it off, save for demoing the Pro, since I got it and won't be doing so anytime soon. Serving as the perfect compliment to my beloved iPhone when I'm on the ski hill. Serving to make Apple's products (Samsung and the rest of the copycat gang as well) better by eliminating the need for a GoPro! Apple spent all this time, money and resources to make their devices shoot video in the splendour that is 4K and Hitcase came along and served a very big need in the market.

Don't bother with GoPro, just don't, I've personally lost 2 at the bottom on the Pacific and Indian Oceans respectively and the anxiety and fear that the fragility of GoPro accessories leaves you with detracts, massively, from the enjoyment of the day! Go get a Hitcase and spend the money you save on something nice for someone you love! Go now!

Words: Scott Allan
Photos: Jenn Chan