Waterproof phone case problems often go unnoticed—until your call sounds muffled, your screen stops responding, or your underwater photos look like a blurry mess.
Have you ever struggled with an underwater phone case?
- Muffled calls where you can’t hear the other person?
- A laggy touchscreen that ignores your taps?
- Blurry underwater photos ruining your perfect shot?
- Waterproof case that feels bulky and unattractive?
- Buttons and charging ports that are hard to press or access?
In Amazon reviews, Reddit, and other tech communities, thousands of phone case users are discussing the performance of waterproof cases.
And if you're shopping for a waterproof phone case, these are issues you’ll want to understand and avoid.
So, in this article, we’ll break down the five most common waterproof phone case issues, based on 1,000+ real user reviews and hands-on testing, and give the solution.
1. Sound Becomes Muffled or Too Quiet
To effectively block water, most waterproof phone cases are sealed tightly on all sides. While this design is essential for waterproofing, it often creates an unintended side effect: poor call quality in waterproof cases.
Sound travels through air, and when the air inside the case is sealed off, it interferes with your phone’s speaker and microphone performance.
The result? Muffled calls, unclear music playback, and low-quality voice recordings.
Another common issue is the accumulation of lint, dust, or sand in the small gaps between the phone and case. These particles can clog the speaker mesh or microphone openings, further muffle the sound.
How to Improve Sound Quality When Using a Waterproof Case:
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Turn off noise cancellation. Navigate to: Settings > Accessibility > Hearing > Phone Noise Cancellation. Disabling this setting can improve sound clarity when using a sealed case.
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Use a case with a built-in screen protector. Avoid doubling up with an extra screen protector underneath, as it can dampen sound transmission.
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Adjust your call setup. For the clearest audio, open the charging port (if safely possible) during calls or switch to speakerphone, Bluetooth, or wired headphones.
Beeasy's Solution: Our cases are engineered with precision acoustic vents and membranes. These let air vibrations pass through naturally while maintaining complete waterproof protection. Whether you’re on a call, recording voice memos, or listening to music, Beeasy ensures clear, vibrant sound—even in harsh environments.
2. Touchscreen Doesn’t Respond Properly
When using a waterproof case underwater, touchscreen issues become especially noticeable.
That’s because smartphone screens rely on detecting the small electrical signals from your fingers. Water, being a conductor, scatters these signals, making it hard for your phone to tell where you touched.
This often leads to ghost touches, delayed response, or the touchscreen not working.
The problem gets worse if the waterproof case uses a thick or rigid film over the screen. The tighter the seal and the thicker the layer, the harder it is for the screen to register a clear, deliberate touch.
How to Improve Touchscreen Functionality Underwater:
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Use the physical volume or shutter buttons to take photos underwater instead of tapping the screen.
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Choose a waterproof case with an air-buffer screen film that allows partial screen contact. This helps preserve single-point touch accuracy.
Beeasy’s Solution: Beeasy’s CrystalTouch™ screen uses thin, ultra-flexible plastic film that forms a tight seal without interfering with touch sensitivity.
It’s responsive enough to register accurate taps, swipes, and Face ID—even with light underwater use or gloved hands. Just follow the installation guide to ensure a perfect fit.
3. Camera Gets Blurry or Blocked
Blurry or foggy photos when using a waterproof phone case are usually caused by condensation inside the lens area.
When the air inside the case is warmer than the outside, especially during underwater use or in humid environments, moisture can condense on the inner surface of the lens window. This creates fog that clouds your images.
Another factor is the material used in cheaper cases. Many low-cost waterproof cases use plastic lens covers with poor light transmittance, which scatters light and leads to the case blocking the lens.
How to Prevent Foggy or Blurry Photos in Waterproof Cases:
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Use anti-fog inserts to absorb moisture and reduce internal humidity.
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Consider professional-grade underwater housings like SeaLife SportDiver if you plan to do deep diving or extensive underwater photography with an iPhone.
Beeasy's Solution: Beeasy uses a PVC lens cover with high light transmittance to ensure clear, vibrant photos. Additionally, our internal honeycomb heat-dissipation design helps regulate temperature and prevent internal fog buildup, keeping your lens clear for every shot.
4. Waterproof Case Looks Bulky and Heavy
To achieve strong waterproof protection, many manufacturers design their cases with multi-layer seals. While this improves durability and water resistance, it also adds thickness and weight.
Additionally, for every meter of water depth, pressure increases by 0.1 atmosphere. That means even standard IP68-rated waterproof cases must withstand 3 to 15 meters of pressure. To survive those conditions, the frame and casing must be reinforced, often resulting in a bulky or unattractive design.
How to Avoid a Bulky Waterproof Case:
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Use a lightweight waterproof pouch if you're looking for minimal bulk and only need basic splash protection (note: not suitable for deep diving).
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Choose a case that uses intelligent material engineering to balance protection and weight.
5. Buttons and Charging Ports Are Hard to Use
Waterproof cases often prioritize sealing over usability, which can lead to stiff buttons, blocked ports, or even a need to remove the entire case just to recharge. The pressure from waterproof layers or rigid TPU frames may reduce button responsiveness and make it difficult to power on your device or adjust the volume quickly.
Additionally, many users report frustration when trying to open charging port covers, especially with wet hands or when cables don’t fit snugly due to misaligned cutouts.
How to Improve Button and Port Usability in Waterproof Cases:
- Look for cases with soft-touch button overlays that allow easy pressing without excessive force.
- Ensure the port cover design is ergonomic and doesn’t require tools or fingernails to open.
- Check for wide compatibility with different charging cables, especially if you use fast chargers or docking stations.
Beeasy’s Solution: Beeasy cases are built with ultra-sensitive TPU button membranes that maintain a comfortable tactile feel. Our reinforced yet flexible port covers offer a secure seal while remaining easy to open, even with wet hands. We precision-engineer our cutouts for wide compatibility, so you don’t have to struggle to charge, adjust volume, or take action when it counts.
Come to a Conclusion
Want to solve the top 5 problems of waterproof phone cases, muffled sound, poor touch response, blurry photos, stiff buttons and bulky design? Buy a Beeasy Waterproof Phone Case and solve them once and for all!