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I’ve tried waterproof phone cases before, and technically, they worked. My phone stayed dry.
Taking pictures with them was another story.
Trying to use the screen through a plastic pouch while floating in the ocean usually meant tapping the same button five times, missing the photo I wanted and eventually wondering why I didn’t just leave my phone on the beach.
And if I managed to take a picture, the quality was usually so bad that it wasn’t worth the energy it took to capture it.
Now, I have a very nice camera, and I was toying with the idea of buying a waterproof housing for it so I could finally get some decent underwater pictures. But those were super expensive, and I wasn’t about to risk my expensive camera on a case I didn’t know would work.
I also looked into buying a camera specifically for getting underwater pictures, but I wasn’t interested in forking over a ton of money for something I would be able to use a couple times a year max.
So before our latest trip to Roatán, I did some research and bought the TELESIN waterproof phone case, hoping it would solve my problems.
I actually used it while snorkeling in Roatán, so this isn’t one of those reviews based on opening the box in my kitchen. I wanted to know whether I could actually use my phone underwater—and, more importantly, whether the photos were any good.
Here’s how it worked.
Quick Answer: Is the TELESIN waterproof phone case worth it?
For snorkeling, I thought it was a huge improvement over the waterproof phone pouches I’d used before. It kept my phone protected while still letting me actually use it to take underwater photos. There are a few things I’d want to know before buying one, though.
Why I Chose the TELESIN Waterproof Phone Case
I wasn’t looking for another waterproof pouch. I’d already tried those, and while they did their job keeping my phone dry, they didn’t solve the part I actually cared about—taking decent underwater pictures.
What caught my attention with the TELESIN was that it looked more like an actual underwater camera housing. Your phone sits inside a hard case, and instead of trying to operate the touchscreen underwater, you use physical controls on the case to take photos and videos.
That was exactly what I wanted.
I could use the camera I already had in my pocket without spending a small fortune on underwater housing for my professional camera—or spending the entire snorkel trip fighting with a plastic bag.
The price also made it feel like a reasonable experiment. If it worked, great. I’d have an easy way to take underwater photos on our trip. If it didn’t, at least I hadn’t spent hundreds (or more) trying to turn my regular camera into an underwater camera.
So I ordered it and hoped I wasn’t about to put my phone into an expensive little aquarium.
How Is the TELESIN Waterproof Phone Case Different
Every waterproof phone case I’d used before was basically the same idea: put your phone inside a plastic pouch, seal it up and use the touchscreen through the plastic. And yes, they worked on occasion. But for me, they were always better at protecting my phone from water than actually helping me take pictures underwater.
This case is very different. Once you’ve set it up and it’s closed, you’re not relying on the touchscreen underwater.
The case has physical controls on the outside that let you operate your phone’s camera while you’re in the water.
And honestly, that was the whole reason I bought it.
When you’re snorkeling, you don’t have two hands free to mess around with your phone. You’re swimming, trying not to kick the person behind you in the face, watching where you’re going and—hopefully—looking at the fish.
I wanted something I could point, press a button and take a picture.
As I mentioned there is a little setup involved before you get into the water, and I definitely wouldn’t recommend waiting until you’re standing on the beach ready to snorkel to figure it out for the first time.
But once I had everything set up and my phone secured inside, using it felt much more like carrying an underwater camera than carrying my phone around in a waterproof bag.
Testing the TELESIN Waterproof Phone Case Before Using
I highly recommend testing the case’s waterproofness (is that a word?) before packing it for vacay.
I did a test at home in my kitchen sink. I folded up some paper towels and sealed them inside the case. Then I submerged the entire case for 20 minutes.
Thankfully, we had zero leaks, and I felt reasonably confident I wasn’t going to destroy my phone. Can I get an Amen?!
The TELESIN does take a few minutes to set up the first time. I took the time to sit down with the directions before leaving home so I didn’t waste any time on vacation and I’m glad I did because I would have been irritated to get ready to head out to the beach and realize the case actually needed to be charged first!
How to Set Up the TELESIN Waterproof Phone Case
1. Charge the TELESIN handle. A full charge takes about two hours, so I recommend doing this before sealing up your suitcase to head to the airport. There is a small black USB cord that has a magnetic contact-point end that you use to charge.
2. Turn on the TELESIN remote. Hold the capture button (the orange metallic button) for about two seconds.
3. Connect it to your phone with Bluetooth. Look for TELESIN_SDC in your phone’s Bluetooth settings.
4. Turn off Auto-Lock/Screen Timeout. You don’t want your phone going to sleep while it’s sealed inside the case.
5. Turn on Do Not Disturb. Otherwise, notifications can interfere while you’re trying to use the camera.
6. Open your phone’s regular camera app and leave it open.
7. Remove your everyday phone case. TELESIN recommends installing the phone bare.
8. Clean your phone’s camera lenses and the glass inside the TELESIN case. This is an easy step to forget—and exactly the kind of thing that can ruin otherwise good underwater photos. They do send along a cloth for that purpose.
9. Put your phone into the clamp and line its camera lenses up with the case’s viewing window. Check the widest camera setting before sealing it to make sure nothing blocks the shot.
10. Close all five latches.
11. Use the included vacuum pump. Unscrew the vacuum valve, place the pump against the port and pump it about 3–4 times. Then securely close the valve again. This reduces the air inside and helps prevent condensation/fogging.
12. Attach the wrist strap.
One Extra Step for iPhone Users
This one is weird enough that I think it’s worth calling out separately.
For full control functionality on an iPhone, TELESIN says to go to:
Settings → Accessibility → Zoom → Zoom Region → Full Screen Zoom
Then turn Zoom on. Android phones don’t require this additional setup.
One thing I almost missed: When you’re finished using the case, release the vacuum pressure before trying to open it. You do this just by unscrewing the vacuum knob and pressing the black gasket on the inside. Otherwise, you might panic and think you’ve permanently cemented your case shut and will have to carry your phone like this forever. Ask me how I know.
What the Buttons Do
This is one of the biggest advantages over those plastic waterproof pouches.
The TELESIN gives you five physical controls:
Capture button — Take a photo or start/stop video. Holding it for about two seconds also turns the remote on or off.
W button — Zoom out/wider.
T button — Zoom in/telephoto.
Mode button 1 — Press to move between camera modes; holding it can provide quick camera access on supported phones.
Mode button 2 — Press to move between camera modes; holding it switches between the front and rear cameras.
Using the TELESIN Waterproof Phone Case While Snorkeling
The first time I took it into the water, I was still a little nervous.
I know the entire point of a waterproof case is to put your phone underwater, but intentionally dunking an expensive phone into the Caribbean takes a certain amount of trust.
Thankfully, that nervousness disappeared pretty quickly.
Once we started snorkeling, I stopped thinking about the case and started using it like a camera.
I could swim, see something I wanted to photograph, point the phone and take the picture without fighting with the screen.
If you’re headed to Roatán specifically for the snorkeling, I also have a full guide to the best snorkeling in Roatán, including the spots we’ve actually snorkeled ourselves.
Okay, full disclosure… It did take a little getting used to and I ended up accidentally changing the mode, flipping the screen around and doing some other stupid stuff while figuring out the buttons.
Spend a few minutes getting used to the buttons and what they do before you get in the water, or you’ll be blindly pushing stuff and end up with some images that aren’t nearly as exciting as the cool fish swimming in front of you.
Underwater Photo Quality: Were the Pictures Actually Good?
This was the part I cared about most.
Keeping my phone dry is obviously important, but I wasn’t looking for an expensive waterproof box. I bought this because I wanted underwater pictures that were actually worth keeping.
And I think they are.
Are they the same quality I’d get from my professional camera above water? Of course not. You’re shooting underwater, the light is different and everything is moving—including me.
But compared to the underwater pictures I’d managed to get with waterproof phone pouches before, these weren’t even in the same league.
I was able to get clear photos of the fish, coral and everything else we were seeing while snorkeling in Roatán. More importantly, I could actually concentrate on what I was photographing instead of fighting with my phone.
I’ll let you judge the results for yourself because I think that’s more useful than me telling you they’re good.
All of the underwater photos below were taken with my phone inside the TELESIN case while snorkeling in Roatán.
We did a lot of snorkeling on this trip, but if you’d rather head out with a guide, I’ve also put together my picks for the best snorkeling tours in Roatán.
What I Liked About the TELESIN Waterproof Phone Case
The biggest thing for me is simple: it actually solved the problem I bought it to solve.
I could take my phone snorkeling, actually use the camera underwater and come home with pictures I liked. That sounds like a pretty low bar, but after trying waterproof phone pouches, it felt like a major upgrade.
I also liked that:
- The physical buttons actually work underwater. I didn’t have to fight with a touchscreen through wet plastic.
- My phone stayed completely dry. Kind of important.
- The photo quality was much better than I expected.
- I could take both photos and video without buying a separate underwater camera.
- It felt secure in my hand. The handle made it much easier to use while swimming than holding onto a slippery pouch.
- The wrist strap gave me some extra peace of mind. Because watching my phone sink to the bottom of the Caribbean wasn’t on my Roatán itinerary.
And maybe most importantly, I’d use it again.
That last part matters more to me than a long list of features. There are plenty of travel gadgets I’ve bought, used once and never bothered packing again.
This isn’t one of them.
Would I Trust the TELESIN Case With My Phone Again?
Yes. And I think that’s probably the best endorsement I can give it.
I was definitely nervous the first time I put my phone underwater, but after using the TELESIN while snorkeling in Roatán, I wouldn’t hesitate to use it again.
My phone stayed completely dry, the controls worked underwater, and I came home with photos I was genuinely happy with.
I would still test the case before every trip. We’re talking about putting an expensive phone underwater, and spending 20 minutes testing it with a few paper towels seems like a pretty reasonable precaution.
But would I pack this again for another snorkeling trip?
Absolutely.
Who I Think the TELESIN Waterproof Phone Case Is Best For
I think this case makes the most sense for someone like me who wants good underwater vacation photos without buying an entirely separate underwater camera setup.
If you’re going snorkeling on vacation, swimming in clear water, hanging out at the beach or spending a lot of time around the water, this gives you a way to use the camera you already own—your phone.
I’d especially recommend it if you’ve tried the waterproof phone pouches and found them as frustrating as I did.
It’s probably overkill if your only goal is keeping your phone dry while you’re sitting by the pool. A basic waterproof pouch can handle that job for a lot less money.
But if you actually want to take pictures underwater, that’s where I think the TELESIN earns its place in your suitcase.
For me, the difference was that I wasn’t just bringing my phone into the water.
I was actually able to use it as an underwater camera.
Would I Use the TELESIN Case for Scuba Diving?
This is where I need to make an important distinction.
I tested the TELESIN case snorkeling, not scuba diving.
The case is rated by TELESIN for depths up to 20 meters/65 feet, but I haven’t personally taken my phone anywhere near that deep. So I’m not going to tell you I’d happily jump off a dive boat and take it down to 60 feet based on a depth rating printed on the box.
And we scuba dive.
For me, snorkeling with my phone inside the case and taking it on an actual dive are two very different levels of trust.
And to be honest, my husband reminded me that I’m not Jacques Cousteau and given my “limited” experience diving he felt it would be best to have full use of my hands and paying attention to my oxygen level instead of taking images. Fair enough!
However, after how well it performed snorkeling, would I consider trying it at greater depths?
Probably.
But until I’ve actually done it myself, I can only tell you how it performed for the way I used it—and snorkeling in Roatán, it worked extremely well.
If I eventually get brave enough to take my phone scuba diving in it, I’ll come back and update this review.
Final Verdict: Is the TELESIN Waterproof Phone Case Worth It?
For me, yes.
I bought the TELESIN because I wanted better underwater photos without spending a fortune on an underwater camera or a waterproof housing for my professional camera.
That’s exactly what I got.
It kept my phone dry, the physical controls made taking pictures underwater so much easier, and most importantly, I came home from Roatán with underwater photos I actually liked.
There’s a little bit of a learning curve with the buttons, and I absolutely recommend setting it up and practicing with it before your trip. I also wouldn’t skip testing the seal before trusting it with an expensive phone.
But those are pretty minor things compared to how well it worked for me.
Would I pack it for another snorkeling trip?
Absolutely.
In fact, it’s already earned a permanent spot on my tropical vacation packing list.
Want to Try the TELESIN Waterproof Phone Case?
I bought this for our Roatán trip because I wanted better underwater photos without investing in an expensive underwater camera setup. After actually snorkeling with it, I’d buy it again.
TELESIN Waterproof Phone Case FAQs
Is the TELESIN waterproof phone case actually waterproof?
Mine was. I tested the case at home before our trip and then used it while snorkeling in Roatán without any water getting inside. I would still test the seal before every trip before trusting it with an expensive phone.
Can you take good underwater pictures with the TELESIN case?
I was really happy with mine. The physical controls made it much easier to take underwater photos than the waterproof phone pouches I’d used before. You can see the actual photos I took while snorkeling in Roatán above.
Can you use the TELESIN waterproof phone case for snorkeling?
Absolutely. That’s exactly how I used mine, and I’d take it snorkeling again.
Can you scuba dive with the TELESIN waterproof phone case?
TELESIN rates my case for depths up to 20 meters/65 feet, but I only tested mine while snorkeling. I haven’t personally taken it scuba diving, so I can’t tell you how it performs at those depths.
Does the TELESIN waterproof phone case work with an iPhone?
Yes. I used mine with an iPhone. There is an extra accessibility setting TELESIN recommends for iPhone users, which I explain in the setup instructions above.
Planning your own trip? Head over to my Roatán, Honduras travel guide for all of my Roatán posts in one place, including where to stay, beaches, snorkeling, restaurants and the practical stuff I wish everyone knew before going.