Never mind what IP rating your phone has—if it drops into a river or the sea, it sinks. Unless, of course, it’s the Comet Core or housed in a buoyant case. To prevent your phone from becoming part of the vast seabed trove of manmade treasure, a company has developed a lifesaver for it. Perfect for anglers and any sea-loving folks, the device—aptly dubbed Float Buddy—works much like the Kingii wrist-worn inflatable. Except that Float Buddy is automatic.
When a Float Buddy-equipped phone goes overboard, it automatically deploys a tube float to bring it back to the surface. Voilà! A phone saved from becoming part of an undersea exhibit and given another shot at life. I know, right? Finally, an IP rating that actually means something over the ocean.
Float Buddy consists of two parts: the main device with the inflatable phonesaver (yes, it really should be called that), and a mounting disc that attaches to the back of your phone—case or no case—using the included 3M adhesive sticker. This means you can attach Float Buddy only when you need it. According to the website, it also works with your existing pop-up phone holder.
One thing to note: Float Buddy may accidentally trigger if exposed to spills or excess moisture. Also, it has a payload limit—devices must weigh 1.5 lbs (around 680 grams) or less. So if you’re rocking something super dense like the Oukitel WP100 Titan, well, it’s still headed for Davy Jones’ locker.
If you’re onboard with the idea, you can pick up the Float Buddy from float-buddy.com for US$59.99. Sure, it’s not cheap—but sixty bucks to save a thousand-dollar phone and all the precious photos of your catch of the day? Totally worth it, IMHO.
Images: Float Buddy.
