This is the English edition of a review from my Japanese YouTube channel, iestaLife. I review gadgets from my home studio in Japan, so product links go to Amazon Japan.
Quick take
The SPORTLINK case seals the whole iPhone 17 Pro Max, screen included, in something that looks like a normal case. Photos and video shot through it showed almost no loss in quality — a big step up from pouch-style waterproof bags. The catch: with the case on, the earpiece becomes so quiet that I could barely hear people on calls, and the waterproofing is best treated as splash-and-paddle level.
What I tested
- SPORTLINK waterproof case for iPhone 17 Pro Max, MagSafe version, bought with my own money
- A few days of use on a trip, including filming in a river
- A short dunk in a water tank at home, then opening the case to check for leaks
What I found
- It weighed 65.5 g on my scale — heavier than most cases, and more than the 54.8 g pouch-style case I own, but still well under 100 g.
- You must remove any camera lens guard before fitting it. The manual also says to remove your glass screen protector; I kept mine on, which is not recommended, but it worked for me.
- Image quality through the case was nearly indistinguishable from shooting without it.
- Underwater the touchscreen stops working, but the Camera Control button still works as a shutter. You need to switch between photo and video before going under.
- After the tank test, water had reached the outer rim but not the inside. I would not take it snorkelling, and some buyers report it failing after repeated opening — think of it as a one-summer case.
- Do not touch the inside of the lens window: I tried to lift dust off with tape and left a cloudy patch.
- Touch, Face ID, MagSafe (slightly weaker than a normal case), contactless payment, wired and MagSafe charging all worked.
- Calls are the big weakness: the earpiece volume drops so much that the other person is hard to hear. Speakerphone or earbuds work around it.
Specs I confirmed
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Price at recording | ¥2,879 in a time sale on Amazon Japan (under ¥3,000 when I bought it) |
| Measured weight | 65.5 g |
| Colours | Black with MagSafe, pink, black, blue |
| In the box | Opening tool, hand strap, manual |
Who it is for
- Good fit: pool, beach and river days where you want to keep your iPhone dry and still get sharp photos; also handy for watching videos in the bath.
- Not a fit: if you need to make normal phone calls with the case on, or plan to stay underwater for long periods.
Watch the review
The video is in Japanese. Useful chapters: 01:18 weight, 03:32 fitting and screen protector notes, 05:28 the call problem, 06:44 river footage, 08:12 tank test, 12:39 MagSafe and payments, 15:01 charging.
Limitations
My leak test was short and shallow, so take it as a rough check rather than a rating. The price is Amazon Japan at the time of recording, in yen. I used the iPhone 17 Pro Max size; other sizes are listed but I did not test them.
Products
SPORTLINK waterproof case for iPhone 17 Pro Max (MagSafe): on Amazon Japan
The Amazon Japan link above is an affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Check the listing for the exact model, current price and shipping availability in your region.
More reviews in English
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This review is also available in Japanese.