How to Install the Outex Waterproof Phone Case and Dome Port: Step-by-Step Guide

Phone kit installation follows the same principles as all Outex camera products. The cover creates a waterproof seal in conjunction with the lens port. Follow the steps below carefully, and always perform the waterproof seal test before putting your phone inside.

To avoid dropping or damaging any components during installation, perform the installation while seated with the kit over your lap, or at a table with a soft surface such as a towel or cloth.

Before You Start: Helpful Tips

• Remove any external phone case before installing the Outex cover.
• Thread the wrist strap through the cover loop before sealing — it's the best way to ensure you won't drop or lose the kit in the water.
• Perform the waterproof seal test without your phone inside first. This teaches you the correct seal process and confirms the kit is working before your phone is at risk.
• The dome port adds significant buoyancy — it traps enough air to float most phones.
• Explore your phone camera's lens options before your shoot. Most phones have multiple lenses for different focal lengths — your results will vary depending on which lens you use.

Step 1: Waterproof Seal Test (Without Phone)

Before installing your phone, test the seal with the kit empty. This confirms the installation is correct and teaches you the feel of a properly sealed kit.

Step 2: Install the Phone and Seal the Kit

1. Insert the phone into the cover through the opening, with the phone camera lens facing forward and outward through the lens opening. Hold the cover with one hand and the phone with the other, and shuffle the phone back and forth until it is fully seated inside. Set it aside.
2. Seat the lens port in the cover channel. Remove the washer and nut from the lens port by unthreading them counterclockwise. Insert the lens port into the cover's built-in channel inside the opening, ensuring the cover lip is evenly distributed all the way around. The built-in channel secures the port in place and exposes the threads.
3. Attach the washer and nut to create the seal. Place the washer onto the port with the washer's female (L-shaped) side in direct contact with the cover's lip. The flat surface of the washer should face outward. Thread the nut clockwise onto the port threads — use one hand to hold the phone and cover, and the other to tighten the nut. Continue tightening until secure. Threading the nut creates the waterproof seal.

Dome port note: The Phone Dome Port installs identically to the flat lens port, except that the dome's washer and nut are built into the dome itself — no separate washer or nut is required.

For a detailed close-up of the seal installation process:

Air Gap Tip: Improving Touchscreen Response

Before sealing the kit, you can intentionally trap a small amount of extra air inside the housing. This creates an air gap between the cover and the touchscreen, improving touchscreen responsiveness — especially at the surface. For full details on the air gap technique and underwater button configuration, see the Phone Controls Guide.

Operating the Camera Underwater

Use your phone's physical side buttons to trigger the camera and video functions underwater. Most phones are pre-programmed for this — volume buttons trigger the shutter on both iOS and Android. Touchscreen responsiveness is limited underwater due to water pressure; use the touchscreen at the surface to adjust settings, then switch to side buttons when submerged.

Launch the camera directly from the lock screen for faster access and fewer accidental inputs underwater.

For full details on button customisation, the air gap technique, and iOS and Android settings, see the Phone Controls Guide.

Phone Dome Port: Split-Level Photography

The Outex Phone Dome 120mm corrects light refraction at and below the waterline, restoring your phone camera's natural field of view and significantly improving split-level (half above, half below water) shots.

Phone Case Dimensions

Outex phone case dimensions — fits all major smartphone sizes.

Lens port positioning and cover measurements.

Compatible phones: Apple iPhone (all models including iPhone Max and Pro), Samsung Galaxy and Galaxy S Ultra, Google Pixel, and most major Android smartphones.

Ready to Get Started?

Browse the full Outex phone system — including the Phone Pro Kit, dome port, and accessories — in the Phone Kits section. For answers to common questions, visit the Phone FAQ.

Browse Outex Phone Kits →