Underwater Audio vs Waterfi Compared

Disclaimer: This article was written by Underwater Audio. The information presented is that to the best of our knowledge of both our company and others.
Purchasing new electronics can seem like a daunting task. There are a lot of options out there and you want to make sure to get your money’s worth.
Only small number of companies offer a waterproofed iPod Shuffle.  In order to make your purchasing process easier, here is a comparison between Underwater Audio and Waterfi when it comes to products, warranties, reviews and customer service.

Products

Though the waterproof iPod shuffle is a main product for both Underwater Audio and Waterfi, there are a few differences in the pricing, accessory products and bonus items included in the purchase.

 

	UNDERWATER AUDIO	Waterfi
iPod	Uses innovative proprietary waterproofing process since established Price: $210	Previously disassembled iPods, now uses a partly proprietary process to waterproof Price: $165
Headphones	4 pairs of headphones for various water activities Many types and sizes of earbud, equipped for watertight seal Short Cord	2 types of headphones, 3-4 sizes of earbuds Short Cord
Extras	Custom engraving and gift wrapping options FREE iFloatie and workout tracks with purchase of an iPod Other accessories for sale	Other accessories for sale

THE WATERPROOFING PROCESS

One of the main questions our customers ask is what the difference between our waterproofing process is vs those of our competitors. Underwater Audio uses an innovative, proprietary waterproofing process that ultimately lasts the longest.
In previous years, Waterfi would take the iPod apart to waterproof it before reassembling it. This process causes a shorter life for the iPod because of the micro damage done to electronics when opened and tampered with. 2 years after we launched our innovative waterproofing process, Waterfi stopped opening their iPods to waterproof, and began using a partial proprietary process as well.

HEADPHONES

Waterproof headphones are necessary to listen to a waterproofed iPod. Both companies sell these, either along with an iPod or separately. Underwater Audio is always working to come out with new and improved headphones for various water activities (check out HydroActives for swimming and watersports). Our 2 newer pairs of headphones include 4 different types of earbuds, and different sizes to ensure a perfect watertight seal.
Both Underwater Audio and Waterfi have short cord headphones to eliminate hassle, and though the blue color of Waterfi’s headphones is eye-catching, the earbuds tend to slide out more and do not work to create that water tight seal.

BONUSES

Who doesn’t love a little something extra when receiving an order? If your order from their website includes an iPod, Underwater Audio includes a few things.
iFloatie: This flotation device is like a little life jacket for your iPod! You attach it on and if you happen to drop your iPod, it will just float to the surface. This is especially helpful if you’re near open water
Michael Poole and Swim Workout Tracks: With your order confirmation you will receive various workout tracks with Professional Triathlete, Michael Poole. These are very easy to download and will enhance your training!
Custom Engraving and Gift Wrapping (US only): If you want to make your iPod a little more personal for you or a loved one, there’s an option at checkout to engrave the back of the iPod with any words of your choice (14 characters or less). If the iPod is a gift, the package can be gift wrapped and sent with a message.

Warranty

Warranty isn’t always the first thing we think of while buying a new product, but When you purchase something that’s meant to last, there’s more peace of mind knowing that it can be replaced if it breaks for whatever reason.

	Underwater Audio	Waterfi
Returns if Unopened	Can return anytime if unused and unopened	Can return within 30 days
Conditions of Warranty	Broken or damaged, covers “wear and tear” Does not replace lost or stolen items	Must be a defect in workmanship Does not replace lost or stolen items
Length of Warranty	2 years for iPod, 1 year for most headphones	2 years for iPod, 1 year for headphones

 

Amazon Reviews

When looking for electronics specifically, the search isn’t over until you read the reviews. The amount of reviews and what they say, can determine a lot about a product and the company that produces it. Most of the reviews for both Underwater Audio and Waterfi are on Amazon, a big selling platform for the two.
Amazon customers can rate products in a star system from 1-5. Along with the rating they can leave reviews for other customers to view. In the chart below we can see that the single waterproof iPod shuffle for Underwater Audio currently has 4.5 stars on Amazon compared to Waterfi’s 3.8 stars, and that the amount of reviews Underwater Audio has is more than double the amount that Waterfi has.

Underwater Audio	4.5 Stars	3,200 Reviews
Waterfi Image Source: www.Amazon.com	3.8 Stars	1,505 Reviews

Note: This information was updated on 7/10/2018

Customer service

You will be greeted by a pleasant team of employees with both Underwater Audio and Waterfi through phone or email. Aside from their lasting products, however, Underwater Audio’s customer service team is one of the most reviewed aspects of the company. They work with individuals to solve problems case by case.
Longer hours also allow customers to reach Underwater Audio by phone more often. They are open Mon-Fri 8-5 while Waterfi is open Mon-Fri 9-4.

Final Breakdown

Hopefully this helps you make a more informed decision when in the market for a waterproof music. If you still have questions, you can always call Underwater Audio or Waterfi and ask!
Underwater Audio (877) 849-0750
Waterfi (619) 438-0058