Home Apple Watch Case Unboxing Experience (Catalyst & Muvit)
Post
Cancel

Apple Watch Case Unboxing Experience (Catalyst & Muvit)

Apple Watch Case Unboxing Experience (Catalyst & Muvit)

Catalyst Apple Watch Ultra-Thin Waterproof Case & Muvit Apple Watch Case

[Latest Update]

Thanks to Men’s Game for providing the Apple Watch Series 4 case for testing.

As a clumsy person with OCD, using a delicate product like the Apple Watch is very troublesome; due to my clumsiness, it’s easy to accidentally bump it, and with OCD, any scratches make me very uncomfortable. So, I immediately applied a full-coverage screen protector to prevent accidents.

But actually, just applying a full-coverage screen protector is not enough. The watch itself is curved, and the edges of the protector are fragile, easily chipping if the frame is accidentally rubbed:

Full-coverage screen protector chipping without a case

Full-coverage screen protector chipping without a case

I am already on my third full-coverage screen protector; although the watch screen itself is undamaged, it still hurts. Perfect fit + no impact on touch + thin + high transparency + no edge lifting = very expensive ($990/piece). The money spent on protectors is almost enough to upgrade to the stainless steel version. Therefore, the Apple Watch case is very important to me, as it enhances the protection of the frame and reduces the risk of damage from bumps.

This article will unbox two Apple Watch cases and compare their experiences, functionality, appearance, and suitable scenarios. Let’s get started!

Left: Muvit Case Right: Catalyst Case (with strap)

Left: Muvit Case / Right: Catalyst Case (with strap)

p.s. My watch model is: Apple Watch Series 4 (GPS + Cellular), 44mm Space Gray Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band

Catalyst Apple Watch Ultra-Thin Waterproof Case (with strap)

This case features an integrated design with a strap, providing comprehensive protection from wear to impact and water resistance.

Unboxing and Usage:

Front of the box

Front of the box

100 meters waterproof / 360° full protection / 2 meters drop protection

Back of the box

Back of the box

IP-68 waterproof rating, each product tested at a depth of 100 meters, U.S. military-grade impact protection, direct screen operation, original sound quality for calls, can charge through the case, can detect heart rate through the case.

IP-68 ( Wiki ):

6 - Completely dustproof, no dust can enter, completely prevents contact.

8 - Immersion in water beyond 1m.

Contents

Contents

In addition to the Catalyst Apple Watch case (with a model inside), it comes with a small screwdriver for easy installation.

Case (with strap)

Protective Case (Including Strap) Body

Protective Case (Including Strap) Body Back

Protective Case (Including Strap) Body Back

Comparison with Original Sport Band (L) (Left: Catalyst/Right: Original)

Comparison with Original Sport Band (L) (Left: Catalyst/Right: Original)

Fixed Ring Buckle

Fixed Ring Buckle

The length is similar to the original sport band (L) but with denser holes, allowing for a more adjustable fit to the wrist size; the fixed ring has a buckle to ensure it does not fall off during intense exercise.

Installation:

We need to disassemble the Catalyst case first, then place the Apple Watch body inside and reassemble it.

  1. First, unscrew the back screws

  1. After removing the screws, hold the strap with both hands and use your thumbs to push the case body outwards.

  1. Disassemble all parts

Exploded View (Taken from [Official Website](https://www.catalystlifestyle.com/){:target="_blank"})

Exploded View (Taken from Official Website)

  1. Remove the Apple Watch body from the existing sport band

Flip to the back and press the rectangular buckle with your fingernail, then push left or right!

Flip to the back and press the rectangular buckle with your fingernail, then push left or right!

  1. Place the Apple Watch body into the waterproof case

When installing, make sure the waterproof case is properly fitted without wrinkles to avoid affecting waterproof performance.

  1. Put on the protective case top cover

Similarly, ensure there are no wrinkles to avoid affecting waterproof performance.

  1. Reattach the strap body and screw it back

Snap back the body and screw it back ( Please do not over-tighten the screws! )

Testing:

  1. Charging can be directly attached:

Test result: No problem, does not affect charging speed.

  1. Heart Rate:

Left: With Case/Right: Bare Device

Left: With Case/Right: Bare Device

Test result: No problem, does not affect heart rate detection.

  1. Display:

Apple Watch 4 full-screen display is unobstructed, no problem ✅

  1. Digital Crown

Can be used normally ✅

  1. Sound Reception Impact:

Catalyst Apple Watch Ultra-Thin Waterproof Case Sound Reception Test

No significant differences ✅

  1. Appearance:

Due to my large hands, I originally bought the largest 44mm version of the watch. After adding the protective case, it looks even more rugged and grand.

Thoughts:

This watch strap truly provides 360° comprehensive protection and enhances its waterproof function to adapt to more challenging environments.

The strap is made of skin-friendly material, making it feel no different from the original sports strap. However, the adjustment part of the strap has denser holes, allowing for a more suitable size (the original strap either felt too loose or too tight for me). The buckle on the fixing ring also gives me more peace of mind as someone with OCD!

The overall appearance is wild and rugged, making it perfect for outdoor activities, hiking, rock climbing, and diving. These are also the scenarios where this strap can provide the maximum protective effect!

Remember to bring sunglasses next time, the sun is super bright

Remember to bring sunglasses next time, the sun is super bright

Catalyst family photo ( [AirPods case](../33afa0ae557d/) )

Catalyst family photo ( AirPods case )

Muvit Apple Watch Protective Case

The second product I tried is the Muvit Apple Watch Protective Case. Compared to the professional protection of Catalyst, this one is simpler and more convenient, suitable for various daily life scenarios. Despite this, Muvit still passed the U.S. military standard MIL-STD 810G 3-meter drop test, ensuring safety and protection!

Unboxing and Usage:

Front of the box

Front of the box

Two different color protective cases: Left - Black / Right - Light Purple

U.S. military standard MIL-STD 810G 3-meter drop test, extremely light 2.3G

Back of the box

Back of the box

Dual-layer structure protection, silicone shock-absorbing layer, polycarbonate buffering system, screen frame protection

Contents

Contents

Protective case body, black/light purple

Protective case body, black/light purple

Installation:

  1. Installation is very simple. First, remove the Apple Watch body from the existing sports strap.

Flip to the back and press the rectangular buckle with your fingernail, then push left or right!

Flip to the back and press the rectangular buckle with your fingernail, then push left or right!

  1. Place the Apple Watch body “face down” into the protective case.

  1. Reattach the strap, and you’re done!

    Completion:

Black version

Black version

Light purple version

Light purple version

Try-on, left: black right: light purple

Try-on, left: black / right: light purple

Testing:

Digital Crown:

Works normally ✅. Other functions like audio, heart rate, display, etc., are not affected as this is just a frame protective case, so no special tests are needed!

Thoughts:

The most satisfying aspect of using this protective case is that I can quickly and conveniently switch straps according to different life scenarios (leather strap for suits, sports strap for daily use). It’s easy to install and remove, and its protection is sufficient for all daily scenarios (housework, cleaning, moving things). Currently, I use this protective case for my daily life.

Paired with a leather strap

Paired with a leather strap

Summary:

It has been over 4 months from receiving the trial to writing this article. During this period, I moved houses (Sorry… the scenes in this article are messy), participated in a duathlon (10KM running + 40KM cycling), and went diving in Malaysia. These two protective cases have accompanied me through various activities, and the full-coverage screen protector is still perfect!

Remember how many screen protectors I changed? The answer is 3 in 3 months, averaging less than a month before they somehow got damaged and chipped. Each one costs $990 Orz

I can only say it’s a regret meeting late. If I had known about protective cases earlier, I wouldn’t have wasted so much money!

Both Catalyst and Muvit have solved my problem of constantly chipping screen protectors. If you don’t use a screen protector, you should definitely get a protective case to protect the screen edges; otherwise, a cracked screen will hurt even more.

For recommendations, if you often engage in intense sports (rock climbing, diving) or labor work, I suggest choosing Catalyst for better peace of mind. If you’re just an office worker, occasionally run, and like to change watch bands according to your mood, then Muvit is sufficient!

Here is a simple comparison table for your reference:

Purchase:

  1. CATALYST FOR APPLE WATCH SERIES 4 44mm Ultra-Slim Waterproof Case
  2. MUVIT Apple Watch Series 4 (44mm) Impact Resistant Case

Chat:

From the first complete unboxing to three months of use, it’s been almost a year since I’ve been wearing my Apple Watch S4. There haven’t been many changes in usage; third-party apps are still scarce, and the most frequently used features are still Apple Pay, unlocking the Mac, and checking notifications. The Apple Watch has integrated into my daily life, and I’ve gotten used to its convenience.

By the way, let’s look forward to Watch OS 6 together :)

In the past six months, I’ve been more diligent in utilizing the Apple Watch’s fitness features, recording running and cycling times, routes, and heart rates. Besides recording, the awards make exercising more goal-oriented and fulfilling. Competing with friends or sharing results on social media makes exercising fun and easier to maintain!

Awards, Competitions, Exercise Routes, Exercise Status

Awards, Competitions, Exercise Routes, Exercise Status

Special thanks to Men’s Game for providing the Apple Watch Series 4 protective case for testing.

Further Reading

[Latest Updates]

Already bought the watch, how about considering AirPods 2?

Check out »> AirPods 2 Unboxing and Hands-On Experience

For any questions or feedback, feel free to contact me.

===

本文中文版本

===

This article was first published in Traditional Chinese on Medium ➡️ View Here



This post is licensed under CC BY 4.0 by the author.

First Experience with Smart Home - Apple HomeKit & Xiaomi Mijia

How to Create an Engaging Engineering CTF Competition