Cork Slim or Cork Extreme: which floating case to choose

Both cases float the same and give you the same safety on the water: if your phone falls in, it stays on top. The difference is in the size and the use. The Cork Slim is the smallest floating case ever made, with a choice of designs, designed for people who work at sea or spend a lot of time there. The Cork Extreme is bigger, more impact resistant and made for extreme and adventure water sports.

Think of two people. One goes out on a boat every weekend, anchors in the bay and spends the day between the deck and the water. The other launches a kayak into the sea first thing and paddles out, among waves and rocks. Both carry their phones and both could drop them out of their depth. But they don’t ask the same of their case.

What they have in common: both float the same

Whichever you choose, the main job is the same: stop your phone going to the bottom. Both float thanks to the cork and a fitting technology that holds the phone perfectly in the case. If it slips away from you on the jetty or the jet ski, it stays on the surface until you pick it up.

Neither of them is sealed. With the case on, your phone gets wet and copes because it’s IP68, like every phone we make cases for. That rating covers immersion at shallow depth and for a limited time, around half an hour. The seabed is much further down, and there pressure and time work against you. If you want the detail, here we explain what IP68 means and what it doesn’t cover. That’s why what really matters is that your phone doesn’t go down.

They share more than that:

• Both are floating cases made in Spain, cut to size for each phone, laser engraved and finished with protective resin.
• Both have the same guarantee: if it doesn’t float, we refund your money.
• Neither needs any special care. If it gets wet, a wipe with a cloth is enough.
• With either one, you can wear your phone on a lanyard.

Cork Slim: same safety, smaller size

The Slim is the smallest floating case ever made. It floats just like the Extreme and gives you the same safety on the water, in a more compact format that’s lighter for everyday use. You wear it on land and at sea, and it’s there when your phone slips away.

It comes in a choice of designs: you can have it in its Classic version or with one of the laser-engraved designs you’ll find on its product page.

It’s the case for people who work at sea or spend a lot of time there:

• Sailors and crews who spend the day on deck.
• People who go out by boat to anchor, swim or spend the day at sea.
• Jet ski riders who want to keep their phone on them. Here’s how to carry your phone on a jet ski without losing it.

Compatible models: iPhone 15 to 17 and Samsung Galaxy S24 to S26.

Cork Extreme: safety you can feel

The Extreme is bigger and more impact resistant. It floats just like the Slim and adds extra protection against knocks on rocks and decks and against drops. When you know it’s going to be a rough day, it’s the one you want: safety you can feel.

It’s made for people who do extreme and adventure water sports and take their phone on the most active adventures:

• Kayaking and paddleboarding out at sea, where falling in is part of the plan. We cover it in how to take your phone kayaking or paddleboarding.
• Trips where your phone is going to take a knock or two against the board or the rocks.
• And if your plans carry on into the mountains or the snow, it goes with you there too.

Compatible models: iPhone 12 to 17 and Samsung Galaxy S24 to S26.

Slim or Extreme, point by point

• Buoyancy: the same in both.
• Safety on the water: the same. With either one, your phone gets wet, copes because it’s IP68 and stays afloat.
• Size: the Slim is more compact; the Extreme is bigger.
• Impacts: the Extreme is the most impact resistant.
• Design: the Slim comes in a choice of designs.
• Models: the Slim, iPhone 15 to 17 and Galaxy S24 to S26; the Extreme, iPhone 12 to 17 and Galaxy S24 to S26.
• Who it’s for: the Slim, for people who work at sea or spend a lot of time there; the Extreme, for extreme and adventure sports.

How to choose for your plans

Ask yourself one question: apart from getting wet, what’s going to happen to your phone?

• If it’s going to spend the day with you on the boat, the jetty or the jet ski, choose the Slim.
• If it’s going with you on the kayak, the board or a trip where knocks are likely, choose the Extreme.
• If you have an iPhone 12, 13 or 14, your case is the Extreme.

Once you’ve decided, go to the Cork Slim case or the Cork Extreme case page and choose your phone model. And if your household has both profiles, the 2-case pack lets you get one of each.

Frequently asked questions

Does the Cork Slim float as well as the Cork Extreme?

Yes. Both keep your phone afloat just the same and have the same guarantee: if it doesn’t float, we refund your money. What changes between them is the size and the impact resistance.

Does my phone stay dry with the case on?

No. The CORK case isn’t sealed: your phone gets wet and copes because it’s IP68. If it’s been in salt water, rinse it afterwards with fresh water so the salt doesn’t stay in the ports and speakers.

Which case fits an iPhone 12, 13 or 14?

The Cork Extreme, which is available for iPhone 12 to 17 and Samsung Galaxy S24 to S26. The Cork Slim covers iPhone 15 to 17 and Samsung Galaxy S24 to S26.

Can I wear my phone on a lanyard with either one?

Yes. There are lanyards in several colours, including neon green and yellow, so you can wear your phone with the Slim or the Extreme.

Do I need to dry the case after a swim?

There’s no need to air-dry it or use a hairdryer: if it gets wet, a wipe with a cloth is enough. What you need to look after is the phone.