Scuff marks created during my own drop-tests …
The problem with buying a protective case for an iPhone or iPad is that you never know for sure just how protective it really is until it is needed to do its job. Even a drop-test video only shows you how well the case worked with that one drop on that one occasion.
The Urban Armor Gear (UAG from now on) iPhone and iPad cases are a little different. They are certified to a military standard known as MIL-STD-810G 516.6. In this test, a device is dropped from a height of four feet – the typical fall for a device dropped while using it – a total of 26 times. The tests cover falls into each corner, the face and back. To pass, the device must remain fully functional afterwards, with no damage at all to the screen.
This isn’t the same as no damage at all, of course, but it certainly lends confidence. And if that weren’t enough, UAG decided to demonstrate its confidence in the case by dropping an iPhone from space – video below …
Look & feel
The best way I can describe the look of these cases is to say that they very much appear to be designed with military use in mind. They look rugged and basic. The fake bolts look perhaps a little tacky, and alignment of switches and buttons is very slightly vague (though everything works perfectly).
The rubbery feel is quite pleasant to the touch, but the biggest surprise is the weight: the iPhone case feels like it weighs nothing at all, in contrast to what you’d expect from such a tough case. I weighed it at just 30g. The iPad case weighs 360g (iPad Air 2 model), but still feels lighter than you think it ought to.
The iPhone 6 case is available in a choice of six colors: black, white, silver, blue, orange and pink. The iPad Air 2 case in black or red, and the iPad Air in any color you like as long as it’s black.
Protection
I know, I know, you just want me to get to the video, dropping it from space. UAG used a weather balloon to lift it to a height of 101,000 before the balloon burst and it fell back to earth. ‘Space’ is rather an exaggeration, the technical definition being an altitude of 50 miles according to NASA. But you can clearly see the curvature of the Earth, and it’s quite a long way to drop an iPhone, so we’ll cut them some slack. Fast-forward to 1m 25s for the actual fall.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Hc38-VHIX8]
The video is of course just a PR stunt. The iPhone would quickly reach terminal velocity if thrown out of a plane at a far lower altitude, and it lands in a rather soft-looking field, but hey, it’s fun to watch.
Since repeated drop-tests in a variety of manufacturer’s cases probably isn’t recommended treatment for any iDevice, I limited myself to my usual tactic of taping inside it a bag of coins that weigh the same just to see how the case itself stands up to drops. I didn’t succeed in doing more damage than a few scuffs.
Inserting & removing devices
The cases are very slightly stretchy, and you simply snap – or perhaps spring, given the rubbery material – your device into the case. Insertion is easy, removal slightly fiddlier given the tight fit, but nothing to write home about.
As you can see from the photo above, the sides of the case sit a millimeter or two above the screen, and this protects the screen when the phone lands face-down. A semi-rigid plastic screen-protector is also included.
In use
Ports remain accessible: I was able to plug in both headphone and Lightning cables without any trouble. Same with buttons and switches. Power and volume buttons are covered by rubber flaps, and work fine through them; the mute switch is exposed but well-recessed.
However, one reader did note that the case covers the iPhone microphone. I make so few voice calls, I didn’t experience an issue with this myself, but it’s worth noting if you do.
The iPad case has a screen cover flap, which has a simple magnetic closure. It’s basic, and a little untidy, but it works:
The case is similarly basic when used as a stand, but again, it works.
Conclusions
These aren’t cases for the style-conscious: they look and feel basic. But they probably are the cases to you if you are either habitually clumsy, or going to be using your iPhone or iPad in conditions where a drop is more likely – perhaps while running, cycling or similar.
Although the military-spec drop test offers no guarantees against cosmetic damage – the requirement is simply that the device remain functional afterwards – it does specify that the screen remain undamaged, and that’s the greatest risk. If the case protects against that, it’s likely the casing will also remain undamaged. Pricing seems reasonable for the degree of protection offered.
The UAG case costs $34.95 for the iPhone 6, and $49.95 for either iPad Air or iPad Air 2 from UAG’s website, with savings of between $5 and $15 available on Amazon.
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I’ve had this UAG case since I first received my iPhone 6. I’ve been very pleased with it. It’s a funny point, but I like that after I dropped it on concrete, the corners didn’t look scratched up. Something about the material… it can take a scratchy corner hit and still look new.
I wonder why the iPad camera hole is so off.
The experiment should carry a ´control´ iphone without any case. Only then we would know if the case prevents damage from falling on the mud, even from this height.
Reblogged this on Takhisis Blog!.
Why would you do this?
#1, You’re just stealing someone else’s content, time, and efforts
#2, Google will flag you as spam since clearly the source (9to5mac) is more established and published first.
#3, You’d be better at promoting another author’s content if you summarize it and then generously link to it rather than copy-paste.
All this effort to make the iPad thinner and lighter just to double its thickness and add 75% weight with a case like that. Seems to be made for the same people who wrap plastic around their sofas and chairs as if their home was a museum.
The iPhone case at least makes some sort of sense. The device is much more likely to drop on the floor and the case not nearly as heavy. Yet, mine have always survived without a case (since the original iPhone in 2007). And I have two toddlers at home. I don’t know how clumsy some people seem to be.
Looks like that camera hole change in the iPad Air 2 doesn’t line up with their iPad Air case.
That was my error in taking the photo. I have both iPad Air and iPad Air 2 cases, and have been using the iPad Air 2 one – but used the wrong one for the photos.
I bought this case for the iPhone 6 plus in March just two days following getting the phone. I’m not a fan of cases, but, really wanted to be able to grip the phone more than protect from dropping. I’ve not had to “test” it yet… only a small drop or two off of a chair onto carpet, but, the grip provided really helps The iPhone 6 plus (128GB) is by far the best phone I’ve ever had but it’s a little slick to hold and this helps.
Since I am in the military what matters, to me, is if my iPad or iPhone can withstand a .50 caliber round. If so, I’m going to wrap a dozen iPads around my body with duct tape on my next deployment to Afghanistan.
I’m a little confused about how you weighed it in at 30 grams. The amazon website for the product (for iPhone 6) says it weighs 3.2 ounces (over 90 grams). Urban Armor’s official website says nothing of its weight.
On my kitchen scales …
I appreciate it, my decision to purchase it really hinges on whether it’s as light as you say. Haha. I currently have the leather Apple-made case, which is also super light but offers minimal protection. If the Urban Armor really is lighter than that, I’ll buy it. Perhaps Amazon’s info is inaccurate? Why don’t more people care about weight, or why don’t they post it on their official websites?? Definitely frustrating. I guess I’ll have to drive to a BestBuy.
I got the UAG Outlander for my 6+ last year and just love it. Best case, protects and looks very stylish too.
Bought UAG case for my iPhone 6 which cracked upon fall and cracked my iPhone screen.They replaced the case(not the phone) with this folio case.The folding flap is poorly made and began to separate from the body in a few month.When it got to be unusable I contacted UAG for a replacement under their one year warranty.They refused because the original case that I had bought which cracked was more than a year ago.Unbelievable!!!!
Two lousy cases…and no warranty?