Good protection for your smartphone can be difficult to find, depending on your criteria. Some folks go more for style, some for protection and some for a combination or for other factors. The bumper style has been popular for few years now, and X-Doria now produces two “bumper” style cases that offer both style and protection. The Defense Gear is a more traditional bumper design, while the Defense Shield adds to it with back protection. How did they fare when I tried them out? Were they as protective as they were stylish? Let’s check them out. Gadget on!
Background
I’m a big believer in smartphone cases. If you invest the money in a smartphone and take it everywhere with you, you want to protect it and show your personal style while doing so. “Bumper”-type cases have grown in popularity, but I’d been reluctant to try one because they afforded no protection to the back of my iPhone. I’d seen a few hybridized cases the past few years that combined the bumper with some rear protection, but their styles really weren’t all that appealing to me. Then Julie passed along the opportunity to evaluate two new bumper-type cases from X-Doria, the Defense Shield and Defense Gear. I really liked their look and protections, so was excited to try them out. Originally I had expected to receive only the Defense Shield for iPhone 6 Plus, but X-Doria sent the Defense Gear for iPhone 6 as well.
Options
Defense Shield
- Available in versions for both iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus
- Silver, Gold or Red bumper colors (Gold reviewed here)
Defense Gear
- Available in versions for both iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus
- Silver, Gold or Red bumper colors (Red reviewed here)
Specs
Defense Shield
- Machined and anodized aluminum exterior frame (AKA the “bumper”) provides
- Soft rubber interior lining
- Clear polycarbonate back shell
- Military-level drop protection tested to 6.6 feet (2 meters) on concrete
- Easy to install, no tools or screws required
Defense Gear
- Machined and anodized aluminum exterior frame provides
- Soft rubber interior lining
- Military-level drop protection tested to 6.6 feet (2 meters) on concrete
- Easy to install, no tools or screws required
Packaging
The Defense Gear and Defense Shield arrived in packaging that consisted of cardstock boxes that depicted the interior contents on the front of the box. One nice touch is that the images represent the actual product inside, down to the correct color scheme.
The rear of the packages shows additional images of the products inside and also listed features.
Both packages are a flip-open type which reveal the contents. I always appreciate when packaging provides the potential buyer the ability to actually see the product inside.
Defense Shield Features
The Defense Shield sample that I received was sized for my iPhone 6 Plus.
Inside the Defense Shield was a cardboard insert that simulated an iPhone 6 Plus inside the Defense Shield.
The opposite side of the cardboard insert has a 4-step set of instructions that explained how to install the case onto the iPhone.
I always appreciate simplicity and recyclability in packaging materials, and this insert certainly fit the bill. Plus, the instructions were clear and concise.
The Defense Shield consists of two components, the combined rubber inner lining/polycarbonate back (left in above photo) and the aluminum exterior frame (right in above photo).
The frame is machined from solid aluminum and anodized with a metallic, satin finish. I specifically requested the gold-colored frame with black rubber edge and back because I am an alumnus of Purdue University and our colors are Old Gold and Black (That’s right—Boiler Up!), and this color scheme paired with my iPhone 6 Plus in space gray and black did not disappoint. Focusing on the frame, the bottom has three cutouts to access the iPhone’s bottom features: headphone jack, Lightning connector and microphone/speaker.
The left side of the frame includes a cutout for the mute switch and below it a “rocker”-style button over the iPhone’s volume up/down buttons. The volume button is made from the same aluminum material and as the frame itself and there is some subtle texturing on the volume button as visual and tactile indicators.
The right side of the frame has a button for the iPhone’s sleep/wake button.
The bottom of the black rubber inner layer has cutouts that match the ones in the aluminum frame.
The left side of the rubber layer has a cutout for the mute switch and a pair of nubs for the iPhone’s volume up/down buttons. These nubs transfer the force of pressing on the outer frame’s metallic buttons to the iPhone’s actual buttons, while protecting them from scratches.
The right side of the rubber layer has a single nub for the iPhone’s sleep/wake button.
The rubber layer is actually molded to the polycarbonate back layer, giving a solid attachment. The back includes a generous cutout for the rear camera and flash.
Above is a photo of my iPhone 6 Plus with the rubber/back layer installed. The rubber is compliant enough that it is quite easy to simply stretch it a bit to place the iPhone inside.
Above, a photo of the fully-installed Defense Shield. The gold aluminum outer frame was a bit difficult to install around the black rubber layer. I had to work the rubber down into the corners and edges with my fingernail, but it didn’t take long and once finished, it was a good, snug fit, and all felt and looked very solid and secure.
The combination of the aluminum outer frame and rubber inner layer adds to the overall thickness of the iPhone by several millimeters. This causes the iPhone’s bottom ports to set a bit deep down into the case.
However, the iPhone’s stock cables fit through the Defense Shield’s bottom port cutout with no issues. Above, a photo of the Apple iPhone cable and Lightning cable plugged into the iPhone. Note that 3rd party cables may not fit as well, or at all.
One of the few real gripes I have about the Defense Shield is that the mute switch sits down in the case so deep that it is difficult get a fingernail down in there to use it. I sometimes switch my mute button on and off several times per day, so this is really quite a pain.
The buttons on the Defense Shield match the surrounding frame and have a very solid, “clicky,” tactile feel. X-Doria did a great job with these.
The iPhone 6 Plus inside the Defense Shield looks pretty sharp. Just take a look at this this combo of black face on the phone with black rubber and gold frame.
The back of the Defense Shield allows the ability to view the iPhone’s back. I think of this as a vanity window, but the polycarbonate does provide good protection.
I like that the Defense Shield’s back includes a sort of gasket around the iPhone’s rear-facing camera, but I find the size of the cutout to be far too generous. I prefer cases with back protection to have a smaller cutout, cropped closer to the camera’s lens and flash, as an added measure of protection. Also please excuse the shmutz around my iPhone’s lens–this is a by-product of both carrying it in my pocket and the fact that the lens bezel protrudes way too far from the back of the iPhone (Seriously, Apple?).
Again, I do think this combo of colors looks very sharp together, with the black rubber framing the iPhone’s face almost seamlessly.
In addition, the Defense Shield adds very little to the thickness of the iPhone considering the level of protection that it adds.
Plus, I can show off my iPhone’s Space Grey backside. I picked it out and, so I’d like to see it every once in a while.
Defense Gear
The Defense Shield sample that I received was sized for an iPhone 6, and my daughter happily volunteered hers to evaluate the case.
Like the Defense Shield, the Defense Gear included an insert with easy-to-follow installation instructions.
In some ways, the Defense Gear is like the bumper-only version of the Defense Shield. But other ways, it stands alone. The Defense Gear is a single item which consists of an aluminum frame exterior and, like the Defense Shield, a rubber inner layer. However, the Defense Gear’s rubber layer is molded directly to the inside of the aluminum frame. In addition, the Defense Gear has a hinged bottom the secures with a small latch. More on this below.
The Defense Gear includes features that allow access to the iPhone’s controls. On the left side is a cutout for the mute switch. The Defense Gear’s volume up/down buttons are bit different than with the Defense Shield, because they are actually part of the rubber layer and protrude up through the aluminum frame (as opposed to the Defense Shield’s buttons, which are actually separate aluminum pieces like the frame).
Above, a photo of the Defense Gear’s sleep-wake button, which is a “soft” button like the volume up/down buttons on the opposite side.
Next, let’s look at installation. The method for installing the iPhone into the Defense Gear is quite different from the Defense Shield. Where the Defense Shield sort of “pops” over and around the phone, the Defense Gear’s lower portion is actually a hinged separated piece.
The hinge is actually a small “link” that connections both components. Additionally, in the photo above, you can see that the interior of the rubber layer actually has a textured surface like the Defense Shield.
Opposite the hinge link is a small latch that closes to secure bottom of the Defense Gear closed. The latch has a small “hook” that grabs hold of a feature opposite it.
Like the Defense Shield, the Defense Gear includes cutouts to access the iPhone’s headphone jack, Lightning Connector and speaker/microphone. In addition, the outside corners of the Defense Gear include rubber pads that protrude up through the aluminum frame from the rubber layer. The pads have the same textured pattern as the inside of the rubber layer and provide an addition few millimeters of protection in what is likely the highest-risk area for potential drop impact damage to your iPhone.
The first step in installing the Defense Shield onto the iPhone 6 involves releasing the latch, then swinging opening the bottom portion of the case. The iPhone is then slid into the rubber layer.
The next step is to swing the bottom portion closed, then secure it by closing the latch. I had to a apply a bit of pressure to compress the rubber layer and to fully close the case before snapping the latch closed, but this gave the entire construct a very solid, protective feel around the iPhone.
And like the Defense Shield, the Defense Gear is sharp-looking case, and even sharper when the iPhone is actually inserted into it. My daughter and I felt that this particular color scheme and the shapes and contours of the Defense Gear reminded us of Iron Man’s armor, but would look even more so if she’d had an iPhone in the gold color scheme. Metallic red and gold together? Tony Stark, eat your heart out.
The Defense Gear adds only a few millimeters to the svelte iPhone 6’s thickness, but it does add several millimeters to the footprint of the iPhone, owing to the combined interior rubber layer and the aluminum frame.
The contoured cutouts on bottom, top and sides of the Defense Gear give it a very technical look (again with the Iron Man armor similarities).
Above, a closeup of the latch mechanism.
Above, the hinge linkage mechanism.
Like the Defense Shield, my only real gripe with the Defense Gear is that the iPhone’s mute switch sits down fairly deep which makes it difficult to operate.
Above, the iPhone’s stock headphone cable and Lightning cable are seen to fit quite easily through the Defense Gear. Everything was aligned perfectly.
Comparison & Conclusion
As mentioned above, the Defense Gear (left) and Defense Shield (right) are similar in design, but do have some differences. One is the method of installation (hinge with latch for the Defense Gear vs. two-part “pop on” for the Defense Shield). Another is the protective corner pads present on the Defense Gear.
But the main difference is that the Defense Shield’s rubber layer includes an integrated polycarbonate “window” panel to protect the back of your iPhone. Because of this, I would consider the Defense Gear to be more of a “bumper”-type design and the Defense Shield to be closer to a true “case”-type design.
Both the Defense Gear and Defense Sheld are pleasing in aesthetics (I really like the black and gold Defense Shield with my black and space grey iPhone), and their matte aluminum finishes help to reduce the visibility of fingerprints and scuffs. But the more important feature is protection, and with the combined soft, shock-absorbing rubber inner layer and hard outer aluminum layer, both cases provide what I would expect to be a high level of edge- or side-impact protection to your iPhone. Also, the Defense Shield adds the polycarbonate back for additional protection.
Product Information
| Price: | Defense Gear $39.99, Defense Shield $49.99 |
| Manufacturer: | X-Doria |
| Requirements: |
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Filed in categories: Cases, Covers, iPhone, iPad, iPod, Reviews
Tagged: iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus
X-Doria Defense Shield and Defense Gear iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus cases review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 5, 2015 at 10:00 am.
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X-Doria Defense Shield and Defense Gear iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus cases review
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