Urban Armor Gear has made a name for itself
as being a really protective case without
all the bulk.
They're thin and light while still meeting
military drop specifications.
These are two of their newest offerings for
the iPhone 7.
UAG was kind enough to send me these cases
for review, and in this review we'll see if
they live up to the high expectations set
by the previous generation.
What makes UAG cases unique are their corner
skid pads.
If you drop your phone chances are it's going
to hit a corner first.
The corners have been bulked up to absorb
that impact and also lift the phone up off
any surface.
This keeps your screen protected and the back
free from scratches.
Now let's see if these rugged cases live up
to their mil spec claims.
Normally I wouldn't do a drop test in the
rain, but first the iPhone 7 is water resistant.
And second, when was the last time you saw
an iPhone case drop test in the remnants of
a hurricane?
Let's go!
The Pathfinder series meets a mil spec rating
that means it can be repeatedly dropped from
four feet.
I dropped this phone from chest height a few
different times and it didn't even receive
a scratch.
Now for the tougher Monarch series.
The Monarch line claims two times mil spec
drop protection which would equate to eight
feet.
A drop from head height is a walk in the park.
Taking a look around the case we have a very
generous cutout for the camera and flash.
On the bottom you have the typical cutouts
you'd expect.
A nice large cutout for the headphone jack...wait
a minute.
There's a cutout for the headphone jack?!?
Ok, let me explain.
The previous generation case for the iPhone
6 and 6S was an outstanding case but it had
some flaws.
UAG decided to make these new iPhone 7 cases
compatible with the 6 and 6S so that everyone
could benefit from their improvements.
That certainly didn't come without some compromises
though.
As a result the bottom of your case will have
a sloppy looking headphone jack opening that's
slightly more flimsy than it would have been
otherwise.
The camera cutout also had to be sized to
fit the cameras from both phones.
On the iPhone 7 it's not that noticeable but
on the 6 and 6S it's clear that this case
was designed with another phone in mind.
I get it, UAG can cut some cost by only making
one version, but I wish they wouldn't have
compromised on what otherwise is an outstanding
case.
The other cutouts are really precise and fill
all gaps between the case and the phone.
The buttons are exactly what you'd expect
from a UAG case.
They feature slits along each button to make
them easier to press and are a joy to use.
The power button is textured to make it easy
to locate but the volume buttons on the other
hand are fairly flush and can take a second
to find when you're on a call.
The mute switch cutout is just the right size
requiring very little effort to mute your
phone.
On the back of this series is a soft touch
hard shell that's fused together with the
inner TPU lining with fake torx screws.
This shell resists scratches very well and
feels great in your hand.
I prefer this over their plasma line since
the previous generation of that case scratches
super easily and doesn't have nearly the same
amount of inner honeycomb TPU protection.
The Monarch series is a completely different
animal.
Instead of two layer it consists of four layers
of protection.
UAG claims five, but I'm sorry, metal screws
don't count as a layer.
It starts with a polycarbonate plate against
your phone, then genuine top grain leather.
Next is another polycarbonate armor frame
which is finished off with impact resistant
TPU rubber.
It's odd that the inside of the case that
comes in contact with your phone would be
a harder polycarbonate, but what this case
lacks in inner shock absorption it makes up
for in outer.
This outer rubber extends all the way down
the sides with a honeycomb traction grip that
makes the case really easy to hold on to.
The buttons and cutouts are all the same for
this case, yes, even the headphone jack cutout.
The most noticeable difference between these
cases is the size and weight.
The extra material of the Monarch series makes
it a little heavier than the Pathfinder.
It's a little thicker as well.
In fact the Pathfinder is slightly thicker
than the previous generation UAG case too.
The previous case was barely over 10mm.
The Pathfinder comes in just under 11 while
the Monarch is over 11.
It's not a huge difference, but it is noticeable,
especially if you're coming from a previous
generation UAG case.
The other small differences you'll notice
are welcome changes.
The skid pads now extend farther down the
sides eliminating small areas of polycarbonate
shell that could separate and break off.
Also the skid pads no longer contain the sharp
points on the back.
It's never been an issue for me, but others
have mentioned it can be uncomfortable to
hold.
UAG heard you loud and clear and flattened
these out to eliminate that.
On the back the pattern has been inverted.
Instead of the middle section with the UAG
logo being raised it's recessed.
Lastly, they got rid of the confusing iPhone
exclusive holes.
If you're familiar with UAG it's the same
case that you know and love with some small
refinements to make it more comfortable and
more durable.
Between the two cases I personally prefer
the Pathfinder.
It provides more than enough protection, is
thinner and lighter, and cost about half the
price.
However, the Monarch case certainly has a
unique look with its genuine leather and real
metal hardware.
I would be a little concerned about the metal
touching the back of the iPhone though.
They're slightly recessed, but it still concerns
me.
If you're looking for a iPhone case that will
provide serious protection without all the
bulk then look no further.
That is of course if you can get past the
headphone jack opening.
The Pathfinder retails for $35 and the Monarch
for $60.
The Monarch also comes with a ten year limited
warranty instead of the typical one year.
If you have any questions that I didn't answer
feel free to leave those in the comments.
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thanks for watching.
