twister6
Android Expert
This is a Review of HTC One (M8) cases from UAG. Products – URBAN ARMOR GEAR
Actually, I have to apologize in advance. As part of my review work I'm doing in this forum, please check out a link in my signature, I receive a lot of accessories from different manufacturers. Since I just recently got Galaxy S5 for my wife, I receive a package with a number of UAG cases and they also included a nice selection for HTC One (M8). I don't have the actual phone, but figured take enough pictures for you to get an impression of this case. I have reviewed UAG cases for iPhone, S3, Note 2, S4, Note 3, and S5, and this has been my go-to case with every phone I get. So, I have not a single doubt in my mind the fitment of HTC One (M8) will be as impeccable as with any other previous UAG case I reviewed. Below is my review of the case impression which is a similar to S5 case review I just posted early today (applicable to M8 as well).
UAG definitely got this distinct industrial design look, which unfortunately has been copied lately by some low quality look-a-likes. With a lot of companies once they got a winning design, they just continue making the same cases scaled for the next phone, year after year. With UAG, they are constantly tweaking the design with new details to improve the grip, to have it thinner and more flexible while still retaining max protection, and even to improve the packaging. So starting with packaging, they finally got some refreshing colors to make their box more appealing. Of course, you still get a detailed description of the features on the front and on the back, including an official stamp of approval meeting MIL STD 810G-516.6 Military Drop-Test. It's about time to add this stamp of approval considering it has been already drop approved by thousands of it's users over the years, myself including. As a bonus, UAG also provided HD screen protector which I found to be a very nice gesture.
The case is very lightweight despite its composite design where hard outer PC shell is fused with a softer TPU-like inner soft impact resistant shell with a signature honeycomb pattern. The idea of such fused design makes the case thinner while still retaining a decent drop protection, and also adding a convenience of quick one-piece case removal without dealing with two separate shells. You also still have an enhanced corner protection which blends in nicely with the rest of the outline. One new additional element was added to the sides of the case in a form of a lower/upper grip pads on each side which haven't been present in the previous design. This enhances the grip and also makes sides look symmetrical. I found this design improvement to be very effective. Along with a sculptured industrial lines of the back design with decorative hex screws, UAG M8 case definitely has a much better grip. Although case feels slim, you still get the same rubber lip around the screen to lift the display with phone placed down or to provide a protection when dropped. Along with corner protection, you still get rear skid pads that allow phone to be placed on the back without any wobbling and keeping it from sliding on a smooth surface. And of course you get all the generous port openings to accommodate usb cables, over sized headphone connectors, camera, flash, mic, etc. Volume buttons (speaking from experience of all of their cases) have a very nice tactile feedback and can be easily located just by sliding your fingers along the side of the case. I also like how they put an inner trim around camera/flash opening to enable a glare-free flash.
Overall, I know it's hard to choose a case with every new phone because market is saturated with new additions almost every week. And most likely nobody gets just one case because we change it for different occasions or extended batteries, etc. But when you are making this deselection don't be fooled just by something that looks "cool", because at the end of the day the purpose of the case is to protect your phone. Well, that and also making it look cool at the same time But protection should be #1 priority, and if the case is made out of brittle plastic that will crack if dropped or cheap TPU material that will stretch and pull, or fused layers that will come undone - you might as well carry your phone naked. Otherwise, look for reputable companies that has been around for awhile, those which have a lot of feedback on Amazon, and those who don't just sell a case but actually offer a support to back it up. UAG is definitely of those companies, and I highly recommend and use their cases all the time.
Here are the pictures.
Actually, I have to apologize in advance. As part of my review work I'm doing in this forum, please check out a link in my signature, I receive a lot of accessories from different manufacturers. Since I just recently got Galaxy S5 for my wife, I receive a package with a number of UAG cases and they also included a nice selection for HTC One (M8). I don't have the actual phone, but figured take enough pictures for you to get an impression of this case. I have reviewed UAG cases for iPhone, S3, Note 2, S4, Note 3, and S5, and this has been my go-to case with every phone I get. So, I have not a single doubt in my mind the fitment of HTC One (M8) will be as impeccable as with any other previous UAG case I reviewed. Below is my review of the case impression which is a similar to S5 case review I just posted early today (applicable to M8 as well).
UAG definitely got this distinct industrial design look, which unfortunately has been copied lately by some low quality look-a-likes. With a lot of companies once they got a winning design, they just continue making the same cases scaled for the next phone, year after year. With UAG, they are constantly tweaking the design with new details to improve the grip, to have it thinner and more flexible while still retaining max protection, and even to improve the packaging. So starting with packaging, they finally got some refreshing colors to make their box more appealing. Of course, you still get a detailed description of the features on the front and on the back, including an official stamp of approval meeting MIL STD 810G-516.6 Military Drop-Test. It's about time to add this stamp of approval considering it has been already drop approved by thousands of it's users over the years, myself including. As a bonus, UAG also provided HD screen protector which I found to be a very nice gesture.
The case is very lightweight despite its composite design where hard outer PC shell is fused with a softer TPU-like inner soft impact resistant shell with a signature honeycomb pattern. The idea of such fused design makes the case thinner while still retaining a decent drop protection, and also adding a convenience of quick one-piece case removal without dealing with two separate shells. You also still have an enhanced corner protection which blends in nicely with the rest of the outline. One new additional element was added to the sides of the case in a form of a lower/upper grip pads on each side which haven't been present in the previous design. This enhances the grip and also makes sides look symmetrical. I found this design improvement to be very effective. Along with a sculptured industrial lines of the back design with decorative hex screws, UAG M8 case definitely has a much better grip. Although case feels slim, you still get the same rubber lip around the screen to lift the display with phone placed down or to provide a protection when dropped. Along with corner protection, you still get rear skid pads that allow phone to be placed on the back without any wobbling and keeping it from sliding on a smooth surface. And of course you get all the generous port openings to accommodate usb cables, over sized headphone connectors, camera, flash, mic, etc. Volume buttons (speaking from experience of all of their cases) have a very nice tactile feedback and can be easily located just by sliding your fingers along the side of the case. I also like how they put an inner trim around camera/flash opening to enable a glare-free flash.
Overall, I know it's hard to choose a case with every new phone because market is saturated with new additions almost every week. And most likely nobody gets just one case because we change it for different occasions or extended batteries, etc. But when you are making this deselection don't be fooled just by something that looks "cool", because at the end of the day the purpose of the case is to protect your phone. Well, that and also making it look cool at the same time But protection should be #1 priority, and if the case is made out of brittle plastic that will crack if dropped or cheap TPU material that will stretch and pull, or fused layers that will come undone - you might as well carry your phone naked. Otherwise, look for reputable companies that has been around for awhile, those which have a lot of feedback on Amazon, and those who don't just sell a case but actually offer a support to back it up. UAG is definitely of those companies, and I highly recommend and use their cases all the time.
Here are the pictures.