The HitCase Shield is the thinnest waterproof case that we’ve come across
HitCase Shield Review – Tough, waterproof, thin and bend proof? Can your iPhone ask for more?
The HitCase Shield is one of the last “normal” waterproof cases that we’re going to review for the HitCase Shield. And by coincidence, the Shield is one of the best waterproof cases we’ve used for the iPhone 6(s+). If you’re wondering how we can say that, check out all the other waterproof iPhone 6 cases we’ve reviewed.
The HitCase Shield is a waterproof case that’s made from aluminum which is something different. The aluminum will make your iPhone bend proof but that metal frame isn’t the most unique feature of the case. It is the thin polycarbonate back that raises the most questions for us.
The handling of the HitCase Shield is awesome. It feels great in the hand and seems like a natural extension of the iPhone because of the aluminum. One of the gripes we have deals with the screen protector as it gets “grimy” quickly but this is an issue for all plastic screen protectors.
For our HitCase Shield Review, we’ve given this case a score of 4.2 Eh’s out of 5. This makes it the best waterproof case that we’ve reviewed for day-to-day use. It handily beats out the LifeProof Fre, Nuud, our recently crowned winner the Pelican Marine as well as another favourite, the Ghostek Atomic.
Looking to see how we’ve ranked other waterproof cases? Check out our Top 5 Waterproof cases for the iPhone 6 and if you’re looking for a waterproof vacation case, check out our reviews for the HitCase Pro, Optrix XD6 and the ProShot!
Design – Feels like a natural extension of the iPhone
Feels great…like an extension of the iPhone
As we mentioned earlier, the design of the HitCase Shield is very unique. We initially thought it would be very similar to the Ghostek Atomic which compared against in our Facebook Live Stream. Although there are similarities, the case isn’t exactly the same.
The Shield is the thinnest waterproof case we’ve used, being .5mm thinner than the LifeProof Fre and installation of the case is quite simple. Pop the iPhone in and then snap the pliable screen protector on.
Easy to install
The build quality of the case is awesome as everything fits well together and the aluminum bumper looks awesome but will show drop damage quicker than a normal plastic case. We were initially a little concerned at the clear piece on the back but Hitcase told us its actually a piece of polycarbonate.
The clear back does result in two small issues. The first issue is that it will show fingerprints easily but a quick wipe will remove them. The second grip deals with how slick the back actually is. When placed back first, the iPhone in the HitCase Shield is going to slide around a bit.
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Protection – The only aluminum case that is drop-rated and waterproof to 6.6ft or 2m
When it comes to protection, the Shield is waterproof up to 6.6ft and drop-rated to 6.6 ft. We did a quick dunk in the sink to see if there were any glaring problems and there weren’t. We did notice that the mesh that HitCase uses looks transparent to the bottom of the iPhone seems exposed but it isn’t.
From a drop protection perspective, the Shield take the 6 ft drop like a champ. In fact, we’d be pretty confident that the Shield would protect our iPhone from anything above 6 ft. The aluminum frame in the case is similar to the Ghostek Atomic which we tossed as hard as we could into the air.
The internal aluminum frame and shock padding
The burning question we had in our minds was “how tough is that thin piece of polycarbonate on the back? If you press hard enough, the plastic will reach the iPhone which means dropping it on a rock might dent an iPhone? See if that’s the case in our review video.
The screen protector is plastic and will scratch as easily as any other plastic screen protector.
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Functionality – More power for more Pokemon Go?
Transparent back is a thin piece of polycarbonate
The functionality of the iPhone in the case is top notch. The mute switch is toggled by a large knob and the buttons are awesome to use. The camera cutout on the back is large but not deep enough that it blocks on the True Tone flash. We didn’t run into any issues with the cell signal in the aluminum case and the TouchID worked through the film.
When it comes to sound, voice calls weren’t an issue that like every other case, it was muted slightly (It works way better than the LifeProof cases). Sound doesn’t come out of the bottom of the iPhone but rather through the back which means that you’ll be able to hear your iPhone better in any circumstance.
There is a tiny gap between the iPhone’s screen and screen protector but the gap doesn’t result in any notable sensitivity loss.
The screen protector doesn’t diffuse the iPhone and doesn’t suffer from any glare issues. It is slightly wobbly which might be annoying for some but as I mentioned earlier, the screen protector does get gummy over time but nothing that a quick wipe against your clothing won’t fix.
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Have questions about our HitCase Shield Review? Please ask them below, or on our Google+ page or our Facebook page or our About Us page. To stay up to date on everything we’re doing, check out our Twitter and Instagram feeds!
Bill Hayden
September 28, 2016 at 12:02 am
I am looking for the thinnest, strongest case available for iPhone 7 plus. I work in construction, outside.
Jess
October 1, 2016 at 3:53 pm
Please can you review the snow lizard slxtreme for iPhone 6? I cannot find any informative reviews on it. Need a really tough waterproof case as my partner manages to destroy his tech on a regular basis. Was hoping for lunatik taktik extreme for iPhone 6 but it seems to have been abandoned by the company.
Many Thanks
Aaron Ho
October 4, 2016 at 2:35 am
I’ve got one on my desk right now. Putting it through its paces.
TheBark
October 14, 2016 at 8:45 am
Aaron, how tight is the apple cable on this case? Mine scrapes the upper part of the charging port opening.
Aaron Ho
October 15, 2016 at 2:28 pm
I don’t remember having any issues with charging the iPhone in the case. Thanks for the note.
Neil
December 1, 2016 at 3:34 am
Hi Aaron,
Just wondering the timeframe you tested the case for ? Wondering about the headphone cable/jack, the dial for the ringer, and the rubber for the plug in? Durability of the little rubber tabs for the charger port and headphone jack ? Not sure if you had it long enough to test it.
Thanks
Neil
Aaron Ho
December 1, 2016 at 10:16 pm
I don’t have the long term usability for the Shield. I gave it a week, everything stayed on but I’m apparently quite gentle with the products. My friend had it our her 6 Plus for about 4 weeks and everything stayed on. I know that people have a tendency to pull the plugs out with the cables so if you do get the case, be warned.
Tom
December 23, 2016 at 1:52 pm
What degree of impact protection does the screen cover provide, if any?
Would one of the tempered glass screen protectors fit within this case?
Thanks!
Dallas
January 2, 2017 at 4:48 am
Do third party chargers fit in the hitcase shield?
Aaron Ho
January 4, 2017 at 3:26 pm
Depends on the size of the cable. If it is close to the regular cable, it should be fine.
Renata
January 25, 2017 at 11:03 pm
Aaron! Fan from Brazil here. I absolutely love your reviews and trust them blindly. One quick question: do you think the Hitcase Shield for iPhone 6s Plus will work fine with a screen protector on? I’ve noticed you test the cases sometimes with the face plate and the screen protector on, so I was just wondering.
I am looking for a waterproof case to take to the pool/ beach and have my phone protected from splashes and an occasional pic underwater.
Thank you soooo much!
Aaron Ho
January 27, 2017 at 10:20 pm
The design of the case might allow for a screen protector. The front has a bit of give to it.
Baxter
February 27, 2017 at 10:36 pm
Reviews on Amazon universally complain of poor audio quality. Did you test more than one case?
Aaron Ho
March 4, 2017 at 12:53 am
I had three for the Shield.
Drew
March 6, 2017 at 10:46 pm
I used your reviews to decide on this case in the Fall of 2016. I wanted to follow up after a few months to give my two cents. Overall, this case is great. I love that it looks mostly normal, it’s not bulky allthings considered, and includes all of the necessary features.
Pros: I totally trust it to be waterproof, and living the Pacific Northwest I have dealt with my fair share of rain. I take it running, and it deals with the sweat no problem. The aluminum ring makes it totally solid, I don’t worry about dropping or any impacts. I can hear nearly flawlessly through the front through calls, and especially with the lightning gasket open the speakers are not hugely impacted. The cameras are not noticeably impacted by being covered. The buttons work easily, and the Touch ID/Home button works about 8 / 10 compared to not being covered.
Cons: I’m sure these cons are a) true with any product you own and use daily, and b)potentially my case rather than being indicative of all their cases. The mute dial loosened and then fell off within a month of use. I tightened it, and it came off again. I reached out to Hitcase and they sent me a whole new body; very nice of them to do so. I keep the phone muted and so I actually prefer the body without the knob and have continued to use, so I cannot speak to the durability of the knob on the new case. The audio extender to reach the 3.5 mm jack that is now recessed due to the depth of the case stopped working after a few months. Again I reached out to Hitcase who said they would send a replacement, though it never arrived. This piece is not available for a la cart purchase on their store. The tab on rubber gasket covering the audio port broke off, making it very difficult to open it up. I left the audio gasket open as such, and then it broke off. Not a huge issue, but makes it less water tight. The audio port being recessed makes it harder to put in headphones, and anything but Apple earbuds are going to have difficulty fitting due to the diameter of the opening. Similarly, the size of the lightning opening is just big enough for an Apple charger; non-apple ones like Anchor didn’t work for me, or were super tight fits. In that vein, the Apple lightning headphones were a very tight fit due to the size of the opening. I noticed as of today that the back plastic has slightly detached from the body — time to switch the replacement body that Hitcase sent!
Conclusion – Great case if you aren’t super hard on it. Feels secure and has been mostly durable. Any of the moving parts though are liable to break, and you cannot count on Hitcase for its replacement. The waterproof case market is going to dry up due to phones being sealed up, so this is a great one while they last. Not perfect, and has sort of fallen apart, but given the (ab)use, it’s not so bad. The iPhone is an investment, this makes me feel plenty comfortable carrying it everywhere in inclement weather.
Aaron Ho
March 7, 2017 at 2:56 pm
Thanks for the amazing feedback!
Giovanni
February 13, 2020 at 11:53 am
Hi Aaron, your website is fantastic and your reviews the best on the web. I keep coming back to you as the Expert! Nobody does a more technical job than you.
I have a quick question on the HitCase Shield for iPhone 6 (still have that one!), but it probably applies to all versions:
Realistically, how easy is it to scratch its screen shield? For example, compared to the Catalyst? I have a Catalyst now, but after a couple of weeks I made the mistake of keeping it in the same pocket as keys: the result was scratches all over the front screen on the case….
With one of the adhesive anti-scratch protectors you could peel it away and put a new one, but not with these cases….
Bottom line: I am on the market for waterproof and thanks to your reviews I am now between the LifeProof Nuud and this HitCaase Shield: which one would you recommend
specifically when thinking about scratches (I understand they are both similar for water and drop resistance)?
Cheers from UK!