NewerTech’s NuGuard KX case for iPhone 6 ($29) and iPhone 6 Plus ($39) uses what the company describes as X-Orbing Gel, which is said to absorb and evenly distribute kinetic energy in the case of drops. NuGuard KX is a co-molded one piece case with a soft inner lining and harder, yet still flexible, outer shell. There’s button coverage for the volume controls and sleep/wake button, but not the ringer switch — though that’s deep enough within the thick side to be protected from most all drops.
NewerTech offers a limited lifetime warranty for the NuGuard KX, claiming that if it ever breaks, the company will replace it with a new case.
Though the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus version of the cases fit very similarly and offer the same amount of solid protection, we prefer the feel of the iPhone 6 NuGuard KX, simply due to its reduced size. It felt fine in our hands, whereas the same side grip texture on the iPhone 6 Plus case was more troublesome — it felt like it was digging into our fingers a bit. It wasn’t painful or anything, but some users might find it a bit uncomfortable, especially over an extended period of use.
Also notable: for all the protection NuGuard KX offers, the Apple logo on the back of the iPhone is left exposed, unfortunately.
NuGuard warrants comparisons to Speck’s MightyShell for iPhone 6 — both co-molded cases have thick walls to beef up drop protection. This case doesn’t fit quite as snugly as the less bulky MightyShell and the deeper ports might have some compatibility issues with certain Lightning cables, but the overall feel is similar, and the price is more attractive. NuGuard KX for iPhone 6 earns our strong general recommendation.