Last October, we reviewed Speck’s MightyShell for iPhone 6, a slightly bulkier, more protective version of the company’s classic CandyShell case. Now the company will soon be releasing an iPhone 6 Plus version of MightyShell. Additionally, the company has recently introduced its Faceplate, a front film cover that Speck claims has five layers of protection to prevent screen damage. We’ll be offering two separate ratings in this review — one for the iPhone 6 Plus MightyShell ($55) and another for the iPhone 6 Plus MightyShell + Faceplate ($70).
MightyShell feels similar to its iPhone 6 brother, which is a good thing.
While it’s $15 more than Speck’s CandyShell Grip for iPhone 6 Plus — oddly, Speck has yet to release a regular version of CandyShell for iPhone 6 Plus — MightyShell does feel like it offers more protection, and it should hold up well over time. It’s a good alternative to bulkier, more involved cases which also offer good-to-great protection. Refer to our review of the iPhone 6 case for more details.
Faceplate is similar to other film protectors when it comes to application — you stick it onto the front of an iPhone and smooth out any bubbles under the surface. Unlike other protectors, however, Faceplate comes with a built-in plastic bezel.
Speck claims Faceplate guards against scratches and drops, but whether it’s worth an extra $15 is open for debate.
We like MightyShell’s clean look, and though its extra bulk pushes the limits of how big we want our iPhone 6 Plus case to be, this is offset by the extra protection. As it was for the iPhone 6, MightyShell again earns our strong general recommendation for iPhone 6 Plus.
However, the $15 premium placed on the MightyShell + Faceplate gives us pause. There are likely some users who will be looking for iPhone screen protection anyway — for those, it’s a good solution, as you’re getting a very good case with a solid screen protector from a trusted brand. But we’ve never considered front screen protection a necessity with a proper case, and $70 for an iPhone case that doesn’t offer waterproof protection or anything similar is a lot to swallow.
