This is the perfect case for people who drop their phones a lot

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Brandt Ranj / Business InsiderOther iPhone-case makers have tried to make their cases thinner, while still being tough. UAG has not.

Instead, they've focused on making a case that looks and feels substantial.

In general I don't really like bigger, bulkier cases. That said, I admit that out of all the cases I've tested, this is the one that gave me the most peace of mind.

That's because the case has five layers of protection: An armor frame, top-grain leather, a polycarbonate shear plate, alloy metal hardware, and impact-resistant rubber. These materials come together in a case that can survive a drop from twice the military standard height (about 13 feet).

With the thinner cases I tend to like, one of my main fears is scratching my iPhone's camera lens. It protrudes out, so makers of slim cases have to make sure the case is thick enough to accommodate the bump without being too thick.

It's a balancing act, and on multiple occasions, I've absentmindedly swiped my phone across a table and quickly checked for scratching. I haven't had any yet, but with this case, that concern is a non-issue.

There are at least a couple of millimeters between the bottom of the case and the camera. I can swipe on a sandy or textured table to my hearts content without thinking twice. The same is true if I flipped the screen over because of a pretty substantial lip that goes over the iPhone's screen.

My only problem with this case is that it makes the larger iPhone difficult to use with one hand, but that's a personal preference and not a fault of the case itself.

In trying to serve as many people as possible, UAG has made this case compatible with both current and previous generation iPhones. That means the camera cutout is big enough to accommodate the newer iPhone's bigger camera system. There's also a cut out in the bottom for the headphone jack. That doesn't make it any more or less safe, but it's something to consider if you have an older phone and want to take a case with you when you upgrade.

If slightly bigger cases don't bother you and all you're looking for is protection from drops, this case is a good choice. Those of us who want to use their big cases one-handed should probably look elsewhere, although this is the case I'll use when doing anything more adventurous, like snowboarding.