Optimal Phones/Cases for AR Games

[darknyght00]

My girlfriend and I play both PGO and Ingress but due to an unfortunate series of events, she needs a new device. I've successfully converted her from her old iPhone (which now has a shattered screen but is still kickin') to my old 2015 Moto X (also now has a shattered screen but is far less functional) so now we're looking at the best (and durable) options for what has become our... active... lifestyle.

I'm currently rocking a nexus 6P in a slim spigen case but for her we're looking at a bit more hard-use stuff. My knee jerk reaction when searching was the droid turbo 2 since it has the shatterproof screen and giant battery but since the Z Force is due out soon, I'm not sure if it would be better to try and wait (we need something by the end of next month at worst because of the next Ingress event). Even with a shatterproof screen, I also want to get her a nigh-indestructible case (shock absorption is a must, water proofing optional) something with a carabiner would be nice too (like this: Beeline Cases). Whatever the phone, it will need to have high scores for speed, screen, and battery to run both PGO and Ingress.

Based on the above, anybody have any recommendations?

EDIT: Almost forgot one of the most limiting factors- We're on Verizon.

 

[mstrblueskys]

Based on the above, anybody have any recommendations?

I loved my HTC Desire Eye. The thing was an absolute tank. It was waterproof and made of plastic. It will run Go and Ingress no sweat. You didn't need to have any ports covered. I'm not sure how they waterproofed it with speaker grilles, headphone jack, and charging port, but they did.

Also, maybe consider getting a flip cover case? It makes the phone a little bit harder to use, but son-of-a-gun, they protect the heck out of your screen.

I know (assuming you're in the US) if you have a prime account, Amazon is doing 20% off in the outlet store. I saw it in there. There are also a couple of flip cases on Amazon as well.

The one thing I would say is it didn't have any amazing battery life. It has very good battery life, but nothing like a Blu Energy X2, Zenfone + or Mate 2.

Or depending on your budget, the Galaxy S6 Activ would be in that vein as well.

 

[darknyght00]

Clarified a bit- We're on Verizon which limits our choices just a bit