There’s something supremely satisfying about proudly owning a smartphone that may take a beating. It is one much less factor to fret about, particularly if you happen to’re placing your self in conditions which will require a bit extra consideration than regular. In any case, your cellphone is the very last thing it is best to take into consideration when mountaineering or on a job website. That is why rugged smartphones are helpful.
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Most of at present’s rugged smartphones include a beefy exterior, massive batteries, and generally the occasional quirky further that’s tailored for a selected exercise. For instance, some rugged smartphones include FLIR thermal imaging cameras. Regardless of the cause, we predict we may also help you discover a good rugged smartphone.
Finest rugged smartphones: Our high decisions
Samsung Galaxy XCover6 Professional
1. Finest general rugged smartphone
A hardy cellphone that is not an enormous departure from the norm
The Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Professional is Samsung’s greatest try at a rugged smartphone. It is a good try too, because it brings with it every part you want in a sleeker bundle than most.
- Sleeker than most rugged smartphones
- Fashionable facilities like 5G, Wi-Fi 6E, and extra
- MIL-STD-810H examined with an IP68 ranking
- Smaller battery than many rugged cellphone rivals
- Designed for enterprise customers, so it isn’t the best to get ahold of
The Samsung Galaxy XCover6 Professional 5G is about your greatest wager for a rugged smartphone. It comes with moderately good specs, trendy connectivity, and a beautiful look. It additionally brings again some outdated favorites, just like the detachable battery if you wish to swap it out for a brand new one. Even the cameras are fairly strong, which is good to see in a smartphone beneath $1,000.
There is not a lot mistaken with the XCover6 Professional. The largest downside we discovered was that it isn’t fairly as sturdy as different rugged smartphones. Plus, the battery door could pop off whenever you drop it, which generally is a problem if you happen to’re someplace the place dropping issues is dangerous. Plus, there are some telephones on this listing with a battery that exceeds 10,000mAh. By comparability, the XCover6’s 4,050mAh feels a bit small.
Doogee V Max 5G
2. Finest rugged cellphone for high sturdiness
Sturdy is as sturdy does
$389 $579 Save $190
The Doogee V Max 5G is a sturdy smartphone with a thick exterior, trendy options, a large battery, and an IP69K ranking.
- One of many few sturdy smartphones value shopping for with an IP69 ranking
- Sturdy battery
- Throughout strong efficiency and specs for its worth
- Cameras aren’t as much as par with rivals
- Runs Android 12, which is not the most up-to-date model
The Doogee V Max 5G is a critically good smartphone for its worth. You get rugged issues like a sturdy chassis together with MIL-STD-810H and IP69K, which is sort of utterly dustproof with wonderful water resistance. It additionally comes with three cameras, specs highly effective sufficient to run at the least some trendy smartphone video games, and a 120Hz FHD panel, which is a rarity for rugged smartphones.
For its worth, there is not a lot mistaken with it. Even the 22,000mAh battery, which is not a typo, is above and past what you may discover in comparable smartphones. The interior specs aren’t nearly as good as flagship telephones, however for a cellphone that prices lower than $600, it is arduous to complain about this one.
Nokia XR21
3. Finest waterproof rugged smartphone
Swimming pools and seashores aren’t any match for the XR21
The Nokia XR21 is not the thickest cellphone on the listing. Nevertheless, its IP69 ranking is among the many highest, making it a terrific system to take with you if you happen to intend to be close to water in any respect.
- MIL-STD-810H and IP69K
- Fashionable options like a 120 Hz display screen and 4 years of OS updates
- Features a three 12 months guarantee, which features a one 12 months display screen substitute guarantee
- Specs and digicam are simply okay
- Smaller battery than another rugged smartphones
The Nokia XR21 is able to go on an journey. It would not have the thicker chassis of another rugged smartphones, but it surely does embody IP69K, which you’ll be able to’t even discover with flagship smartphones. Meaning it is dustproof and waterproof as much as 1.8 meters. The 9K half means you’ll be able to blast it with an influence washer and water nonetheless will not get in.
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From our hands-on expertise, these are the highest waterproof telephones that may stand up to greater than the occasional splash.
When it comes to specs, it is a fairly run-of-the-mill mid-range cellphone. It is highly effective sufficient to run apps, browse the online, and scroll by way of social media. Nevertheless, the cellphone will begin to battle with higher-end cellular video games if you happen to’re into these. The cameras are additionally simply okay. Aside from that, it is a very cheap cellphone for its worth, and Nokia’s guarantee and OS replace promise are cherries on high of the sundae.
Blackview BV9200
4. Finest rugged cellphone for underwater adventures
Made to go underwater
$300 $380 Save $80
The Blackview BV9200 is a fairly budget-friendly smartphone that options IP69K, a cool design, and a few trendy issues like a 120Hz display screen.
- Digital camera options an underwater mode, which tells you ways waterproof the cellphone is
- Finances pleasant
- Spec efficiency is sweet sufficient
- Solely 4G connectivity
- Runs Android 12, which is not the most up-to-date model
Blackview has some complicated naming schemes. For instance, the BV9900 was launched in 2020 whereas the BV9200 was launched in 2023. Confusion apart, the BV9200 is a reliable smartphone for its sub-$400 price ticket. It features a CPU bundle that may play most trendy cellular video games on decrease settings. The 120Hz display screen provides a contemporary contact and the cellphone comes with 66W quick charging and 30W quick wi-fi charging.
Best rugged laptops: Tough machines for extreme conditions
The very best rugged laptops have a sturdy design to resist harsh temperatures and unsafe environments.
The actual story, although, is the waterproofing. It boasts IP69K mud and water resistance. Blackview leans into this by providing an underwater mode for its digicam that you do not see on different smartphones. For its worth, there merely is not a lot to complain about. Blackview made a reliable smartphone.
Ulefone Armor 16 Professional
5. Finest funds rugged smartphone
Not a nasty general bundle for $200
The Ulefone Armor 16 Professional is about as budget-friendly because it will get whereas nonetheless being a rugged smartphone. It isn’t probably the most highly effective smartphone, but it surely’ll get you there for about $200.
- 9,600mAh battery is sort of massive for this worth level
- IP69K and MIL-STD-810G rated
- Has an endoscope attachment (offered individually)
- Underpowered throughout
- Would’ve been cool to see a bundle with the additional equipment
The Ulefone Armor 16 Professional is a cheap smartphone. It prices round $200 if you happen to purchase it from the official web site and round $160 if you happen to purchase it from AliExpress. What you get is a cellphone with a big battery, IP69K water and dirt resistance, and a MIL-STD-810G ranking. When it comes to specs, it is underpowered, however that is anticipated at this worth level. It’s going to scroll by way of social media and browse the online, making it a good decide if you happen to want one thing easy.
There are some surprises in relation to the Armor 16 Professional. For instance, there’s an optional endoscope attachment you can get for an extra $70. You too can purchase it with some case, dock, and earbuds packages on the official web site. We’d’ve favored to have seen a bundle with the endoscope, although, as a result of that is so cool and helpful for a lot of circumstances a rugged cellphone consumer might have.
Unihertz Tank 3
6. Finest rugged smartphone for outside adventures
Probably the most apropos title
The Unihertz Titan 3 is without doubt one of the beefiest rugged smartphones on the listing with good specs to match. You would possibly be capable to drop this out of a shifting automotive with out issues, though we do not advocate attempting that at house.
- Completely large 23,800mAh battery ought to final days
- Constructed-in camp gentle works nice as a flashlight
- Android 13 and fairly strong midrange specs
- Digital camera efficiency is common
- It seems like a brick in your pocket
The Unihertz Tank 3 is aptly named. It is a huge, heavy smartphone with loads of safety for no matter journey you plan to go on. A part of the majority is the absurd 23,800mAh battery that has a standby time of 1,800 hours, in response to Unihertz. Aside from that, you get a strong set of mid-range specs that ought to run apps and play many cellular video games with out issues. It additionally comes with 5 cameras, though the efficiency on these is mediocre.
Along with respectable specs and a large construct, the Tank 3 additionally comes with an built-in camp gentle. It is customizable for heat or cool gentle and is definitely vivid sufficient for use as a flashlight. The 120W wired charging can be extreme, however we really feel it’s a necessity to high up the huge battery shortly. This can be a nice cellphone to take with you on multi-day excursions like tenting or mountaineering.
Doogee S100 Professional
7. Honorable point out rugged smartphone
Designed for outside use
$210 $420 Save $210
The Doogee S100 Professional was launched in 2023, and it is a shut competitor to the Unihertz Tank 3. It has respectable specs, trendy options like a 120Hz display screen, and an enormous battery.
- 22,000mAh battery is not any joke
- Thick chassis and an IP68 water and dirt resistance ranking
- This one additionally features a vivid tenting gentle
- Android 12 on a 2023 launch is not the perfect concept
- Very heavy
The Doogee S100 Professional is a direct competitor to the Unihertz Tank 3. It additionally has a thick chassis with a large battery that may final for days between expenses. It retains prices down through the use of the MediaTek Helio G99, which is sweet sufficient for day-to-day duties in addition to some gentle cellular gaming. It additionally comes with three cameras, an IP68 ranking, and a 120Hz display screen.
Sadly, the cellphone would not help 5G, and it runs Android 12, so regardless of its comparatively current launch date, it is nonetheless lacking out on some trendy tech. That mentioned, the dearth of 5G will certainly assist the already massive battery final even longer as 4G would not use as a lot battery today. General, we predict the Doogee V Max is the higher cellphone, however this one is cheaper and has lots of the identical options.
Alternatively, you should buy a rugged case to placed on a daily smartphone
One other potential choice is to purchase a cumbersome case to place in your current smartphone. In any case, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra or iPhone 15 Pro Max already has an IP68 water and dirt resistance ranking, wonderful specs, the most recent Corning Gorilla Glass to withstand scratches, and trendy options like 5G. The one factor any trendy smartphone is basically lacking is drop safety. You should purchase drop safety.
Most of at present’s telephones have loads of cumbersome case choices, such because the Otterbox Defender, the place it will add a thick protecting layer. From there, you have got all of it, together with high-end specs, nice cameras, IP68, and a cellphone that may deal with the occasional tumble. Try a few of Pocket-lint’s phone case collections to seek out our rugged case picks, for iPhone 15 Pro Max, Galaxy S23 models, and Google Pixel 8.
The underside line: What’s the greatest rugged smartphone?
For the cash, you may get probably the most mileage out of the Samsung Galaxy XCover6 Professional, the Unihertz Tank 3, and the Doogee V Max 5G. They provide the perfect mixture of worth, efficiency, and ruggedness. The Blackview BV9200, Doogee S100 Professional, and the Nokia XR21 are additionally competent choices that embody some further tech you would possibly discover helpful. The Ulefone Armor 16 Professional brings up the rear of our suggestions for being very cheap.
Samsung Galaxy XCover6 Professional
Editor’s Alternative
Nevertheless, on the finish of the day, your greatest wager is to purchase a contemporary smartphone like a Pixel, Galaxy, or iPhone, and slap a thick case on it. You get trendy options, software program updates, higher cameras, and extra highly effective {hardware} with the drop safety and IP ranking of rugged smartphones. That is what we might advocate first.
How did we select the perfect rugged telephones?
Step one was figuring out sufficient trendy rugged smartphones to construct a listing with. Many lists on the Web characteristic telephones from upwards of 4 or 5 years in the past, and we felt that these telephones had been too outdated to be helpful at present. As soon as we selected the telephones, it was a matter of operating them with our fantastic Pocket-lint editorial workers, watching and studying opinions, after which writing the article.
Are rugged smartphones well worth the funding?
It is largely subjective. Rugged smartphones usually have options that mainstream telephones keep away from having for numerous causes. For instance, on the listing above, we now have telephones with 20,000mAh batteries, detachable battery covers, underwater cameras, tenting lights, and endoscopes. For people with area of interest use circumstances, such a cellphone might be far more helpful than a contemporary flagship cellphone.
Nevertheless, most rugged smartphones are mid-range when it comes to specs and options. A few of the above telephones do not even have 5G. So, in case your largest concern is having probably the most highly effective potential cellphone with nice cameras, you then’ll wish to go the route the place you purchase a contemporary flagship after which get a thick case.
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