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 for those who’re placing your self in conditions that will require a bit extra consideration than regular. In any case, your telephone is the very last thing you need to take into consideration when mountain climbing or on a job web site. That is why rugged smartphones are helpful.
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Most of as we speak’s rugged smartphones include a beefy exterior, giant batteries, and generally the occasional quirky additional that’s tailored for a selected exercise. For instance, some rugged smartphones include FLIR thermal imaging cameras. Regardless of the motive, we expect we can assist you discover a good rugged smartphone.
Greatest rugged smartphones: Our prime selections
Samsung Galaxy XCover6 Professional
1. Greatest total rugged smartphone
A hardy telephone 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 package deal than most.
- Sleeker than most rugged smartphones
- Trendy facilities like 5G, Wi-Fi 6E, and extra
- MIL-STD-810H examined with an IP68 score
- Smaller battery than many rugged telephone opponents
- 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 fairly good specs, trendy connectivity, and a lovely 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 It additionally brings again some outdated favorites, just like the detachable battery if you wish to swap it out for a brand new one.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 underneath $1,000.
There is not a lot incorrect with the XCover6 Professional. The most important downside we discovered was that it isn’t fairly as sturdy as different rugged smartphones. Plus, the battery door could pop off if you drop it, which generally is a trouble for those who’re someplace the place dropping issues is dangerous. Plus, there are some telephones on this record with a battery that exceeds 10,000mAh. By comparability, the XCover6’s 4,050mAh feels a bit small.
Doogee V Max 5G
2. Greatest rugged telephone for prime 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, an enormous battery, and an IP69K score.
- One of many few sturdy smartphones price shopping for with an IP69 score
- Strong battery
- Throughout strong efficiency and specs for its worth
- Cameras aren’t as much as par with opponents
- 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 glorious water resistance. It additionally comes with three cameras, specs highly effective sufficient to run not less than 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 incorrect with it. Even the 22,000mAh battery, which is not a typo, is above and past what you may discover in related smartphones. The interior specs aren’t nearly as good as flagship telephones, however for a telephone that prices lower than $600, it is onerous to complain about this one.
Nokia XR21
3. Greatest waterproof rugged smartphone
Swimming pools and seashores aren’t any match for the XR21
The Nokia XR21 is not the thickest telephone on the record. Nevertheless, its IP69 score is among the many highest, making it an excellent machine to take with you for those who intend to be close to water in any respect.
- MIL-STD-810H and IP69K
- Trendy 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 alternative guarantee
- Specs and digital camera 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’t even discover with flagship smartphones. Which means it is dustproof and waterproof as much as 1.8 meters. The 9K half means you possibly can blast it with an influence washer and water nonetheless will not get in.
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When it comes to specs, it is a fairly run-of-the-mill mid-range telephone. It is highly effective sufficient to run apps, browse the online, and scroll by means of social media. Nevertheless, the telephone will begin to wrestle with higher-end cellular video games for those who’re into these. The cameras are additionally simply okay. Aside from that, it is a very cheap telephone for its worth, and Nokia’s guarantee and OS replace promise are cherries on prime of the sundae.
Blackview BV9200
4. Greatest rugged telephone 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 the way waterproof the telephone is
- Finances pleasant
- Spec efficiency is nice 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 package deal that may play most trendy cellular video games on decrease settings. The 120Hz display screen provides a contemporary contact and the telephone comes with 66W quick charging and 30W quick wi-fi charging.
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The perfect 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 digital camera 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. Greatest funds rugged smartphone
Not a nasty total package deal 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 essentially the most highly effective smartphone, but it surely’ll get you there for about $200.
- 9,600mAh battery is kind of giant 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 reasonable smartphone. It prices round $200 for those who purchase it from the official web site and round $160 for those who purchase it from AliExpress. What you get is a telephone with a big battery, IP69K water and mud resistance, and a MIL-STD-810G score. When it comes to specs, it is underpowered, however that is anticipated at this worth level. It will scroll by means of social media and browse the online, making it a good choose for those who want one thing easy.
There are some surprises in the case of the Armor 16 Professional. For instance, there may be an optional endoscope attachment you can get for a further $70. You may as well 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 instances a rugged telephone person might have.
Unihertz Tank 3
6. Greatest rugged smartphone for out of doors adventures
Probably the most apropos identify
The Unihertz Titan 3 is likely one of the beefiest rugged smartphones on the record with good specs to match. You would possibly be capable of drop this out of a shifting automobile with out issues, though we do not suggest attempting that at residence.
- Completely huge 23,800mAh battery ought to final days
- Constructed-in camp mild works nice as a flashlight
- Android 13 and fairly strong midrange specs
- Digital camera efficiency is common
- It appears like a brick in your pocket
The Unihertz Tank 3 is aptly named. It is a large, heavy smartphone with loads of safety for no matter journey you propose to go on. A part of the majority is the absurd 23,800mAh battery that has a standby time of 1,800 hours, in accordance with 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 first rate specs and an enormous construct, the Tank 3 additionally comes with an built-in camp mild. It is customizable for heat or cool mild and is well shiny sufficient for use as a flashlight. The 120W wired charging can also be extreme, however we really feel it’s a necessity to prime up the huge battery shortly. It is a nice telephone to take with you on multi-day excursions like tenting or mountain climbing.
Doogee S100 Professional
7. Honorable point out rugged smartphone
Designed for out of doors 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 first rate 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 mud resistance score
- This one additionally features a shiny tenting mild
- Android 12 on a 2023 launch is not one of the best thought
- Very heavy
The Doogee S100 Professional is a direct competitor to the Unihertz Tank 3. It additionally has a thick chassis with an enormous battery that may final for days between prices. It retains prices down through the use of the MediaTek Helio G99, which is nice sufficient for day-to-day duties in addition to some mild cellular gaming. It additionally comes with three cameras, an IP68 score, and a 120Hz display screen.
Sadly, the telephone would not assist 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 giant battery final even longer as 4G would not use as a lot battery lately. General, we expect the Doogee V Max is the higher telephone, however this one is inexpensive 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 mud resistance score, glorious specs, the most recent Corning Gorilla Glass to withstand scratches, and trendy options like 5G. The one factor any trendy smartphone is actually lacking is drop safety. You should purchase drop safety.
Most of as we speak’s telephones have loads of cumbersome case choices, such because the Otterbox Defender, the place it’s going to add a thick protecting layer. From there, you could have all of it, together with high-end specs, nice cameras, IP68, and a telephone 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 essentially the most mileage out of the Samsung Galaxy XCover6 Professional, the Unihertz Tank 3, and the Doogee V Max 5G. They provide one of the best mixture of worth, efficiency, and ruggedness. The Blackview BV9200, Doogee S100 Professional, and the Nokia XR21 are additionally competent choices that embody some additional 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 Selection
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 score of rugged smartphones. That is what we’d suggest first.
How did we select one of the best rugged telephones?
Step one was figuring out sufficient trendy rugged smartphones to construct a listing with. Many lists on the Web function telephones from upwards of 4 or 5 years in the past, and we felt that these telephones have been too outdated to be helpful as we speak. As soon as we selected the telephones, it was a matter of working them with our great Pocket-lint editorial workers, watching and studying critiques, after which writing the article.
Are rugged smartphones definitely worth the funding?
It is largely subjective. Rugged smartphones usually have options that mainstream telephones keep away from having for varied causes. For instance, on the record above, now we have telephones with 20,000mAh batteries, detachable battery covers, underwater cameras, tenting lights, and endoscopes. For folk with area of interest use instances, such a telephone might be rather more helpful than a contemporary flagship telephone.
Nevertheless, most rugged smartphones are mid-range when it comes to specs and options. A number of the above telephones do not even have 5G. So, in case your greatest concern is having essentially the most highly effective attainable telephone with nice cameras, then you definitely’ll need to go the route the place you purchase a contemporary flagship after which get a thick case.
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