Most of as we speak’s top smartphones are constructed with glass backs to match the glass show, however this makes a telephone prone to wreck if dropped. Whereas telephone producers and wi-fi carriers are more than pleased to promote you insurance coverage in case of breakage, or a heavy-duty case, there could also be a greater choice for you: A rugged telephone.
Rugged telephones are designed to resist the weather, with excessive IP scores for mud and water resistance and military-standard testing for sturdiness — making certain a greater probability of display survival when dropped. Many have additional battery capability, or the flexibility to swap out batteries in an effort to proceed working and taking part in as a substitute of charging on the go.
Additionally: The best rugged laptops
Plus, most rugged telephones are extra reasonably priced than flagship telephones, as they don’t seem to be outfitted with high-end cameras and as a substitute give attention to offering a dependable telephone for all environments with out additional bells and whistles. Given their worth and utility, these telephones are excellent for subject work or out of doors adventures and might face up to harsh environmental situations. (And you may all the time preserve your iPhone or Samsung Galaxy phone at residence to pop your SIM card into whenever you need the most recent and best in cellular know-how.)
What’s the finest rugged telephone proper now?
I selected the Doogee S100 Pro as one of the best rugged telephone you should buy proper now. Not solely does it characteristic a 1080p LCD show with a 120Hz refresh price, it additionally options expandable RAM and storage, night time imaginative and prescient and macro lenses, and a thoughts boggling 2350-hour battery life. You’ll be able to preserve studying under to seek out out extra in regards to the Doogee S100 Professional in addition to our different picks for one of the best rugged telephones. Learn on for the remainder of our prime picks for one of the best rugged telephones you should buy.
The most effective rugged telephones of 2024
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Doogee V Max Plus
Finest rugged telephone general
Doogee has established itself as one of many extra well-liked choices for a rugged telephone. And their newest mannequin, the V Max Plus, delivers all the pieces you possibly can ever need in a tricky smartphone in addition to a formidable, week-long battery life. It is also geared up with 33W fast-charging, letting you rapidly prime up your battery earlier than heading out for off-site work or an extended weekend tenting journey.
Learn the evaluate: The most durable Android phone I’ve tested also has a week-long battery life
The Doogee V Max Plus can also be stuffed to the gills with superior smartphone options like 512GB of inside storage that may be expanded as much as 2TB with a microSD card. The telephone is able to supporting both twin SIM playing cards for private and work numbers or a SIM card and microSD storage growth. The 6.58-inch show offers you 1080p decision and a 120Hz refresh price for easy video playback. And with as much as 32GB of RAM, you will not have to fret about your new telephone having bother with multitasking or working in specialised apps. ZDNET skilled Jack Wallen acquired to take a look at the Doogee V Max Plus for himself, and was very impressed with the 1,500-hour standby life in addition to the sheer sturdiness of the telephone chassis, which is able to withstanding drops, bumps, and even water splashes.
Doogee V Max Plus specs: Show: 5.38 inches (1080p decision), IPS | CPU: Dimensity 7050 Octa Core 2.6GHz 6nm | RAM: As much as 36GB | Inner Storage: As much as 2TB with microSD slot | Rear cameras: 200MP AI-assisted fundamental, 20MP night time imaginative and prescient, 8MP wide-angle/macro | Entrance digital camera: 32MP | Battery: 22000 mAh | Weight: 570g
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Kyocera DuraForce Professional 3
Finest show in a rugged telephone
Rugged telephones are constructed to resist the weather of subject work, and with the brand new Kyocera DuraForce Professional 3, you get the extra help of Verizon’s 5G community. At first look, its glossy design might need you questioning if it is even a rugged telephone, because it’s much less cumbersome and awkward to deal with than many others in the marketplace.
ZDNET’s Matthew Miller spent a few weeks utilizing the DuraForce Professional 3 whereas climbing, working, and exploring the outside. It withstood submersion in streams, drops on trails, and tough therapy as he examined its sturdiness.
The Kyocera DuraForce Professional 3 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 processor with 6GB of RAM, 128GB of inside storage, three rear cameras, and a big capability 4,500 mAh battery. In the event you plan to spend an prolonged period of time within the subject taking images and video, you may swap out a microSD card with help as much as 1TB. The battery can also be detachable so you may carry spares and never have to fret about discovering a spot to cost the telephone. The DuraForce Professional 3 additionally helps wi-fi charging, so that you need not take away the underside USB-C port plug to prime it off.
Learn the evaluate: This ultra-rugged Android phone has every battery feature you can imagine
Three user-programmable buttons can be found in an effort to rapidly launch your favourite app or carry out key features with the straightforward press of a button. That is helpful whenever you need to open an app rapidly with out having to make use of the touchscreen. The telephone additionally helps utilizing the telephone when you’re carrying gloves.
he telephone is designed to endure tough dealing with with IP68 mud/water resistance, MIL-STD 810H shock take a look at certification, and motion overlay knowledge designed to boost your out of doors adventures. Verified buyer evaluations from Verizon are a blended bag on the scale of the telephone, with some preferring the bigger earlier mannequin over the smaller, sleeker DuraForce Professional 3.
Kyocera DuraForce Professional 3 specs: Show: 5.38 inches (2,160 x 1,080-pixel decision), OLED | CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 | RAM: 6GB | Inner Storage: 128GB with microSD slot | Rear cameras: 64MP broad angle, 16MP ultra-wide digital camera and 2MP macro | Entrance digital camera: 8MP | Battery: 4270 mAh | Weight: 237g
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AGM H6
Finest reasonably priced rugged telephone
At a weight of simply 240 grams and thickness of simply 10.75mm, you could not assume this can be a rugged telephone designed to resist fieldwork. Nevertheless, I’ve dropped it, submerged it, and went working within the rain with it and the system seems nearly the identical as when it got here out of the field.
Survival is the secret with the AGM H6, due to its IP68 waterproof ranking, IP69K dustproof ranking, and 1.8m shock-resistant take a look at certification. The body across the show is raised 0.4mm above the display to assist shield it whereas additional nook safety (with a lanyard opening within the prime left) is offered for drops. The USB-C port and headset jack are sealed with covers, which is a considerate contact.
Learn the evaluate: Finally, a rugged Android phone that doesn’t look and feel like a brick
The brand new AGM H6 is ideal for individuals who plan to ski, hike, fish, and discover the outside. It is particularly glossy for the rugged telephone that it’s, and on the sub-$300 worth, its sturdiness options are completely price it. Verified buyer evaluations from each Amazon and Walmart love the worth and worth of the AGM H6, however are blended on the telephone’s fingerprint detection for unlocking the system.
AGM H6 specs: Show: 6.56 inches (1612 x 720-pixel decision) | CPU: Unisoc T606 | RAM: 16GB | Inner Storage: 256GB with microSD | Rear cameras: 50MP fundamental and 2MP macro | Entrance digital camera: 8MP | Battery: 4,900 mAh | Weight: 240g
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Cat S75
Finest designed rugged telephone
In the event you want a smartphone that may deal with the outside and difficult work websites however don’t desire one thing that weighs a ton and appears like a cinder block, the Caterpillar S75 is a good choice. Weighing in at simply 268 grams, the S75 sports activities a design paying homage to an early iPhone with a thinner physique and sleeker design that is straightforward to suit into a piece pants or security vest pocket.
Learn the evaluate: This rugged satellite-enabled Android phone looks nearly as sleek as an iPhone
The rear of the telephone homes the 50MP fundamental digital camera in addition to an 8MP wide-angle lens and 2MP macro lens that additionally has an underwater mode that is nice for each nature images and taking footage of commercial points. It has an inside storage of 128GB that may be expanded with the microSD slot that additionally features as a second SIM card slot for worldwide calling.
ZDNET’s Adrian Kingsley-Hughes acquired to check out the Cat S75 for himself, and whereas he cherished the slim and glossy design that also supplied loads of safety, he did not look after the considerably flimsy rubber port covers and finicky SIM card slot. Verified buyer evaluations from Amazon and Walmart love the compact and slim design in addition to the moisture resistance and drop safety.
Caterpillar S75 specs: Show: 6.6 inches (2,160 x 1,080-pixel decision), LCD | CPU: MediaTek Dimensity D930 octa-core 2.2GHz | RAM: 6GB | Inner Storage: 128GB with microSD slot | Rear cameras: 50MP fundamental, 8MP ultra-wide, 2MP macro with underwater mode | Entrance digital camera: 8MP | Battery: 5000mAh | Weight: 268g
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AGM Glory G1S
Finest specialty rugged telephone
Want a rugged telephone but additionally want it to do some specialised duties? The AGM Glory G1S is designed for almost any edge case (pun supposed) you may must put it by means of. The ruggedized telephone chassis is IP68 and IP69K licensed for water, mud, and shock/drop resistance, defending your telephone from as much as a 4-ft drop and from being submerged in as much as 5ft of water for half-hour.
Learn the evaluate: AGM Glory G1S review: Superhero powers in a rugged smartphone
The Glory G1S additionally has some fairly superior and extremely specialised options for customers who want them: a built-in laser pointer, which is useful for displays, work-site inspections, and survey tasks. It additionally has a 20MP night time imaginative and prescient digital camera that makes use of each infrared and thermal imaging that can assist you seize clear pictures and a bunch of necessary data. It additionally has a 2MP macro lens for close-up images and 16MP entrance digital camera for video calls and selfies.
ZDNET’s Matthew Miller was ready to take a look at the AGM Glory G1S for himself, and whereas he cherished the specialised options, he did word that the USB-C charging port could also be too deep for some cables to correctly join with and that the 4-pin charging dock means you are caught with a proprietary system; which may show a nuisance in a sea of civilian iPhones and Android smartphones that use Lightning or USB-C cables or wi-fi charging pads.
Verified buyer evaluations from each Amazon and Walmart love the lengthy battery life, robust chassis, and further particular options. However they do word that the telephone is barely appropriate with T-Cellular networks within the US, and that some apps like WhatsApp have unusual compatibility points.
AGM Glory G1S specs: Show: 6.53 inches (2,160 x 1,080-pixel decision), LCD | CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 5G | RAM: 8GB | Inner Storage: 128GB with microSD slot | Rear cameras: 48MP fundamental, 20MP infrared night time imaginative and prescient, 2MP macro | Entrance digital camera: 16MP | Battery: 5500 mAh | Weight: 315g
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My selection for one of the best rugged telephone is the Doogee S100 Professional for it is extremely spectacular 2300+ hour battery life, 20MP night time imaginative and prescient and 2MP rear macro lenses, underwater images mode for the macro lens, and expandable RAM and storage. It additionally includes a twin SIM card slot that may double as reminiscence growth with as much as a 2TB microSD card.
Finest rugged telephone
Worth
Show measurement
Storage
Doogee V Max Plus
$630
6.58 inches
As much as 2TB with microSD
Kyocera DuraForce Professional 3
$839
5.38 inches
128GB with microSD
AGM H6
$220
6.56 inches
256GB
Cat S75
$575
6.58 inches
128GB
AGM Glory G1S
$700
6.53 inches
128GB
All of those telephones are powered by Android OS, so there is not any selection on the working system. If you’re studying this record, you might be most likely enthusiastic about a rugged telephone that may survive drops and water drunks whenever you’re working outdoors.
The very first thing to search for is a singular component which may be particular to your work. For instance, do you want a FLIR thermal imaging digital camera, an evening imaginative and prescient digital camera, a big capability battery that can be utilized to cost different units, or a telephone with a detachable battery? Take a look at the distinctive options and see if any apply to your wants.
The following factor is to test the worth, since these rugged telephones vary from simply over $300 to $900.
Select this rugged telephone…
If you would like…
Doogee V Max Plus
A beast of a rugged telephone with a very spectacular battery life.
Kyocera DuraForce Professional 3
A rugged telephone with an OLED show and 1080p decision.
AGM H6
An reasonably priced rugged telephone beneath $250.
Cat S75
A rugged telephone that has a glossy, iPhone-like design.
AGM Glory G1S
A rugged telephone with thermal and night time imaginative and prescient cameras in addition to a laser pointer and LED flashlight.
To find out one of the best rugged telephone to your wants, you must take into account the next:
Worth: The value vary can range wildly for these rugged telephones with main manufacturers charging a premium worth for rugged options whereas minor manufacturers provide rugged telephones at very low costs. Rugged telephones are nice to your catastrophe restoration package with lengthy battery life and options that make sure the telephone will deal with any excessive situations.
Measurement: Most of those rugged telephones are massive and heavy in comparison with commonplace smartphones. Sleeker fashions are usually dearer, however that may be a trade-off you have to make as you select one of the best one for you.
Makes use of: All of those rugged telephones are constructed to outlive the weather, however some have very particular options. For instance, the Cat S62 Professional offers a thermal imaging digital camera that’s excellent for some trades. Establish your wants earlier than you dive into the choice that matches you.
To find out our picks for one of the best rugged telephones, we did weeks-long real-world testing and analysis, and consulted colleagues who’ve hands-on expertise with the telephones. We thought of the next points when creating this record:
Sturdiness: Maybe crucial component of a rugged telephone is its design and sturdiness beneath harsh situations. A lot of the rugged telephones we selected for this record are MIL-STD 810G-certified.
Battery: Rugged telephones typically have bigger batteries than conventional telephones, and might final you longer within the subject. Many even have detachable batteries so you may swap to a brand new one with out having to cost up.
Options: Whereas rugged telephones lack a number of the bells and whistles of your typical iPhone or Samsung Galaxy telephone, they typically nonetheless have spectacular cameras and different options price noting.
Worth: Rugged telephones typically value lower than flagship telephones, however are nonetheless an funding. We need to be sure you’re getting essentially the most bang to your buck.
A rugged telephone is a toughened model of a typical good or flip telephone. Rugged telephones have undergone a rigorous design course of to make them extra proof against liquids, filth, mud, drops, shocks, and excessive temperatures.
They’re typically examined in opposition to army requirements for sturdiness, so you may relaxation assured that your new telephone can deal with absolutely anything you will encounter on an outside journey.
In the event you’re somebody who’s tough on a typical smartphone, maybe resulting from your job or your hobbies, a rugged telephone is a worthwhile funding. Rugged telephones are designed to final by means of harsh situations, with excessive IP scores for mud and water resistance, and military-standard testing for sturdiness. Most have additional battery capability, or the flexibility to swap out batteries, so you do not have to spend time charging.
In the event you’re an Apple model loyalist and should use an iPhone, a rugged case is your best choice to guard your telephone, because the firm has but to make a toughened model of the iPhone.
There are many choices on the market for weatherized and ruggedized circumstances, and OtterBoxUrban Armor Gear (UAG) are two of our favorites. Instances can be found with a number of layers of safety in opposition to drops and shocks, in addition to port covers which are designed to maintain water and filth out of buttons and charging ports. Some case fashions have kickstands to prop your telephone up for hands-free use too.
Extra rugged telephones to think about