Rugged phones usually come with a long battery life, have a hardy design, and possess features that the user wants. While there are several brands that claim to be rugged and durable, here are a few that take the honor.
Ulefone Armor 9 FLIR
This phone is the best rugged phone you will find on the market. It comes with a FLIR camera as well as an endoscope so you can use it for a number of tasks. It also has a long battery life so you don’t have to worry about losing power while doing your tasks.
This is a very affordable phone so you don’t have to worry about the cost or getting something not up to par. If you are looking for a phone that will last you even after taking a bump, fall, or impact, this is the right phone for you. It comes with an Android 10 operating system and a screen size of 6.3 inches. It has three rear cameras and one camera in the front. It also has a storage space of 128GB but it can be expanded.
Blackview BV9900 Pro
The BV9900 Pro also makes it on the list of best rugged phones because it can withstand impact without showing any signs of damage or wear and tear. It comes with a FLIR thermal imaging camera as well as standard cameras, with one that is a rear 48MP camera.
This phone is powered by a MediaTek Helio G90 chipset and has 8GB RAM. While its battery could have been better the phone makes up for it with its protective features, Android 10 OS, and 5.84-inch screen size. You will also love its price as it is quite affordable.
Cat S62 Pro
This phone is designed to withstand harsh weather conditions and still manages to look elegant. It comes with a thermal imaging camera that makes it very popular with buyers who are looking for a rugged smartphone with this type of feature. The camera has FLIR Lepton 3.5 sensor and an additional four thermal pixels so you will be able to get sharper images. According to the manufacturer, the phone will not sustain damage from a 6-foot fall as the frame is die-cast. It can also handle salt, sand, wind, and rain without any ill-effects.
It has a metallic frame while the rear panel is made from plastic. The rounded corners ensure optimal protection. The rear of the phone has a rubber finish that also functions as protection and there are slots for the SIM card and Micro SD card. While the phone is big, it is surprisingly lightweight, weighing about 8.75 oz. Both the USB port and audio jack have protective covers.
Sonim XP8
This is another phone that is considered rugged and caters to a niche consumer base such as electricians, people working in chemical plants, construction workers, and first responders. It comes with FirstNet Ready certification that allows first responders to get unhindered access to broadband LTE connectivity so that they can quickly send and receive data.
The phone has an antenna at the top and has a squarish design with rounded corners. It is slightly heavy at 11.81 oz but considering its capabilities, such as barcode scanner, alarm key to send GPS locations, and front-facing buttons as well as PTT button its worth the heavier weight. It also comes with a removable battery and a slot for the MicroSD card.
The Bottom Line
These are some of the best rugged phones that you will find on the market. If you are looking for phones that are durable and can withstand wear and tear without showing any signs of damage, these are the smartphones worth taking a look at.