A phone with a large battery is thin and waterproof. The best shockproof and waterproof phones
People who cannot see their life without extreme sports and prefer active recreation are simply obliged to purchase protected and shockproof gadgets. Moreover, you can buy them in any store.
The elements of 2017 are no problem for phones
From the very beginning, when these gadgets first appeared, their price was quite high. Therefore, they were used exclusively by military personnel, climbers and people of other dangerous professions. But every day the prices kept going down. Nowadays, anyone can buy these devices.
Some believe that it is more profitable to buy yourself a waterproof smartphone than a fancy iPhone. After all, apple technology rarely survives after a fall. So let's now look at the most popular rugged phones. They have only one function - to serve as an uninterrupted means of communication.
Alcatel OneTouch Go Play
We will classify this device as a youth segment. They are also great for users who prefer to have fun near pools, fountains, on the beach, and so on. The phone level is IP67 standard. The device manufacturer also stated that there are cameras with an 8 megapixel sensor and an LED flash. The phone is fully adapted for underwater photography. It is also impermeable to dust and dirt.
Inside, buyers will find a quad-core processor with a frequency of 1.2 GHz. RAM is only 1 GB, built-in is 8 GB. If you want to increase the memory, then there is a micro-card slot for up to 32 GB. The device also has an Adreno 405 graphics accelerator. There is also 2G, 3G, 4G connectivity. The smartphone has a 5-inch screen and an aspect ratio of 720 by 1280 pixels. You are allowed to take selfies thanks to the 5 MP front camera.
The phone's battery is also good - 2500 mAh. Therefore, people will be able to talk for 12 hours without any problems. But if we talk about a week of waiting, then it is equal to 2.5 or 55 hours of listening to music. The device itself is small – 9.2 by 73.3 by 143.3 mm. This phone also appeared with online realtors. The cost is 205 euros. The phone is ready to boast eight different colors.
Caterpillar Cat S30
If you purchase a phone from this famous brand, you will get 100% reliability. The elite manufacturer guarantees it for all its equipment. The new protected gadget will be no exception. Even if we take into account that its testing took place in accordance with the military requirements of the US Army. It must be said right away that the purpose of portable gadgets
Caterpillar is to provide users with working communications and functions in bad weather conditions. For example, if you are outdoors. Optimal applications include industrial and construction sites and areas. Devices can be taken with the same haste on hikes, while playing sports, and so on. In other words, the conditions can be extreme.
The gadget was tested to meet the IP68 sealing standard. This standard speaks of complete resistance to dirt penetration, waterproofness and dustproofness. The smartphone can be kept at depth for an hour. This also includes resistance to fats, oils, petroleum and the like. The phone is also ready to work in temperatures below 25 degrees and above 55 degrees. It does not cool down and does not overheat.
As for the filling, the processor has 4 cores and its clock frequency is 1.1 GHz. The gadget is controlled under the Android 5.1 system, 1 GB is allocated for RAM. The built-in memory holds 8 GB of information, and it can also be increased to 64 GB using a micro-card. Since the phone was created for the Outdoor segment, it was made with a super bright TFT TN display.
Diagonal – 4.5 inches. The monitor resolution is 854 by 480 pixels. Of course, the screen is fully protected by Gorilla Voice 3. Users are allowed to run wet fingers or hand across the screen as long as you are wearing a work glove. The main camera is 5 megapixels, and the front camera is 2 megapixels.
To provide cellular communications, the creators installed a nano SIM card here. They didn’t forget about 3G and GSM modules. But the highest transmission speed is 50\150 Mbit. The phone comes with light sensors, compass, proximity and accelerometer. The battery itself is quite powerful – 300 mAh. The phone weighs only 181 grams.
Xperia Z5
The Japanese company was able to announce five variants of its new flagship at once. They also made a waterproof phone for users, which has an elegant and stylish body. The display and new camera are also not far behind. The general camera is 23 megapixels. Ultra-fast autofocus. In all models, the company has installed a built-in fingerprint sensor for intuitive unlocking.
As for the level of protection, it corresponds to the double standard IP65\68. Due to nanocoatings, tightness is obtained. Here you will not see brutal cases or plugs on connectors and sides. Thanks to this standard, buyers can talk during heavy rain, as well as immerse the gadget in water for 1 hour. It is not forbidden to drop your phone in sand or mud, because it is ready to survive these conditions.
Video: the most indestructible, durable (shockproof) smartphone of 2017
If you cannot live without extreme sports and love active recreation, buy indestructible ones that have IP-68 and IP-67 certificates. In this case, you can survive any element without any problems. Moreover, now, for relatively little money, you can become the owner of a new device with advanced functions. In this article we will help you choose a durable, modern, reliable shock-resistant smartphone that will work flawlessly in any conditions.
Some general information
You must remember that initially only climbers, military men and other representatives of the so-called “dangerous” professions showed interest in such devices. In addition, their cost was quite high. Now the situation has changed. Ordinary people who lead a hectic, active lifestyle, for example, paratroopers, fishermen, diving enthusiasts, or simply those who prefer a protected gadget to a fashionable smartphone that is not at all resistant to damage and shock, can buy a shock-resistant, waterproof smartphone.
Which manufacturers supply branded quality products to Russia? In order not to run into cheap fakes, you need to remember that these are the following well-known brands: North Face, Explorer, Runbo, Hummer, Land Rover, AGM, Mann Zug and others. They produce full-featured mega-devices that have the best balance between reliability and price. For this reason, devices from these and other well-known brands are in high demand.
Advantages of a secure smartphone over a regular one
Each not only connects its owner with the outside world, but also has excellent functionality. Even ordinary inexpensive phones are equipped with a strong, durable case that does not allow moisture to pass through, very powerful batteries, and high-quality protection from dirt, vibration, and extreme temperatures. They can perform many different tasks, for which they have a flashlight, radio, navigation, photo and video camera, have rich multimedia options and access to Internet resources. Having provided the manufactured devices with good protection, the developers and manufacturers did not stop there.
They started turning them into fashion accessories with stylish designs. There are phones on sale that are waterproof, have athletic, masculine features, and have a sleek tablet look. Tourists can purchase gadgets in different colors, and a camouflage-colored shockproof device is perfect for security forces. It turns out that buying a secure phone now means getting an extraordinary design, high technical characteristics and full support in extreme conditions.
Kyocera rugged smartphones
The further we go, the more companies produce similar products. Kyocera introduced to consumers two new devices with a high degree of protection in the Hydro series - Edge and XTRM. The presentation took place in Las Vegas, USA. These new products have water- and dust-proof housings, thanks to which they can safely work for 30 minutes at a depth of up to one meter. Both devices are waterproof, but the latest model is also protected from temperature changes and drops. A very interesting feature of smartphones is their lack of auditory speakers.
It uses Smart Sonic Receiver, an innovative technology that allows sound to be transmitted through vibration directly to the eardrum. As a result, you can hear your interlocutor well even in noisy conditions. A little about some of the characteristics of these devices. Edge has a dual-core, 1 GHz processor with 1 GB of RAM, a 5 MP camera and a four-inch screen. XTRM is very similar to it, but it works in fourth-generation networks, the processor operates at a frequency of 1.2 GHz, and the screen is IPS. Both devices have OS from Google.
Galaxy Xcover-2 - a rugged smartphone from Samsung
This device became the successor to the already “ancient” Galaxy Xcover, which was one of the first in this line of gadgets. The new dust-, moisture- and shock-resistant smartphone has a maximum IP67 protocol. It is completely protected from dust and is not afraid of thirty minutes of immersion in water to a meter depth. Xcover 2 has a TFT display with a resolution of 800x480 pixels, size - four inches. Processor - dual-core, clock frequency - 1 GHz, RAM - 1024 MB, flash drive - 4096 MB, microSD card support. The main camera is 5 megapixel and has a flash that can be used as a flashlight.
The front camera is VGA, suitable only for video communication. Like all rugged devices, it is equipped with a separate dedicated shooting button, which allows you to take underwater photographs. The battery has a capacity of 1700 mAh and can operate for 570 hours in standby mode. Operating system - Android 4.1, also called Jelly Bean. Among the additional characteristics, we note the presence of GLONASS, GPS, Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi.
Rugged smartphone from Samsung for LTE networks - Galaxy Rugby LTE
Be that as it may, not many devices today have a reliably protected case. For this reason, the Korean company released Samsung - a shock-resistant smartphone, Rugby LTE. If you carefully understand the meaning of the name, you will understand that you can even play rugby with this gadget, it has such a strong body. Its ability to work in fourth generation networks is also visible. The characteristics of the phone are not the most advanced, but this is understandable, since the main focus was on security. The filling comes second here.
Our shock-resistant smartphone has a 3.97-inch display with a standard resolution of 480 x 800 pixels. Processor - 1.5 GHz, dual-core, front camera - 1.3 MP, rear camera - 5 MP, LED flash, NFC, DLNA support. Battery - 1850 mAh, weight - 161 grams. Galaxy Rugby LTE, according to user reviews, has proven itself to be a reliable dust-proof, moisture-proof, shock- and vibration-proof smartphone. In addition, it tolerates various temperatures well, including temperature changes.
Japanese rugged smartphone Sony Xperia M2 Aqua
If you choose a secure device from a well-known brand manufacturer, we recommend paying attention to a shock-resistant smartphone. This device is the first device from a Japanese company that is in the mid-price category, but has a very high level of protection - IP 65/68. The OmniBalance phone stands out among others, primarily due to its proprietary design. The display, compared to the models described above, is larger and better: size - 4.8 inches, resolution - 960x540 pixels, manufacturing technology - IPS. The processor is a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 with a clock frequency of 1.2 GHz, RAM - 1 GB, built-in expandable memory - 8 GB.
The phone works in LTE networks. The battery has a capacity of 2300 mAh, with support for STAMINA, the proprietary energy saving technology. In this case, unused functions are automatically turned off to save energy. The next time you access the device, they are activated. The Sony Xperia camera is 8 megapixels and equipped with an LED flash. SteadyShot - image stabilization when shooting video. It also has a physical shutter for ease of use underwater. Full functionality is guaranteed for 30 minutes, at a depth of up to one and a half meters. The gadget is sold in copper, black and white.
Chinese rugged smartphone Apex
We offer a brief overview of one of the Chinese devices. Apex is a smartphone that is waterproof, shockproof, has an IP68 rating for water resistance, and also provides dust protection. With characteristics that are not particularly different from well-known brands, it is quite competitive in price - just over 11 thousand rubles. With a 4.5-inch display, a shock-resistant body and a good five-megapixel camera, the smartphone is a necessary accessory for those who prefer an active lifestyle. Thanks to its performance, it is ideally suited for hiking, fishing, and other similar activities.
Some characteristics of the device: 1.3 GHz MTK6572 Dual Core processor, RAM - 512 MB, flash drive - 4 GB, expandable up to 32 GB, OS - Android 4.2, 960x540 pixels - display resolution. Equipped with Bluetooth, GPS, Wi-Fi. Battery - 3000mAh, talk time - up to five hours, standby time - 150 hours. Rear camera - 5 MP, front camera - 2 MP.
Rugged smartphone model Knight XV Quad-Core
This device is an incredibly popular and stylish shock-resistant smartphone with impressive characteristics. The manufacturer was inspired to create this model by the famous luxury SUV Conquest Vehicles. The result is a device that combines the perfect combination of security, performance and style. Knight XV fully meets the international IP68 standard and can work for a long time at a depth of more than one meter. In addition, it complies with MIL-STD 810G - a military standard, and is completely resistant to falls and shocks, changes in pressure and temperature, and exposure to many chemicals.
Powered by Mediatek MT6589 platform, which is best suited for secure phones. Each of its cores has a frequency of 1.5 GHz. Display - 4.3 inches, resolution - 540x960 pixels. Fantastic image quality is achieved thanks to the IPS matrix and high level of color reproduction. The rear camera is one of the most powerful in such devices - 13 megapixels, allowing you to take photos of 4096x3072 pixels and record Full HD video.
Technical characteristics of the Knight XV Quad-Core device
As you can see, we have a very sophisticated and advanced shock-resistant Android smartphone in front of us. In addition to the characteristics outlined above, Knight XV boasts the following: support for two SIM cards, WCDMA networks, a 2000 mAh battery (two included), RAM - 1024 MB, built-in - 16 GB, support for GPS and A- GPS, weighing 170 grams, dimensions 70x137.3x15 mm.
To conclude the review of this gadget, it should be noted that in the fall of 2013, when it was released, it was one of the “coolest” secure devices, since at that time there was not much choice. Now it is a little lost among the various new products, but for now it occupies a worthy place in the sales market.
Conclusion
You must understand that the task of choosing the best shockproof smartphone is very difficult and probably impossible. For a very simple reason - the creator of such a universal device will very quickly become a monopolist among all manufacturers, and most consumers will prefer to purchase only his products. This is practically impossible in market conditions.
Therefore, one device is maximally shock-resistant and well-waterproof, the other, on the contrary, is maximally waterproof and quite shock-resistant, and so on. So decide what you need most and decide which one to buy.
There is a large category of people in the world who lead an active lifestyle and spend most of their time in extreme conditions. These are people in blue-collar occupations whose specific work requires constant exposure to the street in any bad weather, fans of extreme leisure, athletes, military personnel and many others. And this entire mass of citizens needs reliable mobile communications with loved ones. Until recently, this problem was successfully solved by regular or secure phones, but times are changing. Simple dialers have been replaced by secure smartphones, which allow, in addition to banal calls, video telephony sessions with loved ones, seeing them on large, bright screens. Therefore, we decided to present you with a rating of the best rugged smartphones for 2017.
Runbo F1 magnetic
Opens our TOP smartphone with a large screen. Runbo is a relatively new smartphone manufacturer that has managed to win a large audience thanks to the good characteristics of rugged phones. When Runbo started producing this device, it decided to offer users a smartphone with a number of quality features at a low price. Wireless charging and a powerful 5000 mAh battery are the main advantages of this model. Therefore, if you want to buy a reliable smartphone, try this option. With an IP67 rating, the gadget comes with a 5.5-inch Full HD IPS screen and a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels, which is the result of a good display density of 424 pixels per inch.
Key Features:
- Screen: 5.5 inches with a resolution of 1080x1920 pixels;
- Processor: MediaTek MT6735 and Mali-T720 MP2 video accelerator;
- Memory: 16 GB of internal memory and 2 GB of RAM;
- Android 4.4;
- Camera: 13 and 2 MP;
- Battery: 5000 mAh;
Pros:
- Huge screen;
- Amazing performance;
- Excellent cameras;
Cons:
- Not the latest version of Android;
Caterpillar Cat S60
Cat phones have recently hit the market with the launch of the Cat S60, a rugged IP67 rated Android smartphone that is the world's first to have a built-in thermal camera. Rugged smartphones are no longer entirely new, as a sufficient number of them have already been released. The S60 doesn't look like the smartphones you're used to seeing. The switches on the front and the short flaps on the side will prompt the inevitable question: “what is that?” These large buttons and flaps are designed to make the smartphone easier to use with gloves. Surprisingly, the cell phone does not feel too heavy, even though it weighs about 223 grams. It has a small 4.7-inch screen with a resolution of 1280x720 pixels, which will appeal to users who prefer compact devices.
Key Features:
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 MSM8952 and Adreno 405 video accelerator;
- Android 6.0;
- Camera: 13 and 5 MP;
- Battery: 3800 mAh;
Pros:
- Built-in thermal camera function;
- Large RAM;
- Waterproof up to 5 meters;
Cons:
- The cameras could have been better;
HOMTOM HT20 Pro
This is another affordable, indestructible smartphone from the brand with a lot of features. The smartphone offers 4G connectivity feature with VoLTE support like all other HOMTOM mobile phones. In addition to IP68 protection, the smartphone has many useful functions, as well as a huge amount of RAM, a large battery, and a thin and light body, despite being protected. This model has a large 4.7-inch IPS display with HD resolution (720x1280 pixels), resulting in a pixel density of 294 ppi. For shooting, the device is equipped with a good 16 MP rear camera with autofocus and dual-color LED flash.
Key Features:
- Screen: 4.7 inches with a resolution of 1280x720 pixels;
- Processor: MediaTek MT6753 and Mali-T720 MP4 video accelerator;
- Memory: 32 GB of internal memory and 3 GB of RAM;
- Android 6.0;
- Camera: 16 and 8 MP;
- Battery: 3500 mAh;
Pros:
- High screen resolution;
- Good battery;
Cons:
- The fingerprint scanner does not work the first time;
Blackview bv7000 pro
Blackview bv7000 pro takes first place in the ranking of the best rugged smartphones for 2017. This smartphone looks quite brutal and stylish, but no one even suspects that it is waterproofed and can withstand falls of up to several meters, and it has also passed military-grade certification, which makes it officially shock- and frost-resistant. The display can be used with wet fingers and gloves, and the 5-inch HD screen offers good responsiveness. Particularly pleasing is the presence of two SIM cards, support for 4G data transfer and good sound. A large battery with a capacity of 3500 mAh supports all operation of the device. You can buy this model for up to 15,000 rubles.
Key Features:
- Screen: 5 inches with a resolution of 1080x1920 pixels;
- Processor: MediaTek MT6750T and Mali-T860 MP2 video accelerator;
- Memory: 64 GB of internal memory and 4 GB of RAM;
- Android 6.0;
- Camera: 13 and 8 MP;
- Battery: 3500 mAh;
- Protection level IP68;
Pros:
- Slot for two SIM cards;
- High resolution screen;
- Large memory for personal files;
Cons:
- There are noticeable freezes in system performance;
Neither more nor less - the most sophisticated shockproof smartphone in the world. Just as Xiaomi made smartphones with a capacious battery fashionable, Motorola was the first to create a prestigious rugged smartphone in the body of a regular model.
The experiment began with the 2015 Moto X Force. At that time, the model was super-top, with one main difference from its competitors - a screen covered with several layers of protective plates. All other characteristics of the Armored Moto were typical for flagships, and the stupid Snapdragon 810 processor and cheap cameras were inferior to the creations of Samsung and Apple, but the X Force was far from a budget device that felt incredibly difficult to break, and due to this it became a cult
mobile phone (as opposed to shame and disgrace in the form of the reincarnation of Nokia 3310). Therefore, it is not surprising that Motorola released a rugged model for the Z-series in 2016.
New times, unfortunately, dictate new trends, so the secure smartphone has become a little more “glamorous” to please more buyers. There are now many more vulnerable places for scratches on the body, and the fingerprint scanner on the front panel is now easy to “knock off” instead of the screen if the smartphone lands poorly. The camera on the back panel sticks out from the body like a large round glass - it is not provided with a protective “armor”, because, according to Motorola’s idea, buyers will attach modules to the back cover. And also because of the “need to do it like Apple” complex, Motorola removed the standard headphone jack - connect, they say, a headset via an adapter or directly to USB Type-C.
Therefore, in terms of strength and bells and whistles, the old Moto X Force looks preferable, but only in the “zette” you will get a modern and very fast Snapdragon processor, a cool AMOLED display with Quad HD resolution, a capacious battery and modern high-quality cameras. And all this in the thinnest case, by the standards of rugged smartphones, 7 millimeters thick, like your iPhone 7!
But you will have to pay for such a combination, and in foreign stores and in large quantities - the new Moto Z Force will cost from 35 to 45 thousand rubles and is unlikely to become cheaper. Be that as it may, we recommend it to everyone who craves the coolest mobile phone that is guaranteed not to break after falling from their hands onto concrete.
Samsung Galaxy S7 Active - a macho flagship in camouflage
Samsung is doing well everywhere, and Koreans are also paying attention to the class of secure phones. Ever since the Galaxy S5, Korean flagships have received tuned versions with water protection. The Galaxy S7, which is still relevant today, has also become an “SUV”, but only in its flat version (without a curved display). And even with a 4000 mAh battery, that is, with the main drawback of the regular S7 corrected.
The level of protection against water in the smartphone is the same as in the “just Galaxy S7” - according to the IP68 certificate (it will survive under water for half an hour at a depth of up to 1.5 meters without any problems). But the body of the smartphone is no longer glossy and not rectangular in Korean style, so it will appeal to those who are annoyed by Samsung’s “washy” shapes. And the most important thing is that in this “body kit” the S7 is protected according to the military standard MIL-STD-810G, that is, it is not afraid of exposure to high and low temperatures, extreme shaking and dust, and will also survive a fall of one and a half meters onto a flat surface without consequences.
Samsung Galaxy S7 Active
True, it is not nearly as heavily armored as Motorola's Force series. The display is covered with plastic, under which is hidden the same protective glass Gorilla Glass. Therefore, it is better not to drop your smartphone “for fun,” as X Force owners like to do.
There are no spare parts for the outlandish model anywhere, it is sold only in the USA exclusively from the AT&T operator, the firmware from the “simple” Galaxy S7 is not suitable, the Russian language has to be installed using “workarounds”, and buying a smartphone abroad will cost about 35 thousand rubles. Not as cheap as for a smartphone, let’s assume, without a guarantee, which also needs to be adapted for work in Russia. But this is a real Galaxy S7 with its cool camera, the very best AMOLED display, flagship and very high-quality hardware. There is simply no other equally prestigious rugged smartphone.
Blackview BV7000 Pro - cheap and sophisticated
Every smartphone, in addition to its basic characteristics, has the so-called “moral strength”. It lies in the fact that a priori you will treat a mobile phone costing 40–50 thousand rubles more carefully than a budget model - you will not talk on the flagship in a dusty place, you will wrap the glass smartphone in a cheap case from Aliexpress and filthy films. In general, you will make futile attempts to keep your expensive mobile phone, even at the expense of the freedom to use it.
This makes sense if you are a geek who uses the full functionality of an obscenely expensive model. But why “protect yourself” and spend huge amounts of money if you just need a modern, moderately fast smartphone for a little bit of everything? It’s enough just not to be a “mobile photographer” and look around a little to pick up a very fast and inexpensive Chinese phone, which, moreover, will not be too much to spare.
Among the protected models, the Blackview BV7000 Pro looks like a smart option - one of the newest and most technically advanced protected “Chinese”. Water protection according to IP68 class, durable protective glass, which, although it will not save you from falling from a great height, will not crack from moderate impacts. In general, the smartphone is not completely indestructible, but very strong.
Blackview BV7000 Pro
But the trick lies in the ratio of characteristics and price. For 11 thousand rubles you get a faceted model with metal inserts, a Full HD display, a quite sensible MT6750T processor (don’t be alarmed - this is a “reinvented” MT6753) with 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of storage + a microSD slot and 3500 mAh with a five-inch display diagonals. The characteristics look decent even without taking into account the surcharge for water protection and partial impact resistance.
Flaws? Mediocre cameras (not terrible, but similar to smartphones costing 6–7 thousand in Russia), unpredictable build quality from one unit to another, and almost no manufacturer support. That is, the “glitches” of the firmware are the problems of buyers, and not the motivation for releasing an update over the air.
Blackview BV7000 Pro
But the smartphone is cheap, sophisticated and secure - competitors are either noticeably more expensive, or are filled with old hardware, and are also not bug-free. Don’t expect that you will get a completely problem-free BV7000 Pro, but if you have experience in disputes on Aliexpress (to get a discount from the seller for shortcomings) and without pathos “everything worse than an iPhone is scrap metal,” you can take it.
But seriously, the Chinese brand AGM produces smartphones, as they say, every week, but does not look like just another “bracker” manufacturer. Normal (not cool, but normal) filling for the money, and not exactly a Chinese price. In short, the realities are as follows:
- Snapdragon 617- today it has turned into a budget Snapdragon 430. Eight leisurely cores.
- 4/64 GB of memory. Solid, especially against the background of crafts with 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage in official retail.
- 5.5" Full HD AMOLED display. Excellent considering the price.
- 5400 mAh battery. We remember the efficiency of the display and rejoice. We find out that the smartphone supports Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 fast charging and rejoice again.
- dual rear camera. Bad dual camera, worse than in Redmi Pro. That is, the additional sensor is needed only for post-processing to slightly improve the picture. But the automation is a bit dull, and high-quality pictures are only taken on a very sunny day.
- fingerprint scanner.Thank you for being alive, as they say.
Everything else is so-so. Android 5.1 (yes, in 2017), although the Chinese promise an update to Android 7.0, the speaker is of low quality, the system is periodically plagued by glitches and freezes for no particular reason. But there is water protection (IP68), the body is durable, and battery life is good. Whether to pay 16 thousand rubles for such joy is an open question. There are practically no alternatives to the X-First with equally good characteristics “on paper”. And the reliability of both AGM and its Chinese counterparts is questionable.