Are you athletic, clumsy or working outdoors and your smartphone is therefore at risk of experiencing a tragic accident? Maybe you should go for a shockproof smartphone to avoid having to change it too often. Here is our review of the best rugged phones.
The best shockproof smartphones
The right balance
- Solid performance
- Action cam
- The discreet look (for a rugged phone)
Predator
- The thermal camera
- Solid performance
- A good screen
Adding a protective cover can be a solution to protect your phone, but it will remain imperfect. Rugged smartphones are protected by internal metal and external rubber reinforcements. If sometimes the manufacturers seem to do too much, you will not think the same once your smartphone crashes to the ground.
We have selected for you the best shockproof smartphones and more generally designed for outdoor use. Something to delight backpackers or those who regularly visit construction sites, for example.
To find the best smartphones in general, head to our dedicated guide. And if you are more interested in waterproofing, you can take a look at our selection of the best waterproof smartphones.
Crosscall Action X5 The right balance
- Solid performance
- Action cam
- The discreet look (for a rugged phone)
Available at 499 € on Amazon
New products are rare in the small world of rugged phones. So when Crosscall releases a new top-of-the-range model, we don’t shy away from its pleasure. This Action X5 is therefore particularly robust thanks to a magnesium frame and a plastic shell reinforced with fiberglass.
As a bonus, the glass is thicker than the average smartphone, which allows it to withstand drops from 2 meters high. Logically, the device is also certified IP68 and therefore waterproof.
Despite its small screen for current guns (5.45 inches), the machine is heavy, with no less than 235 grams on the scale. Usually weak point of this type of device, the processor is for once correct. The Snapdragon 662 used here has indeed no problem to ensure a good general fluidity. Too bad, however, that its autonomy is not fantastic, count a day and a half on a charge, but not much better.
We conclude this overview with the double module, which once is not customary is doing surprisingly well, especially on the main sensor. The ultra wide angle is however less convincing, the fault of image processing not to the point.
With this Action X5, Crosscall delivers a very decent rugged smartphone, we would have liked a little more muscular performance given the price, but in the absence of serious competition we have not been better on the market to date.
Cat S62 Pro Predator
- The thermal camera
- Solid performance
- A good screen
Available at € 543 on Rakuten Marketplace
Few rugged smartphones offer an interesting spec sheet and the CAT S62 Pro is an exception with its FLIR thermal camera. For a resistant smartphone, it even has the luxury of being surprisingly aesthetic, even if with 11.9 mm thickness and a weight of 248 grams we do not risk forgetting it in a pocket.
It is IP69 and MIL SPEC 810H certified, which in French translates into 35 min waterproofness at 1.5m depth, 1.8m drop resistance and an operating range of -25 to 55 degrees .
The 5.7-inch screen adopts FHD + resolution and is particularly bright and protected by Gorilla Glass 6. While the adopted Snapdragon 660 isn’t a lightning strike, it delivers solid performance and runs Android 10. in a perfectly fluid manner. With a 4000 mAh battery, the autonomy is quite average and will not exceed two days.
But where the phone really stands out is by adopting a latest generation FLIR sensor that allows it to capture thermal images with increased precision. Too bad, however, that CAT has abandoned the laser rangefinder and air quality measurement compared to the previous generation.
Still, the CAT S62 Pro is the most advanced and balanced shockproof smartphone around.
Cat S42 Hardened at a low price
- The price (all proportions kept)
- Solid
- A large screen
Available at 263 € on Cdiscount
After an S41 showing good value for money, CAT returns with a S42 which evolves smoothly. We keep the hardened design, with a rubberized back, but the front panel now skips the physical buttons. Between the 12.7 cm thick and the 6.32-inch screen, we are in the presence of a massive device and therefore not always easy to handle with one hand.
On the other hand, we are a little disappointed by the choice of the SoC Helio A20 and only 3 GB of RAM. This is enough to make Android work, but we quickly reach the limits of the phone as soon as a few applications are launched. The 4200 mAh battery keeps you going for a good day, but no more. It is also a pity that the brand’s engineers have chosen a micro-USB connector.
While it suffers from several flaws, the CAT S42 comes into our selection, as it is one of the few smartphones at this price point to be effectively rugged. It will be enough for basic use, but if you have the budget to go for its big brother the S62 Pro.
Where to buy the
Cat S42 at the best price?
Understand everything about shockproof and rugged phones
What do the IP69K and MIL STD 810G certifications mean?
The IP certification indicates the level of protection of the device against dust and water and therefore has nothing to do with the level of solidity. The index consists of two digits, the first for dust, the second for water. IP69K is an extension of IP69 which mainly adds high pressure testing. To learn more about IP certification, you can consult our waterproof smartphone buying guide.
MIL-STD is a military standard used to evaluate equipment used by the US military. It ensures high resistance to extreme conditions. It consists of around twenty laboratory tests which simulate use at altitude or at extreme temperatures, resistance to falls and even ballistic shocks, without forgetting of course water or vibrations. You should know that no smartphone has undergone all of the tests, often they are limited to those concerning drops and temperature.
What are the concessions of a rugged smartphone?
They often suffer from an imposing design, which is the consequence of the thick rubber protections that cover the mobile. Forget overpowered setups and 2K OLED displays. Rugged products are at best equipped with a Snapdragon 660 (and often less) and enjoying a Full HD screen is already great. To have a resistant smartphone, you have to make concessions. For the same configuration, they are also often much more expensive.
What are the benchmark brands of rugged smartphones?
The shock-resistant smartphone market is quite small. The two most popular brands are CAT (Caterpillar) and the French Crosscall, and these are generally the most recommendable. There are also references from some more confidential Chinese manufacturers. More traditional brands have also tried the adventure, such as Samsung or Motorola, with varying success.
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