You might have already subjected your pockets to torture after using the Ultra’s and Pro Max’s out in the fieldwork. Yeah, been there, done that!
Without a doubt, these latest and greatest smartphones are good at doing everything except showing ruggedness. These flagships have no such thing as Titanium durability. A friend scratched his iPhone 15 Pro Max by just a drop from a four-feet height.
On the flip side, we have rugged smartphones that compromise on some features of modern smartphones but have a sterling reputation for withstanding rough environments.
That said, there is a sea of options for rugged smartphones. Some of them are good and the rest are just meh. To save you from such options, I tested a total of 13 rugged smartphones and listed just the best ones in my review. Let’s talk about them!
Nokia XR21
People think that Nokia is out of the market but that’s not true. In 2023, the parent company of Nokia, HMD Global launched its first-ever rugged smartphone with the name Nokia XR21.
The launch was pretty off the limelight but being a geek, I get almost every news about the latest tech.
Anyway, XR21 is a fine choice for people like firefighters and construction workers. Why am I saying that? It’s because the XR21 has MIL-STD-810H certification and top-of-the-line IP69K water and dust resistance. The phone also has a drop resistance on concrete from a height of 1.8 meters.
So, you will be all set in your harsh work environment with this rugged bad boy.
Another reason to place it on top of my list is that the XR21 is the phone with the minimum possible compromises in the category of rugged phones. It has an acceptable 1080p display with a 120Hz refresh rate which is protected by Gorilla Glass. Though it struggles with heavy games, the phone has enough power thanks to the Snapdragon 690 5G.
I played COD Mobile while being connected to my Xfinity internet and the experience was okay-ish. However, you will be fine using Nokia XR21 with day-to-day tasks.
Samsung Galaxy XCover6 Pro
Well, that might have come out of the blue but Samsung did make a rugged smartphone – Galaxy XCover6 Pro.
It’s one of the most reliable rugged smartphones because of Samsung’s reputation and the phone’s top-of-the-line features. XCover6 Pro is also a MIL-STD-810H-certified smartphone and has an IP68 rating. Though it doesn’t have the IP69K rating like the Nokia XR21, it still can be taken around in extreme conditions.
To top it off, Samsung added higher touch sensitivity to make it able to be used even with the gloves on.
As for the rest of the specs, it has 5G support and WiFi 6E support. It is powered by a fairly powerful Snapdragon 778G and has a 1080p 120Hz display. It doesn’t have Samsung’s Super AMOLED display which I think is fine because OLED displays are more prone to shattering.
Unlike the rest of the Galaxy phones, it has an extra action button that can be mapped to perform certain tasks.
All in all, it’s one of the best rugged phones on the market right now.
Blackview BV9900 Pro
If you are tight on the budget, this one from Blackview can be a better option for you.
The phone was launched two years ago but it still holds up for a daily driver. The phone is powered by MediaTek Helio G90 chipset which provides enough power for everyday tasks like checking emails, browsing the internet, scrolling through social media, and more. It has a comparatively small 5.84-inch 1080 display which is great for people with small hands like me.
Also, one of the rare features of the BV9900 Pro that the other rugged smartphones have dropped is its thermal imaging camera. A thermal imaging sensor can measure the temperature of the objects. This feature will come in handy when you are out there in an environment where things get really hot. You can check the temperature of the object through this feature before touching it.
Apart from that, the phone will be fine for your rugged use.
AGM H6
This is another affordable rugged smartphone for people looking to save money while not compromising the toughness of their phone. AGM H6 is one of the most underrated rugged smartphones that’s currently available. It has everything that a rugged phone should have at a price that sounds lucrative.
The phone has MIL-STD-810H certification and IP68 or IP69K certification depending on which variant you will go for. Also, the phone might feel underpowered when you put it on some heavy tasks like editing but the rest of the usage is going to be just fine.
Not to forget, the best thing about AGM H6 is that it’s a real good deal if you are looking for a device that can easily last a full day on a single charge. All in all, grab this bad boy if you want something affordable and rugged at the same time.
Rugged smartphones are, for sure, best for people who work around in extreme conditions. Rather than going for some flagship phones that cost a lot but are easily breakable, going for a rugged smartphone is a better option. So, evaluate what you need in your phone and then select the one for which you can swipe your credit card.
