If you do not want to treat your mobile phone as a fragile jewel and are not going to spend tens of thousands of rubles on a device that can break even if you carry it in your pocket, choose one of the models you like from the rating of protected smartphones in 2020.
The top new products of this and last year are selected based on reviews from real buyers and reviews from reputable bloggers.
10. Caterpillar Cat S61
- smartphone with Android 8.0
- screen 5.2 ″, resolution 1920 × 1080
- camera 16 MP, autofocus
- memory 64 GB, memory card slot
- 3G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC
- RAM 4 GB
- battery 4500 mAh
The Cat S61 is the successor to the popular CAT S60 rugged smartphone that can withstand the harshest conditions while still offering sleek looks and features.
The updated model is equipped with a better thermal imager (one of the main attractive aspects of this device). Thermal image resolution changed from VGA to HD. And the camera is now able to see heat spots at a distance of up to 30 meters.
In addition to the thermal imager, the CAT S61 has an air quality sensor and a laser measuring instrument that provides distance and area information within a radius of up to 10 meters. Thanks to its capabilities, this machine will be a useful assistant for builders, auto mechanics and other professionals who work with potentially hazardous materials or need to scan the temperature of various areas.
Inside the case with IP68 dust and water resistance rating and MIL-STD-810G durability standard there is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 processor in combination with an Adreno 508 video processor. Their capabilities will be enough to play Black Desert Mobile, World of Tanks Blitz or another popular mobile game at medium settings.
pros: you can make contactless payments, there is a 3.5 mm audio jack, there is a quick charge, there is a programmable button.
Minuses: Screen is hard to break but easy to scratch, outdated version of Android.
9. OnePlus 8 Pro
- smartphone with Android 10
- screen 6.78 ″, resolution 3168 × 1440
- four cameras 48 MP / 8 MP / 48 MP / 5 MP, autofocus
- memory 128 GB, no memory card slot
- 3G, 4G LTE, LTE-A, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC
- RAM 8 GB
- battery 4510 mAh
One of the most anticipated new products of Chinese smartphones in 2020 in addition to impressive technical characteristics, it also differs in full moisture and dust protection of the case according to the IP68 standard. This means that with this gadget you can not only wash in the shower, but also immerse it in water to a depth of more than 1 meter and for up to half an hour.
But as for the strength of the case, things are not as good as those of other participants in the rating. The back cover, although it looks nice, is made of glass and may not survive a fall from a height of human growth.
The huge AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate will provide a great movie and video experience, while the incredibly powerful Snapdragon 865 processor will quickly solve any work or game task you may need.
Thanks to the proprietary WARP Charge 30T charging technology, the smartphone can be charged from zero to 100% in less than an hour. At the same time, unlike the OnePlus 7T, the G8 also supports wireless charging.
pros: Supports 5G networks, smooth and well-optimized shell, large battery.
Minuses: no audio jack, high price.
8. KYOCERA DuraForce PRO 2
- smartphone with Android 8.0
- screen 5 ″, resolution 1920 × 1080
- 13 MP camera, autofocus
- memory 64 GB, memory card slot
- 3G, 4G LTE, LTE-A, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
- RAM 4 GB
- battery 3240 mAh
It is the latest phone from a Japanese manufacturer that has joined the rugged smartphone market as the successor to the DuraForce Pro.
The new version has improved several key elements, including the flash memory increased from 32 GB to 64 GB, the RAM capacity increased from 3 GB to 4 GB, and the Snapdragon 617 processor was replaced by the more powerful Snapdragon 630.
The case is made of a mixture of polycarbonate and rubber with a curved back, soft rounded corners, which makes it very comfortable in the hand.
With Sapphire Shield, the DuraForce PRO 2 display is virtually scratch-resistant and slightly harder to break than regular Corning Gorilla Glass screen protectors. However, the sapphire crystal does not interfere with reading from the screen in bright sunlight.
The most rugged smartphone from Japan is Military Standard 810G certified, so it must withstand low pressure, temperature shock, any liquid pollution, mechanical vibration, freezing rain, and other extreme conditions.
pros: Fast charging, IP68 rated, in good light, the main camera can take good photos with accurate colors, low noise, and overall good exposure.
Minuses: no mechanical buttons, not complete Russification, difficult to find on sale in Russia, search on foreign sites like eBay.
7. Land Rover M22
- smartphone with Android 6.0
- screen 2.45 ″, resolution 432 × 240
- 5 MP camera, autofocus
- memory 16 GB, memory card slot
- 3G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC
- RAM 2 GB
- battery 3500 mAh
Here is the smallest participant in the ranking of the best rugged smartphones of 2020. However, its diminutive size is combined with the weight inherent in much larger mobile devices. And all because of the case made of plastic and rubber, which has a standard of moisture and dust protection IP68, as well as a super-capacious battery for such a crumb.
Land Rover M22 has support for 5V / 2A fast charging, and this smartphone also supports charging through the original 24W dock. However, you will have to purchase it separately.
The display itself, although small, but quite bright, is made using IPS technology and supports up to 5 simultaneous touches.
The ARM Cortex-A53 Quad Core 1300 MHz processor will not handle most modern games at medium and even low settings, but you are unlikely to take the Land Rover M22 for mobile entertainment.
A small 5 megapixel camera with a slow motion function will be enough to take photos and videos underwater, or take terrestrial shots in good lighting.
pros: miniature size, you can make contactless payments, there is a fingerprint scanner, there is a 3.5 audio jack.
Minuses: low-power processor, low resolution for the main and front cameras, little RAM, outdated OS.
6. OUKITEL WP5
- smartphone with Android 9.0
- screen 5.5 ″, resolution 1440 × 720
- three cameras 13 MP / 2 MP / 2 MP, autofocus
- memory 32 GB, memory card slot
- 3G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
- RAM 4 GB
- battery 8000 mAh
Among the best rugged smartphones of 2020, this is the top model in terms of battery capacity. Perhaps the second place in the rating, DOOGEE S95 Pro, can compete with this thanks to its additional module.
Even if you listen to music non-stop, OUKITEL WP5 will not be discharged for 43 hours. Agree, this is an ideal smartphone for those who often travel to uncrowded places where there is no way to recharge their gadgets.
The body of the device is protected from water and dust ingress according to the IP68 standard. Inside there is a budget chipset MediaTek Helio A22, so you cannot count on the gaming capabilities of the smartphone. However, navigation does not slow down, and you can open up to 5 non-"heavy" applications without fear that the phone will start lagging.
pros: a capacious battery, there is a quick charge, a fingerprint scanner, there is a side programmable button.
Minuses: heavy, Bluetooth does not always work the first time.
5.Samsung Galaxy S10 +
- smartphone with Android 9.0
- screen 6.4 ″
- three cameras 16 MP / 12 MP / 12 MP, autofocus
- memory 128 GB, slot for memory card
- 3G, 4G LTE, LTE-A, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC
- RAM 8 GB
- battery 4100 mAh
Top 5 rugged smartphones are opened by the ex-flagship version from Samsung, which is included in the list best smartphones 2020 for price and quality.
In addition to its high-resolution, bezel-less display and superb color reproduction, this model boasts an IP68 water and dust resistant housing. That is, if you wish, you can take your mobile phone with you to the shower or pool, and post a photo on a social network without getting out of the water. Thanks to the 10 + 8MP dual front camera, selfies will be highly detailed and bright, but not oversaturated.
Battery life is one of the essential elements of a reliable smartphone, and the Samsung Galaxy S10 + doesn't disappoint. This model is equipped with a 4100 mAh non-removable Li-Ion battery with fast and wireless charging function.
The Samsung Exynos 9820 processor handles any game with ease at maximum settings. Therefore, we can safely recommend Samsung Galaxy S10 + to those who need from a smartphone not only full waterproof protection of the case, but also a powerful filling.
pros: performance, screen brightness headroom, excellent main camera.
Minuses: price.
4. Samsung XCover 4S
- smartphone with Android 9.0
- 5 ″ screen, 720 x 1280 resolution
- camera 16 MP, autofocus
- memory 32 GB, memory card slot
- 3G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC
- RAM 3 GB
- battery 2800 mAh
Rugged Chinese-made smartphones have long ruled the mobile device market, but Samsung seems to be hoping for a piece of the pie. And proof of that is the resurgence of the XCover series.
The new device, 4S, has an IP68 rating, so it is completely protected from dust and can withstand submersion under water to a depth of one and a half meters for 30 minutes. It also meets the MIL-STD-810G standard, and will survive a fall from approximately 1.2 meters.
On the front side, in addition to the three physical keys, the Samsung XCover 4S is equipped with a 5.0-inch PLS TFT capacitive display, which is slightly inferior in color reproduction to an AMOLED screen, but still should be better than most IPS panels.
Inside the XCover 4S case is an Exynos 7885 chipset paired with a Mali-G71 MP2 graphics accelerator.
In terms of cameras, the Samsung XCover 4S has a 16MP rear camera with an f / 1.7 aperture, while the front has a 5MP secondary camera with an f / 2.2 aperture. While the front camera has remained unchanged from the previous generation, it seems that the rear camera has gotten better and it shoots well outdoors during the daytime. In low light, digital noise is noticeable and colors are slightly washed out.
pros: removable battery, contactless payments.
Minuses: hard to find on sale in Russia, can be ordered on eBay or other internet site.
3. Land Rover EXPLORE
- smartphone with Android 8.0
- screen 5 ″, resolution 1920 x 1080
- camera 16 MP, autofocus
- memory 64 GB, memory card slot
- 3G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
- RAM 4 GB
- battery 4000 mAh
If the Cat S61 is a reliable phone for construction workers, security guards and other similar trades, then the Land Rover Explore is the perfect phone for outdoor activities. It is very durable with IP68 water resistance, Gorilla Glass 5 protection, and a 5-inch screen protector.
The display operates at Full HD 1920 x 1080 pixels and has a large margin of brightness, making it easy to read even in bright sunlight.
The real charm of the Land Rover Explore lies in the details. While it boasts a decent 4,000mAh battery, you can add a number of modules additionally, including an extra battery that adds another 3,600mAh and a Ceramic Patch GPS antenna. This accessory expands the GPS capabilities of your smartphone, ensuring you always know where you are.
pros: support for plugins.
Minuses: hard to find on sale in Russia, can be ordered on eBay or other internet site.
2. DOOGEE S95 Pro
- smartphone with Android 9.0
- screen 6.3 ″, resolution 2160 × 1080
- three cameras 48 MP / 8 MP / 8 MP, autofocus
- memory 128 GB, slot for memory card
- 3G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC
- RAM 8 GB
- battery 5150 mAh
We give the second place in the ranking of the best waterproof smartphones to a novelty from the Chinese company DOOGEE, which has long been producing durable and inexpensive gadgets with good characteristics.
According to the manufacturer, this smartphone is capable of being at a depth of 3 meters for four hours or falling on concrete a thousand times without harming itself.
Depending on the configuration, the S95 Pro comes with two main accessories: a battery module that adds 3500mAh to an already impressive 5150mAh battery, and a HI-FI speaker that can turn your smartphone into a mini boom box.
Add to this a powerful eight-core Helio P90 processor, 8 GB of built-in RAM, NFC for cashless payments, the presence of a wireless charger and we get a smartphone that is good both externally and internally.
pros: lasts 3-4 days on a single charge, excellent rear camera with Sony IMX582 main sensor, which takes stunning photos in various lighting conditions.
Minuses: The microphones are located on the back, presumably for waterproof purposes. You will have to increase the volume settings, otherwise the interlocutor may not hear you well during a conversation.
1. Blackview BV9900
- smartphone with Android 9.0
- 5.84 ″ screen, 2280 × 1080 resolution
- four cameras 48 MP / 16 MP / 5 MP / 2 MP, autofocus
- memory 256 GB, slot for memory card
- 3G, 4G LTE, LTE-A, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC
- RAM 8 GB
- battery 4380 mAh
The top rugged smartphones of 2020 are headed by a novelty, in which increased attention was paid not only to the reliability of the case, but also to the camera. It now has a 48MP Sony ultra-wide sensor. This will surely be appreciated by people who not only often go on extreme travel, but also like to photograph everything they see there.
At the same time, the BV9900 is completely protected from dust and water (it can be submerged under water for up to 30 minutes), and, like the BV9700 Pro, has an IP69K protection class. This means that the machine is protected against high pressure and high temperature washing.
In addition, the model has received MIL-STD-810G certification (protection against vibration, high pressure, thermal shock, etc.). Around the screen, the rubber edges widen slightly to form a protective edge that should ensure the survival of the display should the user drop the smartphone facedown.
While the display has remained unchanged from previous generations, things have gotten a lot more interesting inside the case: the BV9900 is powered by an eight-core MediaTek MTK Helio P90 chipset, an IMG 9XM-HP8 GPU, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of flash storage.
This is a significant performance improvement over the previous generation. The BV9900 can handle most new games, and it will multitask smoothly even with 5-6 applications open at the same time.
pros: Powerful, 3.5mm audio jack, contactless payments, wireless and fast charging, programmable button.
Minuses: no.