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The Best Rugged Smartphones in 2022

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The Best Rugged Smartphones in 2022

Most of the smartphones you’ll see today are designed with style and simplicity. While these smartphones are good all-in-all, they’re definitely not built for the outdoors. For that, you’re going to want to look for rugged smartphones to accompany you. They may be heavy and bulky, but they’re definitely durable.

Rugged smartphones are typically shockproof and waterproof. To top it all off, they’re also equipped with a superb battery that can last for days instead of the usual hours that you’re used to. There are lots of rugged smartphones that you can find on the market right now. If you’re the outdoorsy type of person, then here are some of the best rugged smartphones you can buy.

01 Nokia XR20

If you’re in the market for a tough and rugged smartphone, the Nokia XR20 should definitely be on your radar. This phone is designed to withstand just about anything you can throw at it, and it’s packed full of features that make it ideal for use in any number of situations.

One thing to note about the XR20 is that it’s not cheap. But when you consider all of the features and benefits that this phone offers, it’s definitely worth the price tag. Let’s take a closer look at what the Nokia XR20 has to offer.

The first thing you’ll notice about the XR20 is its sturdy and rugged design. The phone is encased in a tough polycarbonate shell, and it features rubberized corners and edges for added protection. The phone also has an IP67 rating, which means it’s dust-resistant and can be submerged in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes.

In terms of durability, the XR20 is definitely built to last. We’ve dropped this phone on concrete from waist height, and it still works perfectly. We’ve also accidentally sat on it, and it didn’t even leave a mark.

The Nokia XR20 has a 5.45-inch HD+ display with a resolution of 1440×720. The display is bright and clear, and I had no problem using it outdoors in direct sunlight. The phone also has an impressive screen-to-body ratio of 82.9%, which means there’s very little bezel around the display.

Under the hood, the XR20 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage. The phone also has a microSD card slot for expandable storage. In terms of performance, the XR20 is definitely no slouch. I was able to easily multitask and switch between apps without any lag or stuttering.

The XR20 comes with a 12-megapixel rear camera and an 8-megapixel front-facing camera. The rear camera is capable of shooting 4K video, and it also has dual LED flash and phase detection autofocus. The front-facing camera is also no slouch, and it’s capable of shooting 1080p video.

In terms of battery life, the XR20 is definitely impressive. I was able to easily get through a full day of use on a single charge. And if you do need to recharge, the phone supports fast charging and can go from 0 to 100% in just over 2 hours.

The Nokia XR20 is a great choice for anyone in the market for a tough and rugged smartphone. It’s packed full of features, it’s durable, and it has great battery life. If you can stomach the price tag, the XR20 is definitely worth considering.

The Nokia XR20 is a great choice for anyone in the market for a tough and rugged smartphone. It’s packed full of features, it’s durable, and it has great battery life. If you can stomach the price tag, the XR20 is definitely worth considering.

Pros

  • IP65 certified
  • Comes with emergency button
  • Great style

Cons

  • Low storage capacity

Specification

  • Price $549.99
  • OS Android 11, upgradable to Android 12
  • CPU Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 5G
  • RAM 6 GB
  • STORAGE 128 GB
Nokia XR20

02 Doogee S98 Pro

The Doogee S98 Pro is a rugged smartphone that can handle just about anything you throw at it. It’s got a massive 6.3-inch display, a huge battery, and a tough build that can withstand drops and bumps.

The screen is relatively sharp with a 1080p resolution, and it’s protected by Gorilla Glass 5.

Around the back, there’s a dual-camera setup with a 16 MP main sensor and an 8 MP secondary sensor. The camera module protrudes slightly from the body, but it’s still flush with the phone.

The Doogee S98 Pro is a big phone, but it’s not too heavy at 210g. It’s also quite thick at 12.9 mm, but that’s to be expected with a rugged phone.

One of the best things about the Doogee S98 Pro is its build quality. The phone is IP68-rated for dust and water resistance, and it can withstand drops from up to 1.5m.

The frame of the phone is made from aluminum, and there’s a thick layer of rubber around the edges. This makes the phone feel very tough, and it should be able to withstand some serious abuse.

The buttons are also well-protected, and there’s a fingerprint sensor on the back.

The Doogee S98 Pro is powered by a MediaTek Helio P70 processor, which is a mid-range chip. It’s not the fastest phone on the market, but it’s more than fast enough for most tasks.

The phone comes with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage, which is plenty for most people. There’s also a microSD card slot if you need more storage.

Battery life is excellent, thanks to the massive 5200 mAh battery. This phone will easily last a full day, even with heavy use.

Charging is also fast, thanks to the included 18W charger. The phone supports 9V/2A charging, so you can charge the battery from empty to full in around two hours.

The Doogee S98 Pro runs Android 10, and there’s very little bloatware pre-installed.

The Doogee S98 Pro is a great rugged smartphone that can handle just about anything you throw at it. It’s got a large display, a huge battery, and a tough build that can withstand drops and bumps.

If you’re looking for a durable phone that can go anywhere and do anything, the Doogee S98 Pro is a great option.

Pros

  • Amazing battery life
  • Great cameras
  • IP96K certified

Cons

  • No 5G

Specification

  • Price $399.99
  • OS Android 12
  • CPU MediaTek Helio P70
  • RAM 6 GB
  • STORAGE 256 GB
Doogee S98 Pro

03 Ulefone Armor 11

If you’re in the market for a durable and rugged smartphone, the Ulefone Armor 11 is definitely worth considering. It’s got a tough build that can withstand plenty of abuse, and it’s packed with features that make it ideal for outdoor use. Its reinforced build can withstand drops, shocks, and scratches, and it’s got an IP68 rating, which means it’s protected against dust and water.

The Armor 11 is powered by a MediaTek Helio P90 processor, which is paired with 8 GB of RAM. It’s got 256 GB of storage, which can be expanded via microSD.

On the back of the phone, there’s a 48 MP main camera, a 20 MP night vision camera, a 13 MP ultra-wide camera, and a 2 MP depth sensor. There’s also a 16 MP selfie camera.

The Armor 11 runs on Android 11, and it’s got a 5200 mAh battery that supports 18W fast charging.

One of the best things about the Armor 11 is its tough build quality. The phone is made from metal and plastic, and it feels really solid in the hand.

The Armor 11 is a great choice for anyone who needs a durable and rugged smartphone. It’s got a tough build, it’s packed with features, and it’s got great battery life.

Pros

  • Great cameras
  • Good build quality
  • Great battery

Cons

  • Camera is bulky

Specification

  • Price $499.99
  • OS Android 10
  • CPU Dimensity 800
  • RAM 8 GB
  • STORAGE 256 GB
Ulefone Armor 11

04 Oukitel WP8 Pro

The Oukitel WP8 Pro is a rugged smartphone that’s designed to withstand the elements. It’s got a 6.49-inch HD display, octa-core processor, 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of storage, and a 16-megapixel rear camera.

It’s also got IP68 certification, which means it’s dustproof and waterproof, and it comes with a handy quick charge feature that gives you up to 50% charge in just 30 minutes.

If you’re looking for a tough and durable smartphone that can handle anything you throw at it, the Oukitel WP8 Pro is definitely worth considering.

The first thing you’ll notice about the Oukitel WP8 Pro is its rugged design. It’s got a tough plastic body with a textured back panel that’s designed to provide a firm grip. It’s got reinforced corners and an anti-slip coating that makes it more resistant to drops and knocks.

The WP8 Pro is also IP68-certified, which means it’s dustproof and waterproof, so you can take it out in all kinds of weather conditions without having to worry about damaging it.

The phone is available in two colors – black and orange. It measures 158 x 76 x 12 mm, so it’s not the smallest or lightest smartphone on the market, but it’s still relatively compact.

Under the hood, the WP8 Pro is powered by an octa-core processor and 4 GB of RAM. This ensures that it can handle multitasking and gaming with ease, and with 64 GB of internal storage, you’ve got plenty of space for all your apps, games, and files.

The Oukitel WP8 Pro also comes with a quick charge feature that gives you up to 50% charge in just 30 minutes, so if you’re in a hurry, you can get a decent amount of juice into the phone without having to wait around for too long.

In terms of camera performance, the WP8 Pro is equipped with a 16 MP triple rear camera. It’s not the best camera phone on the market, but it’s still capable of taking decent photos and videos.

The WP8 Pro is a rugged smartphone that’s designed to withstand the elements. It’s got a tough plastic body, reinforced corners, and an IP68 rating that makes it dustproof and waterproof. It’s also got a quick charge feature that gives you up to 50% charge in just 30 minutes. If you’re looking for a durable and reliable smartphone, the Oukitel WP8 Pro is definitely worth considering.

Pros

  • Great design
  • Screen is oleophobic

Cons

  • Performance is average

Specification

  • Price $199.99
  • OS Android 10
  • CPU Helio P22
  • RAM 4 GB
  • STORAGE 64 GB
Oukitel WP8 Pro

05 Cat S62 Pro

We’ve put the Cat S62 Pro through its paces, and it’s safe to say that this is one tough phone. It’s got a durable build, a great camera, and plenty of features that make it ideal for those who need a phone that can withstand some abuse.

The first thing you’ll notice about the Cat S62 Pro is its build. It’s made with a combination of metal and plastic, and it feels very solid in the hand. The phone is also IP68-rated for dust and water resistance, so you can take it out in the elements without worry.

One of the best features of the Cat S62 Pro is its camera. It’s got a dual-lens setup that includes a Dual 12-megapixel lens and an 8-megapixel front camera. The camera takes great photos in both low-light and daylight conditions, and it’s also capable of recording 4K video.

The Cat S62 Pro is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor, which is plenty fast for most tasks. It’s got 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, which is expandable via microSD.

The Cat S62 Pro runs Android 10, and it’s got all of the usual features that you’d expect from a modern smartphone. It’s got a fingerprint sensor, NFC, and a USB-C port.

The Cat S62 Pro is a great choice for those who need a rugged smartphone that can handle anything. It’s got a durable build, a great camera, and plenty of features that make it an ideal choice.

Pros

  • Built to last
  • Major improvements from predecessors

Cons

  • No wireless charging

Specification

  • Price $595.68
  • OS Android 10
  • CPU Snapdragon 660
  • RAM 6 GB
  • STORAGE 128 GB
Cat S62 Pro

Jonas Sunico

Aug 31, 2022

Jonas is a writer with over 6 years of experience in the tech and gaming industry. He holds a bachelor's degree in Journalism from University of the East Philippines and is one of the proud leaders of the academe's Journalism Society. At heart, he's a hardcore tech junkie that loves video games, the latest gadgets, and the wonderful science behind social media and AI.

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