Top 3 Best Rugged Smartphones In 2024
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Searching for the best rugged smartphones?
Diving headfirst into the world of rugged smartphones, we’re here to explore the best of the best in 2023. These aren’t your average, everyday smartphones. These are the tough, the durable, the ones that can take a beating and keep on ticking. Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast, a construction worker, or just someone prone to dropping their phone, a rugged smartphone could be your perfect match.
We’ll be diving into the pros and cons of each model, examining their build quality, features, and overall value for money. We’ll also be looking at their reliability, because when it comes to rugged smartphones, durability is key. So, if you’re ready to find out which rugged smartphone is the best fit for you, keep reading.
Why Should You Trust Us?
At WhollyOutdoor, we’re more than just reviewers – we’re passionate outdoor enthusiasts. Our founder, Paul Dudley, has a deep-rooted love for ham radios and fishing, which fuels our dedication to providing honest, objective, and educational content. We’ve been on this journey since 2018, and our commitment to authenticity remains unwavering.
Our hands-on approach to reviews means we don’t just list specs – we put these rugged smartphones through rigorous real-world testing. We’re independent, so you can trust that our reviews are unbiased and genuine. We’re here to guide you, our reader, to make the most informed buying decisions. Trust us, we take this responsibility to heart.
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How We Choose the Best Rugged Smartphones
Choosing the best rugged smartphones isn’t a task we take lightly at WhollyOutdoor. Our selection process is meticulous and thorough, ensuring we provide you with the most reliable and comprehensive information.
Firstly, we delve into the world of rugged smartphones, researching the latest models and technologies. We look at the specifications, features, and the unique selling points of each model. We pay special attention to the build quality, durability, and the rugged certifications like IP68 and MIL-STD-810G, which indicate the phone’s ability to withstand harsh conditions.
Next, we consider user reviews and feedback. We believe that real-world experiences provide invaluable insights into a smartphone’s performance, reliability, and overall user satisfaction. We also take into account the brand’s reputation and their commitment to providing software updates and customer support.
We then get hands-on with the phones, testing them in various conditions to assess their performance, durability, and usability. We drop them, submerge them in water, expose them to dust and extreme temperatures – all to see how they hold up.
Lastly, we evaluate the overall value for money. We consider the phone’s price in relation to its features, performance, and build quality. We aim to recommend phones that offer the best balance between cost and quality.
This rigorous process helps us bring you the most reliable and trustworthy recommendations for the best rugged smartphones in 2023. We’re committed to helping you make an informed decision that suits your needs and budget.
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3 Best Rugged Smartphones Reviews
Number 3. Unihertz Jelly Star – Best Budget Rugged Smartphone
Unihertz Jelly Star is a tiny smartphone with a budget price and decent rugged credentials. When I say this smartphone is tiny, I mean it literally. The company calls it the “world’s smallest Android 13 smartphone.”
Its height is a little more than 3.7 inches and with the earpiece speaker and the touch buttons taking some space, the display size is 3 inches diagonal.
The small display has a resolution of 854 by 480 pixels, which would be scandalous on a regular smartphone, but the tiny Jelly Star makes it work.
In use, it looks fairly good, even crisp, although it can struggle a bit in the sun, but that’s an issue with most budget phones. It remains easy to work with, but things like texting can be a chore.
Interestingly, while this phone is smaller than others in length, it outdoes most smartphones in thickness. At 18.7mm thick, this one could give most classic rugged phones a run for their money.
The translucent cover at the back provides a visual of the phone’s back and interiors. It also holds small but fairly bright LEDs that can work as notification lights and create a pretty cool effect. Users can customize the LED options through a widget on the screen. It only has a limited number of options, but works fairly well.
Considering its thick design, one would imagine that it holds a large battery, in line with conventional rugged phones. However it disappoints on that front , and the battery is only 2000 mAh. To be fair, the battery capacity is more intuitive for a phone this size, but it is limited nonetheless.
It can last a day if used sparingly, but heavy users might find that the battery drains out fast. That said, people who watch a lot of videos or spend a significant time on gaming aren’t the target users here.
The small screen size makes that clear. However, should you indulge in these activities, the Octa-Core MediaTek Helio G99 processor and 8GB RAM can offer decent enough performance.
As for other specs, the phone comes with 256 GB internal storage, has room for dual nano sim cards, and has some nice touches like an infrared port, a fingerprint unlock system, NFC, and the ability to use USB OTG. It has a USB-C port but only allows charging at 10W, so it takes its sweet time charging.
There’s also a 3.5 mm audio jack, which is increasingly rare for mobile phones these days.
There’s a customizable red button on the side, giving users more freedom and convenience. However, a long press of the button is dedicated to switching the flashlight on or off. The 48 MP main camera is acceptable for the small budget phone even though it offers barely average performance.
Unihertz offers other phones with a similar form factor, though with different features. Jelly 2 and Jelly 2E are older models with memory at 4GB RAM and 64GB storage. The Jelly Pro, despite its name, is a much older model in the early generations of this phone and is limited to 3GB RAM and 32GB storage.
Unihertz Atom is another old variant, built in the traditional style of a rugged phone and with a Corning Gorilla Glass screen. None of these phones have 5G and are limited to Verizon and T-mobile only.
Overall, Unihertz Jelly Star is a well-built and decent rugged phone suitable for those who want a tiny device that can fit into small pockets, utility belts, or those who simply prefer a tiny phone.
To sum up, what we like is…
the Attractive pricing
the USB-C charging port with OTG
the User-customizable button on the side
there is Almost no bloatware
And the good set of features.
On the downside…
The 2000 mAh battery feels too low
it’s Not 5G (only 4G/LTE)
And no clear IP rating.
Our Ratings
Features: 8/10
Build Quality: 8/10
Battery: 7.5/10
Ruggedness: 7.5/10
Value for Money: 8.5/10
Overall Rating: 8/10
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Number 2. Blackview BL9000 – Best Premium Rugged Smartphone
Blackview BL9000 is fresh for this year and comes with a few design touches that seemingly pull rugged phones into something of a premium look and feel category. The conventional hallmarks of a rugged phone are all still there but the look has been softened a bit. Then there’s the combination of technology and features to make the pot sweeter.
The cosmetic changes are most prominently visible on the back. It has a leather-textured back for a seemingly opulent finish. Additionally, the panel where you would conventionally expect to find the camera cluster has been replaced by a circular second screen. The camera and flash have been pushed to the periphery of this circle.
Blackview is right. The finish is visually striking. The second screen has a customizable display and can show you your notifications, photographs, and work as a clock face. Thanks to this display, users can use the main camera for a selfie. While the front-facing selfie camera is fairly good, the 50 MP Samsung ISOCELL GN5 camera is quite impressive.
The 13 MP ultra-wide and ultra-macro rear camera adds further to its photo capabilities. So, whether it’s for selfies or conventional photography, this camera has you covered.
The company really likes to highlight the camera capabilities of this phone, even highlighting its ability to take pictures underwater. Now this is possible, considering the device is rated IP68 and IP69K waterproof. That means the rugged phone can survive being submerged in water up to a depth of 1.5 meters.
However, specifications aside, it helps to remember that seals and flaps that ensure waterproofing can fail, especially for a device that has been used for some time. So, it’s best to play it safe and use a protective case if you intend on underwater photography.
Adding further to its rugged credentials, the phone meets MIL-SPEC 810H standards, which means it is drop-proof up to 1.2 meters and can work in extreme temperature conditions like high humidity and heat. All this is bolstered with reinforced rubber corners, an aluminum alloy frame, and a single-piece design that reduces points of failure.
The 6.78-inch display is still somewhat vulnerable as glass must be, but it makes use of Corning Gorilla Glass 7 for improved resilience and the slightly raised edges on the phone also help reduce any possible impact.
The phone runs on a MediaTek Dimensity 8020 CPU and has 12GB RAM and 512 GB internal memory for smooth operation. Power to run it comes from an 8800mAh Lithium battery, which supports 120 W super-fast charging, which is pretty impressive. Not many phones can hit that power for quick charging.
Some comparisons can be made between the BL9000 and the lower-placed model, the BL8000. The latter has the rear camera cluster placed in a more conventional format with a small, square display beside it.
However, this model doesn’t have the same premium finish, has the relatively less capable MediaTek Dimensity 7050 CPU (compared to the 8020 in BL9000), has charging limited to 33 W, and comparatively lower camera quality.
Other notable specifications for the BL9000 include 5G network capability, support for WiFi 6, decent and loud audio through dual Harman Kardon speakers, and a Mali-G77 MC9 GPU. It can handle gaming and video streaming pretty well and the 2.4K display helps make things look better!
Overall, Blackview BL9000 is a great rugged phone with a good finish and an impressive feature set. It’s a good pick if you want a phone with proven rugged credentials, but also want it to have more refined looks.
To sum up, what we like is the…
Good build quality and design
the Big 8800 mAh battery with 120 W fast charging
the Good camera quality
it Meets standards for IP68, IP69K, MIL-STD-810H
And the decent secondary display.
On the downside…
There are unnecessary pre-installed apps, causing Bloatware
Our Ratings
Features: 9/10
Build Quality: 9.5/10
Battery: 9.5/10
Ruggedness: 9/10
Value for Money: 8/10
Overall Rating: 9/10
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Number 1. Oukitel WP33 Pro – Our Top Choice
Oukitel WP33 Pro is a loud and tough phone with a big battery and good performance. These qualities place it amongst the most impressive rugged phones of this year.
This phone embraces and leans hard into its rugged origins, though it avoids being stereotypically rustic and instead takes on a bold and brilliant style. Its styling is largely black with some texturing on the back, and a little streak of red around the main speaker that invites attention.
Oddly enough, the speaker is placed where you would generally find the camera cluster. However, the loud 5W and 136 dB speaker demands its own place in the limelight and the camera cluster has been pushed out. The three cameras and the flash take a spot each around the corners of the loudspeaker.
A screw and loop combination below the speaker makes room for a hand strap with a finger ring to make carrying the phone easier if you’re outdoors. You could also use a lanyard or something similar to attach the phone to your gear or backpack for a more convenient setup.
Though the cameras have been pushed to the sides, they haven’t been forgotten. The three lenses here are the 64MP Sony IMX main camera, 20 MP Sony night vision camera, and a 2 MP macro camera. All of these work fairly well and take good, even if not exactly breathtaking, pictures.
The front of the phone shows a large 6.6-inch FHD+ display, with a little room for the notch and the corners of the phone slightly raised to protect the screen. These measures aside, the screen is tough too and uses Corning Gorilla Glass 5.
Another thing that becomes immediately apparent is how thick this phone is, even more than the usual fare of rugged phones. This can be attributed to several reasons, including the loudspeaker and the massive 22000 mAh battery that powers this phone. It supports 30W fast charge, which is fairly quick in most cases, but can take some time with this large battery.
On its own, this battery could last for almost a week with careful use. However, you could very well use this phone as a power bank and employ its 18W fast reverse charge to quickly power other devices.
Leaning into its rugged credentials, the phone is rated IP68 and IP69K waterproof, which means it can survive being submerged in water depth up to 1.5 meters and can handle heavy rain or jets of water. It also meets MIL-STD-810H requirements, meaning it can survive a drop of up to 1.5 meters and operate in extreme weather conditions like cold, high humidity, or hot weather.
It features 8GB RAM and 256 GB internal storage, runs on Android 13 and has a MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ CPU, and a Mali-G57 MP2 GPU. It can handle most gaming and video streaming without any problems and even more demanding games run relatively smoothly here.
Interestingly, many of these performance specs are very close to the Doogee V Max, which was launched a few months ago as a flagship for Doogee, with a considerably higher price tag. Though V Max has slashed pricing and still has marginally better specs, the Oukitel WP33 Pro seems like a better deal where value is concerned.
It is also a better value overall than the more capable and more expensive Oukitel WP30 Pro. The 12 GB RAM, MediaTek Dimensity 8050 processor, and a secondary display sure work better for the WP30 Pro, but the larger battery, speaker, and performance still bring value in favor of the WP33 Pro.
Overall, the WP33 Pro is a nice pick for those who want a rugged phone for the outdoors. A dependable performance, loudspeaker, and large battery capacity make it one of the best options for such adventures.
To sum up, what we like is the…
Customizable button on the side
Big 22000 mAh battery
Decent camera quality, has night vision
Meets standards for IP68, IP69K, MIL-STD-810H
136 dB loudspeaker with 8D immersive stereo surround sound.
On the downside…
it’s Heavy and bulky
And there is no microSD card slot
Our Ratings
Features: 9/10
Build Quality: 9.5/10
Battery: 9.5/10
Ruggedness: 9/10
Value for Money: 9/10
Overall Rating: 9/10
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What makes a smartphone rugged?
A rugged smartphone is designed to withstand harsh conditions. It often has a robust exterior, is water and dust resistant, and can survive drops and extreme temperatures. Certifications like IP68 and MIL-STD-810G are common indicators of a phone’s ruggedness.
Are rugged smartphones only for outdoor enthusiasts?
Not at all. While outdoor enthusiasts may find rugged smartphones particularly useful, they’re also great for anyone who wants a durable, long-lasting phone. They can be especially handy for those in construction, farming, or other industries where phones may be exposed to tough conditions.
Do rugged smartphones have good cameras?
While rugged smartphones prioritize durability, many models also offer decent cameras. However, they may not match the camera quality of high-end conventional smartphones. It’s always best to check the camera specs before buying.
Can I use a rugged smartphone as my everyday phone?
Absolutely. Many rugged smartphones come with features and specifications similar to regular smartphones, including good processors, ample storage, and quality displays. They can handle everyday tasks like browsing, social media, and streaming, in addition to being extra durable.
Are rugged smartphones more expensive than regular ones?
Not necessarily. The price of a rugged smartphone can vary widely based on its features, brand, and level of ruggedness. There are budget-friendly rugged smartphones as well as premium ones.
Do all rugged smartphones offer 5G connectivity?
No, not all rugged smartphones offer 5G connectivity. While some newer models do, many still operate on 4G networks. If 5G is important to you, be sure to check the phone’s specifications before purchasing.
Are rugged smartphones bulkier than regular ones?
Generally, rugged smartphones are a bit heavier and thicker due to their reinforced design and materials. However, some models manage to maintain a sleek design while still being durable.
Can I use any carrier with a rugged smartphone?
Most rugged smartphones are unlocked, meaning they can be used with any carrier. However, it’s always a good idea to check compatibility with your specific carrier before purchasing.
Do rugged smartphones have good battery life?
Many rugged smartphones are designed with larger batteries, making them ideal for long days outdoors or in areas where charging might not be readily available. However, battery life can vary between models.
Are rugged smartphones user-friendly?
Yes, rugged smartphones are designed to be user-friendly. They run on popular operating systems like Android, and their user interfaces are typically straightforward and easy to navigate. Some even offer additional features like programmable buttons for added convenience.