

With all that in mind, here’s a few of the best rugged smartphones we can recommend. There’s plenty more tests in addition to that, that are performed to check against falls, bumps, resistance to vibration and humidity and, of course, water.įor now, rugged smartphones are only available for the Android operating system and they come equipped with a range of sensors and features such as GPS, G-sensor, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, compass, geomagnetism, gyroscope, barometer, infrared cameras, sound level meters, altimeters and more. This MIL – STD -180G certification is not easy to get however – one of the tests it needs to go through is being dropped from a height of 1.2 meters for over 26 times. Their shell is also thicker and rarely requires the users to purchase a cover, and are made out of a specific rubber with Military Standard Rugged Phone certification.

These devices have to go through specific tests and before purchase, you should make sure that the smartphone has an IP68 certification – this certification is issued by the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) and ensures that the device is resistant to dust and water, up to a depth of one meter.

The manufacturer gives the users the possibility to extend warranty and ensures that, in case of any issues, they will be solved swiftly via a service dedicated to the business. What sets apart these smartphones from your regular devices out there is everything related to their toughness and reliability. What is meant by ‘rugged smartphone’, exactly? It’s important, of course, when purchasing a rugged smartphone, to make sure the device is certified and comes with a guarantee from the company that the phone will receive constant firmware and operating system updates. They are built not only with work sites or demanding/high risk jobs in mind but also with extreme sports or excursions. Sometimes, these rugged smartphones become the main device for those who have destroyed their previous smartphones several times and have just had enough of buying protective films or tempered glass screen protectors. When they first appeared on the market, they were mainly aimed at miners or rescue teams and didn’t feature any cameras or apps but, as the years passed and technology evolved, they began to slowly try to emulate smartphones to all effects. Most of them come with screens that are water, dust, scratch and crack resistant and, while they might not necessarily offer photography capabilities worthy of an iPhone or a Pixel, they do offer a degree of reliability most common smartphones don’t. First things first: what is a rugged smartphone? If you’re curious what they’re about or if you are interested in buying one but don’t know which one to choose, we’ve compiled a list for you below.
