The most durable smartphones currently available come with enormous batteries, an abundance of features designed specifically for outdoor use, and exceptional durability. We tested all of the top smartphones made for heavy use and selected the top picks. The following robust smartphones have cases or shells that are strong enough to withstand drops onto hard surfaces without breaking. They are also dust- and water-resistant, and in some cases are completely waterproof.
1. Nokia XR20
The Nokia XR20 is the first rugged smartphone to launch under the Nokia name, with assistance from HMD Global, who now owns the brand. Unlike other rugged smartphones that stand out due to their designs, the Nokia XR20 is intended to blend in thanks to its slim profile and stylish appearance.
2. Ulefone Armor 9 FLIR
The phone includes an endoscope and a FLIR camera, giving you flexibility for a variety of tasks. It also has a large battery to extend the phone’s battery life and enough processing power for most tasks.
3. Blackview BV9900 Pro
Although it has since lost the title of our favourite rugged smartphone, the Blackview BV9900 Pro is still a good choice. Despite how useful it can be, FLIR thermal imaging cameras are uncommon on rugged smartphones, but the Blackview BV9900 Pro has one. This complements a variety of “standard” cameras, including one with 48 MP that serves a variety of photographic needs.
4. Doogee S97 Pro
Although the screen resolution on the Doogee S97 Pro is lower than that of the Doogee S95 Pro from the previous year, the company compensated for this by including a sizable 8,500 mAh battery and a laser rangefinder for calculating volumes, surface areas, and angles. The gadget is constructed of a combination of grey metal and black plastic and has a purposefully utilitarian appearance. It is also among the heaviest rugged smartphones at 350g.
5. Unihertz Atom XL
The Atom XL from Unihertz is currently the best phone from the brand we’ve tested. The company consistently has at least one product on our list of the best rugged phones. Even with a 4-inch screen, this extra-large Atom phone is still quite small compared to other Atom phones. The fact that such high-end features as a 4,300mAh battery, 48MP camera, and 6GB RAM are crammed into a 6. something-inch non-rugged smartphone is impressive.
6. Cat S62 Pro
The S62 Pro, a fantastic rugged smartphone from Cat, one of the most well-known manufacturers in the sector, outperforms its predecessors in a few crucial areas. This smartphone is the best-rugged smartphone on the market right now. The Snapdragon 660 chipset, an FHD screen, and 128GB of storage are included with the Cat S62 Pro rugged smartphone.
7. Oukitel WP8 Pro
With some cost-saving measures taken, the Oukitel WP8 Pro is a low-end, rugged smartphone that provides new software and a durable design for a low price. The disadvantages include the micro-USB port, which slows down charging compared to the current USB-C standard, the low-end processor, which has limited performance power, and the lower-resolution screen compared to many competitors.
8. Doogee S90
The Doogee S90 is, in fact, unlike any other rugged smartphone currently on the market thanks to its modular design, which enables you to customize the device to your specific requirements. Due to this modular design, the Doogee S90 is bulkier than many of its rivals. However, the Doogee S90 excelled in our tests, posting some of the best results we’ve ever seen in our benchmarks.
9. Ulefone Armor 10
Although it may not be the most well-protected device we’ve tested, the Ulefone Armor 10 5G is the first rugged smartphone that supports 5G, and it still has features that set it apart from its rivals. This could be a fantastic option if you think those features are important. Many ruggedized smartphones don’t have wireless charging, excellent cameras, or even 5G compatibility.
10. Blackview BV9500 Pro
There are several IP68-certified Android phones from Blackview that are tough, and affordable if a little feature-light. However, this model has all the bells and whistles, including PTT (push-to-talk) for walkie-talkie-style communication, and it costs a lot more money.
