Best rugged smartphones in 2020

Workers of dangerous professions or travel lovers sometimes need special devices that would withstand their lifestyle and would not collapse during intensive employment. Therefore, smartphones for such categories of buyers have increased security characteristics. This is impact resistance, which should not only protect all parts from destruction when dropped, but also provide protection against damage to the screen. And water resistance by complete isolation of all ports.

Our selection of the best rugged smartphones of 2020 includes some of the toughest rugged smartphones to find on store shelves. They do not have top-end hardware or outstanding photographic ability. But at the same time they perform all the basic functions even in those conditions in which others refuse to work.

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Ulefone Armor X2

An aggressive looking government employee with excellent protection at a reasonable price. It is based on not the most productive chipset from MediaTek - MT6580, which, however, is able to provide sufficient performance for everyday tasks - messaging, news viewing and mobile communications. The almost pure Android 8.1 used here is perfect for not overloading the system with unnecessary programs. Several proprietary applications for video and audio communication, built into the shell, allow you to save a small amount of internal memory, which is only 16 GB.

The display is one of the most interesting aspects of the phone. It is stretched out in the latest fashion and has an aspect ratio of 18: 9 at FullHD + resolution. Covered with durable protective glass, it can withstand both immersion to depth and mechanical and thermal effects.

The back panel received a dual module of the main camera, where the main peephole has 13 megapixels (interpolation from 8 megapixels), and the additional depth sensor - 5. There is no fingerprint scanner, it is built into the power and unlock button on the side edge.

The battery is large, especially for those who like to stay for a long time without recharging. Its 5.5 Ah is enough for several days of work in normal mode for several hours of active screen, which is possible precisely due to the not very powerful chipset. There is a quick charge function to help get the device back on track in record time. The internal equipment is in complete order, there is even an NFC module so that you don't have to go into your wallet for a plastic card once again.

pros

• Very robust housing on all sides.
• Big battery.
• Modern software.
• Bright and impressive screen.
• Maximum water resistance.

Minuses

• Weak processor.
• Little RAM and permanent memory.

Ioutdoor Polar 3

A "polar" smartphone that allows you to easily take it to not the warmest places on the planet. Withstands both severe frosts (up to 20 degrees) and sweltering heat (up to 50). The IP68 rating, secured by an aggressive looking rubberized casing with cut edges and caps on all available ports on the casing, makes it even possible to dive with it. Tests show that at a depth of one and a half meters, it can withstand up to half an hour without any problems.

The platform is another budget solution, MT6739, a quad-core processor that famously handles calls and common applications. There are no slowdowns in the interface, mainly due to the whole 3 gigabytes of RAM, which allowed the device to get a split screen mode and work simultaneously in two applications. The screen is large, but with not the clearest resolution, 1440x720, which has a positive effect on autonomy and is imperceptible for those who do not look too closely. In bright sun, the IPS-matrix does not lose visibility and you can still see the smallest elements.

The back cover has become a haven for two cameras, located on a metal plate. Immediately below them is a special surface that can be charged from an inductive device, that is, without wires. The battery capacity is 4000 mAh. The main cameras, 13 and 2 megapixels, shoot well, but only in the light, the 8-megapixel front camera additionally serves as a face unlocker, which can be useful in difficult weather conditions. There is also NFC, which is starting to be installed in the budget segment.

pros

• There is fast and wireless charging.
• There is NFC.
• Nice screen.
• Quite good hull protection elements.
• Sufficient performance.

Minuses

• Heavy.

Blackview BV9600 Pro

Not the cheapest, but already powerful enough phone to not only keep the interface and regular applications smooth, but also perform more difficult tasks, for example, play games. Perhaps this is thanks to a powerful mid-range processor, MediaTek Helio P60, paired with 6 gigabytes of RAM. The internal storage can be up to 128 gigabytes, which made it unnecessary to install a memory card slot. Even mobile PUBG at medium settings is quite capable of this stuffing.

Protection according to the maximum IP69K standard means not only the strongest protection against moisture and dust, but also the ability to expose the device under a stream of water, the pressure of which it can withstand with ease. The display with FullView layout and "monobrow" at the top has a FullHD + resolution and is covered with high-quality and durable glass. An AMOLED martini was used, which means that with viewing angles and visibility in the sun, there is complete order here. The back cover is also glass, made of Gorilla Glass, it can withstand any drops and physical impact.

The cameras are not bad, 16 + 8 in the main module and 8 in the front module, all received Samsung optics, but from the middle segment. They shoot all three well, but without surprises, the quality in low light conditions immediately sags dramatically.

The battery supports ultra-fast and wireless charging and has a rated capacity of 5580 mAh. It is enough for about 2 days of normal use, and 800 hours are claimed in standby mode. NFC is traditionally also present. The model will cost buyers 30 thousand rubles.

pros

• Powerful filling.
• Excellent protection against external influences.
• There is NFC.
• High quality screen.
• Supports fast and wireless charging.
• Capacious battery.

Minuses

• Price.

Ulefone Armor 3

The harsh look and unprecedented rough design hint at the main feature of this device - its unsurpassed security and focus on extreme people who love an active lifestyle and stay connected no matter what. It can be frozen, dropped, washed, and used during desert dust storms. There is a control mode with thick gloves. Through a special proprietary connector, you can connect an antenna and turn your phone into a real long-range radio.

The filling is to match the appearance. Helio P23 is slightly outdated. But still a powerful chipset that can handle any tasks and provide good multitasking even without fine-tuning the OS. RAM here is 4 gigabytes, permanent 64 can be expanded with cards up to 256 GB. All this is powered by a huge 10,300 mAh battery, which can be charged quickly and last for 4 days. On the software side, here is Android Oreo, which is very close to stock, so there is very little pre-installed software here.

There are stereo speakers that are aimed directly at the user. One is at the top, combined with the spoken word, the second is symmetrically at the bottom, on a stylish sidebar in the display. The screen is large, almost 6 inches with FullHD + resolution. The cameras are pretty good, the main module is single, with a good aperture and a 21-megapixel sensor. It shoots perfectly in different conditions, although it slightly lathers pictures indoors and at night. The front camera is 13 megapixels, but in fact it is only 8, it is also used as an unlocker.

pros

• Great design.
• Exemplary security.
• High quality sound.
• Nice cameras.
• Large battery.
• Bright screen.
• Productive hardware.

Minuses

• Very heavy (almost 400 grams).

Doogee S90

The flagship of the Chinese company, which, among other things, has recently begun to focus on rugged devices. The main feature is the support of various additional modules, which turn it into an ultimate device for those who like hiking or other extreme activities. There can be both an antenna for Walkie-Talkie, and a night vision module, a battery of increased capacity, a gamepad or a new generation wireless communication module.

The screen is large, 6.18 inches, with a notch that hides several sensors and an 8 megapixel selfie camera. It supports face unlock with its help, but the accuracy is clearly lacking, especially without an infrared emitter. The rear camera is dual, 16 and 8 megapixels, without optical stabilization, but with fairly fast and accurate autofocus. You can get good pictures, but nothing more.

A relatively recent development from MediaTek - Helio P60 was chosen as a platform. This is a pre-top processor that can handle almost any task that a user can think of for him, including modern games. All this is supplemented with 6 gigabytes of RAM and 128 - permanent, non-expandable.

In terms of durability, everything is just fine - there is even a military standard certification, which means using slightly higher quality components when assembling the device. It is thanks to this that the phone got into our rating, and the top of the best secure smartphones in 2020 would be incomplete without this new product. The battery charges very quickly, and there is also support for contact charging. The capacity is 5050mAh.

pros

• Military standard security.
• Powerful hardware.
• Additional accessories.
• Nice screen.
• Large battery.
• Nice cameras.

Minuses

• No.

Leagoo XRover C

Not a bad, secure entry-level budget, with a rich bundle and modest hardware characteristics. MediaTek MT6739 here is supplemented with only 2 gigabytes of memory, and there is only 16 gigabytes of permanent space here. It is enough for normal use, but you shouldn't hope for serious performance.

The screen is a little faded, only HD + or 1440 by 720 pixels. The diagonal is 5.7 inches, which is enough for crisp text without ladders and a clean image. The brightness is a little insufficient, but the calibration and its increase to the maximum can partially correct the visibility in the daytime.

The case has characteristic ribbing, but it is not claimed to be able to withstand impacts and falls. The rubberized inserts indicate that the device will still be able to withstand a couple of falls. On the back there is a module from a dual camera, a 13-megapixel peephole is complemented by a 2-megapixel depth sensor. Below them is a standard fingerprint scanner. There is NFC support. The battery is large, but the maximum charging current is only 2A.

pros

• Nice design.
• Nice equipment.
• Affordable price.
• Acceptable cameras.

Minuses

• No fast charging.
• The screen is not very high quality.

Crosscall Trekker-X4

An interesting concept model, which is difficult to find on sale. This is a kind of hybrid action camera and smartphone, assembled in a shock-resistant enough case to meet the MIL-STD-810 standard.At the same time, it is built on the basis of the Snapdragon 660, the most powerful chipset in the mid-price range. Therefore, the performance will be at the highest level, the phone will cope with any load and will not overheat.

There are two cameras here - one is a regular 12-megapixel, ordinary telephoto sensor, the other is an ultra-wide-angle one that shoots with the fish eye effect and also received a resolution of 12 megapixels. The sensor is large enough, there is built-in image stabilization and very fast focusing. Slow and fast motion modes are also present.

Among the internal sensors, one cannot fail to note a thermometer that shows the air temperature in real time and a barometer that measures atmospheric pressure. The NFC module can be distinguished from the more familiar in such devices. The battery is not the biggest, but no puffy capacities, honest 4400 mAh. Fast charging technology is present, while there is a fast battery filling mode up to 50% in 20 minutes.

pros

• Excellent security.
• Good quality action camera.
• Good battery.
• Very powerful stuffing.
• There are several sensors you need.

Minuses

• High price.

AGM A9

Another vehicle that received "military" certification, mainly due to the limited use of aircraft aluminum in the construction of the case. He himself is mostly polycarbonate. This means that it is not afraid of almost any external influences. Due to the fact that the phone fully complies with the IP68 standard, you can easily drop it into water, use it in dusty areas and drop it on a hard surface.

The filling gives a good budget in the smartphone. The Snapdragon 450 is a relatively new chip from Qualcomm, but it has already shown excellent performance, outperforming several previous mid-market representatives in synthetic tests. The shell, which here is almost identical to the stock Android, works smartly and without performance drops, and the modern technical process also means excellent energy efficiency. There are several models to choose from, complete with bundles of 3 and 32 or 4 and 64 gigabytes of RAM and permanent memory, respectively.

The IPS screen is covered with high-quality glass, resistant to any influences. It has a FullHD + resolution and very wide bezels at the top and bottom. The diagonal is almost 6 inches, the legibility of elements and text is excellent.

One of the nice things about a smartphone is sound. There are 4 speakers from a good speaker manufacturer JBL. Their overall volume is very impressive, and you will hardly need to buy external speakers.

Another strong point is autonomy. Not only is the processor very economical, but also the battery is supplied at a whopping 5400 mAh. Charging is carried out according to the QC 3.0 standard with a complete device and is capable of bringing the battery indicator to 50% in half an hour.

pros

• Great sound.
• Nice screen.
• Solid budget processor.
• There is NFC.
• Decent body materials.
• Decent security.

Minuses

• Weak cameras.

Conquest S12

Built on the outdated, somewhat gluttonous and hot MediaTek Helio P23, this device still has several strengths that allow it to compete on an equal footing with other participants. Judge for yourself: the best shockproof smartphones in this collection cannot boast of a reverse charging function with a battery capacity of as much as 8000 mAh. This means that it can be used as a powerbank for other, less long-lived models.

The durable rubberized case is reinforced with metal inserts, forming a frame that protects against damage in case of falls. The screen is protected by durable Gorilla Glass 5, which can withstand maximum loads. Rubber inserts protect all ports that may allow moisture or dust to enter the interior of the device.

Security is represented by two options - a fingerprint scanner and face unlock using a 13-megapixel front camera. The main module has 20 megapixels, but it does not shoot very well, giving out acceptable quality only in perfect lighting.There is an NFC module and a dedicated walkie-talkie that can work with various radio channels and has its own application for fine tuning and searching.

pros

• Good port insulation for waterproofing.
• There is a walkie-talkie and NFC.
• Not a bad processor.
• Acceptable cameras.
• Various protection options.
• Reverse charging mode.
• Capacious battery.

Minuses

• The chipset is very hot.

Oukitel WP1

Handsome and stern-looking representative of the famous line of the Chinese manufacturer of secure smartphones. WP1 looks very impressive thanks to the large screw heads on the case and metal elements on the front and back. Copper strips complement the industrial design of the device, and rubberized inserts only emphasize its complete protection.

On the front is a small but bright 5.5 IPS display with a resolution of 1440 x 720 and a decent PPI. At the back are two camera modules, 13 and 2 megapixels and a stylishly designed fingerprint scanner. At the very bottom - a reminder that the phone complies with the IP68 standard, which makes it immune to moisture and dust. There is shock resistance, but is not described by the manufacturer in any way, so you only have to rely on the metal case and its rubberized beveled corners.

The battery is large, can withstand several days without recharging and has a capacity of 5000 mAh. Wireless charging is supported, but it turns out to be much slower than the bundled QC 3.0 device with 18W peak power.

pros

• Big battery.
• Good protection against drops, moisture and dust.
• Fast and wireless charging supported.
• Good hardware stuffing.
• Bright screen.

Minuses

• The processor is hot.
• Cameras are weak.

What is the best secure smartphone to buy in 2020?

The first thing to decide is whether you really need an unkillable phone. If the activity of the buyer does not provide for any special risks for the device, it is better to take the usual one - for the same money there is always a more productive and attractive option. If the occupation does not allow you to do without a cumbersome but reliable assistant, the price comes into play. Sometimes, state employees are all that the buyer needs, since they do their job perfectly with their daily tasks. But when more specific functions are required, it is better to choose more painstakingly. Our verdict is divided into several categories. Each of which contains one device:

• The best budget is AGM A9.
• For extreme people - Crosscall Trekker-X4.
• With a large battery - Conquest S12.
• With a powerful filling - Doogee S90.

If you come across interesting models that for some reason were not mentioned in the article, share your experience of using them in the comments. The niche of protected devices is represented by versatile smartphones, among which everyone is able to choose an assistant to their liking.