Rugged phones offer increased protection against mechanical and water damage. However, their solid construction is not their only interesting feature. How can you find out about the various certifications and which criteria should you use when choosing a tough phone?
Rugged phones are no longer just button phones with rubberised construction and basic features. These days rugged mobile phones often include flagship smartphones from leading manufacturers. What can you expect from them?
The Operating system, whether it's Android or iOS, turns a rugged phone into a smart phone.
High performance and low power consumption result from modern processors and sufficient RAM capacity.
A quality camera is available thanks to the combination of two rear lenses and a high resolution front selfie camera.
A High-resolution display is now standard even for rugged mobile phones.
Rugged Phones are Waterproof
Waterproof rugged phones have many advantages. A waterproof tough phone will prevent the loss of valuable data if the phone accidentally falls into the water. You will also save a lot of money on repairs. Another benefit is the ability to use a rugged smart phone underwater. Water-resistant tough phones are also suitable for winter sports, where your clothes can easily get wet, or for running in bad weather.
Rugged Phones as Strong as Tanks
Rugged mobile phones can survive drops to the ground and these tough phones can also resist extreme temperatures because their rugged construction, often with rubber elements, sufficiently insulates the rugged smart phone while absorbing any shocks.
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A Truly Rugged Mobile Phone is a Combination of Several Factors
A rugged mobile phone isn't just about dust protection and water resistance. Water and dust resistance is often complemented by a reinforced design and display protection. Together, these elements make rugged phones almost indestructible.
What Can Rugged Phones Withstand?
How can we determine what rugged phones can withstand? The level of resistance to water or dust is determined by the so-called IP certification. This is always expressed in two digits. We have prepared a table with the individual IP protection levels for you.
Rugged Phones Classified by IP Code: First Digits
Any proper rugged phone should be protected from intrusion by foreign objects which is what the first digit after IP represents:
Degree of protection
Effective Against
Size of Foreign Objects Protected Against
IP0x
without protection
without protection
IP1x
back of the hands
large (>50mm)
IP2x
finger-sized objects
small (>12,5mm)
IP3x
thick wires
small (>2,5mm)
IP4x
screws, wires
very small (>1mm)
IP5x
by any means
some protection against dust
IP6x
by any means
complete protection against dust
Rugged Phones Classified by IP Code: Second Digit
In addition to mechanical protection, a proper rugged phone can also handle liquids. The second digit tells you the level of protection against the ingress of liquids:
Degree of protection
Water ingress protection (IPX specification)
IPx0
without protection
IPx1
protected against vertically dripping water
IPx2
protected against dripping water at a 15° slope
IPx3
protected against spraying water (sprinkling, rain)
IPx4
protected against splashing water
IPx5
protected against gushing water
IPx6
protected against intense water spraying from a powerful nozzle (wave action)
IPx7
protected against immersion in water for 30 minutes to a depth of 1 metre
IPx8
protected against continuous immersion in water at a depth of at least 1 metre
IPx9
protected against continuous high-pressure water pressure (WAP)
Rugged Phones with IP67 and IP68 Ratings
As you can see from the tables above, the first number after the IP mark indicates dust and foreign body resistance with a maximum value of 6 - which indicates complete dustproofing. Water-resistance is marked with the second digit, where the highest level is number 9 - protection against high-pressure water. However, it is not used for rugged mobile phones and the maximum protection against water remains at level 8.
Commonly used protection ratings include IP67. This level provides maximum protection against the ingress of foreign particles and allows the rugged phone to be submerged at a depth of one metre for up to thirty minutes.
Rugged smart phones with the highest possible protection are certified at IP68. Such a tough phone not only offers protection against dust, but also against permanent immersion in water up to the depth specified by the manufacturer.
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Rugged Phones Usually Won't Let You "Under the Hood"
Rugged mobile phones do not allow access to the battery and internal parts of the device, which are sealed. If you need to open your phone, you should always take it to a specialist service centre.
Why Choose a Rugged Phone?
A rugged smart phone is a great choice whether you actively use its level of coverage or just crave the security it brings. Rugged Phones do not lose any of the functions of classic smartphones. On the contrary, the safety a rugged phone adds in extreme situations extends the value of a smart phone.
Rugged Phones - Useful Features
Tough phones (like other smart phones) offer many other useful features:
DualSIM allows you to use a durable phone with two SIMs at once.
Memory card support allows you to expand the size of internal storage for your work phone.
A fingerprint reader is a security feature that can prevent the misuse of a rugged mobile phone. In addition, it allows you to manage banking applications and quickly confirm mobile payments.
NFC-enabled rugged phones can handle wireless communications such as contactless pay by swiping.
5G rugged phones are ready for the future of mobile connectivity.
A rugged phone with a thermal imaging camera is a professional tool used mainly in the construction industry, where it can help to detect deficiencies in building insulation or find water leaks in pipes.
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Rugged Phones Can Help even in the Toughest of Times
Rugged mobile phones are prepared for the worst. In a crisis situation, the SOS button can save your life. Some rugged smart phones have this useful feature. When pressed, it contacts the pre-selected contact person or sends the last known location.
Rugged Phones with Buttons
Nowadays, rugged touchscreen models are much more common on the market than durable push-button phones. So if you're not friends with touchscreens, then you will fewer choices. On the other hand, they should not be overlooked, because rugged mobile phones with buttons can withstand the greatest stresses. They generally have a smaller display, which greatly reduces the area where the device is most susceptible to mechanical damage.
A Reliable, Tough Phone for Field Work
If you need a rugged mobile phone with long battery life for fieldwork, then you might like one of the button models that can overcome even really extreme conditions while consuming less power, so they last longer. You can then stay in touch and never miss an important call again.
Wondering which models users say are the best rugged phones? Reviews can make the choice much easier for many.
Covers for Rugged Phones
Durable mobile phone cases help make even devices that weren't originally designed for extreme conditions impregnable. A quality case can protect your normal mobile phone from many falls. However, the durability of the phone, even in a tough case, will never reach the level offered by rugged phones themselves.
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Outdoor phones are appreciated by those who demand to use their mobiles whenever and wherever they desire, even in extreme situations. These virtually unbreakable phones are characterized by their waterproof qualities and resistance to rough drops. The boast Gorilla Glass displays, making them almost immune to scratches.
These rugged phones also feature high capacity batteries, so you don't have to worry about running out of power in the middle of nowhere or losing reception due to the WiFi hotspot capability of some models. These tough devices usually boast work and travel friendly Dual SIM functionality, adding even further appeal.
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