Today it is difficult to deny that a smartphone is almost one more limb of our body, and that is that we use the telephone for practically everything and in all situations. It is not surprising, therefore, that more minority ranges of phones destined for specific uses have grown, such as ultra-resistant smartphones that are gradually gaining followers.
In fact, these are terminals suitable for practically all conditions and that can withstand the toughest jobs or extreme sports, becoming essential when the environment tightens, and any other phone on the market would say enough. Niche options, yes, but options at the end of the day are always good to have.
Many of you may be thinking that any current high-end smartphone already has a certification of resistance against liquids or dust, even some like the latest LG also have military-grade protection against mild falls. Still, today we are talking about going to the extreme, very to the extreme … What are the best ultra-rugged phones on the market, and where can I buy them?
IP69K certification, the complete protection of the IP system
To filter this list, we have cut our losses, and understanding that an IP68 certification is more than common today, what we have looked for in the catalogs of the main manufacturers has been those devices that go up a notch to IP69K certification, the more complete of this classification system.
Obviously, we will have all the advantages of an IP68 certification, with total protection against dust and immersion in liquids according to the parameters indicated by the manufacturer, always above one meter and more than 30 minutes that mark the IP67 standard.
What then is IP69K? Well, it is the highest protection available, with an identical total resistance rating to the ingress of dust and advanced resistance against liquids even at high pressure and high temperature at close range.
It is a defined standard of devices that will need to be disinfected or intensively washed through industrial cleaning or decontamination processes. In all these devices, protection is undoubtedly assured.
6 best mobile phones with IP69K protection on the market
Ulefone Armor 3T
The Chinese manufacturer Ulefone is one of the specialists in this device aimed at a more professional audience in “dangerous” sectors. Perhaps that is why it has a high capacity battery, Walkie-Talkie function, and IP69K and MIL-STD-810G certifications to ensure its durability.
It has a rugged case, medium performance, and an industrial design that does not forget the USB-C connector and options such as a fingerprint reader that works underwater:
- Screen: 5.7-inch IPS and FHD + resolution
- Processor: MediaTek Helio P23
- Memoria RAM: 4 GB
- Cameras: 21-megapixel rear camera | 13-megapixel front camera
- Battery: 10,300 mAh
Ulefone Armor 6
The newest of the Ulefone is also the most beautiful ultra-resistant phone on the market, as the Chinese have bet here to soften the design while still maintaining the IP69K and MIL-STD-810G certifications against shocks.
Better features and a huge screen with a ‘notch’ finish off a device that, of course, loses battery to gain ergonomics:
- Screen: 6.2-inch IPS and FHD + resolution
- Processor: MediaTek Helio P60
- Memoria RAM: 6 GB
- Cameras: Dual 16 + 8-megapixel rear camera | 8-megapixel front camera
- Battery: 5,000 mAh
Doogee S90
Another option with an attractive design is this Doogee S90 that the Chinese manufacturer also offers with mid-range specifications and even dual cameras. In its case, the most interesting part comes in its modular concept, since accessories of the “Moto Mod” type can be purchased for the device to add a higher power antenna, more battery, or a night vision camera, among others …
- Screen: 6.18-inch IPS and FHD + resolution
- Processor: MediaTek Helio P60
- Memoria RAM: 6 GB
- Cameras: Dual 16 + 8-megapixel rear camera | 8-megapixel front camera
- Battery: 5,050 mAh
Cat S61
Undoubtedly the star of this range of devices, not in vain Cat is a very recognized brand in industrial and hazardous environments, as well as in the heavy machinery used in most civil works.
In this case, their smartphones are designed and manufactured together with Bullitt-Group, another giant in this field of resistant smartphones, and with the Cat S61, we will have in our hands a medium-cut device that adds a FLIR camera with thermal vision or distance measurement via laser along with options such as an air quality monitor:
- Screen: 5.2 inch IPS and FHD resolution
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 630
- Memoria RAM: 4 GB
- Cameras: FLIR 16 megapixel rear camera (with thermal vision) | 8-megapixel front camera
- Battery: 4,500 mAh
Blackview BV6800 Pro
Blackview is another of the already classic Chinese manufacturers in these ultra-resistant phones, with a range of rugged smartphones with medium performance and contained prices that become one of the most compensated options when looking for an unbreakable smartphone.
The BV6800 Pro is your mid-cut phone and offers the best protection at the best price:
- Screen: 5.7-inch IPS and FHD + resolution
- Processor: MediaTek MT6750T
- Memoria RAM: 4 GB
- Cameras: Dual 16 + 0.3-megapixel rear camera | 8-megapixel front camera
- Battery: 6,580 mAh
Blackview BV9500 Pro
One step further is the BV9500 Pro, which raises its battery to 10,000 mAh so that our outdoor outings do not end up with us begging for a plug or a PowerBank.
It has also softened its design to look like a gaming phone or something similar, and it has IP69K and MIL-STD-810G certifications like the entire list that we have presented. Its hardware, as in all cases, chooses to be more restrained and stay in the mid-range so as not to raise the cost, adding, in this case, mobile payments through NFC:
- Screen: 5.7-inch IPS and FHD + resolution
- Processor: MediaTek Helio P23
- Memoria RAM: 4 GB
- Cameras: Dual 16 + 0.3 megapixel rear camera | 13 megapixel front camera
- Battery: 10,000 mAh
Andro4all’s choice …
The truth is that in the case of such specific terminals, it is difficult to make evaluations, as some will adjust more to one type of user, and others will do so to other needs. It is clear that if you need a thermal camera, the best option is the Cat S61, and if you need a night vision camera, the Doogee S90 with its relevant accessory will be for you.
If you like going out in the mountains and doing outdoor sports, but you don’t need to have a smartphone stone with enormous autonomy, the Ulefone Armor 6 with its more “classic” design is a great option.
And if what we are talking about is prices, for its cost obviously the best options are Blackview with its BV6800 and BV9500 Pro, which will offer the best resistance for much less than you imagine … Interested in any? What would you look for in an ultra-rugged phone?
Sharlene Meriel is an avid gamer with a knack for technology. He has been writing about the latest technologies for the past 5 years. His contribution in technology journalism has been noteworthy. He is also a day trader with interest in the Forex market.
