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Rugged phones are powerful tools at work, so we made this article to guide you to the best options on the table. If you are not waiting for the new ones in 2022, you should look at this list and fill up your chart with the following options. How to choose a rugged phone that suits you? First of all, it’s the ruggedness. Rugged phones are usually tough mobile devices, that works under tough conditions. Most of them satisfy the standard of IP68, IP69K, and MIL-STD-810H/MIL-STD-810G. They include the basic functions like surviving 30 minutes under 1.5 meter of water, drop proof from 1.5 meter’s height, and 99% dust proof. Some of them have other resistances like cold-resistant, anti-bacterial, and etc. Don’t forget it is still a smartphone. A rugged smartphone should function as a normal smartphone. You must have functions like using apps, connecting to the internet, and… at least in a comfortable fashion. Therefore, you need to consider the performance of the phone you are going to buy. In other words, you need to have a closer look at the phone’s ram+rom, processor, and operation system. For example, a standard memory for a phone today is around 6 GB, and they usually have 128 GB or 256 GB storage. These digits will help you to make instant comparison. But rugged smartphones are also a special smartphone. If we look away from these digits, rugged smartphones also have functions that a normal smartphone may not have. For example, a night vision camera, a thermal imaging camera, or a big speaker. They will help you adapt to different kinds of situations. Therefore, choosing phones according to your own need is very important. It might save your day eventually. 1, AGM Glory Pro While every other rugged phone brand in the industry is focusing on flashy features, AGM Glory pro digs in the essence of a rugged phone while having more features than AGM’s previous models. Its resistance against the cold delivers something the market has never seen before. Before the AGM Glory Pro came out, no phones can survive long enough under -20°C. Now the glory stays well for more than 20 hours under -27°C.   AGM Glory Pro’s feature didn’t end in resistance, but also a bunch of other features. AGM also claims its thermal imaging sensor has the best resolution and clarity in the market. They also implemented features like night vision, a giant speaker, and a powerful Octa-core processor. It has a good balance between daily usage and professional need. Although it has all the good features, it comes with one cost, the weight. Of course, you need a bigger frame to stuff in all these functions. But for those who adore the AGM Glory Pro, lifting a hundred more grams is not a problem. ProCold-resistantAdvanced thermal imagingGiant speaker ConToo heavy 2, Blackview BL6000 Pro Get your hands on a Blackview BL6000 Pro, you will realize its rigid design. It feels sharp and powerful, combined with the ability of resistance it is a reliable option under extreme conditions. It has a liquid cooling system, which gives you a smoother experience in gaming and professional needs. The camera system allows the users to record the world in different ways. Blackview BL6000 Pro looks good on the table, and you will have pretty good performance across the board. However, users of Blackview BL6000 Pro need to consider their usage, because the battery is not large enough like options.   ProsGreat camera optionsLooks toughDimensity 800  ConsNot a big battery   3,ConquestS205G If we look at the options at a glance, Conquest S20 is a good contender to the annual best-rugged smartphone. The Conquest S20 has most of the features of a rugged phone in the market.   When looking at the power supply it is a different story. Great functions also suck a great amount of energy. For Conquest S20, the 8000 mAh big battery sounds promising. However, if you look at the charging time, it will appear differently to you. It only has 18w of charging, and a full recharge takes more than 4 hours. We understand that you don’t have to recharge to 100% every time, but it just felt so unsatisfying taking an 80% phone around every time we leave the room. ProsGreat camera optionsLooks toughDimensity 800 ConsNot a big battery   4, Kyocera Durasport 5G UW If you would like to pick one that looks good, then don’t look away from Kyocera Durasport 5G UW. You also don’t have to worry about the protection didn’t show up as promised. Kyocera provided a 2-year-warranty. It is much smaller compared to other options, and much thinner. It will not struggle in the pocket.   However, it has only 64GB ROM and 4 GB ram, and it did not perform greatly when compared to other options. ProsLooks toughDimensity 800 ConsNot a big battery   5, Doogee V10 Doogee’s V10 sparks out with Dimensity 700 and the thermal meter. It shows a great balance between professional needs and leisure. The phone is relatively thin, and it is easy to grip. I don’t think you would ever play games on a phone that is hard to grab. No matter at work or home, the V10 can always be your good mate. However, the infrared thermal meter is not as useful as its other features. Because the infrared thermal meter can only collect the temperature information once every time, and the result is often inaccurate. Last but not least, a professional infrared thermometer only costs around 30 dollars on Amazon. ProsDimensity 700Big battery ConsThermometer not very useful 6, Ulefone Armor 12 5G The Armor 12 5G is a great breakthrough for Ulefone’s product line-up. It has a Dimensity 700, a powerful, 5g processor that makes it looks great. The protection is as rugged as always, and Ulefone added silver ions to extend the protection towards micro-organisms. We believe Armor 12 5G is a solid pick, but for those who are looking for more features, Armor 12 5g may not be the best option. Pros Dimensity 700 Anti-bacteria Silver ion added   Cons Not very stand out   7, Samsung Galaxy xCover 5 If you want to pick world-renowned brands, xCover Pro may be your choice. Putting it all up, the xCover Pro turns out to be a good choice if you want something rugged. It has many features such as an accelerometer, gyro, proximity, and compass.However, the drawback is obvious. Samsung equipped this flashy rugged smartphone with 4 GB Ram and 64 GB ROM. In 2021, we believe people want phones with a higher amount of ROM and RAM. We have faith in Samsung when they started to design this device. However, it did disappoint us after we see the digits. Just look at Samsung’s flagship in 2021, you will soon find out the difference. Pros Dimensity 700 Anti-bacteria Silver ion added   Cons Not very stand out   8，Oukitel WP 17 Oukitel’s WP 17 has a 90 Hz screen and the Helio 95G, and they are both powerful tools to enhance the gaming experience. The 64 MP camera also stands out from the rest of the rugged phones. However, these features did not incorporate the purpose of the rugged phone well. The gaming performance and the 90 Hz refreshing rate screen is not cost-effective rugged phone option. Pros64 MP camera90 Hz                              Cons4GNot see how these features are incorporated with the idea of a rugged phone.   9，ZeekerP10 The Seeker P10 staged itself to the users with a flashy look of 108 MP camera and night vision. It helps you out under normal light conditions and dark conditions. The Helio G85 is also a great processor for games and daily usage. However, the Helio G85 is not very well at taking photos. I believe you can take super clear pictures with the 108 MP ultra big camera, but just don’t expect too much from its color and AI adjustment. Pros108MPNight visionHelio G85 ConsClarity Not as good as expectedNot 5g   10, Umidigi Bison X10 pro If you think good rugged phones all have to be expensive, Bison Pro proofs you wrong. It is reasonably cheaper than its competitors while having good performance. It has a 48MP main camera, a 16 MP wide-angle camera, and a 2 MP macro camera. No matter where you are, the three cameras gave you more options to record your life and adventure.With all the features implemented, the Bison Pro also has a good processor of Helio G80. This MTK processor brings out a smooth daily experience and also gaming performance. However, it doesn’t incorporate well with the three camera functions. The switching between cameras and the photos that came out is not always so good as one might expect. Pro Helio G80 Triple camera combination Cons Poor audio performance The cameras aren't that great. Not 5G   I hope this list will help you make a purchasing decision when choosing your next rugged smartphone. We will see you next time.

Even most smartphones today claim themselves protected enough against water and other threats,  people are still worrying about cracking their delicate devices.  Smartphone users tend to wrap their phones with protective cases and anti-scratch film to ease their concerns.    Phones today are thinner, smaller, and preciser.  However, the cost is, obviously, their vulnerability to impacts.  Under the fetish of technological aesthetics,users tend to keep their devices flawless.  On the other hand, phone companies do not promise any compensation after accidental damage.  Hence, obsessive protection is a common consequence of owning a flagship smartphone.    If we flip the coin, we can see completely different behaviors for rugged phone users.  Rugged phones is by its nature are tough devices that survive dangerous conditions and keep users connected.    Protection The IP code points out the protection level of an electronic device, and all AGM’s rugged phones are rated IP 68. The digit 6 in IP 68 means almost complete protection against foreign matter, such as dust, sands, and dirt. Digit 8, rating the device’s tightness against water ingression. It requires the elimination of liquid under 1.5 meters depth for 30 minutes.    That’s not it, rugged phones should also meet the military standards. These standards include protection against drops, impact, erosion, and extreme temperature, such as AGM Glory’s advanced performance under - 40°C.      Environment adaptation   Smartphones today emphasize their photos and cameras to the audiences, and rugged phones are no exclusion. However, brands tend to advance their cameras in a slightly different direction. Favored by users, rugged phones implement features like thermal imaging, night vision, and fisheye camera. They aren’t just flashy add-up features for an extra price; they are actual demands. For example, forest keepers can use thermal imaging or night vision cameras to avoid wild encounters when night falls. The AGM Glory equips both a thermal imaging camera and a night vision camera. It satisfies multiple safety demands under different conditions.    Camera   Although rugged phones slightly diverted their focus to special cameras, they aren’t stopping their steps in photo lenses. Rugged phones today will no longer be far behind mainstream smartphones. The AGM Glory has a 48 MP Sony camera and a unique color enhancement algorithm, and your photos will look better.   Improving Performance   Despite the advantage in protection, for years, the stereotypes suggest rugged phones were underperformed compared to their fragile counterparts. Like all stereotypes, underperformance cannot characterize all rugged phones. Back in 2018, AGM released AGM X3, equipped with the flagship chipset at the time, Snapdragon 845. This year, AGM released the AGM Glory, powered by one of Qualcomm’s latest octa-core chipset, Snapdragon 480.    Today, experts are saying smartphones are “overperforming” for daily needs. The performance of smart devices is higher than users will ever need, and the price climbs too. Rugged phones are no longer just “blind pick” for not only outdoor enthusiasts and workers. They are also rational choices for daily usage. 

What is thermal imaging? A study published in the journal Scientific Reports suggests that dogs can sense the warmth of distant objects. However, humans can only tell the temperature of an object by touching it. For dogs, the only thing they need are their wet and cool noses. Today, thanks to cell phone thermal imaging, we can also sense the heat of a distant object like your dog (though it can't smell a hidden pizza.) What is thermal imaging? What exactly are we talking about when we talk about thermal imaging.  Expensive science lab equipment? Or a confusing academic term? Clearly not The light waves emitted by the sun are also called electromagnetic waves. Visible light is an electromagnetic wave that the human eye can see. Refracting through a prism, the light will become red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple. Infrared is part of these electromagnetic waves, just like the visible light, ultraviolet light, X-rays, gamma rays, and radio waves, making up the complete and continuous electromagnetic spectrum. Anything with a temperature above absolute zero (-273.15°C) is constantly emitting infrared radiation (thermal radiation). Thermal imaging can obtain the image of temperature distribution, that is, to picture the whole temperature data on the screen. Why do we need thermal imaging? Thermal imaging is a technology that has many benefits in a wide range of applications. Thermal imaging allows people to see what their eyes cannot see: invisible heat, objects covered in the dark, or an abnormal elevation of heat. Everything is emitting or reflecting infrared waves, regardless of lighting conditions. Because what they see is heat, not light. Hence, thermal imaging is an effective tool of safety. We all know how many safety risks are lurking under an all-dark environment? Think about the blackout in your neighborhood, and... it's a winter night. Think about an electrical overhaul, with a mess of wires and no way to figure out where the problem is, Think about getting lost in a dark forest or mountain Think about your missing pets. (forgive the critters) And so on... Here, thermal imaging is your solution. What if I can't buy a thermal image machine? At the end of the day, it sounds like some expensive lab equipment. Don't worry, it's available on your smartphone. Yes, all you need is a smartphone with thermal imaging. Just press the button, and you will see. It’s simple as your morning coffee maker or toilet flush button.  For example, we can use a thermal imager to see a "colored fart" (you read that correctly) based on the difference between the temperature of the fart and the air. That's right. We thought about that as a rugged phone technology team, and we did thousands of experiments. Because our team has always believed that the purpose of technology is to be more reliable and make your life simpler. We implemented the thermal imaging camera on the Glory phone, it will help you to sense the heat. Just like your dogs.

How can the cold hurt your phone? Electronic devices always go silly when the temperature drops (your brain does, too, you know). You probably know the agony of trying to start your car on a cold winter morning, or standing helplessly by as your phone battery plummets, can make time seem awfully long.   How does this happen? The essence of battery charge and discharge is a chemical reaction. When charging, the positive electrode releases lithium ions and electrons; The lithium ions pass through the electrolyte and combine with high-potential electrons supplied by the power source in the cathode material to form stable compounds to store energy. During the discharge process, the anode material releases lithium ions and electrons. They travel back to the positive electrode through the electrolyte. The electrons will then return to the positive electrode to release energy. Of course, extreme temperatures have the worst impact on batteries, as in the apocalyptic scenes in movies, where nothing works properly. For typical phone designs, the best temperature for battery operation is between 0°C and 35°C. Excessively high temperatures (>35°C) can permanently damage battery capacity while using the phone in very cold conditions (below 0°C) can reduce battery life, which will eventually cause the phone to shut down. Under extreme temperatures( < -20°C or > 45°C); the battery will not only stop working but also shorten the usage. It results in permanent deterioration of its performance. In most batteries, as the discharge progresses, the voltage drops slowly at first. After a certain discharge level, the voltage drops suddenly. (Schematic diagram of the chemical battery discharge curve) Even under full power, the coldness will reduce the voltage output. Soon it will drop below the minimum voltage required by the phone, and you can witness the phone's automatic shutdown. At lower temperatures, crystallization might happen within the battery. The process is irreversible even it warms up. Under "more extreme" cases, crystallization will permanently deteriorate the battery. Your phone shuts off automatically? I can't imagine! How do we solve it? (Definitely not putting it back in your pocket to warm it up) Yes, to resolve your awkward situation (you don't want it to turn into a cold stone!). We tested it over and over again, just as you try to turn your phone on again and again on a cold day. (Glad we aren't ice sculptrue) -10°C -20°C -30°C -40°C It still works, and for 12 hours! Of course, thanks to our team of engineers, AGM battery freezing technology (name changed) allows the cell phone to operate at lower temperatures while the electrolyte in the battery is still functioning. You may not believe it (or try to sneak it into the fridge), but we do care. Our engineers have been focusing on rugged phones for years, our phones are not only smart but also stronger and more reliable under harsh conditions.