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Advice on rugged phone

Hi everyone. My old Moto E4 is not functioning properly: display issues, connectivity, freezes, so it needs to be replaced.

I’m a outdoor guide so this time I’d like to buy a rugged phone that can last to falls, dives, dust, low temp.

Overall I’d say I do a standard use of the phone: no games, use the browser quite a lot and youtube as well, email app, common applications for home banking, transports, maps, music etc…

I’m in two minds though. I’ve been reading and watching reviews about two models:

Cat s52

260-300 €

Blackview BV4900 Pro

160 €

Find a general specs comparison in the following picture.

[SPOILER][/SPOILER]

It seems to me that the BV has a better hardware compared to the CAT.

Although Bv owners have reported several issues with the display, connectivity or general software problems.

Probably buying a CAT would make me feel more assured because it’s a big brand afterall, if I need technical support and so on.

On the other hand I feel like considering it’s spechs the CAT is a bit expensive…

What would you suggest?

Thank you!

Topic

Why these?

In reply to Advice on rugged phone

Maybe you think these will take more abuse? That’s not what I see from where I am.

Let’s read https://www.techradar.com/reviews/cat-s52-rugged-smartphone

I carry the now dated Moto g7+ and it’s fine. I have an old Pixel 3 that I will consider replacing with the new 5a after that ships and reviews come out.

A different option

In reply to Why these?

Thanks, quite useful review.

Many people are questioning about rugged phones. Some suggested me to buy a normal phone with a rugged armor cover and a tempered glass display cover…!

Another phone suggestion…..

In reply to Advice on rugged phone

You might see if SONIM sells compatible phones in your country. In the US, they are known for their “rugged” phones and usually at a medium to budget price. Best wishes. I don’t have a specific model to recommend but you can do an internet search for details/reviews.

Probably very specific

In reply to Another phone suggestion…..

Thank you.

Their phones looks for a very specific use though.

You are right, but there is so much choice of phones and I’m getting quite tired to try to find an appropriate model.

Changed my mind

In reply to Advice on rugged phone

I’m getting the vibe from users in other forums that a rugged doesn’t suite me!

So I might just get a normal phone with a good rugged case.

I’ve always had old phones so probably this time I’d go with something more recent (maybe over the past two years at the most).

And I was thinking, just to feel the upgrade to my Moto E4, a good CPU, better than this at least:

[QUOTE]Chipset Mediatek MT6737 (28 nm)
CPU Quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A53
GPU Mali-T720[/QUOTE]

with 4gb RAM. I’m happy with 64gb ROM,I tend to keep the phone quite empty from any useless stuff.

A good battery indeed, or anyway a model that would last more than 24h.

Main issue for me is the dimension. I really don’t want a huge screen so I’d keep it within 155mm maybe (plus the cover).

So far the closest model to these reqs is the Galaxy Xcover 5 (which is also a rugged).
But maybe there’s some Huawei or Motorola which I missed.

I’d also keep it below 250€ (max 300€ but ideally with 250 I have room for a good rugged case).

Any advices modelwise?

Advice on rugged phone

In reply to Advice on rugged phone

Go for BV
just a advice from my side

[Author]

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