Grown tired of forking out your hard-earned cash on a new smartphone only to see it smash on your first stumble? Like you, these cutting-edge devices have adventure in their DNA, and while boasting a raft of potentially life-saving features, they’re virtually indestructible.
There are some situations that call for special equipment – forest fires, off-shore oil rigs, Macau bachelor parties – and if you think you’re going to be finding yourself in such extremes, it would be one comfort that you could at least call for help (or at the very least another ice bucket). To ensure your tech keeps up with your active lifestyle, you’ll need to turn to some rather special smartphones.
With a touchscreen you can read even under direct sunlight and type on even through gloves, the Sonim XP7 is an Android smartphone that is heat and drop-resistant and waterproof for up to 30 minutes. Featuring a robust case that includes an incorporated oversized speaker and a dual microphone with noise cancellation feature, perfect for everything from construction sites to warehouse raves, the XP7 has a battery life of 1,000 hours on standby mode, just enough to organise a rescue or perhaps a camping trip beer run.
If you insist on taking your phone absolutely everywhere with you, the S60 from CAT (yes the guys who make boots and bulldozers) just might keep up. With the world’s first in-smartphone thermal imaging camera, the ability to record video for up to an hour five metres underwater (you know, just in case), and a durable drop-proof design, this phone’s die-cast frame ensures it’s made to last the distance. There’s a dedicated SOS button, an HD super bright display you can operate with gloves or wet fingers, and a super long battery life.
With a shatter-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass 4 touchscreen and extra fast battery charging, the Samsung Galaxy S7 Active is like a regular S7 on steroids. Dust resistant and waterproof for up to 30 minutes, this 9.9mm-thick smartphone is designed for savvy adventure seekers, yet features all the sophistication of a contemporary smartphone, including mobile payment capabilities.
Waterproof and drop-proof, the Kyocera Duraforce Pro is an affordable Android smartphone that’s also resistant to dust, vibration, solar radiation, and thermal shock, allowing you to spend a day in the jungle or at sea, confident that your smartphone will survive (even if you don’t). With a built-in action camera and an HD wide-view screen, this remarkably rugged pocket rocket enables glove and wet touchscreen operation and offers one-touch fingerprint security.
With a 13MP camera, the waterproof Homtom HT20 is resistant to dust, dirt and sand. With a durable frame made from high-density aeronautical metal, and a back case made with military-standard PC material, this unique smartphone features GPS, one-hand operation capabilities, and 0.2-second fingerprint unlock technology, all of which is packed into a slim design that’s perfect for gents seeking a tough gadget that’s also big on style.
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