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Catphone manufacturer goes bankrupt, all employees laid off
by Lorenz Keller
Rugged phones: the battle for the Catphone’s successor is on
5.3.2024
Translation: Elicia Payne
Since the Bullitt Group and its brands such as Cat and Land Rover went bankrupt, there’s a gap in the outdoor smartphone market. When I took a trip to the Mobile World Congress, however, it was clear several manufacturers are prepared to take their space. Here’s what I thought of four brands.
Manufacturers of so-called rugged phones take different approaches. Some come from the professional sector to meet standards companies demand, while others are aimed more at outdoor enthusiasts and are simply stable and durable.
One thing the manufacturers all want, however, is more market share by presenting at the tech fair in Barcelona.
RugGear: benefit from the professionals
Whether it’s for security, industry, public administration – RugGear devices are everywhere. The German manufacturer is able to fulfil special requirements for corporate customers or certifications such as explosion protection.
Source: Lorenz Keller
The first new product of theirs at the MWC clearly shows this. The RugGear RG440, which will be launched in late summer, is more of a walkie-talkie than a smartphone. It runs on Android and uses 5G and specialised apps for push-to-talk. A coveted device category, as many companies no longer operate their own specific radio frequencies.
Another new smartphone, exciting for private users too, is the RG880. It’s launching in summer and is a stable and robust device with a 5.5-inch touchscreen. Special feature? The 4,500 mAh battery can be replaced without removing any screws. It has a particularly powerful loudspeaker at 103 decibels, so you’ll hear your smartphone ringing even in noisy environments. There are also connection pins for headsets and wireless microphones. A freely customisable button enables you to use the phone like a walkie-talkie with corresponding push-to-talk apps.
The prices for the two new arrivals haven’t been released yet.
Source: Lorenz Keller
Ulefone: night vision and thermal imaging
The Ulefone Armor 25 Pro may look a little more elegant than RugGear’s devices, but it’s also designed for outdoor use. The smartphone is waterproof and dustproof in accordance with the IP69k standard. In addition to the common IP68 standard, the phone is protected from water seeping in during high-pressure and steam jet cleaning, even hot water.
The Ulefone flagship has three special features. One is the very large battery at 6,500 mAh which can be charged wirelessly at 30 watts. In addition to the 50-megapixel main camera, there are two rare sensors: a thermal imaging camera and an infrared camera for night vision.
Source: Lorenz Keller
The built-in processor is a Mediatek Dimensity 6100+ with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of memory. This can be expanded using a memory card, but there’s also space for a second SIM card in the slot.
Prices and availability of the latest Ulefone are also still unknown.
Doogee: elegant off-road
The new DK10 by Doogee looks even more like a conventional smartphone than the Ulefone Armor 25 Pro. This is partly due to the back, which is decorated with various faux leather applications. The 6.67-inch AMOLED screen with 120 Hertz refresh rate is also rather unusual for an outdoor phone.
The Mediatek Dimensity 8020 processor used is a mid-range processor. The phone comes with 12 GB of memory and 512 GB of storage. The 5,150 mAh capacity battery can be charged at 120 watts via a cable and 50 watts wirelessly.
Source: Lorenz Keller
Another feature which is comparable to a normal upper mid-range smartphone is the camera. It has a 50 megapixel main sensor, a telephoto lens with 4x optical zoom and a wide-angle lens. What’s special is the fourth lens and its 64 megapixels which uses two infrared lamps to take night-vision photos.
The solid design of the back, without glass, gives it that rugged style. Plus, the edges of the casing are slightly higher than the screen which somewhat protects the screen at the front.
The DK100 should cost around 550 francs or euros and should be available from the end of March.
Blackview: a little bit more of everything
The Blackview BL9000 Pro also looks quite majestic at first glance with its copper-coloured details, but turns out to be quite a hulk during the hands-on. This is due to the large 8,800 mAh battery, which can be charged at 120 watts.
The smartphone is well protected on the inside too. The well-known Corning Gorilla Glass Victus is used at the front, and the casing is also protected against hot high-pressure water in accordance with IP69K. The device is also said to be usable from minus 20 degrees to plus 60. You can also operate the 6.78-inch screen with gloves on.
Source: Lorenz Keller
Like other outdoor phones, the BL9000 Pro also has a built-in thermal imaging camera. It’s a sensor from manufacturer Teledyne Flir. The company claims to be the global market leader in thermal imaging cameras and is renowned for its professional equipment. With the Flir app, you can set temperature alarms, display isothermal lines and even measure the temperature of small surfaces.
Price and release date haven’t been published yet.
By the way, if you’re wondering why I haven’t mentioned the military standard for any smartphone in the list, even though they all support it, there’s a simple reason: it’s a sham. It’s always unclear what the device needs to fulfil in tests or on paper to get this label. My colleague Martin Jud explained this back in 2019, and the article is still valid.
Header image: Lorenz Keller
Lorenz Keller
Senior Editor
Lorenz.Keller@digitecgalaxus.chGadgets are my passion - whether you need them for the home office, for the household, for sport and pleasure or for the smart home. Or, of course, for the big hobby next to the family, namely fishing.
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