Search Rugged phones

Phones with a robust housing are more resistant to falls. Usually this is due to the use of extra materials which immediately makes the housing look a bit coarser. Robust often also means waterproof, not the other way around.

Water and dustproof phones used to be robust too. Nowadays, manufacturers are increasingly applying a waterproof design without a device being robust at the same time. As a result, the design is often finer and more compact and therefore more susceptible to fall damage. The monitor in particular, which has become increasingly larger in recent years, is often the victim of an unintentional fall. Mobile phones with a robust housing offer particular protection against fall damage. Usually this is done by applying extra material around the edges, especially rubber.

Fall resistant phones

However, there are also telephones that do not immediately look robust, but which are more resistant to fall damage. This is sometimes due to the construction applied with a sturdy metal frame and by countersinking the monitor in the housing. Developments in the field of screen glass are not standing still either. In this way the so-called Gorilla Glass by manufacturer Corning becomes better and stronger with each generation. However, even the latest generation of Gorilla Glass still wants to break in unfortunate cases. For those who absolutely do not want to run that risk, this category. Convenient for those who spend a lot of time outdoors, because robust is also generally water, dust and temperature resistant. But those who work a lot with small children and have an accident lurking around can also feel addressed as a target group.

Brand robust phones

The 'rugged phones' and 'tough phones' of most telecom manufacturers are often easy to recognize due to the use of serial names. Samsung often uses the names 'Active' and 'Xcover' and Lenovo/Motorola often uses 'Force' as an addition to its robust smartphones. In addition, there are manufacturers who specialize in releasing only robust products including:

• Cat rugged phones
• Sonim rugged phones
• RugGear rugged phones
• Crosscall rugged phones

MIL-STD-810

Despite the fact that robustness is difficult to measure, standards have been developed. MIL-STD-810 is one of those. The standard was developed in its first form in 1962 and products with this designation are permitted for use in the U.S. Army. The standard has several versions of which MIL-STD 810G is the most recent. Despite its military background, the standard is also often used by phone manufacturers to demonstrate robustness. However, manufacturers are free to use the term without the need for approval by an umbrella body. As a result, not too much value should immediately be attached to a manufacturer claiming MIL-STD 810G certification.