TOP 10 – BEST RUGGED SMARTPHONES PHONES

For professionals working out in the field and hazardous environments, Onedirect has selected a list of the best-rugged smartphones of 2023 for you. Our range of tough phones will keep you connected and in touch without the risk of damage from drops, the weather or even immersion in water. Rugged smartphones are equipped with the advanced technical features of similar smartphones on the market, as well as being extremely robust. They are designed for regular use even under more difficult conditions. Whether you are working more remotely and getting involved with sports, rest assured that your phone will not break. Our rugged smartphones are tested to military standards and come with high IP ratings. Enjoy state-of-the-art smartphone features along with a dustproof, waterproof and drop tested phone. These phones are also useful if you have a busy lifestyle and are constantly juggling your work and leisure lifestyle.

	1 Caterpillar CAT S42 H+	2 -10% Hammer Blade 5G	3 Hammer Energy 2 - Black	4 -47% Caterpillar CAT B26	5 -25% Samsung Galaxy XCover 5 (UK version)	6 -17% Cleyver Xflex	7 -26% Hammer Iron 3 LTE - Black and Orange	8 -10% Crosscall Core X5	9 Hammer Boost LTE	10 Cleyver Xtrem2G Mobile
Dust & shock resistant
Military Standard
Water resistant
Standby mode	-	-	490h	18 days		-	-	31 Days	25 Days	-
Talk time	48h	-	25h	13h	23h	60h	-	32h	24h	-
Screen size	More than 4.5" screen	More than 4.5" screen	More than 4.5" screen	2.4″ QVGA Display	More than 4.5" screen	More than 4.5" screen	More than 4.5" screen	More than 4.5" screen	Less than 4.5" screen	Less than 4.5" screen
Screen definition (px)	1440 x 720	1080 x 2340	1440 x 720	-	720 x 1280 (HD)	165 x 77 x 10 mm	720 x 1440	1440 x 720	240 x 320	320 x 240
Rear Camera	13MP	20 Mpx	8MP	2MP	16MP	13 MP	13MP	48 Mpx	2 Mpx	0.3 Mpx
Front Camera	5MP	13 Mpx	13MP	-	5MP	8 MP	5MP	8 Mpx	-	-
Operating system	With Android	With Android	With Android	-	With Android	With Android	With Android	With Android	-	With Android
NFC
Network	4G	5G	4G	2G	4G	4G	4G (LTE)	4G	4G (LTE)	2G
Bluetooth	5.0	5.0	5.0	2.1	5.0	4.1	4.0	5.0	5.0	3.0
Internal Memory	32GB	128 GB	32GB	8MB	32GB 3GB RAM	64GB	32 GB	64 GB	256MB	32MB
Expandable memory			Up to 128GB	Up to 32GB				Up to 512 GB	up to 64GB	up to 32 GB
SD Card slot	MicroSD up to 128GB	microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC	MicroSD	MicroSD	MicroSDXC	MicroSD up to 512GB	MicroSD	MicroSD	MicroSD	MicroSD

Caterpillar CAT S42 H+

The smartphone that comes to revolutionise the market. Caterpillar CAT S42 H+ is ideal for use in extreme conditions where more consistent hygiene and disinfection are required. This phone is designed for anti-bacterial protection thanks to the Silver Ion Biomaster coating, which prevents bacteria from sticking to the surface of your smartphone.

Pros

Scratch-resistant touch screen, usable with wet gloves
IP68 and IP69 standard
Easy to disinfect rugged smartphone

Cons

Poor storage performance
No wireless charging

IN STOCK

£214.99 £257.99 Incl. VAT

-10%

Hammer Blade 5G

The Hammer Blade 5G is the most rugged of all-terrain smartphones, as it does not require a physical SIM card to be operational. It has an IP69 IK07 certification rating which makes it resistant to water, dust and drops. With a very powerful 5000 mAh battery, it will accompany you anywhere and in any situation.

Pros

5G smartphone with Dual SIM: SIM + eSIM
IP69 IK07 Certified
Large 6.3" touch screen
Quad camera

Cons

Not compatible with wireless charging

IN STOCK

~~£543.39~~ £493.99 £592.79 Incl. VAT

Hammer Energy 2 - Black

The HAMMER Energy 2 Black is a durable yet high-performance smartphone. This phone comes with a 5.5", 1440x720px HD+ IPS screen which is guaranteed to provide the user with a high-quality, high-resolution presentation which is sure to provide the clearest and highest quality display while still providing the protection needed.

Pros

Long-lasting powerful battery
High-speed Performance
Express charge function

Cons

Low internal memory

IN STOCK

£184.99 £221.99 Incl. VAT

-47%

Caterpillar CAT B26

The Caterpillar CAT B26 is an ultra-rugged 2G mobile phone, designed to meet the needs of professionals working in harsh environments. It has an IP68 certificate, so it is resistant to falls, dust, and water. Like all Cat phones, it is robust and rugged and has been tested in extreme conditions. Drop-proof up to 1.8 meters on concrete and resistant to extreme temperatures.

Pros

Resistant to drops of up to 1.80m and immersion up to 1.20m (IP68)
Ideal on a work site: can be washed with a water jet
Dual SIM, flashlight etc.

Cons

2G mobile phone
Small screen

Discontinued

~~£80.00~~ £42.99 £51.59 Incl. VAT

-25%

Samsung Galaxy XCover 5 (UK version)

Galaxy XCover 5 is designed to withstand any environment. It meets the IP68 rating standard, which makes it waterproof and dustproof (it can be submerged in more than 1 meter of water for more than 30 minutes). Meeting military standards, this device is drop resistant. It has a screen with an improved touch sensitivity that facilitates the use of the phone with gloves (Glove Touch), it has a replaceable and easy-to-charge battery that provides a long-lasting operating time.

Pros

Resistant to drops of up to 1.80m and immersion up to 2m (IP68)
Touch screen for use with gloves
Data Security (Samsung Knox)

Cons

Low memory
Voice & audio quality

Discontinued

~~£249.99~~ £188.99 £226.79 Incl. VAT

-17%

Cleyver Xflex

The Cleyver Xflex is a smartphone designed and developed by Onedirect; it is ultra-fast and powerful, and it offers many different features. The XSmart is equipped with a 5.7” Gorilla Glass 4 display and high-quality sound, which will never let you down, even in the most demanding situations. With a practical, sleek and slim profile, its design is perfectly adapted for you to use in any location or situation.

Pros

Unsinkable and waterproof up to 2m (IP68) smartphone
Military standards: withstands drops of 1.80m
Exceptional battery life: Up to 60 hours

Cons

4G connectivity
Average internal memory

Discontinued

~~£240.00~~ £199.99 £239.99 Incl. VAT

-26%

Hammer Iron 3 LTE - Black and Orange

The Hammer Iron 3 LTE is a highly resistant smartphone, thanks to its durable protective cover. Equipped with an IP68 rating, this smartphone can withstand dust, dirt and sand. Not to mention, it can withstand submersion of up to 1.5 metres underwater for up to 30 minutes.

Pros

IP68 rating: water and dust resistant
4400 mAh fast-charging battery
Connectivity: LTE, Bluetooth and NFC

Cons

3GB RAM

Discontinued

~~£200.00~~ £149.99 £179.99 Incl. VAT

-10%

Crosscall Core X5

The Core-X-5 smartphone is a powerful and rugged device. The device differentiates itself from similar products due to its high-quality specifications. the 48 MP rear camera ensures that your image is captured in crisp, crystal clear detail. The Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 665 processor increases the longevity of the device by reducing the possibility of obsolescence.

Pros

IP68 certification and military standard
Connectivity: 4G, NFC, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0
Main camera with 48MP sensor
100 dB speakerphone

Cons

4G connectivity

Call us for availability

~~£595.09~~ £540.99 £649.19 Incl. VAT

Hammer Boost LTE

Hammer Boost LTE is designed to withstand all environments and benefits from convenient physical properties, like the removable battery and powerful torch.

Pros

Powerful Torch
Great autonomy (standby mode)
Bluetooth 5.0

Cons

Small internal storage
Camera resolution

IN STOCK

£69.99 £83.99 Incl. VAT

Cleyver Xtrem2G Mobile

The Cleyver XTREM2G is an extremely robust mobile phone, suitable for the toughest environments. With an impressive IP68 rating the device is resistant to both water and dust. The modified shape of the device ensures that you can maintain excellent grip no matter how slippery it gets. This makes it ideal for use outdoors in industry or construction.

Pros

Unsinkable and waterproof up to 2m (IP68)
PowerBank: Share your battery with another phone
Dual SIM

Cons

2G smartphone
Screen size

Discontinued

£53.99 £64.79 Incl. VAT

QUESTIONS

What is the best rugged smartphone for 2023?

A rugged smartphone is definitely needed if you are working in tough working conditions. These phones meet military testing standards for protection against shock, water, dust, extreme temperatures and vibration. They are also water resistant and can withstand submersion in water for a certain amount of time. Some are also equipped with SOS features. As well as this, a rugged smartphone will also act as a regular phone with text, call and 4G functions.
In 2023, the best smartphone will combine all these features and more like a longer battery life, an optimized processing power, a great memory up to 3GB RAM and for some devices a 5G connectivity.

In which environment I need a rugged smartphone?

If you are working in environments such as construction sites, manufacturing or transport and logistics, a rugged smartphone will be the best thing for you. Workers in construction, plumbing, engineering or similar areas are most likely to need a rugged mobile phone. People who participate regularly in outdoor activities can also benefit from having a device which can withstand a high level of shock, dust and water. Rugged smartphones are built to resist shock and damage. Therefore, they are the perfect product if you are working in areas that may require this extra protection or simply if you want the added security of a stronger and more durable device. They can vary in strength, depending on its exterior. Some contain metal alloys and rubber bumpers to protect against shocks, and others contain Gorilla Glass, designed to be resistant against damages, such as scratches and impact.

What are rugged smartphone IP ratings?

IP ratings, measure the resistance of a device to solids and liquids. They are made up of two numbers. In simple terms when it comes to understanding an IP rating, the higher the first digit, the better the resistance to solids (i.e. dust resistance); the higher the second digit, the better the resistance to liquids (i.e. water resistance). (For more information about IP ratings, click here)

What is a Military standard for rugged Smartphone?

Many tough phones have military standard certificates. These mean that the phone has been tested against certain conditions and has passed. The most common certificate is the MIL-STD 810G. Examples of types of tests conducted include against wind-blown rain, dust and drops onto hard surfaces from specific heights.

What features do I need to consider when choosing a rugged smartphone?

You may want to consider a high IP rating if you are working in harsh environments. On the other hand if you travel a lot a phone with dual SIM functionality may be best suited to your needs. You may also want to consider whether you want a phone with a long battery life, internet connection or a camera.
IP rating – The higher the rating, the more resistant to water, dust, sand (e.g. IP68)
Gorilla glass – chemically strengthened glass designed to be damage resistant
Reinforced structure – Hard casing/ robust outer shell protects phone from drops/ shocks
4G or 5G network – Connect to the internet from wherever you are
Resolution of the Camera – The higher the resolution, the better quality images you will produce
Distance measurement – Measure approximate distance to different objects.