The best rugged smartphones of 2023
Smartphones that are resistant to mechanical damage and moisture are considered protected. The device must pass tests to ensure compliance with international security standards. The most common criterion for the degree of permeability of an electronic device’s housing is IP (from English Ingress Protection). The protection index is always accompanied by a two-digit number, and the higher the value, the less susceptible the device is to external influence. The first number (0-6) is responsible for protection against the penetration of solid particles (dust, sand, etc.), the second (0-8) – from liquids (salt and fresh water, deep immersion or rain). Sometimes a letter is added after the numbers (A,B,C,D,H,M,S,W), symbolizing additional insulation of the housing from external influences.
For example, the sealed case of a smartphone with IP65 protection does not allow dust to pass through and will not be damaged by splashes of water. A device with IP68, in addition to being completely dustproof, can withstand immersion in water to a depth of 1.5 meters for up to 30 minutes.
The protection level of the smartphone is assigned in accordance with the international standard IEC 60529 (also called DIN 40050 or GOST 14254-96) 1 .
The second common option is the US military standard (Military Standard MIL-STD 810) 2 , compliance with which indicates the degree of protection of the device from moisture, shock, and high/low temperatures. Such protected devices are not afraid of salt and sand, icing and thermal shock.
Together with experts, we have selected the top 12 models that will not suffer in extreme conditions.
Editor’s Choice
BQ 2430 Tank Power
A secure dialer from the BQ company with good hardware for its class and at a very reasonable price. The main advantage is a capacious 4000 mAh battery with an external charger function. The phone’s memory is 32 MB, which is not uncommon for push-button phones. Of course, this amount of memory is not enough for full operation, but the phone supports memory cards up to 64 GB.
Also very useful would be two flashlights, a radio and two SIM cards. There is no need to talk about the camera, it is nominal here. If you need a cheap but functional device, pay attention to this model. However, you shouldn’t expect miracles from her.
Main characteristics
| Screen | 2.4″ |
| Number of main (rear) cameras | 1 (0.30 MP) |
| Radio | FM radio, built-in radio antenna |
| Built-in memory capacity | 32 MB |
| Memory card support | up to 64 GB |
| SIM cards | two |
| Battery capacity | 4000 mAh |
Rating of the top 5 best shockproof smartphones in 2023 according to KP
Blackview BV9800 Pro
The shockproof Blackview BV9800 Pro smartphone looks similar to a regular flagship, but has the most reliable protection according to IP68 and MIL-STD-810G standards. The device is dustproof and can also withstand immersion in water for 30 minutes (up to 1.5 m depth). The device has a bright 6.3-inch screen with Full HD resolution and an IPS matrix.
Fast operation is ensured by an 8-core MediaTek Helio P70 processor and 6 GB RAM. With a battery capacity of 6580 mAh, the smartphone will work for two days without recharging with minimal use (SMS and short calls). For user convenience, there is a built-in fingerprint scanner and NFC. Blackview BV9800 Pro is equipped with 3 cameras: a 16 MP front camera and two rear cameras (48 MP and 5 MP).
According to user reviews, the device has shortcomings in dynamics (after falls and moisture, the sound becomes dull), as well as an undeveloped interface (often freezes).
Main characteristics
| Degree of protection | IP68, IP69K and MIL-STD-810G |
| Screen | 6.3″, 2340×1080 |
| Memory | 128 GB, 6 GB RAM |
| CPU | MediaTek Helio P70 8 cores |
| Battery capacity | 6580 mAh |
| Weight | 322 g |
AGM Glory Pro
The protection of the AGM Glory Pro smartphone complies with IP69K and MIL-STD-810 standards. Such a device, in addition to being dust and moisture resistant, is resistant to shock, high and low temperatures. According to the manufacturer, the smartphone operates in the range from -40 to +60 °C. It is powered by a Snapdragon 480 processor and has 8GB of RAM. A capacious 6200 mAh battery gives the user 30 hours of battery life in talk mode. The smartphone is complemented by the Quick Charge 3.0 fast charging function at 18 W – 100% in 60 minutes.
Like most modern smartphones, the AGM can be charged wirelessly. The display size is 6.53 inches, and the device itself supports 2 SIM cards. The smartphone is also equipped with a thermal imager and a fairly good rear camera with a Sony IMX582 matrix with a resolution of 48 MP and a 16-megapixel front camera. The device weighs almost 400 grams, so it cannot be called light. When running multiple applications, the case gets very hot, as customers report in their reviews.
Main characteristics
| Degree of protection | IP68, IP69K |
| Screen | 6.53″ (2340×1080), Full HD |
| Memory | 256 GB, 8 GB RAM |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 8 cores |
| Battery capacity | 6200 mAh |
| Weight | 370 g |
Ulefone Armor X5 Pro
A productive model, it works quickly, and has a good bright screen. At the same time, the battery is not encouraging: only 5000 mAh, the quality of photos is also not great. However, for its price, the device is pleasing, it fits comfortably in the hand, is not very heavy, and copes with protection from dust and moisture. It is worth paying attention if you have the opportunity to regularly recharge the device, and the quality of photos is not a significant parameter.
Main characteristics
| Screen | 5.5″ |
| RAM | 4 GB |
| Memory | 64 GB, card slot |
| Camera | 13 MP |
| Battery | 5000 mAh |
| SIM cards | two |
| NFS | There is |
| Weight | 235 g |
Blackview BV6300 Pro
A classic model, quite comfortable and not too heavy – only 230 grams. It is protected from everything and it works: it is not afraid of falls, rain, or short stays in water. A big plus is 128 GB of memory and six gigabytes of RAM – the phone literally flies and does not slow down, but the 4380 mAh battery is not serious at all for such a fast model.
The manufacturer especially boasts of four cameras, but the quality of their work is not so significant; in the twilight, photographs turn out grainy.
Main characteristics
| Screen | 5.7″ |
| RAM | 6 GB |
| Memory | 128 GB, card slot |
| Camera | 4 modules: 16 MP, 8 MP, 2 MP, 03 MP |
| Battery | 4800 mAh |
| SIM cards | two |
| NFS | There is |
| Weight | 230 g |
| Protection | IP68 |
AGM A9
The phone is truly indestructible, even if it falls from a great height onto the asphalt, only scratches remain, but in terms of functions it is inferior to its analogues. The main disadvantage is the small amount of internal memory, and you cannot install applications on the card.
The phone has very good sound, thanks to the JBL speakers, however, it is better not to turn the volume up to the maximum – wheezing appears. It’s better to look for a discounted option – for a price of 19 thousand rubles, the phone could be more functional.
Main characteristics
| Screen | 5.99″ |
| RAM | 4 GB |
| Memory | 32 GB, card slot |
| Camera | 12 MP |
| Battery | 5400 mAh |
| SIM cards | two |
| NFS | There is |
| Weight | 216 g |
Rating of the top 3 best waterproof smartphones in 2023 according to KP
Huawei P50 Pro
The Huawei P50 Pro body is made of glass and metal, so the smartphone is resistant to aggressive external influences (water, dust) according to the IP68 standard. The device has a 6.6-inch curved frameless Full HD display. A distinctive feature of the device is a camera with optical stabilization (50 MP), which allows you to shoot detailed content.
Inside there is an eight-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor and 8 GB of RAM, and the internal memory of this model is 256 GB. The disadvantages are the heating of the case when loading video content and the small battery capacity (4360 mAh). This is enough for 11 hours of battery life when watching videos in power saving mode. But this disadvantage is offset by the presence of a fast charging function (66 W), which gives a full charge in about an hour.
Main characteristics
| Degree of protection | IP68 |
| Screen | 6.76″ (2772×1344), Full HD |
| Memory | 256 GB, 8 GB RAM |
| CPU | Huawei Kirin 9000, 8 cores |
| Battery capacity | 4360 mAh |
| Weight | 212 g |
Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus
Maximum protection according to the IP68 standard allows you not to worry about the gadget getting into water. The device will withstand half an hour at a depth of up to 1.5 meters. The smartphone has a 6.7-inch Full HD display with a resolution of 2400×1080 and a high screen refresh rate (120 Hz).
The Samsung Exynos 2100 processor is responsible for the performance. The battery capacity is small (4800 mAh), but the smartphone can withstand up to 19 hours in video mode without recharging (at minimum brightness). Using wireless and fast charging (25 W), a dead battery can be fully restored in 75 minutes. The smartphone has a 64 MP camera with autofocus and optical stabilization, so it will cope with shooting perfectly well.
Disadvantages include the lack of a memory card slot. In addition, the kit does not include headphones or a charger.
Main characteristics
| Degree of protection | IP68 |
| Screen | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 6.7″, 1080×2400, 120 Hz |
| Memory | 128/256 GB, 8 GB RAM |
| CPU | SoC Exynos 2100, 8 cores |
| Battery capacity | 4800 mAh |
| Weight | 202 g |
Asus Zenfone 8
A secure phone does not necessarily have limited functionality. For example, Asus Zenfone 8, thanks to the super-powerful Snapdragon 888 chip and Adreno 660 video chip, can handle “heavy” mobile games. The device meets IP68 protection level, and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protects the screen from impacts. The battery capacity is only 4000 mAh, but the smartphone can easily withstand 15 hours of video viewing.
RAM is available in 8 and 16 GB versions, and internal memory is available in 128 or 256 GB (not expandable). The 64 MP camera is equipped with an optical stabilizer, and video recording with 8K resolution is also available.
Rating of the top 4 best secure push-button phones in 2023 according to KP
teXet TM-513R
Reliable, durable, with a good degree of moisture protection, this phone can survive up to half an hour under water, is protected from falling from a height by a special case design, the keys have a rubberized coating and the device simply will not slip out of your hands.
The battery capacity is 2570 mAh, this device is enough to work for a week. You can listen to FM radio, there is a special retractable antenna. The phone’s memory capacity is very small; it is recommended to immediately install a memory card.
Main characteristics
| Design | moisture protection, shockproof housing |
| Screen diagonal | 2″ |
| Scratch-resistant glass | There is |
| Number of main (rear) cameras | 1 (2 MP) |
| Memory card support | up to 16 GB |
| Battery | 2570 mAh |
| SIM cards | two |
| Weight | 168 g |
BQ 2817 Tank Quattro Power
A cheap and reliable handset with four SIM cards at once. Suitable for older people: large buttons, loud bell. The battery lasts for a week or more, and a very bright, powerful flashlight will help you when hiking.
The radio picks up reliably, but there is no headphone jack – a big minus for many. However, there is not much memory here, so you won’t be able to turn the device into a player without installing a memory card.
Main characteristics
| Housing material | plastic |
| Screen diagonal | 2.8″ |
| Number of main (rear) cameras | 1 |
| Interfaces | Bluetooth 3.0 |
| Built-in memory capacity | 32 MB |
| SIM cards | 4 |
| Supports memory cards with capacity | up to 32 GB (separate slot) |
| Battery capacity | 5000 mAh |
INOI 106Z
INOI 106Z features a high-quality shock-resistant case, which is additionally protected by metal side inserts. Despite the low cost, the model supports two SIM cards. Thanks to the battery capacity of 1650 mAh, you stay connected for 12 hours of talk time.
Maxvi T5
Maxvi T5 is an excellent companion in adverse conditions, because it is not afraid of dust, dirt, splashes, or even short immersion in water (up to 30 minutes). The protection of this monoblock device complies with the IP67 standard. Although its dimensions are small (59x124x24 mm), the case contains two slots for SIM cards and a separate slot for a memory card (up to 16 GB). Users praise the very bright flashlight built into the device.
The phone consumes energy very economically, so even with a 1500 mAh battery it can last up to 11 hours of talk time. But the model also has disadvantages: there is no address book and little memory for storing SMS.
Main characteristics
| Degree of protection | IP67 |
| Screen | 2″ SD |
| Memory | 32 MB |
| CPU | MediaTek MT6261 |
| Battery capacity | 1500 mAh |
| Weight | 170 g |
Leaders of past years
Oukitel WP2
The device is equipped with a 10,000 mAh battery, which allows you to worry about recharging for four days in medium-intensive use mode. At the same time, the phone has the highest degree of protection IP68, the clear 6.0″ diagonal screen is protected by tempered Corning Gorilla Glass-2 and, according to user reviews, actually remains impenetrable to most external influences.
Main characteristics
| Screen | IPS, 6.0″ diagonal |
| Degree of dust and moisture protection | IP68 |
| RAM | 4 GB |
| Inner memory | 64 GB, there is a card slot |
| Rear camera | 16 + 2 MP |
| Front-camera | 8 MP |
| Fingerprint’s scanner | There is |
| SIM cards | two |
| NFS | There is |
| Battery capacity | 10,000 mAh |
DOOGEE S55
One of the best budget options. A reliable phone with a good degree of protection IP68, shockproof, that is, it performs its functions perfectly. It’s worth choosing if there are no serious requirements for photo quality and the number of installed applications. Simple programs work well, it looks brutal, and for many buyers this will be enough.
Main characteristics
| Screen | 5.5″ |
| RAM | 4 GB |
| Memory | 64 GB, card slot |
| Camera | 13 MP |
| Battery | 5500 mAh |
| SIM cards | two |
| NFS | No |
| Weight | 265 g |
Blackview BV9500
Quite a stylish, but heavy and powerful smartphone. Its advantages are a powerful battery and a good degree of protection. The manufacturer even promises that if you immerse it under water to a depth of 1.8 meters and leave it for two hours, nothing will happen to it. Not the cheapest, but reliable, although you need to understand that the weight and dimensions of the tube are quite large. But for its intended use, that is, for extreme conditions, this is perhaps the best choice.
Main characteristics
| Screen | 5.7″ |
| RAM | 4 GB |
| Memory | 64 GB, card slot |
| Camera | 16 MP |
| Battery | 1000 mAh |
| SIM cards | two |
| NFS | There is |
| Weight | 365 g |
Ginzzu RS9602
A fairly simple but reliable phone at an adequate low price for those who are not going to play or take photographs with the expectation of excellent shots. Under normal use, the battery lasts for 3-5 days. Good, loud sound, but there is no headphone jack, you need an adapter with Type C. It does not have IP68 protection, but the rubberized case protects against accidental falls, and there is also a metal bumper so that the phone does not slip out of your hands.
Main characteristics
| Screen | 5.7″ |
| RAM | 2 GB |
| Memory | 16 GB, card slot |
| Camera | 8 MP |
| Battery | 5000 mAh |
| SIM cards | two |
| NFS | There is |
BQ 5541L Shark Rush
A good rugged smartphone for the money. 4 GB RAM allows the smartphone to work quite quickly in multitasking mode. However, in terms of security, this is one of the best models on the market with a shock-resistant housing and the highest degree of protection IP68. At the same time, the device differs little from ordinary phones; it has a sensor for unlocking with a fingerprint, and an NFS chip that allows you to pay for purchases.
A bright flashlight will also come in handy on a hike, and the 13 MP camera will allow you to take good photos. True, the battery here is not the most powerful – only 3900 mAh, and quickly discharges with active use in 4G networks.
Main characteristics
| Screen | 5.45″ |
| RAM | 4 GB |
| Memory | 64 GB, card slot |
| Degree of protection: | IP68 |
| Battery | 3900 mAh |
| SIM cards | two |
| NFS | There is |
| Weight | 211 g |
Blackview BV9100
One of the best secure phones that allows you not to give up other functionality. The 13,000 mAh battery ensures long-term operation without recharging, and a good camera allows you to take high-quality pictures as a keepsake. The presence of an NFC module allows you not to carry bank cards with you.
True, the device is heavy and definitely not suitable for everyday use, but it will be useful during a hike – you definitely won’t lose it unnoticed. You will have to use only Bluetooth headphones or buy an adapter. But the protection is not bad, the snorkel will survive rain or a boat trip, although it is not recommended to dive with it in a pool – it is better to buy an additional case for such things.
Main characteristics
| Screen | 6.3″ |
| RAM | 4 GB |
| Memory | 64 GB, card slot |
| Camera | 16 MP |
| Battery | 13000 mAh |
| SIM cards | two |
| NFS | There is |
| Weight | 408 g |
| Degree of protection | IP68 |
Land Rover V2 Pro
One cannot ignore one of the newest smartphones that recently went on sale. The model is not cheap, but at first glance it is worth the money. The smartphone has a heart rate monitor, 6 GB of RAM promise that the device will work quickly and without problems. In the pro version, the case is made of magnesium alloy and is truly practically indestructible; it works quietly at temperatures from -30 degrees. The device corresponds to the class of the device and has a Full HD display with a clear picture.
Main characteristics
| Screen | 5.99″ |
| RAM | 6 GB |
| Memory | 64 GB, card slot |
| Camera | 21 MP |
| Battery | 6200 mAh |
| SIM cards | two |
| NFS | There is |
| Weight | 259 g |
| Degree of protection | IP68 |
Nokia 800 Tough
The Nokia 800 Tough phone has an ergonomic, rugged case made to IP68 and MIL-STD-810G standards. It will be able to withstand the effects of water, shock and dust on it. Obvious advantages include large keys, which make it easy for those with large fingers to type a message or dial a number.
The case has two slots for SIM cards: one of them is combined with a slot for microSD up to 32 GB. There is a 2 MP rear camera, but the shooting quality is mediocre. Thanks to the 2100 mAh battery, the phone will have a talk time of 12.5 hours. According to user reviews, the smartphone does not have the clearest sound when playing melodies.
Main characteristics
| Degree of protection | IP68, MIL-STD-810G |
| Screen | 2.4 inches, 320×240 |
| Memory | 4 GB, 0.5 GB RAM |
| CPU | Qualcomm 205, 2 cores |
| Battery capacity | 2100 mAh |
| Weight | 161 g |
How to choose a secure smartphone
The choice of secure smartphones 2023 on the market is not small. Phone repair service master Andrei Vasin helped us figure out what (besides price, of course) is worth paying attention to, and what we should not expect from any models.
Protection
Manufacturers of all protected models claim IP68 protection (against dust and water when fully immersed). This can only be verified in practice: therefore, it is not recommended to look at models that have just appeared on the market; they do not yet have a sufficient number of reviews or experience of use. When choosing a secure model, you should definitely read reviews from people who have used these phones in their lives. And the most important thing is to remember that waterproofing is not an indulgence for diving and swimming with your phone.
Firstly, no protection will save you from salt water, and secondly, the manufacturers immediately declare that the device can live for about half an hour under water at a depth of no more than 10 centimeters. In practice, after such bathing, phones still get wet, but not critically, so you can save the handset. Regular phones will definitely die after such “procedures”.
Impact-resistant glass is good, but it is best to ensure that you drop the device less often, so look carefully and touch the case: it should be rubberized and protected with special metal inserts. It is best if they stick out a little, and the glass, on the contrary, is recessed. By itself, any tempered glass will crack from a direct blow. It is recommended to stick a protective film even on such smartphones.
Design
Evaluate the design carefully. It is best if the back side of the device is also rubberized and not made of plastic. Good impact resistance is indicated by the presence in the technical specifications of a manufacturing record according to the military standard MIL-STD 810.
Screen
Be careful about the screen: turn it on in the store and see if it glares in bright light. Also, such smartphones usually have more sensitive sensors that even react to touching gloves.
Battery
High battery capacity figures should be treated with caution: measurements were taken, and in models that claim 10,000 mAh, this result was not achieved. Normal numbers are around 5000-6000, 3000 is critically low.
Popular questions and answers
The range of smartphones is very wide, so we asked Grigory Tsyganov, a service center specialist for electronics repair, to answer popular questions from readers about protected devices .
