Review of Oukitel WP33 Pro

The Oukitel WP33 Pro is a formidable device. Let's be very clear about it right now. This phone has a function. Whatever you choose to call it, it's a tough or sturdy phone. It weighs 577g, more than three times as much as the entry-level iPhone 15 model. Since it almost stands alone, it doesn't need a case, and it can stay submerged for up to half an hour. In a sense, this is the Bear Grylls of smartphones—it can withstand whatever the wild outdoors can throw at it, but in other situations, it seems a little out of place.

It's unfair to compare the Oukitel WP33 Pro to premium Android smartphones like Samsung or Google Pixel, just as it's hard to compare a Ford Transit van to a high-end supercar like a Ferrari or Lamborghini. In addition, the sturdy Oukitel's price puts it in the same price range as other rugged phones, such as the Doogee S96 GT and Cat S75. So how does this behemoth of a walkietalkie stack up against some of the most robust phones available? Let's investigate.

Cost and accessibility

The Oukitel WP33 Pro in Black is available for $399.99 on the company's official website. Like with other tough phones, this one is only available in black. There are no other colour options.

Specifications

Attributes

The built-in 5W speaker of the WP33 Pro, which has a 136dB peak output, is one of its main selling features. It's excellent enough to blast music during a day at the beach or, if we're talking about real practicality when exploring, to produce an alert that others can hear from a distance, even if the sound quality isn't much better than your average Bluetooth speaker. When packing for a vacation, the speaker also saves room. Better still, you can tie the phone to your bag and listen to music as you go through the woods thanks to the connected clip and hand strap.

In addition, Oukitel included a number of useful features in the WP33 Pro, including as an accurate decibel metre, a compass, a plumb bob, and a flashlight that is brighter than any I've ever seen on an Android or Apple phone. Before beginning this study, I was unaware of the existence of plumb bobs, which are basically instruments used by plumbers and construction workers to locate vertical lines and ensure that objects are level. Another indication that this phone is rather specialised and that many people won't find much use for the spirit level or plumb bob comes from the presence of this gadget in the toolbox app.

The WP33 Pro is a tough phone, so it should come as no surprise that it meets all of our durability requirements. It is safe to fall from heights of up to 1.5 metres since it has the coveted lP68 waterproofing, which allows it to be submerged up to 1.5 metres for up to 30 minutes. It also has the MIL-STD-810H certification, which makes it drop-proof. It's basically a military-grade piece of equipment, and that's an appealing aspect in and of itself. It can operate in temperatures ranging from -45°C to 75°C.

Design

A large portion of the cost of a tough phone like this one is related to the design. To put it simply, it feels and looks like it could withstand the universe's heat death. Like a brick, it weighs a lot and isn't very cosy to hold in your hand, but it's as solid as they come. It's impressive that it makes some of the other well-known tough phones seem weak.

But there is a problem that comes along with this phone's amazing durability. The WP33 Pro is really hefty, as I said in the review's start, making it difficult to carry for extended periods of time. Even though this could be advantageous if you like doom-scrolling as much as I do, it's usually not useful, particularly if you have a call that will last more than ten minutes or more.

But it's not simply hefty. It's also rather large. Although the form factor doesn't bother me since I have enormous hands, I can understand how it would bother someone whose fingers aren't as large, so it's something to consider before buying this item.

Nevertheless, I think the WP33 Pro's buttons are great. They have a clicky, tactile feel. It may be quite easy to unintentionally hit one of them because of the phone's size and grip, but at least you can tell when you've done it because to the construction. These buttons seem to be rather sturdy and unlikely to break in the event of a drop, much like everything else about the gadget. I can't tell for sure, however, since I'm not one to go hurling review units about.

Display

The LCD display of the WP33 Pro isn't too awful, especially given its pricing. Everything seems to be working well, including the games it can play and YouTube material (more on that later). It's not really good, and even with the brightness settings changed, it seems like the darker colours have less depth and the lighter colours are a little too strong, but it gets the job done.The use of 1.1mm thick Corning Gorilla Glass 5 ensures that the display is just as sturdy as the rest of the phone, despite not being very bright. We'll take it if the thickness of the screen reduces the likelihood of scratches or cracks, even if it probably contributes to the poor graphics.

Photography

Unfortunately, we couldn't say the same about the cameras as we can about the display and design of the WP33 Pro. The 64 MP main camera isn't bad, but it lacks resolution and is a little too grainy. Floyd, my dog, serves as my test subject every time I test a new phone's camera. Although he seems very magnificent in the picture below, Floyd's fur highlights and the depth of colour in his facial characteristics are not quite captured by the WP33 Pro.The 32 MP selfie camera is also subpar, having that hazy quality that gives the impression that you're using Snapchat in 2018. Even if I already have a fair complexion, the process of snapping selfies with the front-facing camera may be discouraging since it completely removes the colour from your face. The performance of this selfie camera improves with better illumination, but it will never match the quality of other mid-range handsets whose cameras are prioritised above build quality.The WP33 Pro's 20 MP night vision camera, another feature Oukitel purposely inserted to appeal to a certain explorer demographic, is the camera setup's lone redeeming grace. Even while the quality of the photos you can take with the night vision lens is still not very impressive, you can still pick out the subject of the picture—be it a dazzling star or a unique bird.

Performance

Actually, you can't expect next-level performance from the WP33 Pro and its Mediatek Dimensity 6100+ chipset—not at all—for a phone in this price category that so obviously prides itself on other areas. The phone performs rather well when it comes to regular usage, such as texting, making calls, and using the pre-installed Google suite of applications, such as Gmail and Maps. However, sometimes the phone lags a bit, particularly if you have many apps open at once.I launched Honkai Star Rail to actually test the performance, and from the moment I saw the space-bound locomotive's light trail stuttering on the menu screen, I knew I wouldn't be having a lot of fun. The player's movement then began to stutter a lot, and the character representations weren't as good as they could have been. It's not unplayable, which surprised me, but it's also not the greatest way to enjoy a game as demanding as Hoyo's sci-fi role-playing game.To be honest, this is by no means a gaming phone; the rugged phone market is totally different and prioritises aspects like build quality and signal strength above functionality, so it makes sense that gaming is not the WP33 Pro's strong suit. Candy Crush and other similar low-demand mobile games should work OK on this smartphone, but don't expect to run anything more demanding.Battery

The Oukitel WP33 Pro's 22,000mAh battery is one of its most striking features. You read correctly: 22,000mAh. That's equivalent to almost continuous usage for seven days or an astounding three months of standby. Even though I haven't had three months to test it, I have had more than a month, and even with quite heavy usage and no phone down time, I'm still at 50%.If the WP33 Pro's astounding battery life wasn't enough, it also has a 33W fast charger that can get you back into the green faster than you may think possible for a battery this size. Even more amazing is the 18W reverse charging, which functions like a powerful power bank and can fully charge an iPhone or Android phone up to nine times. We haven't had a chance to verify whether it really is nine, but I was able to reverse charge my iPhone 13 three times without even slightly depleting the Oukitel's battery. Lastly, it should come as no surprise that the WP33 Pro lacks wireless charging since I doubt it could even fit on a wireless charging station.

Is it wise to purchase the Oukitel WP33 Pro?

This phone has a well-defined list of benefits and drawbacks. It excels at what it does well—it has the longest battery life I've ever seen, a speaker so loud you won't ever need wired or Bluetooth amplification, and a sturdy construction that can survive drops and submersion. The display falls short of some other mid-range phones' lofty heights, the gaming performance is mediocre, and the camera is mediocre.Thus, this is a terrific alternative if you're going on an excursion or need something that you can count on not to break after repeated dips and plunges. However, like a normal old smartphone, it's not designed for the everyday use of city dwellers and mobile games. That's truly all there is to it.

Options

If our evaluation of the sturdy Oukitel WP33 Pro hasn't convinced you to buy one, consider these workable options instead.

Nokia XR20

The Nokia XR20 is a great substitute for the Oukitel beast if you'd rather stick with a somewhat more well-known brand or are looking for something a bit more portable and understated. Although it still lacks the performance of the most remarkable Android device, it is now sleeker and thinner and has the crucial water and drop resistance. The Nokia would be a better option if you don't want curious onlookers to question, "Hey, what's that massive phone hanging off your backpack?"Samsung A34

Although the Samsung A34 lacks durability, it might be a good substitute for people seeking a practical phone with somewhat improved cameras and overall performance, provided that it comes with a sturdy enough hard case. Whether you choose performance above durability or vice versa, at a price point comparable to the WP33 Pro, will determine your choice, but either way, you're getting a smartphone that is still more competent than many low-cost alternatives.