2024's top tough smartphones

The Doogee S96 GT is our pick for the best rugged phone overall for pure value alone. It costs less than $150, which means that if you were to suffer a phone casualty while working or enjoying the great outdoors, it isn’t going to break your bank to replace it, and you might not feel so bad about an accidental break at that price point.

Better yet, with a 6,350 mAh battery, you can be sure that this phone will last well while on your adventure, which is pretty handy considering that MediaTek Helio G95 chipset does make the phone capable of being a fairly decent gaming device. Combine that with the 256GB, and the Doogee S96 GT has plenty to offer.

We’ve seen plenty of affordable, durable devices over recent years, but few that marry a properly rugged build, including a Corning Gorilla Glass screen with surprisingly capable hardware like this. The best example is the S96 GT’s camera system. The quality of pictures taken using the selfie camera is up there with more expensive phones from bigger name brands, like the Nothing Phone (2a) and Poco X6, and the option of a specific night-vision lens is something you rarely see in such an inexpensive device.

For all the positive things about this device, there are some drawbacks to consider. For starters, you can’t get 5G, so if that’s a deal breaker for you, it’s the budget Motorola and Samsung devices (like the Moto G34 and A53) that are more suitable. Plus, as is the case with most rugged phones, the Doogee S96 GT is bulky, taking up a lot of room in your pocket. A phone this size can be uncomfortable with excessive use. Still, you just can’t argue with that value.

The Samsung Galaxy Xcover6 Pro combines Samsung’s fantastic software with a sturdy rugged phone build to offer something a little different to the other options on this list. While most Samsung’s are IP68 rated, outside of the brand’s flip and foldable phones, this is the only series that features MIL-STD 810H-grade durability, which promises to go the extra distance in terms of dust, shock, moisture, and temperature resistance.

Outside of durability, the Xcover6 Pro impressed us with its solid everyday and gaming performance thanks to the combination of its high-refresh-rate 120Hz LCD screen and Snapdragon 778G 5G chipset, which is more in line with your standard mid-range phone. It’s not quite up there with the S series, but in our experience, it holds its own with some of the Doogee and Fossibot options on this list, which is pretty impressive considering that rugged phones have never been Samsung’s wheelhouse while these other brands specialize in them.

The only substantial caveat to this option is that it’s a little more expensive than other entries. However, with the arrival of the Xcover7 Pro in 2024, the predecessor is a little cheaper than it was last year, with little change between the two generations. Its 4,400 mAh battery also isn’t anywhere near as significant as the Oukitel WP33 Pro’s 22,000 mAh battery or the Doogee S96 GT’s 6,350 mAh battery, but you can easily address that issue with a portable charging pack.

Should you need a rugged phone for work more than you do hiking or camping, the Cat S75 is our pick. Its satellite capability means you can communicate whether you’re way out in the sticks or at sea, and its form factor lends itself to pocketability more than a lot of the other entries on this list. If anyone I know who works a grueling job asks me for a phone recommendation, this is the one I point them in the direction of.

The big difference between this device and the other rugged alternatives is the weight. The Cat S75 is just 268g. That’s significantly less than most rugged phones and within 100g of the likes of high-end devices like the iPhone 15 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S24. This lightness makes it one of the more practical options here, combined with fantastic water resistance of up to 5m for 35 minutes.

There are a couple of drawbacks, though. For starters, the 128GB of storage is fairly limited compared to others on this list. We also expected better cameras considering the fairly high price point of the Cat S75, with significantly cheaper options on this list like the Fossibot F102 and Doogee S100 Pro impressing us more when it comes to photography.

The Oukitel WP33 Pro is an absolute tank. It’s the heaviest phone on this list by some margin, weighing in at over 570g, and it feels incredibly sturdy in your hand. That hefty nature is largely due to the mammoth 22,000 mAh battery inside, which is almost four times the size of that of a standard smartphone like the Google Pixel 8 or Samsung Galaxy S24. 

This battery goes for over a week without extensive use, making it quite tricky to figure out charging speeds during our testing. Fortunately, we worked it out, and the 33W charging speeds are mighty impressive, as are the reverse charging capabilities that can juice your other devices when you’re away from home. Add to the mix the WP33 Pro’s 136db speaker, loud enough to play your tunes for the whole camp or work site, and a selection of helpful software tools for work and play, and it’s clear to see why we’ve included this handset. 

While the heavy-duty nature of the Oukitel WP33 Pro is welcome due to making it incredibly hard to break, it does mean that it’s not the most comfortable device for everyday use. We found it quite cumbersome in testing, and unlike most phones, there’s never a moment where you don’t notice it weighing you down. The cameras are also a little lackluster, not matching up to other similarly priced devices we’ve seen from Oukitel and other rugged brands.

As great as rugged phones are, they do have a reputation for being bulky. Luckily, Nokia has quite a discrete option for you in the form of the Nokia XR20, marrying a sturdy IP-68 and MIL-STD-810H military standard-rated build with subtle aesthetics that left us nearly placing this option at the top of the list as the best overall. 

To go along with its discrete design, the XR20 is one of the more affordable rugged phone options, and there’s some serious value on offer considering it’s 5G ready, unlike the similarly reasonably priced Doogee S96 GT. For less than $300, you’re getting a vivid LCD display, a fingerprint sensor for enhanced security, and four years of updates. There is a newer Nokia XR21, but the difference between the two isn’t enough for us to opt for slightly better performance over all-round value. 

While the XR20 is considerably more discrete than other rugged phones, it’s also a little less generous when it comes to RAM, storage, and battery size. The base model’s 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage is underwhelming. This is especially true if you’re planning on doing some smartphone photography, with little room left over for apps and games, though you can expand storage thanks to the microSD slot. The battery is also on the smaller side compared to other rugged phones, but it lasts longer than you might think if you use the phone efficiently.

If you’re an intrepid adventurer who gets a kick from braving the elements, the Doogee S100 is the perfect companion for your travels. Boasting IP68 / IP69K and MIL-STD-810H rating for certified protection, this thing can face all sorts of extreme weather conditions without an issue. It’s not a bad regular old smartphone either, packing a Helio G99 processor, a triple camera system, and even a gaming mode for your adventuring downtime.

The S100 Pro feels sturdy in your hands, and pretty heavy too, weighing in at 400g. It’s by no means a brick with a call function, though, with a long list of features including a 22000mAh battery, 130-lumen camping light, and a fantastic night vision camera. Add in the 960-hour standby battery, and this device is sure to help you go the distance during any outdoor pursuit.

The Doogee S100 Pro is the best rugged phone if you value having a decent camera and media features, as well as a hardy casing. For more details, check out our Doogee S100 Pro review.

If you’re looking for something truly hardcore, the Ulefone Power Armor 20WT is the ultimate survival phone. For a start, it’s one of the few devices on this list that is IP69K rated. That’s the highest IP rating you can get, offering a level of dust and waterproofing that is second to none. Combine that with 20WT’s MIL-STD-810H compliance, which makes it military standard, and you’ve got a practically indestructible smartphone.

Outside of its durability, the 20WT is a pretty impressive smartphone in its own right, with a generous 256GB of storage for apps and images, plus a 10,850 mAh battery that can keep you going for a few days without extensive use. While we couldn’t make much use of it in testing, the 20WT also includes a walkie-talkie attachment. If you’re exploring or working remotely in a small team, you could pick up a couple of these for less than $700 and rely on them for instant communication if you’re going somewhere without a reliable phone signal.

Unfortunately, you have to sacrifice a level of comfort with this phone to get the durable build. It’s on the heavier side at just under 400g and its form factor isn’t suited to gaming or constant use unless you’re willing to deal with some serious hand cramping. The screen is a little on the small side, too, at just 5.5 inches, which could be a problem if you’re relying on mapping or location apps.

If you’re looking for a rugged phone that doubles as a durable camera, the Fossibot F102 is your best option. With a fantastic 108MP camera that’s up there with mid-rangers like the Google Pixel 7a and OnePlus 12R, plus specialist 5MP macro and 20MP night vision lenses and a capable 32MP front camera for on-site and off-the-beaten-track selfies, there’s no scenario this pick isn’t ready for.

The F102 is an attractive option for anyone who enjoys outdoor excursions or needs a secondary work phone, thanks to its stellar 16,500 mAh battery life and a dazzlingly bright flashlight that saves you from taking a torch on your travels. Even when the battery eventually runs low, you don’t have to stop and charge for long, with 33w superfast charging juicing this powerhouse device back up to 50% in less than 90 minutes.

There are barely any noticeable caveats with this device. All we can think to point out is that it lacks 4k video recording, and it’s not as smooth a performer as some of the more expensive options on this list. Still, as far as the best rugged phones go, you’re getting plenty of bang for your buck here.