The best-rugged smartphones (opens in new tab) on the market offer extreme durability, massive batteries, and a wealth of features specific to outdoor use cases. We've tested all the top handsets designed for intensive use and picked the best options.
The following rugged smartphones are dust, water-resistant, and sometimes waterproof, with cases or shells that are tough enough to drop on hard surfaces without breaking them. Some of these devices will survive any impact, bump or drop without bearing a scratch, making them ideal for use outdoors or in dangerous environments.
Some of the phones on this list have even undergone stringent tests to ensure they meet military standards and can thus withstand extreme temperatures, shocks, and more.
Best rugged smartphones of 2023
Why you can trust TechRadar Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
Software (opens in new tab) on the best-rugged smartphone is no slouch either. Most offer extra features vital in certain lines of work: some might have infrared cameras (opens in new tab), sound level meters, and sometimes even VOC (volatile organic compound) detectors.
So whether it's your hobby or your profession that is leading you to wild or dangerous places and have you needing a device that'll last a long time with plenty of features or makes you prefer hardy phones over fashionable yet fragile standard smartphones, the best-rugged smartphone is what you need.
Finally, remember that while all ruggedized smartphones will be waterproof and dustproof (and therefore meet the IP68 specification), not all waterproof phones (opens in new tab) will be ruggedized. So think carefully while shopping for the best-rugged smartphone for your needs, and look into all the features these handsets boast.
So, read on to find our top picks for the best-rugged phones on the market.
The Nokia XR20 is the first rugged smartphone to launch under the Nokia banner with the help of HMD Global which now owns the brand. Unlike other rugged smartphones that stand out due to their designs, the Nokia XR20 is meant to blend in with its slim profile and sleek look.
In terms of durability, the XR20 is IP68 certified, MIL-STD-810 rated, and is the first rugged smartphone to feature Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. The device also features a red emergency button along with a dedicated, non-customizable Google Assistant button.
However, what really sets the XR20 apart from the pack is the fact that HMD Global has guaranteed that the device will receive four years of security updates with three years of OS updates. The company also includes free one-year screen replacement.
This product is currently on sale in the UK at Very (£130 off!) and 36% off on Amazon
Read the full Nokia XR20 5G rugged smartphone review (opens in new tab)
The Blackview BV9900 Pro used to have the title of our favorite rugged smartphone, and while it's been beaten to the post, it's still a worthy buy.
The Blackview BV9900 Pro has a FLIR thermal imaging camera, a rarity on rugged smartphones despite its usefulness. This joins an array of 'standard' cameras led by a 48MP one which is helpful for a range of photography needs.
The phone performs well with its MediaTek Helio G90 chipset, which is paired with 8GB RAM and easily takes on many tasks. It's also pretty well protected for a rugged phone.
Sure, the phone is a bit behind in a few ways - its battery could be better, and we would have liked to see 5G connectivity, but it's still the best-rugged smartphone you can get right now.
Read our full Blackview BV9900 Pro rugged smartphone review (opens in new tab)
Before Apple and Google sliced and diced the phone world with their respective products, BlackBerry was a highly successful phone maker.
The Unihertz Titan slim tries to tap into that specific nostalgia with the Titan series, phones that include a BlackBerry-style keyboard but use the Android operating system.
As the name suggests, the Titan slim is a small yet fully featured mobile phone with a massive 256GB of internal storage, 6GB of RAM, a 48MP rear camera, and is powered by a MediaTek Helios P70 SoC.
Where this design is slightly less desirable is in a small 4.2-inch screen with just slightly bigger than 720p resolution, a comms package that doesn’t include 5G, and a GPU that isn’t suited to gaming or streaming services.
The keyboard might attract those with a rose-tinted view of Symbian phones, but in the current market, the Unihertz Titan slim seems underpowered and overpriced.
Read our full Unihertz Titan Slim rugged smartphone review
The Doogee S96 GT is a rugged phone designed for those that don’t want the typical chunky and excessively-heavy go-anywhere device.
The designers made this lighter, though no-less durable, mounted an excellent SoC and cameras, but traded the long battery life that alternatives like the S89 Pro offer.
The counterpoint to the smaller battery is an excellent MediaTek Helio G95 SoC, 8GB of DDR4, and 256GB of storage. This platform delivers excellent performance on a largely vanilla Android 12 implementation.
And, all this performance and specs for around $250 is a design that is remarkably hard to criticize. While 5G would have been excellent and maybe a less odd screen resolution, these aren’t show-stopping issues to many customers.
Overall, the best Doogee design from the current batch or new releases. It demonstrates succinctly what hardware Chinese phone makers can put in their designs without busting the budget.
Read our full Doogee S96GT rugged smartphone review
A cheap, rugged design that manages to offer IP68/69 weatherproofing and lots of interesting features for well under $200.
To achieve that price, Ulefone gave this design a relatively low-power CPU and GPU combination, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, and a 16MP main camera.
The optics on the rear camera make the most of this relatively small sensor, and it has an accompanying 2MP depth effect sensor.
But the headline feature is a rear speaker capable of generating an ear-drum damaging 122 dbA of sound. Be careful with that, as exposure to sound at that level can cause permanent damage.
What they didn’t skimp on the battery, with 9600 mAh of capacity, and it also has some unique accessories, such as an endoscope that connects to an accessory port.
The underwhelming processor and GPU don’t make this an obvious choice for gamers, and the lack of Widevine L1 security also excludes HD streaming video.
However, if you are heading into the wilderness and don’t want to take your premium phone that might get wet or lost, then the Ulefone Power Armor 16 Pro might be an affordable option.
There are better rugged phones available, but not any at this price.
A cheap, rugged design that manages to offer IP68/69 weatherproofing and lots of interesting features for well under $200.
To achieve that price, Ulefone gave this design a relatively low-power CPU and GPU combination, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, and a 16MP main camera.
The optics on the rear camera make the most of this relatively small sensor, and it has an accompanying 2MP depth effect sensor.
But the headline feature is a rear speaker capable of generating an ear-drum damaging 122 dbA of sound. Be careful with that, as exposure to sound at that level can cause permanent damage.
What they didn’t skimp on the battery, with 9600 mAh of capacity, and it also has some unique accessories, such as an endoscope that connects to an accessory port.
The underwhelming processor and GPU don’t make this an obvious choice for gamers, and the lack of Widevine L1 security also excludes HD streaming video.
However, if you are heading into the wilderness and don’t want to take your premium phone that might get wet or lost, then the Ulefone Power Armor 16 Pro might be an affordable option.
There are better-performing rugged phones available, but not any at this price.
Read our full Ulefone Power Armor 16 Pro rugged smartphone review
We've also featured:
- The best rugged laptops (opens in new tab)
- The best rugged tablets (opens in new tab)
- The best rugged hard drives (opens in new tab)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a rugged smartphone?
A rugged smartphone is a device that is specifically designed to withstand harsh conditions and rough use. These types of smartphones typically have reinforced casings, water and dust resistance, and are built to military standards.
How do rugged smartphones differ from regular smartphones?
Rugged smartphones differ from regular smartphones in several ways. They are built to withstand harsh conditions and rough use, and typically have reinforced casings and water and dust resistance. They also tend to have better battery life and are more durable overall.
Are rugged smartphones expensive?
The price of rugged smartphones can vary, with some models being more expensive than others. Generally, they tend to be more expensive than regular smartphones due to their enhanced durability and resistance to harsh conditions.
