I reviewed the 8849 Tank 4 Pro - and it's the first rugged phone with a projector that impressed me

8849 Tank 4 Pro: 30-second review

I've reviewed a few of the 8849 Tank rugged smartphones over the last couple of years and have generally been impressed with the build quality and performance, especially with the Pro range featuring built-in projectors. Now the Tank 4 Pro upgrades specifications across the board, most notably featuring a 720p projector with autofocus and keystone correction. This not only makes it easier to set up and use but also makes it a far more viable option for work presentations out in the field.

While the 100-lumen brightness is still a little dim for daylight projection, as long as you pull the blinds or the sun has set, the projection brightness is perfectly adequate. Coupled with the huge 11,600mAh battery capacity and IP68 toughness certification, you have a phone you can take pretty much anywhere, and come rain or shine, it's going to withstand anything you throw at it.

While the Tank 4 Pro has plenty of potential, the design is still very much stereotypically rugged. It's relatively weighty, however, unlike previous models that would definitely push the limits of any standard pocket, this latest version is just small enough to fit in most jackets and trousers without too much issue, although you are still very much aware of its bulk.

The processing potential of this phone also takes a step up, and the new Dimensity 8300 chip with upgraded GPU, memory and storage all add to the usability. Once again, the large 6.73-inch AMOLED screen offers a bright and responsive display.

Like the 8849 Tank 4 I reviewed back in August 2025, the phone's overall performance for Google Docs, multimedia production in CapCut, and browsing the internet is all well within its scope. Although with the upgraded CPU, there is a notable uplift in performance compared with many other rugged smartphones, it's still not quite in line with premium consumer smartphones, which will set you back roughly the same amount.

By the end of the test, I took the phone out in the field as well as running all the benchmark tests, and from the results, it's obvious the Tank 4 Pro is a step up from previous iterations. The main focus, however, has to be on the 720p projector that offers far clearer projection than many of the best rugged phones offering this, including the Blackview Explorer that I've also reviewed this month.

8849 Tank 4 Pro: Price & availability

• How much does it cost? $649
• When is it out? Now
• Where can you get it? Widely available

The Tank 4 Pro comes in at a very respectable $649.99 for the 16GB version with 512GB of internal storage. There is also an 18GB option with 1TB of storage available for $749.99.

The phone itself can be purchased directly from the 8849 Tech website and is also available via major online retailers such as Amazon.com here and Amazon.co.uk here. The phone also ships globally, with adapter options for the UK, EU, US and Australia.

• Value: 4 / 5

8849 Tank 4 Pro: Design

A first look at the 8849 Tank 4 Pro, and it's very obviously a rugged smartphone. This rugged design is supported by the IP68/IP69K waterproof and dustproof certification, which means it can be submerged underwater and dropped from a decent height if you really want to put it through its paces.

Checking over the phone, the big features here are the 720p projector positioned on the top of the phone and the large 6.73-inch 1440 x 3200 display.

While the Tank 4 Pro is slimmer than previous Tank Pro models, it's still relatively weighty and bulky, measuring 174.9mm x 87 x 22.5mm and weighing 530g.

Aesthetics, as we've seen with many other rugged smartphones, are industrial, and once again, this phone follows that trend. In the box with our review sample came a very tough exterior casing, just reinforcing that this phone is ready for pretty much anything.

Checking over the rest of the body, and everything is sealed, with the only parts of the phone that could be exposed being the USB-C port at the base, which is covered by a rubber flap. Interestingly, when you look at the top of the phone next to the projector, there is some venting to enable cooling for the projection module and a 3.5mm audio input, which is actually open to the elements.

Through the process of this Review, the phone was running on Android 14, but there is an upgrade due in October 2025 for the phone to be upgraded to Android 15.

As it is, the version of Android included has quite a lot of apps, including all the Google Workspace and AI options, but most notably, 8849 has adapted the Android 14 interface to include a large projection icon on the home screen. Once this icon is tapped, the projector starts up, and then the autofocus and keystone correction do their job to quickly focus, so that you have a sharp image on your projection surface.

Because of these auto setup features, this is by far the easiest projection-equipped smartphone to set up, taking a matter of seconds to position and start projection, compared with some others, which can take at least a couple of minutes.

• Design: 3.5 / 5

8849 Tank 4 Pro: Features

Rugged smartphones often feature small, unique touches that make them stand out in what is becoming a very crowded market. At the top of the list for this model is obviously the 720p projector. With its auto laser focus and keystone correction, this offers 100-lumen brightness. While that might not seem like a great deal on a small phone like this, it does go quite a long way.

Although you won't be able to use it in bright sunlight, if you're out in the field and want to watch a movie in the evening or have a presentation to show, this uplift in resolution is going to make a big difference.

Supporting the projector is an 11,600mAh battery. What's impressive about this is that, while it might not be the largest capacity of a rugged smartphone on the market, it features 120W fast charging. This means you can go from 0 to 90% in just 60 minutes when charging.

Inside, powering the projector and operating system is a powerful MediaTek Dimensity 8300 CPU, coupled with a Mali-G615 MC6 GPU, which offers decent graphics potential for media, gaming, and workflow apps.

The processing and graphics potential is backed up by a good range of hardware, including the Tank 4 Pro's UFS 4.0 storage and LPDDR5 RAM. Another feature of rugged smartphones is the dual SIM and expandable storage support. As with most smartphones, there's also a large 6.73-inch touchscreen. Paired with a 3K resolution, it offers a bright and responsive interface for the apps.

Alongside the projector, there's a quad array of cameras, including a 50MP Samsung AF main camera, a 64MP night vision camera, a 50MP telephoto, and a 32MP front camera, enabling plenty of options.

As I saw during my Tank 4 review, the Tank 4 Pro also features a camping light on the back. This offers not only decent illumination when you're camping or working outdoors but also includes a range of effect modes which may come in useful in emergency situations.

When it comes to connectivity, it's good to see that it offers full 5G for superfast networking, and this is supported with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi options. You can also connect the phone directly to a USB 3.0 port on the base, to a TV, your laptop, or multiple other devices. This USB port will also enable reverse charging, which can be helpful, especially with that huge battery potential.

• Features: 4 / 5

8849 Tank 4 Pro: Performance

Getting started with the Tank 4 Pro is exceptionally easy. Simply log in to your Google account, and then running through the setup process should take no more than about five minutes.

I started off the test by looking at the Google Workspace apps. Here, I was impressed by the speed at which they opened. The 6.73-inch display gave a bright, clear view for me to work on, and the whole experience was responsive, enabling me to make edits to Google Docs and navigate through spreadsheets and other documents.

Having Google Docs, Sheets and Google Sites open, the smartphone had no trouble running multiple apps at the same time. I also opened CapCut and Adobe Lightroom, two more power-intensive applications, and again, performance remained solid, showing that the processing capability really does sit within the mid-range of smartphones.

As I pushed the phone further, using Lightroom to do quick edits, firstly on images captured with the phone and secondly on those stored in Creative Cloud, the speed at which it handled the tasks was impressive. While there was a slight delay on some larger files, it was hardly noticeable. If you're in the field and just want to make a few quick enhancements or crops to your pictures, this phone will manage that without issue. The screen size and clarity really highlight the potential of your images.

Moving on to some video edits using footage shot on the phone and CapCut, the edits were smooth and quick, again highlighting the potential of this smartphone. The fact that you can pop in a TF/microSD card to boost the storage means that if you're using this phone for multimedia content creation, it's a great option with more than enough processing power to handle both the editing and upload speed using a fast 5G network when available.

Through this test, I utilised an unlimited Vodafone package, which provided solid performance for both calls and data.

Using workflow apps and content creation, the processing potential of this rugged smartphone was impressive. It shows there has been a turning point; these phones aren't just impressively robust but also give a decent experience running Android applications. The real test comes with gaming, and here, while still not suitable for top processor-intensive gaming, the performance is still impressive, running titles like Need for Speed and Asphalt Legends with ease.

While the overall performance is impressive, what really stands out is the inclusion of that 720p projector. Starting this up is quick and straightforward. Simply press the icon, and after a few seconds, the projection begins, mirroring what's on screen. What I like about this is that the phone utilises auto-focus, so there's no fiddling around with dials. You simply point it in the right direction, and it focuses and adjusts the keystone correction to give you a clean rectangular image.

The quality of the display is very good, and it's a marked improvement over lower-resolution projector phones. Text is easy to read, making this a very good option if you're looking for something portable for work presentations.

While the brightness is limited to 100 lumens, the projection in a darkened room is more than good enough. As the light dims, the display becomes more than sufficient, giving a good image for watching movies, social media, or most importantly, work presentations.

A bit of a surprise after the last few projector phones I've tested is the speaker quality; while still a little underwhelming, it is better than most. The clarity of the audio is good, if not the depth. When watching YouTube or TikTok, the audio is relatively decent. It won't impress audiophiles when listening to music, however.

Through the test, I also took a few images. While the aim was mainly to test Photoshop and CapCut for editing, I was relatively impressed with the camera quality. They're not exceptional, and there are limitations around the sensor, but they're good enough for capturing on-site images. If you're just documenting your adventures, you won't be disappointed, though other phones do offer better imaging potential.

Finally, the battery deserves a mention. Throughout testing, it provided solid longevity even when the projector was used. You can watch several movies back-to-back without much issue. While it's still on the smaller side compared with some other rugged phones, it's over double the size of most consumer models, giving you several days' use between charges. As mentioned, the 120W fast charge means that even when you're low, you can boost it in under an hour.

• Performance: 4 / 5

8849 Tank 4 Pro: Final verdict

By the end of the test, the performance really did stand out. But once again, with any projector smartphone, I would say only consider this if you genuinely need a projector incorporated into your smartphone; otherwise, there are cheaper and obviously lighter options available.

However, this is the first rugged smartphone with an incorporated projector that's really made an impact. The quality of the projection is a clear step up now that it's 720p, which makes it not only fine for TV and movies but also a very viable option for projecting presentations.

Compared with a small portable projector, the quality of the projection, along with the modest audio performance, makes it perfectly adequate for playing back PowerPoint presentations and displaying spreadsheets with relative clarity.

It still won't stand up to the quality of a dedicated projector, but for something this small and relatively lightweight (compared with portable projectors), it's a good alternative option.

In use, running through Google productivity apps, Adobe content creation tools, and video editing in CapCut – the phone's upgraded CPU and GPU over the standard Tank 4 are noticeable. There's a clear uplift in both benchmark and real-world performance, making this a viable phone for a wide range of uses.

If you're a content creator, then being able to capture video, edit and project all on this one small device does offer a degree of practicality. However, it's worth noting that while the phone's cameras are relatively decent, there are obviously much higher-quality options on the market.

Another point to highlight is the excellent battery capacity. When you couple that with the projector and the camping light, if you're going off-grid and just need a smart, reliable phone, this will give you plenty of storage (especially with the expandable TF/microSD card option), and the dual SIM slot adds to the flexibility.

Overall, as a rugged smartphone, it's tough enough to withstand more abuse than most. With the built-in projector, decent battery life and great screen, there's a lot on offer here. If you do need a smartphone with a built-in projector, then at the time of writing, this is the best projection smartphone out there.

Should I buy a 8849 Tank 4 Pro?

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