I tested this rugged phone and it’s smarter than I expected thanks to AI

Blackview BL7000: 30-second review

If you look at the Blackview BL7000 as a pure rugged smartphone, then at under £200/$200, it can't fail to impress. The build quality is superb, and whether making calls or browsing the internet using a 5G connection, the processing speed and screen clarity ensure an all-around solid experience. Then there's the camera quality, which features a 50-megapixel main camera with a Samsung JN1 sensor that performs surprisingly well.

The main marketing focus, however, is its AI potential. A suite of apps that enables everything from generating AI video to music and images. These are impressive, and the device has ample power to process text, video, image, or music commands well. However, the majority of the apps are only accessible for a 30-day trial, after which a subscription is required.

Annual costs for each App are around £50/$50, and with at least four main apps, the real yearly cost adds £500/$500 if discounting isn't taken into consideration. Monthly pricing is available but still adds considerably to your overall spending.

The phone runs DokeOS 4.1, based on Android 15, and supports full access to the Play Store, so while the OS provided looks great and is fast and responsive, its basis means that you can access all the usual Android apps without restrictions. Apps ChatGPT can be downloaded, and along with the AI integrations, the phone becomes more than just a rugged device, offering responsive AI assistance. It's not flawless, but it has been well-optimised for AI use.

Benchmarking shows the BL7000 sits in the entry to mid-range for performance, but its AI integration boosts its capabilities, especially with the full and free integration of Google Gemini. As a rugged device, it performs well in tough environments, and the dual SIM setup is always handy, enabling two numbers or a backup SIM, though it lacks auto-switching between networks.

Overall, at under £200/$200, the BL7000 offers excellent value as a standalone rugged phone. While the AI services add to the functionality, it's a real shame that they come with considerable ongoing costs.

Blackview BL7000: Price and availability

• How much does it cost? From $196 / £196
• When is it out? Available now
• Where can you get it? Directly from Blackview or Amazon

You get the feeling, when you start to use the Blackview BL7000, that the only reason it is priced so low is because it features a range of AI apps that all demand a monthly or yearly subscription after the trial period has expired, of course. The phone itself is available for £196/$196, but on top of that, you also have the cost for each of the AI subscription models.

The Soundle Pro app setting you back about $19 / £19 a month or $56 / £56 annually, and the same goes for VideoGen and ImageX all costing a similar amount with the key App Hi Doki on offer for a heavily discounted rate at the time of the review, but otherwise costing $369 / £369 for the year. The phone can be purchased directly from Blackview or through many online retailers such as Amazon.

• Value: 3.5 / 5

Blackview BL7000: Specs

CPU: MediaTek Dimensity 6300 (6nm), Octa-core, Up to 2.4GHz
Graphics: Arm Mali-G57 MC2
RAM: LPDDR4X 8GB
Storage: UFS2.2 256GB
Ports: USB-C
Connectivity: 802.11 b/g/n/a/ac, BTV5.2, 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G
Audio: 3.5mm audio jack
Camera: Front: GC32E1-WA1XA 32MP, Rear: Samsung® JN1 + IMX376 + GC6133, 50MP main camera, 20MP Night Vision Camera
Size: 182.2x86x14.5mm
Weight: 357g
OS installed: DokeOS4.1 Based on Android 15

Blackview BL7000: Design

As with any of the best rugged phones I've tested, the build quality of the Blackview BL7000 is exceptionally good, with a solid feel, yet it remains relatively slim and lightweight for this style of phone. When it comes to dimensions, it measures 182.2 x 86 x 14.5 mm and weighs 357 g, about 100g more than an iPhone 16 Pro and 100g less than the average rugged smartphone.

The front is dominated by a 6.78-inch screen with a resolution of 1080 x 2460, making it one of the higher-resolution displays available. It also features a 120 Hz refresh rate. The screen is built with Corning Gorilla Glass 5, which offers scratch resistance and protection from drops, which was well tested through this review.

On the front is a 32MP camera, which Blackview has highlighted as a portrait or timelapse camera; in reality, this simply provides decent clarity for video calls. On the rear is a 50-megapixel main camera using a Samsung JN1 sensor, and this is paired with a 20-megapixel night vision camera, all good and standard attire for rugged smartphones.

The design features black and orange accents, with a tough build using plastic and aluminium alloy. To be honest, it looks great and is not too over the top for this type of phone. On the left-hand edge is the TF/SIM card slot, allowing for a TF/microSD card of up to 2TB and two SIM cards. Below is a red customisable button, which can be assigned to functions such as SOS, flashlight, or underwater camera. On the opposite side are the volume controls and a power button with fingerprint recognition.

At the base, under a rubber cover, is a 3.5 mm headphone jack and a USB Type-C port for charging and data transfer.

Visually and physically, this is clearly a rugged smartphone. It's fully waterproof with IP68 and IP69K ratings and certified to MIL-STD-810H standards for drop, water, and shock resistance. This makes it ideal for use outdoors, on building sites, or in demanding environments. Rubber seals on the SIM and USB ports help prevent water ingress when submerged, though it's worth double-checking these before taking the phone into water.

• Design: 4 / 5

Blackview BL7000: Features

Starting with the raw features of the processor and hardware, there's a MediaTek Dimensity 6300 octa-core processor providing up to 2.4 GHz performance. This is paired with an ARM Mali-G57 MC2 GPU, 8 GB of LPDDR4X RAM, and 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage. If more space is needed, the SIM carrier includes a TF/microSD card slot that supports up to 2 TB, which is impressive for this style of phone.

What makes rugged smartphones like this stand out is the sheer number of features. These fall into two main categories for the BL7000: rugged durability and AI capability. In terms of toughness, the BL7000 meets IP68 and IP69K standards and is MIL-STD-810H certified. It can survive short-term submersion, drops, and physical impact, making it suitable for outdoor or demanding work environments.

The other key aspect is AI functionality. The phone comes preloaded with support for DeepSeek, GPT, and Gemini models, all integrated into the phone's ecosystem. For example, swiping up from the bottom right accesses Google Gemini, allowing quick voice-activated queries. The Hi Doki App also connects with DeepSeek-R1 and other AI tools. However, many features are locked behind a paywall after a free 30-day trial, and annual subscription costs can be significant.

The phone includes a suite of apps referred to as Doke, though there's no actual Doke-branded software suite. Instead, this label applies to pre-installed apps: Hi Doki (AI chat and Apps), ImageX (image editing), VideoGen (video generation), and Soundle (music generation).

It's also voice activation-ready with "Hey Google" and Voice Match, which let you control features hands-free. This works well in practice, although the "Hey Google" command for hands-free use didn't seem to activate, and you still need to sign in to Google apps to access the functionality fully. The integration is smooth, and response times are generally good.

Blackview markets this device as a personal AI assistant as well as a rugged smartphone capable of supporting you with tasks like navigation, DIY, and cooking guidance. In practice, these functions are already available on most Android phones with the right apps. Blackview's approach is to bundle various AI models into one device and upsell its suite through subscriptions.

Despite the extra cost of AI services, the phone remains a capable, well-balanced, rugged Android smartphone that works perfectly well even without the paid features.

• Features: 3.5 / 5

Blackview BL7000: Performance

Starting out with the Blackview BL7000 is quick and straightforward. The Android 15 operating system lets you sign in easily with your Google account and access all the usual Android features. If you're migrating from another device, the process is simple.

One thing to note early on, highlighting the phone's budget-friendly nature, is that it doesn't support wireless charging. You'll need either an optional dock or the USB port at the base. Charging is relatively fast, with 33 W fast charging, getting the battery from 0 to 80% in just over an hour.

The OS, DokeOS 4.1 (based on Android 15), is smooth and responsive. The 6.7-inch screen with 1080 x 2460 resolution offers plenty of space for browsing, document viewing, and video playback.

In use, the BL7000 handles standard apps, like the Google Suite, Lightroom, and CapCut well. Gaming is also pretty good, with Asphalt 8 and Need for Speed No Limits running smoothly, aided by the 120 Hz refresh rate. With the expandable microSD/TF storage and dual SIM support, the BL7000 offers good versatility at a budget price. That said, this is mostly standard smartphone use. Where the phone really differentiates itself is in its AI integration through pre-installed apps and integration, which I'll come onto after the durability.

Durability-wise, the BL7000 lives up to its rugged claims. Through the test, I submerged it in a stream for 20 minutes, and it emerged fully functional. As expected with rugged phones, the touchscreen doesn't work underwater, but no damage was thankfully sustained. It also survived drops, dust exposure, and rough treatment with only minor scuffs and afterwards, it all cleaned up quite well with only a couple of light scratches on the screen protector.

The 50 MP main camera was pretty good and seems to hit a sweet spot for rugged phones, delivering pictures good enough for site photography or travel. The 32 MP front camera worked well for video calls. While the image quality isn't flagship-level, it's certainly decent for the price, and if I was using this for travel, there are enough additional camera features to keep me entertained.

One issue with many rugged phones is audio, and the BL7000 is no exception. The built-in speaker is weak and tinny. If audio matters, it's best to use wired headphones via the 3.5 mm jack.

The main selling feature of the BL7000 is the AI software suite. Some elements, like Google Gemini (accessible by swiping from the bottom right), are free once signed in, and this offers real AI use and benefits. But many of the bundled App such as Soundle, VideoGen, ImageX, and Hi Doki require subscriptions after a 30-day trial, which just seems exorbatent. Take a look at each of these apps: Soundle Pro, VideoGen, ImageX and Hi Doki.

Soundle Pro is a music generator that describes the track, and it produces a version. After the trial, it costs £55.99/year or £18.99/month. Results were mixed, with playback issues, and ultimately, I wasn't impressed with the output.

VideoGen enables short, AI-generated videos. You can input text or apply effects to existing clips. This is limited by credits, so you need to be a little careful when experimenting, but several AI-generated dogs walking through woodland and corporate scenes worked well with decent high output quality, but again, it's £55.99/year or £20.49/month.

ImageX is a powerful editor (not a generator), useful for enhancing or restoring images. Again it's fast and generally works, with no use limits once subscribed—but again, £55.99/year or £24.49/month. If you have loads of old images to enhance then this is well worth it, however, if not then the price seems a little excessive.

Hi, Doki Pro offers access to DeepSeek and other AI models. It includes features like creative tools, AI search, document parsing, and tutoring. Its regular price is £369.99/year, though discounts bring that down to around £37.49/year or £20.49/month. The App is clean and well thought out, but most features are available elsewhere for less or even free.

Altogether, if you subscribe to all four services, you could spend well over £500 per year—more than twice the phone's initial cost. This transforms what appears to be a £200/$200 device into something far more expensive.

Despite this, the AI tools are impressive. Video generation and image enhancement and editing perform well and Hi Doki functions as a personal assistant. The only consistent letdown was Soundle's music generation, which was hit-and-miss, with constant download and playback problems.

Ultimately, the AI potential is huge, but as you can see with the subscription cost the price is high. If you're not prepared to pay for subscriptions, the core rugged Android Smartphone is still exceptionally good value. But to access the full functionality, the price unfortunately quickly rises.

• Performance: 3.5 / 5

Blackview BL7000: Final verdict

When we take a look at all of the different functions and features that this rugged smartphone has to offer, it all comes together as an impressive bundle. Used as a smartphone, the power of the processing and the speed of Blackview's DokeOS 4.1 is fast and responsive. You're able to utilise all Google apps, access the internet, and use all of the Google Assistant options nice and easily. With that 5G connection or fast Wi-Fi, it all works extremely well.

If you do like to play games, then the combination of that processor and GPU seems to provide more than enough power to play some advanced, graphically intensive games smoothly on that 120 Hz screen. The one point here is that while the visuals are also really good, the audio is lacking.

Looking at the rugged potential, and again, this phone stands up to the most, it's worth noting that, unlike some other rugged smartphones that have huge capacity batteries, we are looking at a phone that's limited to 7,500 mAh. That's more than enough for a good day's use using various apps, watching multimedia, and making calls, but if you're off hiking away from civilisation for a few days, then this phone will offer about the same longevity as most other smartphones.

The final key feature of the BL7000 is its AI potential, and it really does have potential. The integration is well thought through. Once you get your head around the apps, and the text-to-video, enhancement options, and AI assistance, it really does all come together well, although I'm resevered about the text-to-music. The only thing that limits its use is the high subscription rates, which may be the reason such a capable phone comes at such a low price: a way to get you to buy the affordable hardware and then recover the money through AI software purchases.

Should I buy the Blackview BL7000?

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