We had a few electricians in our office last week, rewiring some benches in PC Labs. One of them had an old Casio flip phone attached to his belt. Why do not you have a smartphone? I asked. Because he was unable to find one who can stand against HVAC pipe banged all day, he said. Choice Sonim XP7 Editors' is the phone to him. It is not only difficult; It has a three-year, no-questions-asked warranty manufacturer. Sonim phone sets apart from competitors such as Kyocera Brigadier, our top pick for rugged smartphone on Verizon Wireless.
Sonim XP7 has just launched in the US, unlocked for $ 579 through Indiegogo in a package that includes a waterproof Bluetooth headset and a $ 19 prepaid SIM card. (Do not worry, it will not crowdfunded, Sonim is only using Indiegogo as a platform for e-commerce.) Is also currently available from two national providers of Canada, Bell and Telus, for $ 199 with a two-year contracts; This is coming from major US carriers early next year.
Unlock model is the best to work with AT & T or compatible networks, such as AT & T SIM Straight Talk's. It will also work, with a slightly lower range (it is missing one 3G band) on T-Mobile.
Physical Properties and ruggedization
Sonim XP7 is the size of most other phones that compete with a ruggedized case. Here, the case is built on. 2.8 by 5.4 by 0.78 inches (HWD) and an amazing 10.2 ounces, plus a stub that looks like the antenna, but hold the speakerphone, it pocket friendly. This phone is designed to keep a coat pocket or on a belt clip.
XP7 whole body is clad in surprisingly bouncy rubber-drop it into a corner and it can bounce at least six inches in the air. Back has a bunch of little triangular cutouts that can be pried out to show the external antenna port. In front, 5-inch, 1280-by-720 LCD has three big, physical action button below it. The screen is clad in Gorilla Glass 2. The headphone jack is covered by a rubber door; The SIM card slot is actually screwed shut, and you will need a screwdriver to open it. There was a camera, push-to-talk, and alarm button on the side. The charging port is a proprietary, magnetic charger; Sonim ships a special USB cable to the phone. No microSD memory card slot.
Sonim advertising that XP7 is IP68 and IP-69 rated. It is sealed against dust and dirt, and Submersible pressure completely washable, can withstand a metric ton of pressure, is not removed its paint solvents, and can handle the six-foot drops to concrete from any angle. That was pretty intense.
To try at least some of the claim, we run the phone under a faucet for thirty seconds, shook it 20 times in a box of dirt and pebbles Kyocera given us lately, banged it on a steel pipe five times, tried to start it with the key, and it dropped ten times from a height of four feet on the pavement. By the end of the ordeal, the phone shows some scuffs, but nothing a good power-washing is not treatable. Most importantly, the screen will not break when dropped face-down onto the concrete, which is a guaranteed killer for most phones.