Most of today's top smartphones are built with glass backs to match the glass display, but glass makes a phone susceptible to damage if dropped. While phone manufacturers and wireless carriers are more than happy to sell you insurance in case of breakage, or a heavy-duty case, there may be a better option for you: A rugged phone. 

Rugged phones are designed to withstand the elements, with high IP ratings for dust and water resistance, and military-standard testing for durability -- ensuring a better chance of screen survival when dropped. Many have extra battery capacity, or the ability to swap out batteries, so that you can continue working and playing instead of charging on the go. 

Also: The best rugged laptops

Plus, most rugged phones are more affordable than flagship phones, as they are not outfitted with high-end cameras and other advanced technology. Given their price and utility, these phones are perfect for field work or outdoor adventures, and can withstand harsh environmental conditions. (And you always can keep your iPhone or Samsung Galaxy phone at home to pop your SIM card into when you want the latest and greatest in mobile technology.)

To find the best rugged phones on the market, we did weeks of hands-on testing and research. Our pick for the best rugged phone overall is theSamsung Galaxy XCover6 Pro , thanks to its sleek look, customizable hardware buttons, and removable battery. Check out the rest of our picks for the top rugged phones you can buy below.

The best rugged phones of 2023

Samsung Galaxy XCover6 Pro

Best rugged phone overall

Amazon/ Pros & Cons Pros

• Samsung ecosystem
• Affordable
• Samsung DeX support
• Customizable hardware buttons
• Capable dual rear cameras
• Removable battery and microSD card slot

Cons

• Single physical SIM card slot

More Details

Samsung Galaxy XCover6 Pro specs: Display: 6.6 inches (2,408 x 1,080-pixel resolution)  CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G  RAM: 6GB   Internal Storage: 128GB with microSD  Rear cameras: 50MP f/1.8 wide angle and 8MP ultra-wide cameras  Front camera: 13MP f/2.2  Battery: 4050 mAh  Weight: 240g

The Samsung Galaxy XCover6 Pro has a similar sleek form factor as the previous generation XCover Pro, but improves on it with a new processor, more RAM, and better cameras. For businesses, it's great to see the addition of Samsung DeX support, so you can capture information in the field and use the same phone to power your desktop experience.

Rugged features include MIL-STD 810G 1.5m drop test certification, IP68 dust- and water-resistant rating, a large capacity 4,050mAh removable battery, and Pogo Pin support for accessories.

View now at Amazon

Kyocera DuraForce Pro 3

Best designed rugged phone

Verizon/ Pros & Cons Pros

• Sleek
• Reliable fingerprint sensor
• Solid camera performance
• microSD card and removable battery
• Two-year warranty

Cons

• Expensive

More Details

Kyocera DuraForce Pro 3 specs: Display: 5.38 inches (2,160 x 1,080-pixel resolution), OLED  CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1  RAM: 6GB   Internal Storage: 128GB with microSD slot  Rear cameras: 64MP wide angle, 16MP ultra-wide camera and 2MP macro  Front camera: 8MP  Battery: 4270 mAh  Weight: 237g

Rugged phones are built to withstand the elements of field work, and with the new Kyocera DuraForce Pro 3, you get the additional support of Verizon's 5G network. At first glance, its sleek design might have you wondering if it's even a rugged phone, since it's less bulky and awkward to handle than many others on the market.

I spent a couple of weeks using the DuraForce Pro 3 while hiking, running, and exploring the outdoors. It withstood submersion in streams, drops on trails, and rough treatment as I tested its durability.

The Kyocera DuraForce Pro 3 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 processor with 6GB of RAM, 128GB of internal storage, three rear cameras, and a large capacity 4,500 mAh battery. If you plan to spend an extended amount of time in the field taking photos and video, you can swap out a microSD card with support up to 1TB. The battery is also removable so you can carry spares and not have to worry about finding a place to charge the phone. The DuraForce Pro 3 also supports wireless charging, so you don't need to remove the bottom USB-C port plug to top it off.

Read the review: Kyocera DuraForce Pro 3 review

Three user-programmable buttons are available so that you can quickly launch your favorite app or perform key functions with the simple press of a button. This is useful when you want to open an app quickly without having to use the touchscreen. The phone also supports using the phone when you are wearing gloves.  

The phone is designed to endure rough handling with IP68 dust/water resistance, MIL-STD 810H shock test certification, and action overlay data designed to enhance your outdoor adventures.

View now at Verizon View now at Kyocera more buying choices

Unihertz Tank

Best big battery rugged phone

Amazon/ Pros & Cons Pros

• Affordable
• Ample RAM and storage
• Multi-day battery life
• Stock Android software
• Headphone jack

Cons

• No 5G support
• Limited software updates
• Big and heavy

More Details

Unihertz Tank specs: Display: 6.81 inches (2400 x 1080-pixel resolution)  CPU: MediaTek MT6789  RAM: 12GB   Internal Storage: 256GB with microSD  Rear camera: 108MP main, 20MP night vision, and 2MP macro camera  Front camera: 32MP  Battery: 22,000 mAh  Weight: 560g

The Unihertz Tank is a beast of a phone with an enormous 22,000 mAh battery that can be used to charge up your other devices. The back is dominated by a 1200-lumen flashlight with five operating modes.

A 108MP AI camera, 20MP night vision camera, and 2MP macro camera fill out the back camera array with a 32MP front facing camera for outdoor selfies. A MediaTek MT6789 processor powers the phone with ample 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. The 6.81-inch display also provides you with a large screen for viewing maps and data on the go.

The Unihertz Tank clearly lives up to its name, and is available for a reasonable price. 

View now at Amazon

Doogee S100 Pro

Best rugged phone for apocalypse survival

Amazon/ Pros & Cons Pros

• Enormous capacity battery
• Capable cameras
• Ample RAM and storage
• IR, NFC, and FM radio
• Inexpensive

Cons

• Big and heavy

More Details

Doogee S100 Pro specs: Display: 6.58 inches (2400 x 1080-pixel resolution)  CPU: MediaTek Helio G99  RAM: 20GB (12+8 extened)   Internal Storage: 256GB with microSD  Rear cameras: 108MP main, 20MP night vision, and 16MP ultra-wide camera  Front camera: 32MP  Battery: 22,000 mAh  Weight: 400g

If you are looking for a survivalist phone with a battery will last you for days on one charge and will never run out of storage, the Doogee S100 Pro fits that bill. It has a massive 22,000 mAh (yes, that is 22thousandand not hundred) internal battery that can be used to charge up other devices.

's Adrian Kingsley-Hughes tested the Doogee S100 Pro, and noted its hefty size and weight -- but also it's incredible 2,350-hour battery life and low price.

12GB of internal RAM with up to 8GB more extended RAM will support opening many apps, while the 256GB of internal storage and microSD card slot that supports up to 2TB cards will make sure you never run out of storage. Three powerful rear cameras will help you capture your adventures with the night vision camera helping you spot zombies stalking you down.

Read the review: Doogee S100 Pro review

A 130-lumens camping light will help you light up the night. The large display also supports up to 120Hz refresh rate for a fluid mobile experience.

View now at Amazon View now at Doogee more buying choices

Cat S62 Pro

Best rugged phone with a thermal camera

Amazon/ Pros & Cons Pros

• FLIR Lepton 3.5 thermal camera
• Fully rugged (IP68/69 and MIL-810H)
• Manageable size
• Solid battery life
• Enterprise-ready features

Cons

• No air quality sensor or distance tool from S61
• Mid-range performance

More Details

Cat S62 Pro specs: Display: 5.7 inches (2,160 x 1,080-pixel resolution)  CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 660  RAM: 6GB   Internal Storage: 128GB with microSD  Rear cameras: 12MP f/1.8 with Lepton 3.5 FLIR camera  Front camera: 8MP  Battery: 4000 mAh  Weight: 248g

Support for thermal cameras is a great function we have seen in some Cat phones. A thermal camera is a perfect tool for fieldwork, whether you're scanning for hot spots in a switchboard, or seeking them out in an emergency. I packed along the Cat S62 Pro during some sea trials on a new ferry and used it to measure heat levels on various pieces of machinery throughout the engineering spaces.

The Cat S62 Pro has a 5.7-inch display with glove mode, IP68 dust/water resistance, MIL-STD 810H drop test up to 1.8 meters, and more. Plus, this model features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor and Android 10. 

Read the review: Cat S62 Pro review

Despite these features, the FLIR Lepton 3.5 thermal camera is the star of the show, with the ability to measure temperatures between -20 degrees Celsius and 400 degrees Celsius.

View now at Amazon

What is the best rugged phone?

My pick for the best rugged phone is the Samsung Galaxy XCover6 Pro. It's a rugged phone that adds little bulk while also working across all US wireless carriers. The addition of Samsung DeX support makes this a phone that can be used to power a desktop experience.

Best rugged phone	Price	Display size	Storage
Samsung Galaxy XCover6 Pro	$600	6.6 inches	128GB with microSD
Kyocera DuraForce Pro 3	$900	5.38 inches	128GB with microSD
Unihertz Tank	$310	6.81 inches	256GB
Doogee S100 Pro	$359	6.58 inches	256GB
Cat S62 Pro	$649	5.7 inches	128GB with microSD

Which rugged phone is right for you?

All of these phones are powered by Android OS, so there's no choice on the operating system. If you are reading this list, you are probably interested in a rugged phone that can survive drops and water drunks when you're working outside.

The first thing to look for is a unique element that may be specific to your work. For example, do you need a FLIR thermal imaging camera, a night vision camera, a large capacity battery that can be used to charge other devices, or a phone with a removable battery? Check out the unique features and see if any apply to your needs.

The next thing is to check the price, since these rugged phones range from just over$300 to$900.

Choose this best rugged phone	If you want or are...
Samsung Galaxy XCover6 Pro	A tough smartphone for field work with DeX support
Kyocera DuraForce Pro 3	A well-rounded, 5G rugged phone on Verizon
Unihertz Tank	A phone with a big battery and powerful flashlight
Doogee S100 Pro	A phone that has it all that won't fit in your pocket
Cat S62 Pro	A durable phone with a thermal camera

How did we choose these rugged phones?

To determine our picks for the best rugged phones, we did weeks-long real-world testing and research, and consulted colleagues who have hands-on experience with the phones. We considered the following aspects when creating this list: 

• Durability:Perhaps the most important element of a rugged phone is its design and durability under harsh conditions. Most of the rugged phones we chose for this list are MIL-STD 810G-certified. 
• Battery:Rugged phones often have larger batteries than traditional phones, and can last you longer in the field. Many also have removable batteries so you can swap to a new one without having to charge up. 
• Features: While rugged phones lack some of the bells and whistles of your typical iPhone or Samsung Galaxy phone, they often still have impressive cameras and other features worth noting. 
• Price:Rugged phones often cost less than flagship phones, but are still an investment. We want to make sure you're getting the most bang for your buck. 

What is a rugged phone?

A rugged phone is a toughened version of a typical smart or flip phone. Rugged phones have undergone a rigorous design process to make them more resistant to liquids, dirt, dust, drops, shocks, and extreme temperatures. 

They're often tested against military standards for durability, so you can rest assured that your new phone can handle just about anything you'll encounter on an outdoor adventure.

Is it better to just buy a rugged case?

If you're an Apple brand loyalist and must use an iPhone, a rugged case is your best option to protect your phone, since the company has yet to make a toughened version of the iPhone. 

There are lots of options out there for weatherized and ruggedized cases, and the Otterbox brand is one of the most popular. TheOtterbox Defender Series XT case for the iPhone 13 Pro features two layers of protection against drops and shocks, as well as port covers that are designed to keep water and dirt out of buttons and charging ports. It's also compatible with MagSafe chargers and accessories, so you don't have to sacrifice convenience for protection.

What is the most rugged Samsung Phone?

In my opinion, the Samsung Galaxy XCover6 Pro is the best rugged phone for brand loyalists. It features IP68-rated water and dust resistance as well as military-grade shock and drop resistance. It also supports Samsung DeX so you can use it with an external monitor for a PC-like experience.

Which rugged phones are also worth considering?

These picks may not have made our list, but are still worth checking out if you need a new rugged phone. 

Nokia XR20 5G

$349.99 at Amazon

Doogee S97 Pro

$400 at Amazon

Ulefone Armor 11 5G

$470 at Amazon

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