More and more phone makers are releasing super-durable smartphones

Sure, an army of pretty and shiny new toys were showcased at this year’s Mobile World Congress, led by Samsung’s newest flagship devices (the Galaxy S9 and the Galaxy S9 Plus), HMD Global’s Nokia 8 Sirocco, and Sony’s new Xperia XZ2 devices, among many others. But the biggest conference for mobile technology also gave an opportunity for new rugged smartphones to get some attention.

Indeed, phone makers such as Bullitt, Crosscall, and RugGear made the most of their participation in the annual tech event by unveiling their newest tough as nails handsets. Not only do these mobile manufacturers offer devices with larger batteries, but also made sure to design their phones to survive the coldest climates, and equip their handsets with Luke Cage like shock absorption capabilities.

Due to the fact that smartphones have become our most personal devices, they also have become the most prone to falling victim to good old human clumsiness. No mobile user wants to go through these scenarios, but every once in a while, a smartphone’s display gets obliterated after being dropped on the street, or a handset goes kaput after being taking a dive in the bath tub. While it is true that most of today’s high profile releases do come with water proofing capabilities, a cracked screen remain a tricky thing to prevent, even with the utmost care (because all it takes is one good drop). 

This frustration has no doubt helped raise more awareness about rugged smartphones. Interestingly, these ultra-durable handsets have existed for many years now -- most casual consumers just do not know they are there. But for those people who are used to adventures outdoors and those professionals working manual labor jobs may be familiar with rugged phones such as the Cat S60, built by Bullitt. 

Speaking of which, Bullitt has recently joined forces with Land Rover to produce the Explore, a smartphone specifically built for the Indiana Joneses and Lara Crofts of the world. Aside from its tough hide, the Land Rover Explore device has advanced GPS, access to premium mapp services, an augmented reality driven view of the environment (thanks to ViewRanger), an SOS flash light, and even a red filter for use at night time.

Interestingly, some of the biggest phone makers in the planet are starting to make rugged versions of their own flagships. A prime example, of course, is Samsung, whose Active lineup of Galaxy devices is starting gain some traction. But for those who want the real deal, they can rest assured (even if a bit bruised and battered), that they got a smartphone that can take a beating, too.