This 2014 turned out to be really rich in excellent secure phones. The leaders of the mobile market have also joined the middle-level manufacturers, thanks to which the competition among reliable and robust devices has increased to the limit. Rugged phones 2014 represent both the budget and affordable segments, as well as the premium class of smartphones.

Rugged phones 2014. Samsung Galaxy S5

Until recently, it was difficult to imagine a truly secure flagship device from the South Korean company Samsung. But times are changing, and manufacturers need to make every effort to meet the needs of users. Therefore, the top-end Samsung Galaxy S5 has become a secure smartphone that has an IP67 certificate. Protection is limited to moisture and dust resistance. At the same time, the Samsung Galaxy S5 has not lost its signature and sophisticated design. As for the technical filling of the Galaxy S5, everything is more than in order here: a 5.1-inch (Super AMOLED) display with a resolution of Full HD (1920x1080), a 16-megapixel ISOCELL camera, a 2-megapixel front camera, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor (quad-core with clocked at 2500 MHz), Android operating system (4.4 KitKat).

Rugged phones 2014. Sony Xperia Z2

Another flagship, but this time from Sony. It is noteworthy that the Xperia Z2 has incorporated all the best from its predecessors. This applies not only to the fantastically beautiful appearance, but also to the remarkable security (IP55 / IP58 standard). The smartphone can withstand shallow immersion, which seems incredible with a glass and fragile case. The technical capabilities of the Sony Xperia Z2 are not worse than those of the South Korean rival: Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 quad-core chipset with a nominal frequency of 2300 MHz, 20.7-megapixel camera, 2.2-megapixel front camera, 5.2-inch screen (IPS), Android 4.4.2 platform ( KitKat), 3200 mAh battery.

Protected Phones 2014. Viking Thor

Looking at Viking Thor you immediately understand that you are dealing with a harsh Scandinavian. This phone is reliably protected, because its level of protection just rolls over - IP68. Separately, it is worth highlighting the shockproof degree MIL-810G. The built-in SOS button will also be useful to a certain circle of users. The filling of Viking Thor is good, and only slightly inferior to the market leaders. Inside the smartphone is a MediaTek MT6589T quad-core processor (clocked at 1500 MHz), 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal memory, a 13-megapixel camera with flash, and a 4-inch screen (800 by 480 pixels). Viking Thor operates on the Android 4.2.2 operating system.

Rugged phones 2014. SENSEIT P211

But SENSEIT P211 is one of the cheap phones that are not crammed with a lot of useful and useless features. This phone has a moisture-resistant housing with a degree of protection IP66. There is also a fall sensor and an SOS key. At the same time, SENSEIT P211 has large and clear physical buttons, making the device suitable not only for average users, but also for the elderly. SENSEIT P211 has a minimum of functions, as it is a simple dialer. Here you can find a 2-inch color screen, 0.3-megapixel camera, GPS, FM radio, 1300 mAh battery.

Rugged Phones 2014. Runbo Q5

An excellent choice for travelers and extreme people is the Runbo Q5 phone. The device is very well protected, as evidenced by its appearance. Its functionality is impressive, because Runbo Q5 can even become a real walkie-talkie for a while, for which a separate antenna is provided. A screwdriver is also included with the smartphone (a useful thing in the household). In terms of technical characteristics, the Runbo Q5 largely repeats the Viking Thor. Only Runbo Q5 received the best screen with a resolution of 1280 by 720 pixels and a 4.5-inch diagonal. We should not forget about the battery, which has a capacity of 4200 mAh. True, as is the case with most Chinese devices, Q5 is often sold defective. Therefore, when buying, you should carefully check the smartphone for performance.

Perhaps you often work in extreme weather conditions, enjoy hunting or fishing, or are simply tired of being afraid that something will spill on your precious smartphone. In this case, a shock-resistant, dust-proof, and moisture-proof smartphone will be simply indispensable. The question is which of the many models to choose.

The best rugged smartphones of 2018 have one drawback. They will never win the "mobile beauty pageant" because they are targeting a different audience. And for those looking for an aesthetically pleasing model, look no further than the latest Samsung Galaxy S9 or iPhone X models.

It costs, on average, 29,990 rubles.

Characteristics:

• smartphone with Android 7.0
• dual SIM support
• camera 13 MP, autofocus
• RAM 3 GB
• battery 5000 mAh
• weight 218 g, WxHxD 75x152x12.85 mm

The top 10 shock-resistant and waterproof smartphones are opened by a five-inch model in a solid-looking rubberized case. The phone is IP68 certified, which means it has been tested (not just engineered) to be completely dust and sand resistant, and can function properly even after spending half an hour underwater at depths of more than 1 meter.

Cat S41 is also resistant to high humidity, vibration and large temperature fluctuations. It also has "warm, tube" mechanical buttons.

Inside the smartphone are: Mediatek MT6757 mid-range processor (better known as Helio P20), Mali-T880 GPU, 32GB ROM and 3GB RAM.

Users will certainly appreciate the capacious 5000 mAh battery, which, according to the manufacturer, can support the phone for 44 days of standby time and 38 hours of talk time.

Pros:

• Bright Full HD screen with good color reproduction.
• There is a fast charging function.
• It is possible to expand the amount of internal storage.
• There is NFC.
• The main 13 MP camera takes good pictures in normal lighting conditions.

Minuses:

• High price

The average cost is 8,490 rubles.

Characteristics:

• smartphone with Android 7.0
• dual SIM support
• screen 5″, resolution 1280×720
• camera 8 MP
• memory 16 GB, slot for memory card
• RAM 2 GB
• weight 224 g, WxHxD 79x154x13.90 mm

The novelty of 2018 is enclosed in a waterproof and shock-resistant rubberized case. It has extra lugs to absorb impact when dropped. In the hand, this five-inch device feels like a heavy bar due to its weight of 224 grams.

Under the rubberized “hood” is a MediaTek MT6737 quad-core processor designed for budget-class devices, as well as 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of ROM.

This is the only device in the rating of rugged smartphones that has an IP65 rating - complete dust tightness and protection against water currents or strong jets hitting from any direction. It can be used in the rain, but it is better not to immerse it completely in water.

Pros:

• Long-lasting battery with a capacity of 3200 mAh.
• There is support for fourth generation networks.
• The front and rear 8-megapixel cameras take good photos in clear weather.
• You can remove unnecessary programs without root access.

Minuses:

• There is no fingerprint sensor.
• No NFC.

The average price is 8,999 rubles.

Characteristics:

• smartphone with Android 6.0
• dual SIM support
• screen 4.7″, resolution 1280×720
• camera 16 MP, autofocus
• memory 32 GB, slot for memory card
• 3G, 4G LTE, LTE-A, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS
• RAM 3 GB
• battery 3500 mAh
• weight 222 g, WxHxD 76x152x13.60 mm

This 4.7-inch smartphone features a fully removable rear panel. However, this means that every time you remove the 3500 mAh battery, replace the SIM cards, install a microSD card, you will need to remove 10 screws (using the supplied screwdriver) and also remove the translucent sealing gasket that protects the “stuffing” of the gadget. Laborious work.

Inside the device is a Mediatek MTK6737 quad-core chip clocked at 1.3GHz with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage.

Pros:

• The magnesium alloy frame makes the HT20 Pro shock resistant.
• There is a slot for a memory card.
• Good main 16 MP camera.

Minuses:

• Quiet sound.
• Dim screen.
• It is better not to play “heavy games” on this smartphone and do not open many programs at the same time. It will get very hot.
• The battery runs out quickly (according to the tests made by users, the actual capacity is 3100 mAh).
• No NFC.

You can buy for 16,790 rubles.

Characteristics:

• smartphone with Android 7.0
• dual SIM support
• screen 5″, resolution 1920×1080
• camera 16 MP, autofocus, f/2
• 3G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, GPS, GLONASS
• RAM 6 GB
• battery 4180 mAh
• weight 233 g, WxHxD 79.20x153x12.60 mm

Chinese manufacturer Blackview is slowly building a reputation in the market for good waterproof and shockproof phones with its solid BV lineup.

One of its representatives - BV8000 Pro - is equipped with a 5-inch Full HD display covered with Corning Gorilla Glass 3. It is bright and contrast enough for an IPS display.

As a processor for this smartphone, the manufacturer has chosen an eight-core MediaTek P25 Helio clocked at up to 2.6 GHz and with ARM Mali T-880 MP2 graphics. The pride of the BV8000 Pro is the large amount of both RAM and ROM-memory - 6 GB and 64 GB, respectively. There are 8-megapixel and 16-megapixel cameras on the front and back of the smartphone.

Pros:

• The smartphone is equipped with a very capacious 4180 mAh battery.
• Loud and clear sound.
• It is possible to expand the memory up to 256 GB. Moreover, the slot is not combined with one of the SIM cards.
• There is a fast charging function.
• There is a fingerprint scanner.
• There is NFC.
• There is a dedicated PTT (push-to-talk) button.

Minuses:

• This rugged IP68-rated smartphone has no protective flaps for its connectors, both the USB Type-C port (top) and the audio jack (bottom). Therefore, special care must be taken to ensure that no liquid enters the connector when connecting external peripherals such as a charger or headphones.

The average price is 14,255 rubles.

Characteristics:

• smartphone with Android 7.0
• dual SIM support
• screen 5″, resolution 1920×1080
• camera 13 MP, autofocus
• memory 32 GB, slot for memory card
• 3G, 4G LTE, LTE-A, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS
• RAM 3 GB
• battery 3500 mAh
• weight 223 g, WxHxD 78.90x153x12.60 mm

This five-inch gadget is a strong middling in all respects, starting from the battery capacity - 3500 mAh and the operating temperature range (from -20C ° to + 55C °) and ending with the amount of built-in and RAM - 32 GB and 3 GB, respectively. But the manufacturer installed a budget chipset - MediaTek MT6737T, so you can not count on fast work of "heavy" games and applications. However, for most secure smartphones, the emphasis is not on performance at all.

The smartphone complies with IP68 water and dust protection class and can withstand drops from a height of up to 1.2 meters and immersion in water for up to half an hour.

Pros:

• There is a slot for expanding memory up to 64 GB.
• There is a fingerprint sensor.

Minuses:

• No NFC.
• The main 13 MP camera often "soaps" pictures.
• You will have to buy wireless headphones, because the 3.5 jack connector is longer than conventional phones due to the protected case.

The average cost is 16,250 rubles.

Characteristics:

• smartphone with Android 7.0
• dual SIM support
• camera 13 MP, autofocus
• memory 32 GB, slot for memory card
• 3G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, GLONASS
• RAM 3 GB
• battery 10000 mAh
• weight 330 g, WxHxD 86.50×168.80×15.90 mm

This 5.5-inch device may not be the most secure smartphone in the world, but it is one of the heaviest. It weighs as much as 330 gr. And the thing is that it is equipped with a fantastically capacious 10,000 mAh battery. Ideal if you are going to a place where you can not often charge your smartphone.

Inside the K10000 Max is the MediaTek MT6753 chip, a common solution for mid-range devices. Built-in storage is 32 GB and can be expanded up to 128 GB using a memory card. The amount of RAM is 3 GB.

The device has protection against penetration into water and small particles according to the IP68 standard.

Pros:

• There is a fingerprint scanner.
• There is a modern USB Type-C connector.
• In terms of battery capacity, the smartphone has no competitors in the ranking.
• The charging and headphone jacks are well protected, but not recessed into the case.
• Good rear 13 MP camera.

Minuses:

• Not a very bright flashlight.
• No NFC.

It is possible to buy for 26,900 rubles.

Characteristics:

• smartphone with Android 7.0
• dual SIM support
• screen 5.5″, resolution 1920×1080
• camera 16 MP, autofocus
• memory 64 GB, slot for memory card
• 3G, 4G LTE, LTE-A, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, GLONASS
• RAM 6 GB
• battery 5000 mAh
• weight 313 g, WxHxD 91x171x15.50 mm

If you're looking for a big, rugged, yet elegant smartphone, then look no further than the Runbo F1 Plus. This 5.5-inch device is housed in a beautiful and shock-resistant case.

Gadget protection complies with IP67 and MIL-810G standards. This means that it can withstand short-term bathing at depths of up to 1 meter and has successfully passed shock and vibration tests.

For its price, the characteristics of the smartphone are quite worthy. The MediaTek Helio P20 processor with Mali-T880 MP2 graphics is responsible for fast work, and not all smartphones without dust and water protection have 6 GB of RAM and 64 GB of flash memory.

Pros:

• Capacious battery 5000 mAh.
• There is a fast charging function.
• It is possible to expand the memory up to 256 GB.
• The 16 MP main camera takes great pictures in normal lighting conditions.
• Perfectly catches satellites even in the city even in the forest.
• The kit includes a magnetic USB cable - protection against accidental damage to the phone (relevant for forgetful people and those who like to pull the cable hard).

Minuses:

• The sound from the speaker, although loud, is not too clear.
• No NFC.

On average, it costs 22,700 rubles.

Characteristics:

• smartphone with Android 7.0
• dual SIM support
• screen 5.2″, resolution 1920×1080
• camera 16 MP, autofocus, f/2.2
• memory 32 GB, slot for memory card
• 3G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, GPS, GLONASS
• RAM 2 GB
• battery 4100 mAh
• weight 166 g, WxHxD 75.80x154x9.29 mm

If you dream of a shockproof and waterproof smartphone with mechanical buttons, then this is in front of you. And let them say that hardware buttons have long gone out of fashion, they evoke nostalgic thoughts. Under the central button is a fingerprint sensor. An additional key launches a special application for those who love outdoor activities. But it can be reassigned.

This "indestructible" 5.2-inch IP67 smartphone has, unfortunately, budget features: an octa-core Snapdragon 435 chip, 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB of ROM. But it is possible to expand the internal storage up to 2 TB.

The 4100 mAh battery is enough for two to three days of work in medium mode.

Pros:

• There is an LED event indicator.
• There is fast charging.
• There is NFC.
• A good rear 16 MP camera that takes detailed photos with good color reproduction.

Minuses:

• The buttons are pressed quite gently, and when not needed.
• High price.

It is offered for 34,990 rubles.

Characteristics:

• smartphone with Android 7.1
• dual SIM support
• screen 5.5″, resolution 1920×1080
• dual camera 12/12 MP, autofocus
• memory 64 GB, slot for memory card
• 3G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, GPS, GLONASS
• RAM 6 GB
• battery 6000 mAh
• weight 250 g, WxHxD 83.40×168.50×14 mm

Some may not like the poor screen-to-body ratio of this 5.5-inch device. However, the advantage of this approach is that in return you get more material around fragile parts (for example, a screen). And this will soften the fall.

On the back, you'll find two 12MP camera sensors, a large LED flash, an AGM logo, a square fingerprint sensor, and a small speaker. And an annoying factor is the presence of a glass panel, which is not only a magnet for fingerprints, but can also break or get scratched.

The advantages of AGM X2 include IP68 protection, a high-performance Qualcomm Snapdragon 653 processor, 6 GB of RAM and 64 GB of flash memory, as well as a VOC air quality sensor and ambient temperature and relative humidity sensors.

Pros:

• Superb 6000 mAh battery.
• There is a slot for memory expansion.
• There is fast charging.
• There is NFC.
• The front camera has a 16-megapixel sensor and takes great selfies.
• AMOLED screen is very bright, rich and with excellent color reproduction.

Minuses:

• The screen does not have an oleophobic coating.
• High price compared to most competitors.
• An obsolete type of micro-USB connector.
• The memory card or SIM card may sometimes “fall off”.

Can be purchased for 18,090 rubles.

Characteristics:

• smartphone with Android 7.1
• dual SIM support
• screen 5.7″, resolution 1440×720
• dual camera 13/5 MP, autofocus, f/2
• memory 128 GB, slot for memory card
• 3G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, GPS
• RAM 6 GB
• battery 4180 mAh

This brutal-looking rugged smartphone is a novelty of 2018, which is optimal in terms of price and features.

The BV9000 Pro is an evolution of the BV8000 Pro design. The manufacturer abandoned the bright IP68 logo, returned the fingerprint reader to the rear panel, and added more strict black color.

While the new Blackview flagship phone is larger than its predecessor, it doesn't feel massive despite having a much larger 5.7-inch display (compared to the BV8000 Pro's 5-inch). The screen has an aspect ratio of 18:9, reflecting the current trend in the smartphone market.

BV9000 Pro is powered by Mediatek MT6757 (Helio P25) octa-core chipset. It has a slightly higher clock speed compared to the MT6757 that is built into the BV8000 Pro. Flash memory has also become larger - 128 GB, but the amount of RAM has not changed compared to the BV8000 Pro - 6 GB.

The rear camera has become dual - 13/5 MP and has not only a macro mode, but also an optical Zoom 2x. But the battery capacity has not changed - 4180 mAh.

Pros:

• Excellent color reproduction and brightness, large display protected by Corning gorilla glass 5.
• You can install a microSD card.
• There is a fast charging function.
• There is a fingerprint scanner.
• There is NFC.

Minuses:

• Uncomfortable to hold in a small hand.
• There is no headphone jack, but the included adapter is included.
• There is a face unlock function, but so far it works purely formally. Perhaps this will be fixed in new updates.

Summing up

Our favorites in terms of features and cost are the Blackview BV9000 Pro and Blackview BV8000 Pro.

And if you need a smartphone with an extremely capacious battery, then choose OUKITEL K10000 Max or AGM X2 - you can't go wrong.

For those who are looking for a budget rugged smartphone, the BQ BQ-5003L Shark Pro, Archos Sense 50X or HOMTOM HT20 Pro are perfect.

If you want your smartphone to have mechanical buttons, then there is no alternative to the LG X venture M710DS and Caterpillar Cat S41.

The highest performing rugged smartphones include the Runbo F1 Plus, Blackview BV9000 Pro, AGM X2, and Blackview BV8000 Pro.

If you really need a rugged, shockproof, dust and water resistant smartphone, our ranking of the best rugged/shockproof smartphones will help you.

Every time your smartphone is on the floor after being dropped, you hopefully expect to see its screen intact, but often it breaks. Most people, in order to exclude such cases, buy protective cases and stick protective films / glasses on the screen. But even this will not always save your phone from damage.

For those who work in challenging environments or live an active lifestyle and are exposed to the environment, a rugged/shockproof smartphone that meets the ruggedness rating and military standard might be the best choice. A rugged smartphone will be a smart choice as a second phone during sports, outdoor trips and travel.

What does IP67, IP68 mean

Internatiol Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) — The International Electrotechnical Commission has developed a set of standards that characterize the ability of a device enclosure to resist the ingress of solid particles or water. After verification by tests, the device is assigned a security class.

IP - International Protection Marking - international protection codes.

If considered applicable to smartphones, then the code consists of two digits IP(XY).

"X" the first digit indicates the protection class against the ingress of external solid particles such as dust. In smartphones, this is usually 5 or 6.

"5" - means that the device is dust-proof, but some amount can get inside, but does not harm the operation of the device.

"6" - dustproof device, solid particles cannot penetrate inside the device.

"Y"- indicates the class of protection against moisture ingress, in smartphones it is 7 or 8.

"7" - short-term immersion in water to a depth of 1 m. During short-term immersion, liquid does not enter in quantities that can disrupt the operation of the device. The permanent operation of the device in the submerged position is not expected.

"8" - Immersion to the input, lasting more than 30 minutes and to a depth of more than 1 meter. The device can work in the immersed state.

What does MIL-STD-810G mean?

MIL-STD-810G - Military Standard set of properties for laboratory testing, allows you to find out the resistance of a variety of equipment to all sorts of influences. Passing tests according to MIL-STD-810G is a prerequisite for participation in procurement for the supply of equipment and components for the US Department of Defense and NATO

The purpose of the standard:

• Identification of defects production processes , packaging technology , design , materials used , and service methods .
• Evaluation of the effective operation of equipment under impact unfavorable environmental conditions .
• Determination of influencing factors, their magnitude and duration during the life of the equipment.
• Development of methods for laboratory testing and testing of equipment and the length of its life cycles.

To stand out, the best rugged smartphones offer more than the usual features, such as having a thermal imager, a VOC meter, or being used as a PowerBank to recharge your devices. Be sure that in the rating of rugged smartphones, all devices are dust and moisture resistant, which means they correspond to the IP68 class, they also have a reinforced case that will protect them from falls. But, it's worth remembering that although the devices have been tested to military standards, the result of a fall can be distinguishable from laboratory tests.

There are a large number of secure smartphones on the market, and it is not so easy to choose truly high-quality ones. Of the major manufacturers, only Samsung has a line of secure Galaxy Active smartphones, which, unfortunately, is not supplied to Russia. But after analyzing, having studied many reviews, tests and customer reviews, we found more interesting brands, the German AGM, the American Catpillar and several Chinese brands.

What to Expect in an IP68 Rugged/Shockproof Smartphone

• Battery from 3500 to 6000 mAh
• Most have at least 3GB of RAM, and some have 6GB.
• IP68 rated and MIL-STD-810G compliant
• The presence of a slot for a memory card
• From 16 to 128 GB of internal memory

Distribution of smartphones by price category

The best rugged / shockproof smartphones with a powerful battery under 10,000 rubles

The best rugged / shockproof smartphones with a powerful battery under 15,000 rubles

The best rugged / shockproof smartphones with a powerful battery under 20,000 rubles

There are quite a few rugged phones on the smartphone market today. They are dustproof, waterproof, and even shockproof. Today we will look at the top ten best secure smartphones.

1. Ranger Fone S19 (Batl S19, MANN S19)

This smartphone, made in China, went on sale relatively recently. It has a very high degree of protection, very good technical characteristics and is quite convenient to use. The size of the device is not so big, and the presence of NFC makes it an indispensable assistant in life. Almost the only drawback of this model is its low popularity in the market.

2. Casio GzOne CA-201L

This smartphone is the best rugged smartphone made in Japan. Its miniature size and design are very pleasing to the eye. The device supports GPS, which is very fast. The only downside of this smartphone was that it was made on Korean firmware, which was intended for only one telecom operator. Therefore, to send SMS or make a call, you had to use the Internet. Also, the phone did not have the ability to switch to Cyrillic using the Android keyboard. Over time, all these problems have been corrected.

3.Hummer H5

A fairly strong Chinese-made brand in the style of "Off-road" is not at all like a budget model, as it was with other phones of this class. And the prices for the previous SUVs were not very high, as were their technical characteristics. But time does not stand still, and quality improves along with its course. Hummer H5 provides maximum water resistance and average performance.

4.Snopow M8

This smartphone appeared in CIS online stores in February 2014. The M8 is not a flagship, but provides the ultimate in water and impact protection. The disadvantage is the poor touch sensitivity of the sensor and the lack of good reviews in various online markets. Specifications also do not allow you to take a higher rating line.

5. Land Rover A8

A smartphone with average characteristics, but with a very high level of protection. The device is assembled very high quality. There are no bugs on it, the speed of work is quite high. A capacious battery, a bright flashlight, loud speakers and the presence of hiking applications make it stand out from the crowd. The price is reasonable compared to other smartphones of this type.

6. Runbo Q5

The technical characteristics of the smartphone fully allow us to call it a flagship. This makes the Q5 stand out from the entire Runbo lineup. If you look at the security of the device, it becomes clear that it is far from the best. This is evidenced by user reviews. The plugs are not fixed with latches, so water can easily get inside the smartphone through the USB connector. The same thing with the plug for the walkie-talkie - it also does not seal the connector.

7. Runbo X6

An ultra-functional smartphone with dimensions approaching the dimensions of a tablet. Because of this, it has a lot of weight. The price of the device is quite high.

8. BATL S09 PPT

This smartphone, which appeared in Ukraine in the second half of 2013, has good technical characteristics and good security. This is actually the first quad-core smartphone with high security. The plugs of the connectors are very tightly fixed, so it is not recommended to open them with your nails. The model is sold under a huge number of names (Enjoy S09, SIDAV STORM, Chigon S09, Tekfly S09, IRON M09, Cruiser S09, W63, etc.), which does not affect the defect rate, which is very small. Among all secure phones, it is currently the most bug-free and reliable.

9. Ruggear RG970 (J4 Fox)

J4 has become one of the most beautiful rugged devices. Speed, performance above average, ease of use, good reception of satellites via GPS. Despite all these advantages, the price of the device is too big. Everything would be fine if it were not for bugs in the firmware. The incomplete core of the firmware, the absence of a number of technical services. Despite these shortcomings, the smartphone has gained a lot of fans.

10. Kyocera Torque E6710

Japanese device that appeared in the CIS in early spring 2013. A clear advantage of the smartphone is the presence of the MIL-STD-810G standard, good moisture and dust resistance, the presence of an NFC module and a walkie-talkie, high-quality GPS operation and the ability to work in 4G networks. The sensor of the device is very sensitive (which did not affect the protection). Despite the dual-core processor, the speed of work is very pleasing. This smartphone has the world's best noise reduction technology, thanks to which there is no standard speaker, and the audibility of a conversation is excellent even at the airport. The main drawback is the lack of support for the GSM standard, which makes it impossible to work with most telecom operators in the CIS.

Neither more nor less - the most sophisticated shockproof smartphone in the world. Just as Xiaomi made smartphones with high-capacity batteries fashionable, Motorola was the first to create a prestigious rugged smartphone in the body of a regular model.

The experiment began with the 2015 Moto X Force. At that time, the model was super-top, with one main difference from competitors - a screen covered with several layers of protective plates. All other characteristics of the Armor-Moto were typical for flagships, and the goofy Snapdragon 810 processor, and cheap cameras were inferior to the creations of Samsung and Apple, but the X Force was far from a budget-friendly device that felt incredibly difficult to break, and due to this became a cult

mobile phone (as opposed to shame and disgrace in the form of the reincarnation of Nokia 3310). Therefore, it is not surprising that Motorola released a rugged model for the Z-series in 2016.

The new time, unfortunately, dictates new trends, so the secure smartphone has become a little more “glamourous” to please more customers. There are a lot more vulnerable spots for scratches on the case, and the fingerprint scanner on the front panel is now easy to “beat off” instead of the screen if the smartphone lands badly. The camera on the rear panel sticks out of the body with a large round glass - a protective "armor" is not supposed to be there, because, according to Motorola's idea, buyers will attach modules to the back cover. And because of the “you need to do it like Apple” complexes, Motorola removed the standard headphone jack - connect, they say, a headset through an adapter or directly to USB Type-C.

Therefore, in terms of strength and “bells and whistles”, the old Moto X Force looks preferable, but only in the “zetka” you will get a modern and very fast Snapdragon processor, a cool AMOLED display with Quad HD resolution, a capacious battery and modern high-quality cameras. And all this in the thinnest, by the standards of secure smartphones, a 7 mm thick case, just like your iPhone 7!

But you will have to pay for such a combination, moreover, to foreign stores and in large sizes - the new Moto Z Force will cost from 35 to 45 thousand rubles and is unlikely to get cheaper. In any case, we recommend it to anyone who wants the coolest mobile phone that is guaranteed not to break after falling out of their hands on concrete.

Samsung Galaxy S7 Active - macho flagship in camouflage

Samsung has time everywhere, and Koreans also pay attention to the class of secure phones. Ever since the Galaxy S5, Korean flagships have received tuned versions with water protection. The Galaxy S7, which is still relevant today, has also become an “SUV”, but only in its flat (without a curved display) version. Yes, and with a battery capacity of 4000 mAh, that is, with the main drawback of the regular S7 corrected.

The level of protection against water in the smartphone is the same as in “just Galaxy S7” - according to the IP68 certificate (it will survive half an hour under water at a depth of up to 1.5 meters without any problems). But the case of the smartphone is now not glossy and not rectangular in Korean, so those who are annoyed by Samsung's "blurred" forms will like it. And most importantly, in such a body kit, the S7 is protected according to the military standard MIL-STD-810G, that is, it is not afraid of exposure to high and low temperatures, extreme shaking and dust, and without consequences it will transfer a fall from one and a half meters to a flat surface.

Samsung Galaxy S7 Active

True, it is far from being armored as harshly as Motorola's Force-series. The display is covered with plastic, under which the same Gorilla Glass protective glass is hidden. Therefore, it is better not to drop the smartphone "for fun", as the owners of X Force like to do.

There are no spare parts for the outlandish model anywhere, they sell it only in the USA exclusively from the AT&T operator, the firmware from the “simple” Galaxy S7 is not suitable, the Russian language has to be installed by “workarounds”, and buying a smartphone abroad will cost about 35 thousand rubles. Not so cheap as for a smartphone, we assume, without a guarantee, which, moreover, still needs to be adapted to work in Russia. But this is a real Galaxy S7 with its cool camera, the most AMOLED display, the flagship and very high-quality stuffing. There is simply no other equally prestigious rugged smartphone.

Blackview BV7000 Pro - cheap and fancy

Every smartphone, in addition to its basic characteristics, has the so-called "moral strength". It lies in the fact that you will a priori treat a mobile phone worth 40-50 thousand rubles more carefully than with a budget model - you will not talk on the flagship in a dusty place, wrap a glass smartphone in a cheap case from Aliexpress and filthy films. In general, you will make futile attempts to keep an expensive mobile phone, even to the detriment of the freedom to use it.

This makes sense if you are a geek who uses the stuffing of an obscenely expensive model to its fullest. But why "protect yourself" and spend huge amounts of money if you just need a modern, moderately fast smartphone for a little bit of everything? It’s enough just not to be a “mobile photographer” and look around a little to pick up a quite fast and inexpensive Chinese phone, which, moreover, will not be a pity beyond measure.

Among the protected models, the Blackview BV7000 Pro looks like a sensible option - one of the newest and most technically advanced protected “Chinese”. Water protection class IP68, durable protective glass, which, although it will not save you from falling from a great height, will not crack from medium-intensity impacts. In general, the smartphone is not completely indestructible, but very strong.

Blackview BV7000 Pro

And salt lies in the ratio of characteristics and price. For 11 thousand rubles you get a faceted model with metal inserts, a Full HD display, a quite intelligent MT6750T processor (do not be alarmed - this is the “reinvented” MT6753) even with 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of storage + a microSD slot and 3500 mAh with a five-inch display diagonal. The specs look decent even without the premium for water resistance and partial shock resistance.

Flaws? Mediocre cameras (not horror-horror, but like in smartphones costing 6-7 thousand in Russia), unpredictable build quality from copy to copy and almost no manufacturer support. That is, the "glitches" of the firmware are the problems of customers, and not the motivation for releasing an update over the air.

Blackview BV7000 Pro

But the smartphone is cheap, fancy and secure - competitors are either noticeably more expensive or full of old hardware, and also not buggy. Do not expect that you will come across a completely problem-free BV7000 Pro, but if you have experience in disputes on Aliexpress (to knock out a discount from the seller for shortcomings) and without pathos “everything that is worse than an iPhone is scrap metal” you can take it.

But seriously, the Chinese brand AGM releases smartphones, as they say, for a week without a year, but does not look like another “scumbag” manufacturer. Normal (not cool, but normal) stuffing for your money, and not quite a Chinese price. In short, the realities are as follows:

• Snapdragon 617- today it has turned into a Snapdragon 430 state employee. Eight leisurely cores.
• 4/64 GB of memory. Solid, especially against the background of crafts with 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB on the internal drive in official retail.
• 5.5" Full HD AMOLED display. Excellent considering the price.
• 5400 mAh in battery. We recall the efficiency of the display and rejoice. We learn that the smartphone supports Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 fast charging and rejoice again.
• dual rear camera. Bad dual camera, worse than Redmi Pro. That is, an additional sensor is needed only for post-processing, in order to slightly improve the picture. But the automation is blunt, and high-quality pictures are obtained only on a very sunny day.
• Fingerprint's scanner.Thank you for being alive, as they say.

Everything else is so-so. Android 5.1 (yes, in 2017), although the Chinese promise to upgrade to Android 7.0, the speaker is of poor quality, the system is periodically overcome by “glitches” and freezes for no particular reason. But there is water protection (IP68), the case is durable, autonomy is good. Whether to pay 16 thousand rubles for such joy is an open question. There are practically no alternatives to the "X-first" with equally good characteristics "on paper". And the reliability of both AGM and its Chinese counterparts is dubious.