Cat's new S50 rugged smartphone features LTE, Snapdragon CPU, and Android KitKat

Earlier this year, Cat released the B15Q as “the world's toughest Android KitKat smartphone.” Now, the company is back with another ultra-rugged Android handset called Cat S50. Announced today at IFA 2014, the S50 offers more advanced features for about the same price as the B15Q. 

Unlike the B15Q, which is powered by a MediaTek processor, the S50 uses a 1.2 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 chipset. It’s also got LTE connectivity, a larger IPS shatter-proof screen (4.7-inches with 720 x 1280 pixels and wet finger tracking), and a better rear camera: 8 MP with auto focus and 1080p video recording. The S50 is the first to come pre-loaded with the Cat Phones App Store, which includes more than 1000 apps that have been hand picked to suit the needs of customers who usually buy rugged devices.

Obviously, the Cat S50 is built for harsh environments, being dust- and water-resistant (IP57-certified). Moreover, its MIL-STD-810G rating means it’s impact-resistant and can operate at temperatures between -13°F (-25°C) and 131°F (55 °C). Other features include a VGA front-facing camera, 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB of expandable internal memory, and a 2630 mAh battery that can provide a talk-time of up to 16 hours. The new smartphone measures 144.5 x 77 x 12.7 mm, and weighs 185 grams.

According to Cat, you should be able to find the S50 in the US and Europe as of now. The tough handset costs $499 (or €479 for customers in Europe). Any adventurous users looking forward to buying this? 


source: Cat