These are the best rugged, most durable smartphones in 2024
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Most phone brands don’t bother making rugged smartphones, but a few truly stand out with tough models packed with handy features.
These phones are tough enough to handle whatever life throws at them—drops, water, dirt—you name it. Whether you're tackling demanding job sites, exploring the great outdoors, or diving into high-impact hobbies, these rugged devices are built to survive and keep going, no matter the challenge.
Below, you'll find the most rugged and durable smartphones money can buy right now.
These phones are tough enough to handle whatever life throws at them—drops, water, dirt—you name it. Whether you're tackling demanding job sites, exploring the great outdoors, or diving into high-impact hobbies, these rugged devices are built to survive and keep going, no matter the challenge.
Best rugged smartphones, a summarized list:
- Kyocera DuraForce PRO 3 - solid mid-range performance, dual-band GPS, works with Verizon's Private 5G network
- Sonim XP10 - decent performance, more affordable than others on this list
- Blackview BL9000 Pro - powerful, thermal camera, 120Hz refresh rate
- DOOGEE S100 (2023) - powerful, great for gaming
- AGM Glory G1S - thermal imaging camera, the biggest speaker on a smartphone
- Samsung Galaxy XCover6 Pro - solid mid-range performance, great for Galaxy users wanting a durable phone
Kyocera DuraForce PRO 3
Verizon exclusive, the Kyocera DuraForce PRO 3 is a rugged phone with MIL-STD-810H certification, which means it's tough as nails and can survive drops from up to 5ft onto concrete. It also boasts an IP68 dust and water resistance rating, meaning it's fully protected against dust and can be submerged in water up to about 5 feet for up to 30 minutes.
The phone supports 5G, including Verizon's Private 5G network, and packs a punch with its mid-range Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset and 6GB of RAM. It also has dual-band GPS, providing more accurate location tracking.
Sonim XP10
If you prefer AT&T, you can go for the Sonim XP10, which is also an extremely tough, rugged smartphone. It boasts MIL-STD-810H and IP68 certifications, giving it incredible durability. It can survive drops from heights of up to 5 feet, water submersion up to 5 feet for up to 30 minutes, and it's fully dust-tight.
Unlike the Kyocera DuraForce PRO 3, though, the Sonim XP10 offers more modest performance. Powered by Snapdragon 480 chipset and coupled with 6GB of RAM, the phone can handle day-to-day tasks, though it might struggle with more demanding ones. However, it's considerably cheaper than the DuraForce PRO 3 at just $569.99.
Unlike the Kyocera DuraForce PRO 3, though, the Sonim XP10 offers more modest performance. Powered by Snapdragon 480 chipset and coupled with 6GB of RAM, the phone can handle day-to-day tasks, though it might struggle with more demanding ones. However, it's considerably cheaper than the DuraForce PRO 3 at just $569.99.
Blackview BL9000 Pro
Just like other phones in this list, the Blackview BL9000 Pro 5G is built like a tank, boasting IP68, IP69K, and MIL-STD-810H ratings. In other words, it can survive falls from heights of up to 5 feet and water submersion up to 5 feet. It's also fully dust-tight and can handle high-pressure, high-temperature water jets.
It's pretty powerful, too. Rocking a Dimensity 8020 chipset and 12GB of RAM, the phone can handle any task or demanding game with ease. Another highlight is its high-res thermal imaging. However, this fella is far from affordable, as it will set you back around $800. But, it does offer a lot, including a 6.78-inch LCD display with a 120Hz refresh rate, so it's worth considering.
DOOGEE S100 (2023)
How does a rugged phone with 12GB of RAM, 8GB of Virtual RAM, 256GB of storage space, and a powerful MediaTek Helio G99 chipset capable of running games without hiccups sound to you? Like a really awesome deal, no doubt. Well, that's the Doogee S100 — a phone with great durability and a lot of firepower.
In addition to its performance, the Doogee S100 packs a 6.58-inch display with 2408 x 1080 resolution (FHD+) and a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. In addition to its performance, the Doogee S100 packs a 6.58-inch display with 2408 x 1080 resolution (FHD+) and a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. Furthermore, this bad boy comes equipped with a humongous 10800 mAh battery and supports 66W wired charging. It gets shipped with a charger inside the box.
The phone is strong in the camera department as well. It features a 108MP main camera, a 32MP shooter for selfies, and a 20MP night vision snapper.
In addition to its performance, the Doogee S100 packs a 6.58-inch display with 2408 x 1080 resolution (FHD+) and a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. In addition to its performance, the Doogee S100 packs a 6.58-inch display with 2408 x 1080 resolution (FHD+) and a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. Furthermore, this bad boy comes equipped with a humongous 10800 mAh battery and supports 66W wired charging. It gets shipped with a charger inside the box.
The phone is strong in the camera department as well. It features a 108MP main camera, a 32MP shooter for selfies, and a 20MP night vision snapper.
AGM Glory G1S
The AGM Glory G1S is a phone built for professionals, with extreme durability and best-in-class thermal imaging camera on board. It also adds 5G connectivity, with bands supported by US carriers.
The Glory G1S is a smartphone that is built to withstand extreme temperatures and is the successor of the original Glory model. If you frequently travel to areas with extreme cold weather, the Glory G1S may be the perfect phone for you as it is designed to last a full day at -27°C (-16.6 °F) and up to 10 hours at -30 °C (-22 °F).
Even at -40 °C (-40 °F), the Glory G1S can still function for an hour, making it a reliable device for those who work or live in extremely cold climates.
Apart from its impressive temperature resistance, the Glory G1S has the biggest speaker on a smartphone, making it a great option for those who enjoy listening to music or watching videos on their phone.
Apart from its impressive temperature resistance, the Glory G1S has the biggest speaker on a smartphone, making it a great option for those who enjoy listening to music or watching videos on their phone.
The phone is sold in a few tiers, with the top model sporting an IR night vision camera and a thermal imaging camera with great resolution.
Buy with discerning eye
Samsung Galaxy XCover6 Pro
While not as rugged as other phones on this list, the Galaxy XCover6 Pro still holds its ground with MIL-STD-810H and IP68 certifications. This means it’s fully dust-tight and can withstand drops and water submersion of up to 5 feet. However, it's worth noting that the back panel tends to fall off when dropped.
On the performance side, the Galaxy XCover6 Pro features a Snapdragon 778G chipset and 6GB of RAM, delivering solid mid-range performance. It handles most tasks effortlessly and can even run demanding games, though you may need to settle for modest settings.
Released back in 2022, the Galaxy XCover6 Pro is the oldest phone on this list. While we’re hopeful Samsung will launch the Galaxy XCover8 Pro next year, the XCover6 Pro remains a solid choice for those seeking a durable Galaxy phone with decent specs — provided you don't need the highest level of durability.
Released back in 2022, the Galaxy XCover6 Pro is the oldest phone on this list. While we’re hopeful Samsung will launch the Galaxy XCover8 Pro next year, the XCover6 Pro remains a solid choice for those seeking a durable Galaxy phone with decent specs — provided you don't need the highest level of durability.
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