Rugged Phones FAQ
Rugged Mobile Phones FAQ
Are you interested in purchasing a Rugged Smartphone? If so then you might have some questions.
We aim to answer a number of common questions in this article. Of course if there's anything we haven't covered then why not drop us an email on sales@clove.co.uk or call us on +44 (0) 1202 552 936.
You can also view our full range of Rugged Smartphones by clicking HERE.
What makes a phone rugged?
It's a broad definition but usually a rugged smartphone has a level of Ingress Protection (an IP rating) and is resilient to drops, falls and potential damage. Sometimes they are designed for extremes of temperature and pressure too.
Having an IP Rating might mean the phone is waterproof, although sometimes just water resistant. We'll cover that later.
They are often quite large - a result of having a thick casing that is manufactured to withstand impacts.
The operating system doesn't generally matter, but almost all of the rugged phones Clove sell will be using a version of Android.
Who are they for?
Well anyone really! Specifically though rugged phones tend to be marketed towards trades people (builders, plumbers, carpenters, electricians, site workers etc.)
Other people that might find a rugged phone useful are those who enjoy the outdoors; hiking, cycling, skating and other active pursuits.
Depending on the model, some rugged phones are better suited to individuals who want a resilient phone that still has lots of modern capabilities. Cat are a good brand for this. Other models such as the RugGear or Motorola Solutions & Zebra range are aimed more at companies who want to provide stable devices to a fleet of workers.
Which manufacturers produce them?
There are various manufacturers producing rugged phones with differing levels of protection and target industries.
Zebra - (previously Motorola Solutions) - Develop Symbol products, some of the most popular devices with big business and corporations.
Cat - Recognised worldwide, the Cat brand has also become very popular in this category. Most of Cat's phones are better suited to the individual consumer. Cat have a number of phones at different specifications and prices.
Sonim - A longstanding prestige brand from Europe, well-known for producing intrinsically-safe handsets for industrial and commercial applications. Sonim also have a small range of consumer grade rugged smartphones which we offer where available
Samsung - Better known for traditional consumer phones, Samsung so have the xCover range. Not hugely rugged but still offering some waterproofing and tougher screens than normal, xCover phones tend to be an affordable choice where just a little extra protection is needed.
ToughPhone - A bespoke brand developing the Defender phone.
Blackview - A fairly new Chinese brand delivering a wide range of affordable rugged handsets at various specification and price points.
Hammer - A new brand offering affordable rugged devices.
How does Ingress Protection work?
When looking at details for a rugged phone you will often see an IP rating. You can read our blog post about these for a full breakdown.
IP ratings refer how well sealed the product is. Understanding the rating lets you know which conditions the phone can be exposed to.
The first number refers to solid objects and the second deals with water/liquid.
1st number (Solid particle protection)
The first digit recognises the mechanical protection as detailed below:
2nd number (liquid ingress protection)
The second digit illustrates the the level of water ingress protection the device offers, as detailed below:
What is the MIL-STD-810G standard?
This is a United States Military Standard.
The standard was developed originally for military specifc products and applications, however many consumer products reference it as a method of advertising their capabilities. The MIL-STD-810G document was issued in 2008, revised through to 2012.
The document outlines a series of procedures to test a product's response to pressure, temperature, shock/vibration, liquids, gases, radiation and examples of known geographical climatic regions.
What is worth remembering is that a product which has MIL-STD-810G advertised hasn't necessarily passed every test for every possible critria in the document. It may not have actually undergone any testing at all (the procedures can be very expensive and time consuming).
More likely is that the product has simply been manufactured with standard in mind, and in all likelihood should pass these tests should they ever be performed.
For more information, this Wikipedia entry has more information. Should you have more questions regarding the suitability of a MIL-STD-810G claim by the manufacturer, you should ask them directly which tests have been performed and to what the criteria were.
Why choose Clove Technology for a rugged phone?
We are a UK based retailer that has been working in the mobile technology market for over 20 years. We pride ourselves on excellent customer service. We do not just want to sell you the phone – we want to ensure that it is the right choice for you.
Clove offers excellent after-sales care. In the unlikely event a problem develops with your phone, we ensure the amount of time you are without your phone is kept to a minimum and will deal with the relevant manufacturer on your behalf if required.
We understand this is especially important with rugged phones, as often you can’t safely and reliably take a regular consumer phone being used in the interim into the same environments.
Clove maintains a close working relationship with manufacturers giving us excellent product knowledge. So if you are not sure which phone to choose, give us a call, or send an email and we will be happy to discuss your purchase, and answer any pre-sale questions you may have.
Full range of rugged phones
We offer a full range of CAT, JCB, RugGear and Zebra products.
Check out the full range, or if you prefer give us a call on +44 (0) 1202 552 936