It’s no secret that inflation is real, and it’s reflected in the steep prices of modern smartphones. With some of the best Android phones costing upwards of $1,500, it’s more important than ever to protect your investment. Investing in a good phone case is a start, but it’s also wise to choose a phone that’s capable of withstanding falls and other accidents, especially when you’re spending a significant amount of money.
This is where rugged Android phones come into play. Not only are they designed to withstand rough handling, but many also offer additional layers of protection against the elements, dust, water, and other particles that could potentially damage your phone’s delicate internal components. Moreover, as the devices listed below demonstrate, rugged phones don’t have to skimp on features. Some of them offer the same level of functionality as top-of-the-line flagship smartphones.
The best rugged Android phones in 2024
Samsung Galaxy XCover6 Pro
A tough-as-nails Galaxy
It’s probably no surprise that our top pick comes from Samsung, arguably the king of the Android phone market. They’ve turned out an alternative to their S Series and Note lines that perfectly bridge the gap between durable design and sophisticated elegance. It’s 5G compatible with a capacious battery and solid performance specs and designed to withstand drops, dust, water, dirt, and sand.
- 5G and Wi-Fi6E
- Up to 1TB of expandable storage
- Removeable battery
- Average battery size
- Small front camera
The Galaxy XCover6 Pro is military-grade tested and approved with a focus on environmental conditions. The solid frame and reinforced edges provide better shock absorption and drop protection, while the Gorilla Glass display contains a rubber bumper to protect your screen from shattering. The screen is also integrated with touch sensitivity technology, so you can use this phone with gloves on or in the rain. Dustproof and water-resistant ratings let the Galaxy XCover6 Pro thrive in any environment, from the factory floor to the field.
Samsung XCover6 Pro review: Not bad for a rugged smartphone
This rugged phone doesn’t skimp on functionality to give you the protection you need
In addition to handling all the action, the Galaxy XCover6 Pro is ready to capture all the action. The 50MP main camera and 8MP ultra-wide camera have you covered from all angles, while the 13MP front camera covers you for any impromptu video meetings. To track all of your actions, the XCover6 Pro has a handy virtual toolkit, including an accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer, and more. The Samsung Galaxy XCover6 Pro is compatible with GSM, WCDMA, and CDMA networks.
AGM G2 Guardian
Able to handle any environment
The AGM G2 Guardian is a tough-as-nails smartphone that is ready to stand up to the harshest of conditions. It may be the most expensive option on this list, but it packs some serious features and specs that justify its high price tag.
- Large, fluid display
- Thermal imaging camera
- Large speaker
- Very expensive
- Bulky
The AGM G2 Guardian is by far the most expensive option on this list, but it’s for good reason. On top of being extremely rugged, the G2 Guardian doesn’t make you compromise between performance and dependability thanks to its overall specs and features.
AGM built the G2 Guardian to survive anything you could throw at it. This device is waterproof, shock, and dust-proof thanks to its IP68 and IP69K ratings, and its MIL-STD-810H certification. It is equipped with a 108MP main camera, a 20MP infrared night vision camera, and a 2MP macro camera. It has a long-range autofocus thermal monocular that has a range of 500 meters. This thermal camera is great for hunters, first responders, construction workers, and anyone who works at night.
Safety is a priority for AGM and it has equipped this device accordingly. It has a 109db loudspeaker and a 7,000mAh battery ensuring you have juice in the tank for days and days. It comes with Guardian SOS that will automatically call emergency services if activated and can use the loudspeaker and pulse the camera flash to alert medical services to your location.
None of this matters if the performance isn’t up to the task and, thankfully, AGM delivered. Equipped with a Qualcomm QCM6490 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage, the G2 Guardian has enough power to easily get you through your daily tasks. It also has a 6.58-inch 2408 x 1080 display with a 120Hz refresh rate for a crisp and fluid visual experience.
If you want an uncompromising smartphone that is rugged, durable, and capable, then the AGM G2 Guardian is the best of the best.
UleFone Power Armor 16 Pro
Inexpensively awesome
If you want a smartphone that doubles as a powerful, fully connected speaker, look no further than the Power Armor 16 Pro. With a 3.5W power rating and 122db speaker, it’s not just for listening to music while you’re cleaning; this thing can power a full party. Appropriately, it also packs a massive 9600mAh battery and is extremely rugged, so it can keep blasting tunes through the wee hours. And if it gets drunkenly knocked off a table, no harm, no foul.
- Runs on Android 12
- 122db speaker
- Huge battery
- Limited to only 4G
- Small main camera
The Power Armor 16 Pro offers 4GB of RAM along with 64GB of internal storage and up to 128GB of expandable storage to hold all of your music, images, and programs. The extra large 9600mAh battery provides enough power for 528 hours of standby time and 52 hours of call time, so you can keep working hard while your phone stays charged. The main 16MP rear camera is accompanied by a 2MP macro lens to help you capture even the smallest details. Need to photograph something underwater? No problem. The underwater camera mode lets you do just that.
If you find yourself in the dark, the high-brightness flashlight built into the top of the phone produces no flickers and can light up any area that you may need to work in safely. The UleFone also meets waterproof, dustproof, and drop protection certification standards and is military-grade tested and approved. It can resist up to 1.5m underwater, extreme temperatures of -4° and 131 °F, as well as high pressure, dust, drops, and crashes. For any construction worker or outdoor adventurer, this phone can withstand all your rugged activities.
The UleFone Power Armor 16 Pro is compatible with GSM, WCDMA, and LTE networks with most carriers such as T-Mobile, Metro PCS, etc. However, this smartphone is not compatible with AT&T, Cricket, and CDMA carriers.
Doogee S110
Has a watch display built into the back
The Doogee S110 is a rugged device that finds the sweet spot in terms of price and performance. With plenty of storage and great battery life, the S110 will keep you entertained for hours when away from outlets. At less than $300, it’s a great secondary device to toss your SIM card into when going on a rough outing.
- Runs on Android 13
- Unique design with its rear screen
- Great overall value
- Performance isn’t the best
- No wireless charging
The Doogee S110 is an excellent low-cost rugged phone that can serve as a primary device for those looking to save some money or as a secondary phone for when life gets a little rougher. The S110 is also one of the most uniquely designed devices on this list.
The back has Kevlar accents flanking the sides, with a big, round camera assembly sitting prominently at the top. This camera system consists of a 50MP f/1.8 main camera, a 24MP f/1.8 night vision camera, and a 16MP f/2.2 ultrawide camera. Sitting directly in the middle of the camera assembly is a 1.09-inch rear display that can be used as a quick display, for music playback, incoming call reminders, or to just display the time.
The Doogee S110 has a large 10,800mAh battery that should easily get you four or five days of use while you’re out and about. You can also rest easy knowing that the S110 is waterproof, dust-proof, and drop-proof.
It also has a large 6.58-inch 2408 x 1080 IPS that offers a fluid viewing experience thanks to its 120Hz refresh rate. At 480 nits, its peak brightness is on the lower side. It also ships with a Helio G99 processor, which should be enough to keep you connected and performing your daily tasks, but don’t expect to do anything intensive on it.
AGM H5 Pro
Can double as a Bluetooth speaker
For a fraction of the price of the AGM Glory Pro, the H5 Pro still packs a ton of excellent features. Most notable is the whopping 190db, 3.5W rated speaker to put out booming volume if you need your phone to double as a speaker. It even features the same camera specs as the pricier Glory Pro, though you sacrifice some internal storage.
- Runs on Android 12
- Huge battery
- 4G
- No Micro SD card support
- Minimal internal storage
The internal components of the AGM H5 Pro vary quite a bit from the Glory Pro. While this model is only 4G compatible, it runs on Android 12, so there is a little bonus there. You get the same 8GB of RAM, but the similarities end there. With the H5 Pro, you have a lot less internal memory of 128GB and no expandable storage with an SD card. This is probably the biggest downfall of this device, as you’re very limited in your available storage.
Oddly enough, with the AGM H5 Pro, the camera specs are almost the same, including the infrared night vision camera. Still, this model omits its very cool thermal imaging camera, which is quite desirable for many outdoorsy people. While the camera specs are pretty great, you won’t have a ton of space to save photos and videos, so the storage factor alone might make you reconsider. However, if storage isn’t much of a barrier, the price difference between the H5 Pro and the Glory Pro might have you thinking.
Blackview BL8800 Pro
Strong and durable
From Blackview, a company known for building durable and reliable Android phones, the BL8800 is a sturdy option built around a metal frame and double-shot TPU moldings, practically a protective case built into the chassis of the phone. It packs a FLIR Thermal Imaging Camera, five total rear cameras, and a big 8380mAh battery for all-day performance.
- Huge battery
- Thermal imaging camera
- Liquid cooling system
- No Micro SD card support
- Minimal internal storage
The BL8800 Pro is built to last with a metal frame fixed with thickened rubber and double-shot TPU moldings. The durability of this device has been put through rigorous tests to prove it meets all military grade and protection standards. From shocks to vibrations and high elevations to submerged underwater, this phone can handle anything it’s put through. And while your phone can withstand extreme weather, your hands might not be able to. Luckily, this phone’s screen is fully functional even when you’re wearing gloves to protect your hands from the elements.
In close competition with the AGM Glory Pro, the Blackview BL8800 Pro is equipped with a FLIR thermal imaging camera, a Tetrapixel 16MB front camera, and a 50MB rear main camera with multiple shooting options. A thermal imaging camera can detect hotspots to troubleshoot electrical, plumbing, or heating issues within your home. They can also detect dangers outside the home, from missing persons in the dark to lurking animals. For additional camera options, take advantage of underwater mode to fully immerse yourself in the water, or you can even record high-quality 2K video.
Nokia XR21
Thin and durable
The Nokia XR21 is a no-nonsense rugged device that doesn’t scream rugged but can survive the roughest environments. The XR21 doesn’t give you features like night vision cameras, but if you want a rugged, mid-tier Android device that is a jack-of-all-trades, then this Nokia deserves a good hard look.
- Thin and light for a rugged phone
- Decent performance
- Good software support
- Average battery
- No wall charger included
If you want a rugged mid-tier Android device that doesn’t look like it’s from the future and can easily blend into the modern smartphone space, and survive extreme conditions, then the Nokia XR21 deserves a good hard look. The XR21 is slim and light as far as rugged devices go, measuring only 168 x 78 x 10mm and weighing 231g.
The slimness does come at a cost as the battery on the XR21 is only 4,800mAh. It should still be good for about two days but is far less than some of its competitors. Where it doesn’t lag is in its durability. With a Mil-STD-810H certification, as well as both an IP68 and an IP69K rating, this device can hang in the roughest environments.
The Nokia XR21 ships with a Snapdragon 695 processor, 6GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage for a decent everyday device. It also has a 6.49-inch 2400 x 1080 display and a 120Hz refresh rate.
It’ll also provide serviceable photos with its 64GB main camera and 8MP ultrawide camera. The XR21 ships with Android 12 and should get three Android OS updates and four years of security updates. It also has 5G support.
Blackview BV9200
Another great option from Blackview
A rugged phone that doesn’t skimp on features, the Blackview BV9200 includes 66W fast charging to top off its 5000mAh battery in a hurry, as well as 30W wireless charging if you’ve fully embraced the cable-free feature. It’s also got a sharp 2.4K display, a speedy octa-core MediaTek G96 processor, and meets all the toughness standards you’d expect from Blackview, one of the top manufacturers of durable Android phones.
- 2.4K resolution
- Gorilla Glass display
- 66W Fast and 30W wireless charging
- Relatively heavy
Unsurprisingly, Blackview has claimed a couple of spots on our list. A company that’s largely built a name for itself by manufacturing rugged Android phones, Blackview delivers again with the BV9200, an all-around banger that provides the toughness you’d expect. Constructed from an aluminum alloy and swathed in absorbent rubber, it received a MIL-STD-810H military certification, packs IP69K dust and waterproofing, and is temperature and drop-resistant up to five feet.
Perhaps best of all, though, it’s equipped with a crisp 2.4K resolution, 120hz, and 6.6-inch screen (which is, naturally, built from rugged Gorilla Glass). The entire package is driven by the snappy combo of an octa-core MediaTek G96 processor and an Arm Mali-G57 GPU, so it’s no slouch when it comes to performance, either. It’s also compatible with both 66W fast charging as well as 30W wireless charging, so you never have to worry about being caught for long with a dead phone.
Secure some peace of mind with a rugged Android phone
One of the most terrifying moments in the information age is the few heartbeats between dropping your phone and the moment it impacts the ground. If you’ve spent thousands on one of the fragile flagships, you may experience a crushing wave of emotion in that split second: buyer’s remorse, regret that you didn’t immediately invest in a case, and the fleeting hope that maybe the screen won’t crack or shatter into a thousand costly splinters.
However, if you invested in one of the rugged phones from this list, you can instead spend those moments smirking and thinking about what you want for dinner, smug in the knowledge that your phone is built to survive all of our cruel world’s worst vicissitudes. Our top choice is a perfect example. Samsung’s XCover6 Pro is designed to survive drops and be dust and waterproof, but it also comes with the features you expect from the market leader, like 5G compatibility and an elegant design.
For just a bit more, the AGM G2 Guardian is also an exceptional choice where ruggedness and performance are concerned, including its powerful speaker to crank out tunes at your next party or BBQ. On the other hand, if you want to save a few bucks but still want a phone designed to survive the inevitable apocalypse, consider the Power Armor 16 Pro, which is built to withstand all kinds of abuse and also packs one of the largest batteries in modern smartphones at a whopping 9600mAh capacity.
Samsung Galaxy XCover6 Pro
A tough-as-nails Galaxy
It’s probably no surprise that our top pick comes from Samsung, arguably the king of the Android phone market. They’ve turned out an alternative to their S Series and Note lines that perfectly bridge the gap between durable design and sophisticated elegance. The XCover6 Pro is 5G compatible with a capacious battery and solid performance specs and can withstand drops, dust, water, dirt, and sand.
- 5G and Wi-Fi6E
- Up to 1TB of expandable storage
- Removeable battery
- Average battery size
- Small front camera
