AT&T and Sonim recently announced they will soon
launch the world's toughest smartphone, the XP8. Although the ultra-rugged
handset is already available for purchase for US$ 699.99 or US$ 23.34 per month, the
Sonim XP8 won't ship until April 30. The XP8 has the price of a flagship, but
it's got the hardware of a mid-range phone, which means you'll mostly be paying
for its rugged features rather than specs.
According to Sonim, the XP8 has been designed to
perform in the harshest environments. The smartphone has been military tested
and rated to meet or exceed MIL-STD-810G standards for ruggedness.
The smartphone supports AT&T's Band 14, which
was licensed by the First Responder Network Authority as part of the carrier's
attempts to build the FirstNet communication platform. Sonim XP8 runs Android
7.0 Nougat and is powered by a 2.2GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 630
processor, paired with 4GB RAM and 64GB expandable storage.
Also, Sonim's rugged device features a 100db+
speaker, a 5-inch display with full HD (1080p) resolution, and a massive 4,900
mAh battery that promises up to 35 hours of talk time or up to 30 days of
standby time.
The back side features a 12-megapixel camera with
OIS (optical image stabilization) and phase detection auto-focus, while in the
front there's a secondary 8-megapixel camera. Push-to-talk SOS mode is included
as well, along with a handset powered audio interface with locking mechanisms,
which allows users to attach audio accessories that are powered by the
smartphone.
Even though it's quite expensive specs-wise, Sonim
XP8 is more than a smartphone on paper. Business customers may find the
ultra-rugged handset perfect for their outdoors operations even if they'll have
to pay the price of a flagship.