These are the best rugged phones you can buy right now

Smartphones are more refined than ever, with glass builds, tiny bezels, large displays, and impressive performance. They’re great for life in an office, but most of the phones come up short in harsh environments. For example, if you work in construction, you’re probably looking for a phone you can use as a trusty, durable tool. You need to be able to give it hell without risking it getting destroyed. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of the best rugged phones you can buy.

You won’t find all-glass designs on this list, but you will find plenty of durable MIL-STD and IP ratings to go around. Some of our picks even have unique features like thermal cameras and walkie-talkie capabilities to help you through your shift. Let’s get to it.

Buying the right rugged phone for your needs

There are plenty of rugged phones available right now, which can make choosing the right one a challenge. However, it’s not that much different from buying an everyday phone. You’ll have to decide which features you want most, and it’s essential to see what extras are available.

Here are just a few of the questions to ask while you research:

• How large is the battery? You probably don’t want to spend much time attached to a charger if you’re working a long shift. Some of our picks offer huge batteries, while others let you swap the battery for an instant charge. If you want more recommendations, here’s our list of the best phones with the best battery life.
• Does the phone offer durability ratings? Rugged conditions often require a phone that can withstand water and dust. It’s essential to check if your phone carries the latest IP68/IP69K ratings, though IP67 may also be enough. If you’re worried about dropping your rugged phone, you’ll also want to find a device with a MIL-STD 810H certification. A MIL-STD 810G certification is also good enough for most people, but we prefer the former.
• Is the camera any good? What about extra features? While none of these rugged phones are bound to end up among our best camera phones, having a relatively capable shooter is crucial. Accuracy is critical if you have to document anything at work, and a few of our picks offer underwater capabilities or even thermal cameras.
• What is the phone made of? Glass-bodied phones may look and feel good, but you might want metal, plastic, and rubber for your rugged phone. That way, you can feel a bit safer if it takes a tumble. It may come at the cost of wireless charging, but more rigid materials should last through even the longest shifts.
• Performance and features? Again, none of these phones will be among the best Android phones for general users. It’s also important that the general experience isn’t completely horrendous, though. And these days, some manufacturers make phones that do relatively well in this department.

Samsung Galaxy XCover 7 Pro: The best rugged phone you can buy

Samsung isn’t known for rugged phones. On the contrary, the brand is popular for its thin, glass devices that look elegant and sleek. That said, it has an offering for those of you who don’t want to baby your devices.

The Samsung Galaxy XCover 7 Pro was just released in April 2025, and it has the rugged build many of you desire. It is IP68-rated and comes with a MIL-STD-810H certification. It is designed to survive submersion under 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes, is dust-tight, and can take a beating.

Many of these rugged phones suffer in the performance department, and one of the reason we crowned this one as the best option is that it’s actually a pretty capable phone. It comes with a Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor and 6GB of RAM. Nothing impressive, but it is pretty decent for a rugged phone with a $599.99 retail price.

It comes with Android 15 out of the box, so it is up-to-date in terms of software. Additionally, the 6.6-inch display has a Full HD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate.

The dual cameras are nothing to write home about, but they should take decent shots. The battery is also pretty small at 4,350mAh. All things considered, though, getting a rugged phone from a renowned company like Samsung always comes with its benefits, such as better support and reliability.

Other products worth considering

The best rugged phones:

• HMD XR21: This used to be the Nokia XR21. The device found a way to mix strength and style. It looks like a phone you can use daily and offers good future update support.
• DOOGEE V Max Plus: DOOGEE may not be that popular, but it knows how to make a tremendous rugged phone. This one gets really close to flagship territory, comes with an excellent design, and won’t cost too much. It also has a massive battery. Like… really huge.
• Kyocera Duraforce Pro 3: If you want the fastest Verizon speeds, the Duraforce Pro 3 is the way to go. It has pretty good specs and is powered by the Verizon network. Not to mention, it has mmWave 5G support.
• Unihertz Tank 3 Pro: A massive battery, integrated flashlight, and super rugged construction make this one of the best adventure options. But what really makes it stand out is the integrated projector!
• Ulefone Armor 28 Ultra: This is a rugged phone with a great design, a massive battery, thermal imaging, and even night vision.
• Cat S22 Flip: Those looking for a rugged Android device with a unique design will love this one. It’s a flip phone!
• Motorola Edge 2025: This is your best bet if you want good performance on a rugged phone that actually looks pretty normal.

HMD XR21: Rugged but stylish

Nokia’s brick may have been the original rugged phone, but the XR21 brought the OEM into the modern era as one of the best rugged phones. As already mentioned, this used to be known as the Nokia XR21. Now known as the HMD XR21, this is one of the most stylish options on this list, with slimmer bezels and an eye-catching design that won’t look out of place anywhere.

The Nokia XR21 is not a bad phone, either. Specs include a Snapdragon 695 processor, 6GB of RAM, and a 4,800mAh battery. The 6.49-inch display is pretty nice, too, offering a 120Hz refresh rate and Full HD resolution.

Of course, HMD got some nice certifications to ensure users this phone won’t go breaking so easily. It is IP68/IP69K and MIL-STD-810H compliant. And it’s $439.99, which is pretty good for what you get.

DOOGEE V Max Plus: A good price, rugged body, and battery for days!

DOOGEE may not have the name recognition of either Nokia or Cat, but it knows how to make durable devices. The DOOGEE V Max Plus is one of the latest offerings. It’s large and in charge with a hefty construction. It has an IP68/IP69K certification, as well as MIL-STD-810H. That’s all to be expected, though, right?

The phone also happens to look pretty cool, and it’s actually surprisingly well equipped. The display measures 6.58 inches, has an FHD+ resolution, and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. The Dimensity 7050 is also pretty capable. Not only that, but it has 16GB of native RAM, but it can also borrow up to 20GB from the SSD, totaling a max of 36GB of RAM!

What’s more impressive is the battery. It has a massive 22,000mAh battery, which can be charged at up to 33W charging speeds. Not to mention, it comes with what seems like a pretty capable 200MP primary camera. It also has a 20MP night vision camera and an extra 8MP ultrawide shooter.

As if all of that wasn’t enough, the DOOGEE V Max Plus is a $600 phone. That is pretty affordable by today’s standards, especially considering all the interesting features you get here.

Kyocera Duraforce Pro 3: The toughest Verizon phone

Many rugged phones rely on 4G LTE for the bulk of their service, but the Kyocera Duraforce Ultra is the way to go if you need top speeds. It’s the only entry to support Verizon’s mmWave 5G network, even if it does come at a cost. This device is pretty expensive at $900.

At least the specs are OK. It comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 processor, 6GB of RAM, a 5.38-inch Full HD screen, and a 4,370mAh battery. You can find plenty of much more powerful handsets at this price point, making the price less enticing.

If you can look past the price, though, this is definitely one of the best rugged phones you can find. The one downside is that this is a Verizon exclusive.

Unihertz Tank 3 Pro: A rugged phone with an insane battery and a built-in projector

Unihertz is known for being pretty bold with its new devices. Some are tiny, some have a physical keyboard, and most are rugged. The Unihertz Tank 3 Pro is definitely one of the most interesting of the bunch, though.

For starters, the phone comes with a massive 23,800mAh battery. That is more than most portable battery packs have! And the manufacturer even saved room for something else. Get this: the phone comes with an integrated projector. It’s not the brightest, but 100 lumens is still impressive, considering it’s in a phone, and it will do for watching anything in dark environments. Another interesting feature includes the large flashlight in the back.

It’s also not a bad phone otherwise, especially considering the $750 price point. Specs include a 120Hz 6.79-inch Full HD+ screen, a MediaTek Dimensity 8200 processor, 16-18GB of RAM, super fast 120W fast charging, and Android 13.

Ulefone Armor 28 Ultra: High-end specs and a large battery

The Ulefone Armor 28 Ultra is actually a pleasant surprise. This is a true rugged smartphone with MIL-STD-810H, IP68, and IP69K certifications. I mean, look at it, it looks tough. That said, it is actually surprisingly good all across the board, too.

Performance should be really good, considering it has a MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ processor, which is actually more powerful than a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. It also houses 16GB of RAM, and a whole TB of storage.

The display is about the most normal thing here, and it’s still pretty good. It has a 6.67-inch AMOLED panel with a Full HD+ resolution and a pretty smooth 120Hz refresh rate. It even has a small 1.04-inch display on the back, which is quite a unique feature.

The battery is huge at 10,600mAh. Even more surprising are the charging speeds. It can reach 120W wired, or 50W when charging wirelessly. Battery life will be amazing, for sure.

All that said, this is also one of the most expensive rugged phones on this list, at $1,099.99

Cat S22 Flip: It’s a flip phone!

It’s a flip phone! Need we say more? It actually runs Android 11, but it’s the Go Edition. The only real downside is that it launched as a T-Mobile exclusive, but it is now older, and you can find plenty of unlocked devices out there. It helps that it is very cheap now. You can always find it for about $100 these days.

The phone features IP68 and MIL-STD-810H certifications. Otherwise, it’s a pretty basic phone focusing mainly on design. Specs include a Snapdragon 215 chipset, 2GB of RAM, and a small 2,000mAh battery. The display is also tiny at 2.8 inches.

Motorola Edge 2025: A high-end experience on a rugged phone

If you’re looking for a phone that looks great, performs well, and offers an experience very similar to a regular modern smartphone, it’s hard to beat the Motorola Edge 2025. Look at it! It has a slim design and a vegan leather back that looks and feels great, but it still comes with an IP68/69 rating and features MIL-STD-810H compliance.

The rest of the specs are pretty nice for a rugged phone, too. It has a large 6.7-inch P-OLED panel with a sharp 2,712 x 1,220 resolution and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. It also has a pretty decent triple-camera setup, and the battery is pretty decent at 5,200mAh. Not only that, but it can charge at 68W wired or 15W wirelessly.

Performance isn’t amazing, but it is pretty competent, considering it has a MediaTek Dimensity 7400 Ultra and 8GB of RAM. Overall, it’s a really nice phone, and it is as normal of an experience you will get out of a rugged device. It’s also pretty nicely priced, at $549.99.

You may not be happy with what the best rugged phones offer in terms of performance, features, and specs. These can be underpowered and have an overall lacking experience in comparison. The best way to get the best of both worlds is to find one of the best Android phones available and throw one of the best rugged cases on it.