My team and I have tested the best rugged phones for those who need a tough, near-unbreakable phone that'll survive the most extreme conditions and roughest treatment. This year alone, we've reviewed some excellent models (and a few very average ones). So, I've selected the top-performing rugged smartphones with rock-solid IP ratings for durability and protection against the elements.

The Oukitel WP210 is a stellar choice for most people - it's practical, effective, with exceptional battery life, and unlike a lot of these mobile devices, it isn't ultra-heavy and as thick as a house brick. For a cheap rugged phone that's absolutely worth your money, the Ulefone Armor X16 Pro impresses for the sheer number of features built in, at a price well below most other models.

You can check out the full round-up below. Just like the best rugged laptops and best rugged tablets we've used, we've dropped these phones, submerged them in water, and carried them outdoors to make sure every one lives up to the promise of being truly tough and durable. We've also reviewed size and specs, protection and performance, and explored critical features like battery life, night vision, and thermal imaging to find the most durable phones you can get.

Best rugged phone overall

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The Oukitel WP210 is one of the most practical rugged phones we've tested - it's not especially heavy compared to most, so it'll fit neatly in your pocket and won't weigh you down.

Despite its smaller than average size, it still manages to provide good battery life for those who need a reliable mobile device. In our benchmark tests, it lasted a little under 23 hours.

Performance also proved excellent. That's thanks to a powerful, newer chip and 12GB RAM, which made our whole experience smooth, lag-free, even punchy. And that's a massive selling point, because many durable phones can feel slow.

Screen-wise, this one has a The 6.7-inch OLED display that we found delivered impressive, intensive colors and brightness. The camera array to the rear is similarly good, with the 108MP Samsung S5KHM6 giving us high-quality images and videos throughout the review process.

As an everyday device, we called it "a well-built mid-range rugged phone" that does a lot more than many out there, without being the size and weight of a house-brick. Beyond the lack of a microSD card slot and wireless charging, we struggle to find any real fault with this pocket-friendly rugged phone.

Read our full Oukitel WP210 rugged phone review

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Best rugged phone on a budget

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For the cost, which is low compared to most rugged phones we review, the Ulefone Armor X16 Pro comes packing a lot more features than you might expect. That includes a large 10360mAh battery that took weeks to die, and a night vision camera. And while it may be heavy, with a thick build, it's still somehow one of the most stylish rugged phones we've seen.

Performance is good, but not exceptional. That's not to say it's sluggish, though. During tests, we found the combination of the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 processor and 8GB RAM provided more than enough power to scroll through photos, open documents, play games, and edit videos. In fact, when browsing the internet, page loads felt much faster than the iPhone 15 Pro.

It held its own during our durability tests, too. We submerged the phone in water, dropped it from a height, and took it out into the field for use in the great outdoors. It survived it all. Considering the cost of this rugged smartphone, we came away seriously impressed.

The only feature that feels lacking is the screen. It's not full HD like most modern phones, capping out at 720p. Mind you, after a moment of adjustment we had no issues with this at all. Considering what you get for the price, it's a top budget pick.

Read our full Ulefone Armor X16 Pro rugged phone review

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Best compact rugged phone

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If you want an EDC rugged phone, the Ulefone Armor Mini 20 Pro is the best out there. A little over five inches tall, and around an inch thick, it's seriously compact and more pocket-friendly than almost any other durable device out there.

It features the smallest screen in our guide, measuring just 4.6 inches. Despite its compact size, this phone is lightweight yet highly durable, boasting IP68, IP69K, and MIL-STD-810H certifications. Additionally, it includes rugged side grips for better handling and enhanced durability in the event of a drop. It also houses a 50MP rear camera and a 3.5mm headphone jack- something we rarely see these days.

Regarding performance, the Ulefone Armor Mini 20 Pro is no slouch either. This little phone has 8GB RAM, 256GB storage, a MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chipset, Runs Android 14, and has a 6,200mAh battery for all-day use. However, it lacks 5G and doesn't fast charge. If that's not a deal breaker, this is a great option.

In short, it's an ultra-compact, ultra-tough, go-anywhere, do-anything rugged smartphone ideal for everyday carry.

Read our full Ulefone Armor Mini 20 Pro review

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Best rugged phone for battery

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The Ulefone Armor 29 Ultra might not have the biggest battery we've seen on a rugged phone - that would be the Oukitel WP100 Titan - but it's not far behind. Even after a month of using it, we still only knocked the battery life down to 18%. And with 120W fast charge capabilities, you can get that back to 100% in around an hour. We also liked that it has a 10W reverse charge, so you can re-charge another phone using USB-C, just like a power bank.

If it's battery life you're prioritizing, this is a rock-solid choice, no question. It's the main feature that stood out to us during our review.

But to fit that chunky battery into the phone, it comes at the cost of weight. There's no getting around the fact that at over 23oz, this is one heavy phone. One of the largest and heaviest we've ever tested, and while it felt fine to hold at first, eventually that weight did begin to creep up on us.

Elsewhere, features are great - the camera quality is excellent, the camping light on the back is bright. And performance is just as punchy. In our review, we noted that "this is one of the most streamlined Android phones", easily capable of handling even the most complex and memory-demanding applications without slowdown.

Read our full Ulefone Armor 29 Ultra rugged phone review

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Best rugged phone for thermal camera imaging

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The AGM G3 Pro is built like a tank, boasts a long battery life, and includes features like wireless charging. But the star of the show here is the business-grade 512x384 thermal sensor, which boasts two thermal ranges: one ranging between -20C to 150C, and the other spanning 100C to 550C. You can scroll through the gallery above to see our photos of the phone and examples of its thermal camera imaging.

Performance felt good during our time testing the device. It's more than capable of tackling your day-to-day phone use - opening documents, browsing the internet, playing games. None of this bothers the G3 Pro.

There's not much we didn't like about the AGM G3 Pro except the price - in some regions, it does feel expensive compared to rivals on the market. However, most of those don't have thermal imaging, and certainly not one that's pro-grade. If that's your priority, this rugged phone is an easy recommendation.

Read our full AGM G3 Pro rugged phone review

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Best rugged phone with removable battery

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The Samsung Galaxy XCover7 Pro is an update on the XCover7, switching in a Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chip, a 120Hz refresh rate, a 13MP front camera, and a slightly larger battery, which, happily, is still removable.

On the rugged side, it's IP68-rated, making it water resistant, and the chassis is MIL-STD 810H for extra durability. What I especially like, however, is how light it is compared to many rugged smartphones you'll find today - it weighs in at around 0.5lb / 240g. That gives it plenty of use for those looking for a more traditional phone that's also well-protected.

We reviewed this model for over two months and found it to be an impressive and powerful performer across the board. Alright, it can't match flagship performance, and the 6.6in screen lacks the brightness of an OLED panel, but he had no issues using this as part of his workflow. It capably handled Samsung DeX, Slack, and general browsing with ease. It also features Knox security implementation for businesses who want digital as well as physical protection.

But, of course, the real stand-out feature here is the removable battery. Effectively, it's the ideal tool for fleet and logistic managers, retail and warehouse staff, and healthcare and frontline workers.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy XCover 7 Pro review.

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Best rugged phones: Frequently asked questions

Steve is B2B Editor for Creative & Hardware at TechRadar Pro, helping business professionals equip their workspace with the right tools. He tests and reviews the software, hardware, and office furniture that modern workspaces depend on, cutting through the hype to zero in on the real-world performance you won't find on a spec sheet. He is a relentless champion of the Oxford comma.