Best Products > Phones & Accessories 55 55 people found this article helpful The 3 Best Rugged Smartphones of 2023 These devices are sure to hold up under the toughest conditions By Adam S. Doud Adam S. Doud Twitter Writer Adam has been writing about mobile technology since 2011. He is the former host of the Android Authority podcast, and his work has appeared in numerous publications. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on March 8, 2023 We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Tweet Share Email Phones & Accessories Accessories Whether you're active outside or work in an environment that isn't phone-friendly, durability is essential when buying a new smartphone. Some traits include Gorilla Glass, an IP rating for water and dust resistance, and build materials. A glass sandwich won't hold up like a rubberized plastic phone. The Rundown Best Compact: Unihertz Atom XL at Amazon Jump to Review Best Updated Phone: CAT S42 at Amazon Jump to Review Best Budget: LG X Venture at Amazon Jump to Review Best Compact Unihertz Atom XL 4.2 Jeremy Laukkonen / Lifewirea View On Amazon View On Aliexpress.com What We Like Walkie Talkie functionality What We Don't Like Helio P60 is not a champ Small screen Unihertz Atom XL Review This smartphone is packed full of surprises. In addition to being built tough, which we'll get to, this phone has accessories that make it much more exciting, especially if you're an outdoors person. The 48-megapixel camera, 6GB of RAM, and 128GB of onboard storage are all respectable. The Helio P60 processor and four-inch screen are not the greatest by today's standards, but they are still enough to complete everyday tasks. Plus, the XL version of this phone comes with a removable antenna which allows you to turn your smartphone into a walkie-talkie. You can tell this phone is durable just by looking at it. You'll first notice the rubberized grip around the top, bottom, and back. Add to that the grippy backplate and aluminum side rails, and this is a phone you can carry in your nail apron. The exposed screw heads add to the toughness surrounding this fierce phone. Best Updated Phone CAT S42 4.2 Amazon View On Amazon What We Like Rugged, durable design Water resistant Two-day battery Decent daytime photos What We Don't Like Sluggish performance No biometric sensor Poor low-light photos Washed out, low-res screen Limited internal storage CAT S42 Rugged Phone Review The CAT S42 is an impressively rugged phone, packing a bulky, hearty plastic exterior with covered ports and enhanced water, drop, and thermal shock resistance. It’s so well-protected that CAT advertises it as a phone you can wash with soap and water. On the other hand, the CAT S42 features entry-level components akin to a much cheaper budget phone. It delivers sluggish performance, has a low-quality screen, and only takes decent photos in solid lighting. It’s usable, however, and the battery can provide two days of usage. Best Budget LG X Venture Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon What We Like Headphone jack Fingerprint sensor What We Don't Like Outdated specifications Released in 2017 LG has a history of making durable phones, and one of the least expensive is the LG X venture. This phone has been around since 2017, which means it's old, but there's a reason why it's still around. It's built like a tank. Most LG phones are built with MIL-STD 810G and IP68 ratings, but the LG X Venture does so with a grippy rubberized back that makes the phone comfortable to hold and use. The Snapdragon 435 sips from the 4,100 mAh battery, which means this phone will also last a long time between charges. Add excellent amenities, including a headphone jack, fingerprint sensor, front and rear-facing cameras, and physical navigation buttons. You have a phone that is built to last. It's not perfect, though, only carrying 2GB of RAM and 32 GB of onboard storage. That's a little hard to swallow in a modern smartphone, but at least you can expand phone storage with a memory card of up to 2TB. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit