We may make money if you purchase something via our links. Find out more.The durability of mobile phones is not the same as it was in the early days. A dropped phone can cause a cracked or even broken screen. Smartphones aren't designed for harsh environments like factories or construction sites, and they don't withstand rigorous travel.A rugged smartphone is worth looking at if you want to stay connected and productive even in harsh environments. These rugged smartphones are made from industrial-grade materials and have enhanced protection features to withstand harsh environments.Rugged smartphones are rugged phones that are water-, dust-, drop-, and shockproof. They are rugged in design and have advanced computing features, a robust memory storage and a long-lasting battery to keep you going.These smartphones are rugged enough to allow you to enjoy your phone without worrying about it being stolen, but also have features that will help you be more productive. Here are our top picks for the best smartphones on the market.Rugged SmartphonesSamsung Galaxy XCover ProTop Pick: The Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro rugged smartphone, is one of the most rugged smartphones on the market. This dual SIM smartphone has a 6.3 inch screen that is protected by Gorilla Glass 5, and a MIL-STD-810G glass certified to withstand drops up to five feet.This, in addition to the military-grade design that provides protection in harsh environments, is a major benefit. The device comes with a fast-charging 4,050 mAh battery that can be replaced and two buttons that can be customized. It is powered by the 2GHz octa core Samsung Exynos 9610 processor. The rear camera has a 25MP resolution and front camera has 8MP. There are 4GB RAM and 64GB storage. An SD card adds an additional 512GB storage.Rugged (IP68 Rated) UnlockedAmazon: BuyOUKITEL WP8 Pro Rugged TelephoneOUKITEL's rugged smartphone has a 6.49 inch display and 4GB RAM. It also comes with 64GB storage. The dual SIM rugged smartphone runs Android and has a 16MP triple camera (with a front camera). The smartphone packs a 5000mAh lithium battery that can last for 300 hours. It can also be used as an OTG cable to act as a powerbank.This rugged smartphone is IP68-certified and meets MIL-STD-810G standards. It can withstand water up to five feet deep thanks to its convex design at four corners and the frame. It can also withstand a drop of up to five feet, without malfunction. The MT6762D Octa Core processor provides high energy efficiency and fast response times during work.OUKITEL WP8 Pro Rugged Smartphone, 6.49" Display, 64GB Dual SIM, IP68 Waterproof Unlocked SmartphoneAmazon: BuyBlackview BV9700 Pro Rugged SmartphoneThe best value: This rugged smartphone from Blackview can be used in 4G and features a powerful Octacore processor, 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. The smartphone has a 5.8 inch FHD screen and runs on Android 9.0. It also comes with a 4380mAh lithium battery.The dual SIM rugged smartphone comes with both front (8MP) as well as rear (16MP) cameras. It has two sides reinforced by a wear-resistant aluminum alloy and titanium alloy. TPU impact buffers protect the corners. It also features Gorilla 3 glass on the surface to protect it from impacts. The phone is able to withstand a drop of 5 feet, 30 minutes immersion in water under 5 feet, and resist 99 percent dust. This unit has both Facial ID and fingerprint security to allow you to unlock it.Blackview BV9700Pro 4G IP68 Waterproof Drop-Proof Gaming SmartphonesAmazon: BuyDOOGEE S96 ProThe rugged DOOGEE S96 Pro smartphone has 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. It features a four-corner tire design and high strength rubber for full protection. The unit offers IP68 military standard protection. The unit comes with a Full HD++ screen of 6.2 inches and can be charged via wireless charging.The Sony 48MP ultra-clear camera is included in this smartphone to deliver 4K resolution and super high resolution. The 16MP front camera has an AI Face Beauty function, which can further enhance your facial features with clarity and delicacy.The device runs Android 10, with a storage capacity of up to 256GB that can be expanded via an SD card. The rugged smartphone's 6350mAh battery allows for 17 days of standby, 24 hours of talk, 10 hours video and 11 hours gaming.Rugged Phone Unlocked DOOGEE Pro 8GB+128GB Night Vision Helio Helio G90 Octa core Waterproof Android PhoneAmazon: BuyUnihertz Titan Rugged SmartphoneThe rugged 4G QWERT smartphone has a huge 6000mAh battery. It features an IP67 waterproof Octacore Processor and 8MP front and 16MP rear cameras. Due to its wireless charging full QWERTY keyboard, fast charging, and touchscreen display, the dual SIM Unihertz Titan smartphone is one of the most durable.It has a 5.5-inch display, 6GB RAM, 128GB storage, and an Octacore 2GHz processor. It is waterproof and can withstand submersion.Unihertz Titan 6GB+128GB Rugged QWERTY Smartphone with Android 9.0Amazon: BuyCAT S61 Rugged SmartphoneThe CATs rugged smartphone, an upgrade to the CAT S60, is powered by a 4,500mAh battery and can last up to 35 hours. It is durable and drop-proof to six feet on concrete, waterproof to 10 feet for 60 seconds, saltwater and dust resistant.The rear camera features a 16MP autofocus and PDAF, as well as a dual-LED flash. The front camera is 8MP fixed focus. The best-rugged smartphone comes with a 5.2 inch screen. It can withstand low-to-high temperatures of -13F to 13F for up to 24 hours and is Category 4 Resistant against humidity and salt mist. It comes with Google Android Oreo and a Qualcomm sd630 octa core 2.2GHz processor.CAT PHONES S61 Rugged waterproof smartphone with integrated FLIR cameraAmazon: BuyKyocera BrigadierThe Kyocera Brigader is certified IP68 and US Department of Defense Military Standard 8010G. It can be submerged in water for 30 minutes and is dustproof. The device also features a 4.5-inch HD Sapphire shield screen, wet touchscreen operation, and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor with quad-core 1.4GHz. It supports audio formats such as WMA, AAC and AAC+, AMRNB and WAV, and many more.The 8MP rear camera has LED flash, digital zooming and autofocus. It can also record and playback video at 1080px and 30fps. It has a 3100mAh lithium battery that provides enough power for more than 26.18 hours of use and over 15 days of standby.Kyocera Brigadier in Black 16GBAmazon: BuyThese are the Must-Have Features for Rugged SmartphonesDurability: A rugged smartphone must be durable and can withstand drops, water, dust, and other elements. They should not only have Gorilla Glass but also be able to provide industry certifications of their durability like MIL-STD-810G drop certificate as proof of protection against multiple drops.Battery Life: You can get a rugged smartphone battery that has a capacity of 10,000 mAh. This will give you enough juice to last a long time. This is four times more than most flagship smartphones.Performance: Rugged smartphones have the potential to pack a lot of computing power. These processors include quad-core, Octa-core and deca-core. These processors allow your rugged smartphone to run heavy apps and have fast processing speeds. They have a lot of storage and additional storage is available through SD cards or cloud storage.Operating Systems: The majority of rugged smartphones can run Android, Windows and Linux operating systems. This gives you a wide range of user interfaces. 90% of rugged smartphones can work with the Android platform. When shopping for rugged Android smartphones, look out for devices with Android Pie (9.0 or higher).Touch Features: Rugged smartphones can be used with Projected Capacitive touch screens (PCAP), which offer multi-touch support. These touch screens are compatible with stylus and can be used in wet and dry conditions. The screens are also more durable than other touch screens for smartphones.Bottom lineAlthough rugged smartphones may not be as expensive as consumer tablets, they are more durable than high-end models. They offer a better return on investment when it comes time to repair and replacements than regular smartphones.Although rugged smartphones might seem more expensive than regular smartphones at first, they will be much more reliable and less costly over time. A rugged smartphone will outperform the average smartphone, last longer, and cost less long-term, regardless of what the application is. If you are looking for a durable, long-lasting and economically viable smartphone, this is a good investment choice.Alternatively, you might also like: