Time for a new phone. I had a look in some phone shops over the weekend and they all seem massive and feel fragile and flimsy. All shiny and slippery, one slipped out my hand. My old phone, a Samsung S5 feels much more solid and has a slightly rubber backed case that feels better for grip.
So I googled rugged phones and a lot of Chinese brands I've never heard of before have got good reviews and recommendations, anyone on here got any experience with them or recommendations. Don't mind a chunky phone and as long as it has a good screen and does everything my old phone can do I'll be happy. OUKITEL WP6 looks good to me, good battery life, 4G etc but at about £200+ seems almost too good, too cheap?
Whatever Moto suits your budget, screen protector (and a spare in a drawer, ready just in case) and a nice chunky case.
Job done.
There's some experience of the Ulefone armor here: https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/ulefone-armour-x7-anyone-got-one/
Tbh I'd just keep an eye on hukd and pick up whatever suits your budget without a glass back. Xiaomi or pocophone generally good for the money. Then put it in a case if you want. You'll get a lot more phone than looking for something advertised as ruggedized and unless you plan on driving a JCB over it it'll be fine.
Cubot Kingkong mini exp here!
Didn't think of looking at Motorola, I have an old one which was brilliant, very solid but old os so became difficult to use - bit annoying when you can't update an existing phone.
Thanks for the link, Ulefone was one brand I was looking at.
Maybe right to look at spec and just get a decent case, more research needed.
The Cubot Kingkong mini is quite small, 4" screen, how do you find the phone, any good, miss having a bigger screen?
Been v happy with my Xiaomi Mi 8. It is maybe a bit slippery but I have a very thin case that's much grippier.
I got a Blackview BV5500Plus for £100 from Amazon.
It won't win any style awards or impress anyone but I don't care.
I bricked an iPhone and a £200 android phone in 2019 by getting them wet. One of them got wet when I was out cycling and got caught in a storm of tropical magnitude despite it being in an inner pocket of my jacket.
My Blackview is ruggedized and much more water-resistant than your average phone. Plus it was cheap so if it breaks it's not the end of the world.
The Cubot Kingkong mini is quite small, 4″ screen, how do you find the phone, any good, miss having a bigger screen?
I picked up a second hand (virtually brand new) one to use as a garmin alternative on the bike. It's great for that. It really is tiny by modern standards. Its actually fine in use, easy enough to read with a bit of zooming. I think it would be a bit small for everyday use if you do a bit of browsing and other smart phone stuff, and the battery life isn't that great as a phone. As a bike computer in flight mode it lasts days, though. Overall very happy with it but it has limitations
Here it is compared to a "normal" phone
Motors aren’t waterproof iirc?
And the BV5500, how do you get on with that, cope with maps ok?
Cubot Quest here
Rugged(ish), waterproof and with a screen big enough to use OS maps on.
And the BV5500, how do you get on with that, cope with maps ok?
Seems to do its job ok. Google maps works for example.
I've tried a good few of the Chinese Blackviews, including the "waterproof" variety. Always some small niggle with each of them that would annoy. Netflix wouldn't allow downloads due to "security" issue on one BV model but fine on another. Not all bluetooth headset controls would work on any model.
Went for a moto G7 power after it was recommended on here. Absolutely spot on, not waterproof but never been an issue with it in hip bag. And if it does break, as mentioned above, cheap(relatively) to replace.
Ulephone Armor X5 here. Had it since January, can't fault it. Less than £200, battery lasts 3 days, lots of ram, does everything I want it to. Don't understand why anyone would pay more.
Partner has a Cubot phone, cheaper less memory but also faultless.
Whatever Moto suits your budget, screen protector (and a spare in a drawer, ready just in case) and a nice chunky case.
Job done.
^This.
Although on the captains recommendation I picked up a silly cheap (waterproof) S10e as a box open / return, in yellow colour, and wopped it in a protective case. I am paying £19 a month with 6gb data and unlimited text and data, which was cheaper than the Moto I was eyeing up.
Cubot kingkong mini, light & small, works okay as an on the bars route plotter & phone generally. But needs a small powerbank for longer rides. I got one for £2.80 that gives extra 3 hours. Two issues - GPS appears wayward on some tracks - not just a few feet out, but 100's of yards! I need to take old phone out with me to test if it's a Cubot fault, or GPS... And sometimes it goes into Andoid recovery mode randomly, never when in use though, but when left in hot van etc. So Cheap, it mostly works, but jury out on GPS for now. Cost £70.
