Rugged dumbphones are durable basic phones. Dumbphones have a physical keyboard and not as many apps as a smartphones. Rugged dumbphones are a special type of dumbphone, as they are resistant to water, drops, dust and extreme temperatures. Most rugged dumbphones are made for people working in extreme environments (industry, construction, working outdoors, cleaning, etc.). They are also great for people who need a durable phone, but don’t want a smartphone for productivity reasons. Here is a list of best rugged dumbphones. There is also an FAQ section at the end of an article.
AGM M7
AGM M7 Is a big, rugged phone that is meant to be solid and durable. It’s made for people working in loud and rough environments.
What are the rugged features? The phone can handle drops from 2m, soaking in water up to 1.5m, dust and temperature from -20 to 60 °C. It has a very loud 109dB speaker, ideal for the phone ringing and speaker during calls to be heard in loud environments. It has a customizable side key, which can be customized to enable easy access to PTT, music, camera or LED torch. LED flashlight is on top of the phone, so you can use it in same way as regular flashlight. The large keyboard can be used when wearing gloves. The phone also comes with Zello installed, so you can just press the side key to communicate with people.
What are additional standout features? The phone has a touchscreen and a traditional keyboard. This means that navigating the apps will be easy. It also comes with Facebook, WhatsApp, TikTok, Skype and online browsing. This is also a good phone to replace smartphone to combat phone addition. This is because a touchscreen makes using apps easy for basic communication, but the screen is too small to spend hours online. You can also get a charging dock for easier charging.
| Model | AGM M7 |
| Display | 2.4in, touchscreen |
| Operating system | based on Android 8.1 |
| Camera | Rear camera: 2MP and Front Camera: 0.3MP |
| Memory and storage | RAM: 1GB, Internal Storage: 8GB, supports memory card |
| Battery and charging | 2500mAh, removable, USB Type-C charging, can also be charged with charging dock |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, Hotspot, USB Type-C |
| Processor | MT6739 |
| Audio | Headphone jack is shared with USB Type-C port |
| Network | GSM, 3G, 4G, there are models with Dual SIM and single SIM, SIM size: Nano |
| Additional functions | FM Radio (Headset required), loud speaker, customizable side key for PTT, LED torch on top of the phone, you can buy a charging dock |
CAT B40
CAT B40 is a durable phone made for a tough environment. It’s a simple phone, with only texting and calling.
What are the rugged features? The phone can handle drops from 1.8m, soaking in water up to 1.5m, dust and temperature from -25°C to 55°C. The phone is resistant to bleach and chemicals. It also has Germ Defense, so it resistant to germs. This make it great for someone working in jobs where you are exposed to all kinds of things. Flashlight is located on top of the phone, making it easy to use in the same way as regular flashlight. The physical keypad is easy to use when wearing gloves.
What are additional standout features? CAT B40 s advertised as a phone that is very rugged, but also minimalist – it only has texting and making phone calls. Thus, this a great dumbphone for replacing your smartphone if you have problems with too much screen time.
| Model | CAT B40 |
| Display | 2.4in |
| Operating system | proprietary operating system |
| Camera | Rear camera: 2MP |
| Memory and storage | RAM: 128MB, Internal Storage: 8GB, supports memory card |
| Battery and charging | 1800mAh battery, non-removable, USB Type-C charging |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, USB Type-C |
| Processor | Unisoc T117 |
| Audio | 3.5mm headphone jack |
| Network | GSM, 3G, 4G, there are models with Dual SIM and single SIM, SIM size: Nano |
| Additional functions | FM Radio (Headset required), loud speaker |
CAT S22 Flip
CAT S22 Flip is a rugged flip phone with characteristics of a smartphone. It also has a touchscreen and Android 11 Go as its operating system.
What are the rugged features? CAT S22 can withstand drops from about 1.8m, soaking in water up to 1.5m for 35min, and is also resistant to dust. It can also handle being washed and harsh chemicals. They keyboard is large with big buttons, so it’s very easy to use with gloves. The loud speaker means that speakerphone and phone ringing is heard in loud environments. The phone also has a programmable PTT button.
What are additional standout features? The phone has a physical keyboard and a touchscreen. This means that navigating the apps will be easy. It runs Android 11 Go as its operating system. It has Play Store, so you can install apps as on a regular smartphone. If you want to get a dumbphone that actually has smartphone characteristics, this is the right choice for you.
| Model | CAT S22 Flip |
| Display | 2.8in, touchscreen |
| Operating system | Android 11 Go |
| Camera | Rear Camera: 5MP, Front Camera: 2MP |
| Memory and storage | RAM: 2GB, Internal Storage: 16GB, supports memory card |
| Battery and charging | 2000mAh, removable, USB Type-C charging |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, Hotspot, USB Type-C |
| Processor | Qualcomm QM215 Snapdragon 215 |
| Audio | No 3.5mm headphone jack. It’s unclear on how to use wired headphones with this phone, so wireless headphones are recommended. |
| Network | GSM, 3G, 4G, single SIM, SIM size: Nano |
| Additional functions | Programmable PTT button, loud speaker |
Kyocera DuraXV Extreme
Kyocera DuraXV Extreme is a rugged flip phone with many customizable buttons and accessories.
What are the rugged features? This phone can handle drops from 1.5m, soaking in water up to 2m for 30 minutes. It is also dustproof and can handle extreme weather. The loud front speaker provides clear sound that can be heard in loud environments. The phone also has a lot of keys for quick access that can also be customized – a speakerphone button on top, contacts button on top, PTT and SOS button. The loud speaker and dual-mic noise cancellation means you can communicate clearly in noisy situations. The physical keypad is easy to use when wearing gloves. It also comes with many accessories that can be purchased separately, like charging cradles, various headphones, holsters and more.
What are additional standout features? The phone has a physical keyboard and no touchscreen. Menu can be customized with apps that you want. Customizable buttons also ensure quick access to most used features. If you want to get this phone to replace your smartphone for screen time reduction, this phone is a good choice.
| Model | Kyocera DuraXV Extreme |
| Display | 2.6in |
| Operating system | AOSP (proprietary operating system) |
| Camera | Rear camera: 5MP (there is also a version of the phone without camera) |
| Memory and storage | RAM: 2GB, Internal Storage: 16GB, supports memory card |
| Battery and charging | 1770mAh battery, removable, USB Type-C charging or charging contacts on back of the device |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, Hotspot, USB Type-C |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 215 |
| Audio | 3.5mm headphone jack with secure camlock for headset accessories |
| Network | GSM, 3G, 4G, Dual SIM, SIM size: Nano |
| Additional functions | FM Radio (Headset required), loud speaker, customizable side keys (speakerphone button on top, contacts button on top, PTT and SOS button), flashlight, many accessories to buy for the phone |
Nokia 800 Tough
A famous rugged dumbphone from Nokia, Nokia 800 Tough, is built to survive harsh conditions.
What are the rugged features? Nokia 800 Tough is dustproof, water resistant up to 1.5m and 30min, resistant to drops up to 1.8m, and it can withstand extreme temperatures from -20°C to +55°C. The keyboard has rubbery buttons so you can use it with gloves. The phone also has a flashlight and a safety loop so you can put on a wrist strap.
What are additional standout features? The phone has a physical keyboard for using the phone and no touchscreen. The phone comes with Google Apps, Facebook and WhatsApp. It has KaiOS as its operating system, so you can install more apps. The apps are more basic than on a smartphone. This phone is a good choice for those who want a minimalist rugged dumbphone, but still need apps like WhatsApp for basic communication.
| Model | Nokia 800 Tough |
| Display | 2.4in |
| Operating system | KaiOS |
| Camera | Rear camera: 2MP |
| Memory and storage | RAM: 512MB, Internal Storage: 4GB, supports memory card |
| Battery and charging | 2100mAh battery, removable, Micro USB charging |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, Hotspot, Micro USB |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 205 |
| Audio | 3.5mm headphone jack |
| Network | GSM, 3G, 4G, Dual SIM |
| Additional functions | FM Radio (Headset required), flashlight, safety loop on the phone on which you can put a wrist strap |
Sonim XP5plus
Sonim XP5plus is a great rugged phone with two knobs, one for channel selection during PTT communication, and another one for volume control. There is also a version of the phone without the knobs.
What are the rugged features? Sonim XP5plus is water resistant up to 2m for 30 minutes, can handle drops from up to 2m, is resistant to dust and extreme temperatures from -20°C to 55°C. It has loud, dual front-facing speakers, so the phone sound will be heard in loud environments. The phone has knobs for selecting channels and controlling the volume. This is useful if you are getting the phone and subscribing to a PTT app. You can choose various groups for PTT communication on each channel and control the volume too. There is also a version of the phone without knobs available if you don’t need PTT communication. The phone also has dedicated PTT button and emergency button. Sonim also sells various accessories like charging docks, specialized microphones, and headsets, so you can look into that. The phone also has a flashlight.
What are additional standout features? The phone has a physical keyboard and no touchscreen. It’s a minimalist rugged phone with texting and calling. This phone is also great for those who want to replace their smartphone with a dumbphone that only has basic functionalities.
| Model | Sonim XP5plus |
| Display | 2.8in |
| Operating system | Sonim Proprietary OS (based on AOSP Android 11) |
| Camera | Rear camera: 8MP |
| Memory and storage | RAM: 2GB, Internal Storage: 16GB, supports memory card |
| Battery and charging | 3500mAh removable, USB Type-C charging, you can also buy a charging dock |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, Hotspot, USB Type-C |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 |
| Audio | proprietary SecureAudio connector, which can be used to plug in various Sonim SecureAudio products like speaker microphones, headsets and more, you need to get an adapter to connect 3.5mm headphones |
| Network | GSM, 3G, 4G, Dual SIM, SIM size: Nano |
| Additional functions | FM Radio (Headset required), loud speaker, dedicated PTT and emergency button, two knobs for volume control and channel selection during PTT, flashlight, various accessories to buy for the phone |
Sonim XP3plus
Sonim XP3Plus is a rugged flip phone with many features for those work in rugged environments.
What are the rugged features? Sonim XP3Plus is water resistant up to 1.5m for 30 minutes, can handle drops from 1.5m, extreme temperatures from -20°C to 55°C, and is also resistant to dust. The phone has loud front-facing speakers, so the phone can be heard in noisy environments. Sonim XP3Plus has customizable Emergency and PTT buttons. They keyboard has large keys and is easy to use when wearing gloves. The phone also has a LED flashlight. Sonim also sells various accessories for the phone – rugged headsets, charging docks and more, so you can look into that.
What are additional standout features? The phone has a physical keyboard and no touchscreen. It’s a flip phone with texting and calling. Therefore, the phone is also great for those who need a simple phone to replace their smartphone for cutting back on screen time.
| Model | Sonim XP3plus |
| Display | 2.8in |
| Operating system | Sonim Proprietary OS (based on AOSP Android 11) |
| Camera | 8MP, also model without camera is available |
| Memory and storage | RAM: 2GB, Internal Storage: 16GB, supports memory card |
| Battery and charging | 2300mAh battery, removable, USB Type-C charging, you can also get a charging dock |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, Hotspot, USB Type-C |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 |
| Audio | proprietary SecureAudio 3.5mm connector, which can be used to plug in various Sonim SecureAudio products like speaker microphones, headsets and more |
| Network | GSM, 3G, 4G, Dual SIM, SIM size: Nano |
| Additional functions | FM Radio (Headset required), PTT button, emergency button, flashlight, loud speaker, various accessories to buy for the phone |
FAQ
What is a rugged dumbphone?
Rugged dumbphone is a basic phone made from durable material that protects from damage. This means protection from moisture, shock, impact, water, dust and more. Online, they are also know as rugged dumbphones, rugged feature phones, rugged basic phones, rugged minimalist phones, tough dumbphones, rugged simple phones and more.
They are suitable for extreme weather, like high and low temperatures, extreme sports (like rock-climbing), working outdoors and working in extreme conditions (construction, industry).
What is considered a dumbphone?
Dumbphones, also known as basic phones, offer limited functionality compared to smartphones. They typically lack features such as touchscreens and a wide range of apps. An iconic example of an older dumbphone is the Nokia 3310. However, modernized dumbphones are available today, designed to function on modern cellular networks.
These contemporary dumbphones may include basic features like calling and texting. Some even incorporate limited smartphone capabilities, such as basic web browsing. Additionally, there are phones with numeric keypads that possess full-fledged smartphone capabilities, and these are often categorized as dumbphones by some users.
Why switch to a dumbphone?
- Dumbphones reduce distraction and screen time. Dumbphones lack addictive apps helping you stay focused. They also have smaller displays so watching content is not as fun as on smartphones. In that way, they also improve productivity as you are less likely to waste time on your phone.
- Dumbphones have a long battery life. They can work for several days on a single charge.
- Dumbphones help with digital detox. Its a great tool to avoid information overload, being constantly connected and cutting back on screen time due to owning a smartphone.
What to pay attention to when getting a rugged dumbphone?
- Before purchasing a dumbphone online, first, check if it supports the frequency bands used in your country. This is crucial because without the right frequency bands, your phone may not work for calls or internet access. To ensure compatibility, consider buying from a local shop or mobile carrier. Also, confirm that your phone is compatible with your chosen mobile network carrier. Some phones are locked to specific carriers, which may not align with your preference.
- Rugged dumbphones are designed for durability and practicality rather than offering extensive features and apps. They focus on toughness, featuring loud speakers for noisy environments, glove-friendly handling, quick-access buttons, and related accessories. So, make sure that the phone has all the rugged features that you want.
- Don’t forget to review the warranty terms for each phone. It’s essential to know the duration of coverage and the conditions in case your phone encounters issues.
- Many companies producing the phones mentioned in this article also provide additional services for organizations using their phones. These services may include Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) software for remotely managing employees’ phones (e.g., Sonim’s SonimWare, Kyocera’s EMM, etc.), repair services, and other programs beneficial for organization’s mobile devices.
