a rugged Android that gets gaming

I’m not essentially the most adventurous individual, but when I had been to take a climbing journey, I’d carry the Doogee S200 together with me. That is the most recent system from one of many world’sleading rugged cellphone manufacturers, and it has no bother residing as much as that identify. It’s heavy, cumbersome, and generally uncomfortable to carry, however the S200’s sturdiness is nothing to be sniffed at. Plus, it could run Honkai Star Rail, which is all the time a bonus.

Like most rugged telephones available on the market, Doogee is aiming the S200 at a really particular viewers of adventurers and laborers, and this specialization means we are able to’t evaluate it to Apple and Samsung’s flagships. As an alternative, we’ve taken a have a look at simply how effectively it performs in comparison with different fashions within the class, just like the Oukitel WP33 Professional and the Cat S75, and different sturdy smartphones within the mid-range worth level. Preserve studying to learn how it fares.

Worth and availability

The Doogee S200 has barely extra shade variation than most rugged telephones, however it nonetheless solely is available in gray and silver. You possibly can seize the handset for your self from the Doogee web site for $399.99, or by way of Amazon or Aliexpress, making it straightforward to amass worldwide.

Specs

Listed here are the Doogee S200’s specs:

Options and software program

Rugged telephones have a particular viewers, so the Doogee S200 has a spread of software program options particularly for individuals in search of a sturdy system. These apps are all tremendous straightforward to search out as they stay within the ToolBag menu, maintaining all of your necessary options saved away out of your on a regular basis apps. I can see my grandpa, who’s a painter and decorator by commerce, utilizing many of those options, like the image hanging instrument, protractor, and top measurement instrument, whereas among the different apps are perfect for the outdoorsy sort.

If I ever relive my Girlguiding days, I do know I’ll need to take the Doogee S200 to camp with me. It has an in-built compass, a pedometer, an extremely vibrant torch, and even an alarm that you should use to sign assist in the event you get caught up a mountain. There’s a small package deal of pre-installed bloatware while you first boot up the cellphone, however in comparison with another Android telephones I’ve examined, it’s not too overwhelming. The S200 additionally runs Android 14, which isn’t the most recent model of the working software program however is up-to-date sufficient to be serviceable.

As for {hardware} options, this system can face up to virtually any circumstances Mom Nature might throw at you. It’s acquired the coveted lP68 waterproofing, making it able to submerging as much as 1.5 meters for as much as half-hour, a MIL-STD-810H drop-proof certification, and might function at temperatures as little as -30°C and as excessive as 70°C.

As terrifying because it was, I drop-tested the Doogee S200 from its most protected top of 1.8 meters just a few instances on my exhausting balcony ground, and the cellphone was utterly unscathed. I even forgot to use the display screen protector, and there wasn’t a lot as a scratch!

Design

Whether or not you just like the cumbersome designs of rugged telephones or not, you possibly can’t deny that they do their job. The Doogee S200 is likely one of the bulkiest telephones I’ve ever held, and it’s heavy too. Not as heavy because the Oukitel WP33 Professional, however at 370g, it weighs over double my iPhone SE 2022. A minimum of due to the extremely sturdy shell, you don’t want so as to add any bulk with a case. It’s additionally extremely tall, that means it’s unlikely to slot in your common pocket, and it’s not essentially the most snug to carry in my tiny palms.

Whereas the S200 doesn’t include a built-in wrist strap like a few of Oukitel’s fashions, it does characteristic a loop so that you can connect your personal lanyard, which might undoubtedly assist battle the pocket drawback. The facet buttons are all respectable sizes and have a fantastic clicky really feel, which is one thing I miss in most smartphones, and the charging port even has a protecting flap to stop mud and water from messing up your system.

The ‘cool mecha design’ of the shell isn’t to my style, however it’s considerably commonplace within the rugged cellphone trade, and it’s not the ugliest factor on the earth. My grandpa used to have a JCB-branded yellow cellular phone – now that was ugly. Plus, the rear AMOLED display screen acts as a watch face and provides a degree of sophistication to the system that I haven’t seen on some other cellphone earlier than.

Show

The S200’s IPS show actually impressed me, given it’s not one of many main promoting factors of the cellphone or others prefer it. The colours on the house display screen can look just a little washed out, however with regards to watching YouTube movies or gaming, the show is vivid and clear.

It’s clear from the specs that Doogee prioritized display screen efficiency fairly than sturdiness within the S200, because it lacks ultra-thick glass however does have a 120Hz refresh fee, making it good for gaming. Plus, the cellphone comes packaged with a sturdy display screen protector, so that you’re not lacking out on any additional shielding from cracks or scratches.

Digicam

The cameras on the S200 do their job, however they’re actually not something to put in writing dwelling about. The 100 MP essential rear digicam managed to seize my cat Uno’s magnificence decently effectively, however the colours seem just a little flat, and there’s an excessive amount of deal with the display screen behind her.

This system might have an evening imaginative and prescient digicam, however the principle digicam doesn’t carry out one of the best in low mild, which is a characteristic that I’d personally favor to a full-on inexperienced and black night time imaginative and prescient mode. The 20 MP front-facing digicam is just a little too good at selecting up my imperfections, so I’m grateful for the built-in magnificence filter. Sometimes, we aren’t in search of stellar digicam efficiency in rugged telephones as they have a tendency to prioritize specialist makes use of, such because the macro digicam and night time imaginative and prescient digicam, in addition to sturdiness. The images may not be the sharpest, however you should use the S200’s digicam underwater with none fears of injury.

Efficiency

For a cellphone this inexpensive and with such a deal with utility, the Doogee S200’s efficiency pleasantly surprises me. I haven’t skilled any lag on the usual pre-installed apps like YouTube or Google, and the MediaTek Dimensity 7050 chipset is ready to run Honkai Star Rail on medium settings with only a few points. In fact, it’s not the optimum approach to play, however I’m in a position to do all my quests and grinding with no lag and satisfactory graphics. It additionally doesn’t have any points with overheating, which actually surprises me given the thick shell.

Once more, this isn’t commonplace for rugged telephones, so it appears that evidently Doogee is attempting to attraction extra to a gaming viewers than beforehand with this efficiency and the aforementioned excessive refresh fee show. Cell gaming is rising in reputation, so it’s good to know that you may select a tool that may allow you to out on hikes and allow you to play your favourite cell video games from wherever your adventures take you.

Battery

The S200’s 10100 mAh battery is an absolute beast. I’ve solely needed to cost this cellphone to full as soon as within the a number of weeks that I’ve had it, even after spending an hour or two utilizing power-sucking video games like Honkai Star Rail and Pokémon TCG Reside. Plus, its 33W quick charging meant it was able to go extremely quick out of the field, reaching 100% in simply over three hours from zero, and you’ll simply high it up in your travels everytime you discover a relaxation cease.

In case you’re out in your travels and your pal is in a pinch, you possibly can even reverse-charge different units, utilizing the S200’s mammoth battery as a transportable charger. The reverse charging speeds are fairly spectacular, too, that means a fully-charged S200 is the proper journey companion, particularly in case your buddies have power-hungry units. Sadly it solely helps wired charging, so don’t overlook your USB-C cable.

Do you have to purchase the Doogee S200?

In case you spend your days on constructing websites otherwise you’re an avid adventurer, it’s best to undoubtedly take into account the Doogee S200. It’s undoubtedly not for everybody, particularly with the cumbersome design and middling cameras, however what it will get proper, it actually excels at. This system is sturdy, filled with helpful instruments, and has a beefy battery that may final for days, so that you shouldn’t overlook it in the event you’re the outdoorsy sort or simply extremely clumsy.

Alternate options

If the Doogee S200 isn’t fairly the mannequin for you, these different sturdy units could be your reply.

Doogee S96 GT

As an older mannequin, the S96 GT is much more inexpensive than the S200 and has lots of the similar unbelievable options. It lacks 5G and has a smaller battery, however it has fairly spectacular cameras for the worth that may even compete with the Nothing Cellphone (2a).

Oukitel WP33 Professional

If the dearth of Gorilla Glass on the S200’s display screen worries you, check out the Oukitel WP33 Professional. It’s extremely sturdy and has a good bigger battery, making it the proper companion for a long-term expedition to among the Earth’s extra distant areas. It’s not nearly as good for gaming, however it’ll survive virtually something.