Hi Everyone

I showed a ruggedized mobile phone in one of my videos a long time ago and I have had a number of people ask for more. So, I contacted OneDirect, from whom I have had help before, and they arranged for the loan of one of the latest devices to hit the market.

The phone is made by a Spanish company, Bravus, and is rated at IP68. It has a magnesium casting as a chassis and runs Android 4.4. In my video I only examine the physical characteristics and not the performance of the phone under the Android OS.

Here is the link:



The phone is now boxed (I did dry it off first) awaiting collection.

Peter

Hi Peter, hope you are well. Great review as usual. Just one question, I may have missed it in the video,. How is the phone charged? Is the socket sealed behind the cover as if it was on the out side like other phones, water would get in?

Hi Taz,

The phone is charged via a USB cable into a socket at the top which is sealed behind a watertight flap. A mains USB charging unit is supplied as well as two USB cables. I did far more tests with water than those shown in the video and I am absolutely satisfied that the phone can keep the water out.

My wife and I went down to the coast to get it sandy and introduce it to salt water. She threw it rather enthusiastically into the sea and got her feet soaked fishing it out. The phone was fine - I just washed it in fresh water when we got back to the camp site.

I have an iPhone 5 which is a bit of a liability when I am in the workshop or out cycling. My daughter has a very robust cover for her iPhone but I would still not risk doing the sort of things you saw in the film with a £600 phone. The Bravus is sensibly priced and, if you get a SIM only contract, then it is far cheaper than a regular phone contract and the phone is paid for in the savings after just one year.

Peter

Is gorilla  glass unique   to this phone  or do most phones have  this grade of glass fitted?

I still use a Motorola  flip phone  similar to your  old one.

Gorilla glass is quite common now and it is a good material as it is shock resistant and really very tough.

Peter

Thank you Peter. Very helpful as usual.