Their batteries may be dying out faster than an iPhone's — just perhaps — but at least you don't have to compromise for bad performance on an HTC or a Motorola phone.
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Nearly the same number of Pixel 2 XL phones were activated as the combined total of the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus devices.
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After Apple admitted to slowing down older iPhones with software patches due to some misbehaving batteries, it’s only natural to wonder if other smartphone manufacturers do the same. It can’t be just Apple, right?
It’s too early to come to a definitive conclusion, but the list of potential perpetrators got a little shorter today, according to The Verge. Both Moto and HTC have provided comment on the matter, each coming right out and saying that those types of practices are not employed.
On HTC’s end, a spokesperson stated that working in this gradual slowing of its phones’ CPU speed is “not something we do”. Moto’s comment is similar but more to-the-point: “We do not throttle CPU performance based on older batteries.”
Putting aside the controversial aspect of Apple’s secrecy in deploying software that slowed down an iPhone’s performance, it’s admittedly a clever method to ensure that its large batch of phones remain looped in with major updates years from their original release.
Compare this to how things typically work on Android. Pushing these major updates through the pipeline can take quite a long time. Over a year, at times. Much to the chagrin of Android fans, the wait is inevitable.
Historically, this is due to the long, arduous process of each manufacturer optimizing their respective hardware and software layers to get things running smoothly, a process that Google claims to be making easier and faster with Project Treble.
But looking at Apple’s dicey solution to quickly disperse a quick fix, waiting might be the only thing we can do to guarantee that no performance is lost in smartphones that we’ve paid a lot for.
It’s encouraging to hear that Moto and HTC don’t participate in slowing their older smartphones. However, we’re still waiting to hear from some even bigger manufacturers, like Samsung, Google, Huawei, LG and Sony.
When a typical run-of-the-mill smartphone is not sturdy enough to withstand your daily routine, you'll want to check out our list of the best rugged smartphones in 2018.
Other than being waterproof, these rugged smartphones are also often shock-resistant making them ideal for outdoor activities, whether business related or not.
Most will have undergone stringent IP68 tests to ensure that they meet military-specified standards for protection against vibration, shock, extreme temperatures, dust and water (albeit in controlled environments).
Many have extra features to distinguish themselves from the rest of the competition: some have infrared camera functionality, others have sound level meters and even VOC (volatile organic compound) detectors.
Finally, just bear in mind that while all ruggedized smartphones will be waterproof and dustproof (and therefore meet the IP68 specification), not all waterproof phones will be ruggedized.
At any rate, these are our top picks for the best rugged phones on the market right now.
We tested out the AGM X1 earlier this year and found that it was mighty likable. The X2, which has been just released, promises to push the envelope even further with a complete upgrade to the internals. An upgraded Qualcomm processor now runs alongside 6GB of RAM. There’s a 16-megapixel camera at the front and a pair of 12-megapixel sensors at the back, surpassing even established models like the Samsung Galaxy S8.
Other than the boosted battery capacity (6000mAh) and 128GB of on-board storage, there’s also a VOC (volatile organic compound) detector, which makes this an incredibly useful smartphone for the right audience. It does support NFC and USB Type-C but offers no wireless charging and it supports only one 4G SIM.
Note: Gearbest is an online Chinese retailer, and while its quoted price includes delivery, it’s exclusive of any taxes that may be levied by HMRC or the courier companies on behalf of the vendor. If you want to buy tech from Chinese sites, we’d advise you read this first.
The industrial, rugged look of the Doogee S60, and the fact that it uses a microUSB connector – not to mention the rather silly sounding name – might put off some potential buyers here. But if you can overlook these downsides, then this device has a lot to offer – and it’s half the price of the above AGM X2.
The S60 packs a powerful punch, with a Gorilla Glass 5 glass overlay on the display, plus it offers dual SIMs plus dual standby, a 24W quick-charge charger, NFC and even wireless charging (but no wireless charger). It is crammed with sensors and tools as well, which will come in useful for handymen (and women): there’s a barometer, a gyroscope, a coulomb meter, a sound level meter and even a bubble level.
The Ulefone Armor 2 is one of a number of recently released rugged smartphones that offer significant upgrades over their predecessors at a very affordable price, far cheaper than either the S60 or the AGM X2. Somehow it still offers similar core components (a Mediatek Helio P25 octa-core CPU, 6GB of RAM and 64GB on-board storage).
The camera subsystem is the weakest of the three but nonetheless on par with other top-end non-ruggedized devices like the Samsung Galaxy S8 (note that the pixel count is only part of the equation when it comes to gauging the overall picture quality). This phone’s battery capacity is slightly under par and there’s no audio connector, so you will need to use a converter. Like the S60, it is bundled with a virtual toolkit that contains a few tools; but there’s no sound level monitor.
The Blackview BV7000 Pro is a balanced product aimed at a wider audience beyond the traditional builders and ruggedized verticals. In use, the phone proved to be a capable performer and didn’t stutter or run sluggishly during our brief encounter. The screen is gorgeous – even in broad daylight – and little additions like ‘smart somatosensory’ (which uses hand-waving to trigger events), the customizable notification light, or Parallel Space, which allows for apps to be cloned and used by multiple users, are great differentiators.
There’s no wireless charging or NFC, plus you’re still limited to 802.11n Wi-Fi. For now, though, the BV7000 Pro provides an interesting compromise if you want a mid-range model that doesn’t give away your trade, can take a few pictures in torrential rain, and doesn’t break the bank.
The Zebra TC75x brings mid-range smartphone performance to ruggedized devices, albeit with a hefty price tag. The handset does more than make up for its cost, though, thanks to an impressive build quality and an enterprise-level application suite (and support). It is far more expensive than the rest of the competition, but then again, this rugged phone’s features put it at the cutting-edge of what is usually a rather slow moving niche.
A number of challengers have appeared on the market (Cipherlab, Cat, Unitech) but a successful product requires more than just a cheap price tag. Motorola’s legacy lives on and the wealth of expertise that the TC75x packs puts the device in a league of its own, both in terms of price and overall features.
Other noteworthy ruggedized smartphones available on the market are:
The Cat S60 is a good choice if you want to have access to a portable, feature-heavy and very handy infrared camera.
The Samsung Galaxy S8 Active is ideal for those who want a branded ruggedized smartphone with the latest technology inside.
The Samsung Galaxy S7 Active is a smart move if you want the best value branded ruggedized smartphone.
The Homtom HT20 is the handset to go for if you want the absolute cheapest quality smartphone.
After launching its budget smartphone Nokia 2, HMD Global led Nokia is apparently gearing up to launch an entry-level smartphone, dubbed the Nokia 1. The highlight of the device is that it is rumoured to be a part of the Android Go Program. Some specifications of the device were leaked by Eldar Murtazin, a Russian blogger.
Google had announced the Android Go program back in May, which aims to provide improved user experience for entry-level devices. Android Go is designed for devices with up to 1GB of RAM and comes with lighter apps, an optimised Google assistant and faster load times.
The Nokia 1 is expected to feature a 5-inch HD IPS LCD display and come with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage. It is expected to run on Android Oreo (Go Edition) with lighter versions of Google's usual apps, like Maps Go, Files Go and YouTube Go.
There is no information about the optics of the device, however, it is expected to come with a similar camera setup like the Nokia 2, which had an 8MP primary camera and a 5MP secondary camera. It was powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 212 processor and the Nokia 1 may be powered by the same chipset.
The Nokia 2 has a 4,100mAh battery and runs on Android 7.1.1 Nougat. The device went on sale in India in November, with a price tag of Rs. 6,999. Nokia has promised that the device will soon be upgraded to Android 8.0 Oreo.
It's been quite a year for HTC, what with price drops for the HTC Vive, the launch of the HTC U11 flagship phone, and the sale of a big chunk of its smartphone operations to Google. Perhaps unsurprisingly, given that Google sale, we're going to see fewer HTC phones in 2018 according to reports.
According to DigiTimes, which has a fairly good record in terms of knowing what's coming in the Asian phone supply chain, HTC is going to focus its resources on just a couple of phone launches in 2018.
The first will be the HTC U11 Plus, which we already know a lot about, except when it's actually going to go on sale. The bigger, longer-lasting version of the original U11 should be heading out to selected markets early in the New Year (January 2018, if sources speaking to DigiTimes are to be believed).
The second phone launch HTC has pencilled in for next year is of course the HTC U12, its flagship model for 2018. If it's going to follow the pattern of this year and the HTC U11, we can expect to see the phone make an appearance in May or thereabouts.
It sounds as though the HTC U12 is going to come with a Snapdragon 845 processor, a 4K screen, and a dual-sensor rear camera, according to DigiTimes sources, so it should be able to hold its own against the big boys, on paper at least. Whether it's enough to keep HTC in the smartphone business remains to be seen.
After 2018, who knows? HTC has made some fine phones down the years but has struggled to make a significant dent in terms of market share despite the quality of its handsets. Perhaps focusing on a smaller number of devices will see a change in fortunes.
Via Phandroid
