There are some users with a very active lifestyle and ones who would certainly appreciate a smartphone that is able to withstand accidents. There are already some special versions of flagship devices that feature a more durable build, but there are some companies who focus on making more rugged devices. Caterpillar Inc., which is better known for making construction and mining equipment is one of those companies and has a few smartphones with enhanced durability. Most of their offerings work with GSM networks, but they have released a new phone to work exclusively on Verizon’s network.
The Cat S50c could benefit those who work in extreme weather conditions such as rescue services, constructions, ski patrol, boating and those who enjoy outdoor activities. The design of this phone meets the United States Military standard MIL-SPEC 810G and it is rated IP67, so it is protected against drops, water, dust, extreme temperatures, humidity, thermal shocks, vibration and salt mist. It can be used in temperatures ranging from -25°C (-13°F) to 55°C (131°F) and it can resist falls from a height of up to 4 ft. It can be submerged in water for up to 30 minutes in a 3.3 ft depth. The phone has a 4.7-inch HD display covered with Gorilla Glass 3 and it works in most situations as it can be used wearing gloves up to 4 mm thick and even with wet fingers for those days with rain or snow.
Other specs include a 1.2 GHz processor with 1 GB of RAM, there is only 8 GB of internal storage, but there’s a microSD card slot, in case more storage is needed. There’s an 8-megapixel camera on the back and a 2-megapixel one at the front. There’s a non-removable 2,630 mAh battery which is supposed to last for 25 hours of talk time or 38 days in standby. The phone also features a dedicated button for Push To Talk functionality. It runs Android Lollipop and its dimensions are 142.2 x 76.2 x 12.47 mm, it weighs 200 grams. It can already be purchased at online retailers including Amazon, Home Depot and the official site of Cat phones, as well as authorized Verizon Wireless Agents from Ingram Micro. Its retail price is $399.