What is you take on new rugged, water- and dustproof phones?

[Avajan]

For some time already, I noticed a new trend – a number of rugged phones showed up, some of them offering really interesting features. Since my two kids are able to kill basically any phone in three months or so, I checked some of these phones. Some of them are by completely unknown to me Chinese companies (supposedly doing well in China) with names like AGM, ZOJI, iMAN, Blackview, Sonim or Homtom, there is a phone by CAT, you can (maybe?) add here new Apple, LG and Samsung phones, although they are not really rugged ones.

What I wanted to ask is – do you think it is a fad, and you can have the same by basically adding just a decent rubber shell to any phone you currently own? Or, it is a trend that will grow, and in no time all phones will be everything-proof?

 

[JeffMD]

Fad? not at all. You may not know it but there are industrial grade laptops designed to handle large amounts of g-shock, air filters, and air tight chassis for desert environments. It is a niche market, but it exist. Phones will be the same way. In fact if you work in the retail and supply chain, there are a number of PDA and cellular devices based on android and windows CE (yep it is still holding on in the supply chain and industry and warehousing, saddly. ) that are built rugged for outdoor and work floor environments.

https://www.amazon.com/Motorola-MC9090-Handheld-Terminal-MC9090-GJ0HBJGA2WR/dp/B00GNIUY6S

"Guaranteeing 6 Foot Concrete Drop-Rate Durability"

 

[solidstar]

I agree that its not only a fad or something else. Actually, it is needed and beneficial to everyone to have an effective water and dust resistant smartphones that other similar range phones do not have.

 

[dark zero]

Actually is a niche market that is becomming into a mainstream one.

Is resistance over looks.