If you’ve dropped your phone on the hard cement or unknowingly dragged it into the ocean at the beach, you understand the pain of losing a handset that wasn’t designed to withstand the elements. To avoid this the next time, CNET has gathered some of our recent favorite devices that are waterproof, rugged or both.
Motorola Droid Turbo 2
Product Review: http://www.cnet.com/products/motorola-droid-turbo-2/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 4 stars out of 5 (Excellent)
The good: The Motorola Droid Turbo 2 has a tough screen that won’t crack. Plus, it has top-tier performance, solid battery life and the ability to design your own phone at Motorola’s website.
The bad: The Turbo 2’s camera lags behind the best you can buy, and the shatterproof screen comes with some trade-offs. In the US, it’s exclusive to Verizon.
The cost: $487.90 to $649.99
The bottom line: The Verizon-exclusive Droid Turbo 2 delivers on its promise of an uncrackable screen — and it’s a great all-around Android phone, too.
———
Samsung Galaxy S7 Active
Product Review: http://www.cnet.com/products/samsung-galaxy-s7-active/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 4 stars out of 5 (Excellent)
The good: The Galaxy S7 Active has extra long battery life and is resistant to dust, water and drops. It has the same speedy performance, expandable storage and excellent camera quality as the original S7.
The bad: The bulky, plastic design feels cheap compared with the glass-and-metal S7, and the phone is expensive.
The cost: $794.99 to $829.99
The bottom line: AT&T customers looking for a durable and high-end smartphone can’t go wrong with the Galaxy S7 Active.
———
Cat S60
Product Review: http://www.cnet.com/products/cat-s60/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 (Very good)
The good: The Cat S60 features a built-in thermal imaging camera. It can consistently survive 6 foot drops onto concrete and can take a 16 foot dunking into water. It has an expandable microSD card slot and loud front-facing speakers.
The bad: It’s significantly thicker and heavier than other smartphones. The thermal imaging feature while cool and fun, is mostly useless aside from some specific cases.
The cost: $669.26
The bottom line: The Cat S60’s durable build is impressive, but its appeal is limited to those who can make good use of its built-in thermal imaging camera.
———
Sony Xperia Z5
Product Review: http://www.cnet.com/products/sony-xperia-z5/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 (Very good)
The good: The Sony Xperia Z5 looks good, has plenty of power, its camera can take some great snaps and it won’t die when you spill your drink on it.
The bad: Only minor updates from its predecessor means it lacks the excitement of its rivals. Its waterproofing no longer allows for full submersion, meaning it can’t be used for underwater photography.
The cost: $399.99 (refurbished) to $450.00
The bottom line: Even with strong specs befitting a high-end phone, the Sony Xperia Z5 adds little over its predecessor to make it an exciting option over rivals like the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge.
———
The following CNET staff contributed to this story: Associate Editor Xiomara Blanco, Associate Editor Dan Graziano, Senior Editor Sean Hollister, Senior Editor Andrew Hoyle and Senior Editor Laura K. Cucullu. For more reviews of personal technology products, please visit www.cnet.com.
About the Author
