When it comes to quality smartphones, one of the most important physical features to keep an eye out for is durability, so for that, you'll want to pick a tough smartphone. Nothing is quite as terrible as dropping your phone and seeing the screen cracked, and while a durable case can help, it's even better if your phone is built to last.
You might assume that with the sleek design of most modern smartphones, such as iPhones, by opting for toughness you will have to trade away style and it being heavier, but there are plenty of brilliant smartphone designs that still manage to be durable. The days of clunky brick phones are long past.
The best tough smartphones at a glance:
• The best overall tough smartphone: Nokia XR21 - View now on Amazon.co.uk
• The best value tough smartphone: Blackview BV5300 Pro - View now on Amazon.co.uk
• The best tough smartphone for outdoors: Ulefone Power Armor 19 - View now on Amazon.co.uk
Whatever you need from a smartphone, whether it be sticking to a budget or a design focused on gaming, you can find a tough smartphone to fit your preferences. To help you reach the best decision, we've gathered a list of our favourites and judged them by their strengths and weakness.
Let's get into our picks for the best tough smartphones.
1.
Nokia XR21
The best overall tough smartphone
Nokia has a well-earned reputation for the durability of its phones, and the XR21 lives up to those expectations. The chassis is made from recycled aluminium, which beyond being a nice bit of eco-friendly design, also keeps the vital interior parts from ever being harmed. Drops, dust, water; you name it, the Nokia XR21 can withstand it - it's got an IP69K rating, after all.
It's not unusual for phones focused on durability to sacrifice screen quality to achieve the most resilient build possible, but we're pleasantly surprised by the XR21. The screen visuals look fantastic, and coupled with the 120Hz refresh rate, you've got a great smartphone for watching videos.
Read our full Nokia XR21 review.
Pros
- Recycled aluminium chassis keeps it very sturdy
- Great screen quality and refresh rate
- IP69K rating
Cons
- Only available in two colours
The best value tough smartphone
There's a chance that, if you're here searching for a tougher smartphone, your current one has been damaged, so that's why we want to suggest the budget-friendly Blackview BV5300 Pro. In terms of a smartphone that is both tough and of high quality, this is the best mix at the lowest price point. Don't mistake the affordability for a lack of polish, as this is a reliable piece of kit with all the features you could want.
Despite the lower cost, the processor of the Blackview BV5300 Pro is quite impressive. It's capable of running smoother than some phones twice its price. If you don't mind it being a bit heavier than a standard phone, this is a great all-rounder.
Pros
- Affordable and budget-friendly
- Great processor makes everything run smoothly
Cons
- A bit heavier than you would expect
The best drop-proof tough smartphone
Gravity is the greatest enemy a smartphone can face, and that's why the Motorola Rugged Defy aims to defeat it. Well, it won't be floating freely in the air, but it is designed to handle being dropped without coming to much harm. It is shock absorbent to a height of 1.8 metres, which is higher than what most of us would hold our phones at normally. It's especially nice that even with a focus on being as defended as it can be, the Motorola Rugged Defy still looks stunning.
We also want to note the camera quality. It has quad-pixel technology which helps to produce sharp-looking photos with vibrant colours.
Pros
- Brilliant camera
- Sleek design
Cons
- Not as fast as other options
The best tough smartphone for outdoors
The Ulefone Power Armor 19 is an interesting smartphone that belongs out in the wild. It's more designed for hobbyists and budding scientists than a typical smartphone, with unusual features like an accurate thermometer and even a microscope. If you have a passion for the outdoors, we reckon these additional features will be appealing.
It's also a great choice for photographers too. Alongside a quality in-built camera, you've got 256 gigabytes of storage, more than enough to fill a dozen of trips full of pictures and videos taken.
Pros
- Unique thermometer and microscope features
- Great storage capacity
Cons
- Many features may seem unnecessary for some
The best waterproof tough smartphone
It's not always about being shockproof, sometimes you need something waterproof, and for that, you want the Blackview BV7200. With an ingress protection rating of 69K, this smartphone is fully protected against dust getting anywhere important, and can even withstand being blasted by high-pressure, high-temperature jets of water. We don't suggest that you take a pressure washer to it, but you can rest well knowing your phone can weather just about any storm.
The Blackview BV7200 also sports an impressive battery life, so you shouldn't find yourself tethered to a charging port too often. Our only gripe is that the audio quality is so-so, but that's a worthwhile trade for the sheer durability on offer here.
Pros
- Incredible IP69K rating
- Very good battery life
Cons
- Audio quality is outclassed
FAQ
What makes a tough phone case?
That depends on what style of phone case you choose to go for you. If you go for a soft case, a material like faux leather provides plenty of protection. Since it tends to be fairly thick, it should shield the phone from most mild drops. If you prefer a hard shell case, you'll largely be looking at specialised plastics. When combined with some rubber and silicon sections, you'll have a phone case that could shelter your phone even when thrown.
Although, for the record, we don't recommend throwing your phone.
Should you get a phone screen protector?
It's all well and good having a tough smartphone, but the biggest weak point is still the screen, so it's worth taking an extra measure to protect it. While a screen protector won't shield it from all cracks, it will prevent most scratches from appearing. After all, when most of our devices are controlled through a touchscreen, we need to keep that surface in as good a condition as we can.
Kyle Purves is a Commercial Content Writer for What’s The Best, with an avid interest in all things gaming and tech.
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