Samsung XCover Pro: la pantalla perforada y la doble cámara llegan a la gama más resistente de Samsung
En poco más de un mes, conoceremos los nuevos modelos de gama alta de Samsung, los Galaxy S20, y la siguiente generación de su teléfono plegable, el Galaxy Fold 2. Mientras tanto, la compañía surcoreana continúa reforzando otras líneas de su catálogo. El viernes pasado, conocimos los Galaxy S10 Lite y Galaxy Note 10 Lite, y ahora es el turno de la familia XCover.
Esta línea de teléfonos robustos, donde encontramos, por ejemplo, el XCover 4s o el XCover Filed Pro, acaba de dar la bienvenida a un nuevo miembro. El nuevo Samsung XCover Pro, que ha sido anunciado oficialmente en Finlandia, llega con una pantalla perforada, doble cámara trasera y batería extraíble, entre otras características. Veámoslo en detalle.
Ficha técnica del Samsung Xcover Pro
Resolución FulHD (2.400 x 1.080 píxeles)
samsung galaxy xcover pro Vs samsung galaxy xcover fieldpro | comparison
64 GB micro SD hasta 512 GB
Lector de huellas, dos botones programables
Un paso adelante en prestaciones
Si nos fijamos en modelos anteriores de la línea XCover, está claro que Samsung ha querido dar un salto en lo que a especificaciones se refiere con este nuevo teléfono. El XCover Pro incluye una pantalla LCD de 6,3 pulgadas con resolución FullHD, una relación de aspecto 20:9, marcos ajustados y un agujero en la esquina superior izquierda para alojar la cámara frontal.
En su interior, esconde un procesador octa-core que corre a 2 GHz (el Exynos 9611) y viene acompañado por 4 GB de RAM, 64 GB de almacenamiento interno ampliable y Android 9 Pie como sistema operativo.
En cuanto al apartado fotográfico, dispone de una cámara frontal de 13 megapíxeles y una cámara trasera compuesta por un sensor principal de 25 megapíxeles y un gran angular de 8 megapíxeles. Además, incluye un lector de huellas y se alimenta con una 4.050 mAh extraíble y compatible con la carga rápida de 15 W.
Diseñado para entornos hostiles
El nuevo XCover Pro cuenta con el certificado de resistencia al agua y al polvo IP69, y ha superado las pruebas del estándar militar MIL-STD-810. De hecho, es capaz de soportar una caída de 1,5 metros y puede funcionar en condiciones frías y húmedas gracias al modo Wet Touch y Glove, que mejora la sensibilidad de la pantalla para usarla con guantes o dedos mojados.
El XCover Pro ha superado las pruebas del estándar militar MIL-STD-810 y es capaz de soportar una caída desde 1,5 m
Al igual que otros teléfonos Xcover, incluye dos botones programables (uno a la izquierda y otro en la parte superior) para, por ejemplo, encender y apagar la linterna o crear mensajes de texto hablando. Además, el botón de encendido actúa como lector de huellas dactilares.
De cara a un uso comercial, el XCover Pro ofrece soporte de mPOS para administrar pagos y escanear códigos de barras. Del apartado de la seguridad, se ocupa la plataforma Samsung Knox.
Precio y disponibilidad del Galaxy XCover Pro
El Galaxy XCover Pro se comercializará en color negro y en una única configuración con 4 GB de RAM y 64 GB de almacenamiento interno ampliable. Estará disponible en Finlandia el 31 de enero a un precio de 499 euros. Sasmung no ha anunciado si llegará a otros mercados, pero desde Winfuture aseguran que podremos encontrarlo en otros países europeos a principios de febrero.
Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro: A cheat sheet
Samsung released a rugged smartphone for the first time in three years, and this one is built with businesses in mind.
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Распаковка и обзор мега-прочного SAMSUNG Galaxy XCover PRO. Первый взгляд и честное мнение!!
Samsung announced in January 2020 the release of a new business-optimized and ruggedized smartphone called the Galaxy XCover Pro to minimal fanfare and only the briefest of mentions in the tech news cycle. It’s understandable that the Galaxy XCover Pro didn’t merit a lot of buzz when Samsung’s other 2020 Galaxy devices pack so many flagship features–the Galaxy XCover Pro isn’t a flagship phone, and it’s not packed to the gills with flagship features that enhance gaming, web surfing, and other consumer uses.
What the Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro does have is a design built with businesses in mind. There are a variety of applications for the IP68, MIL-STD-810G-compliant device that Samsung consumers probably won’t care about, but businesses looking for a fleet of dedicated, tough, state-of-the-art devices definitely will.
What is the Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro?
Samsung hasn’t released a ruggedized smartphone since 2017’s Galaxy XCover 4, and the Galaxy XCover Pro is next in that same line of rugged Galaxy phones.
In the CNET story about the Galaxy XCover 4, it seems the device was marketed to anyone who wanted a less high-end device but that could take a beating. (CNET is a sister site of TechRepublic.) That isn’t the case with the Galaxy XCover Pro, which is described as a business-first device for companies that send workers out into the elements.
It doesn’t boast the most impressive hardware specs, but that doesn’t really matter for the Galaxy XCover Pro–it isn’t designed to be a replacement to an S-series Galaxy phone; instead, what the Galaxy XCover Pro has going for it is toughness and usability in less-than-ideal conditions.
The device meets IP68 standards, meaning it’s dust-tight and can handle immersion in more than a meter of water for up to 35 minutes. In addition, it’s MIL-STD-810G compliant, which Samsung said required it to pass tests for “21 specific environmental conditions, including temperature, dust, shock/vibration, and low pressure/high altitude.” The Galaxy XCover Pro can withstand drops of one-and-a-half meters, or around five feet.
The Galaxy XCover Pro has additional features that are ideal for business users working in adverse conditions:
- The screen is made of Gorilla Glass 5, and is capable of working while wet and through gloves; and
- the 4,050 mAh battery (which Samsung said will last 14 hours) is removable, and it has two programmable buttons (one is set to push-to-talk by default) for quick access to important work apps.
How can businesses get the Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro?
The Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro was released for sale in April 2020 and costs 499 USD. It’s available in the US for purchase unlocked directly from Samsung or Microsoft, or on contract from Verizon; it’s also available in the EU and Canada.
Bulk purchasing of Galaxy XCover Pros is available from Samsung, but there’s no discount, and orders are limited to 25 devices. If you need to buy more, you’ll have to contact Samsung’s business purchasing department directly.
Additional resources:
- Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro now available nationwide (TechRepublic)
- Camera comparison from six top rugged phones (CNET)
- Samsung Galaxy S20: A cheat sheet (TechRepublic download)
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip: A cheat sheet (TechRepublic download)
- Smartphones and mobile tech: must-read coverage (TechRepublic on Flipboard)
Specs for Samsung’s Galaxy XCover Pro
Screen: 6.3″ edge-to-edge Gorilla Glass 5, FHD LCD, 2340×1080 Dimensions: 6.30 x 3.02 x 0.39 in, 7.69 oz Chipset: Exynos 9611 Quad 2.3 GHz Quad 1.7 GHz octa core Memory: 4 GB Storage: 64 GB, up to 512 GB micro SD card Operating system: Android 10.0 Ruggedized features: IP68, MIL-STD-810G compliant, 1.5m drop tested Cameras: 25MP and 8MP Ultrawide rear, 23MP front Ports: USB 2.0 Type-C, 3.5mm headphone jack Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi (no Wi-Fi 6 support), Wi-Fi direct, GPS, LTE, NFC, EMV level 1 MPOS ready, Pogo Charging port SIM slots: 2 Biometric security: Side-mounted fingerprint reader Battery: 4,050 mAh replaceable (Samsung reports 14 hours of life)
Additional resources:
- Power checklist: Managing and troubleshooting Android devices (TechRepublic Premium)
- Gorilla Glass 6 is the strongest, toughest smartphone glass yet (TechRepublic)
- 6 rugged phones that will survive 2020 and beyond (CNET)
- Hiring kit: Android developer (TechRepublic Premium)
- BYOD approval form (TechRepublic Premium)
What are the main alternatives to the Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro?
Because it’s a ruggedized business phone first, the Galaxy XCover Pro isn’t so much going up against Samsung’s usual competition. Instead, the Galaxy XCover Pro needs to be compared to other popular ruggedized smartphones.
TechRepublic sister site ZDNet did a writeup on rugged smartphones in late 2019, and the competition it lists is what the Galaxy XCover Pro is up against.
The phones that ZDNet lists are similar in many ways to the Galaxy XCover Pro, at least in terms of their ruggedized features: IP68 is the bare minimum (some are IP69 rated), drop protection from five or six feet is typical, and each seems to have a unique feature or two that makes it stand out.
Heavy machinery manufacturer Caterpillar, for example, offers the CAT S61, which has a FLIR thermal imaging camera, as well as built-in laser measuring and air quality sensing hardware. The Blackview BV9700 PRO has a USB-C connectable night vision camera, as well as a CO2 sensor and gas monitor and the Doogee S90 has a full suite of clip-on magnetic rear panels with features like a gamepad, printer, extra battery, night vision camera, and more.
In short, each rugged phone has a feature that its manufacturer claims makes it unique (which may or may not be the case), and each one does things that the Galaxy XCover Pro can do, too.
What Samsung may have going for it with the Galaxy XCover Pro is name recognition. A lot of the hardware listed in ZDNet’s article, and many rugged devices commonly found when searching the web, come from smaller manufacturers who may not be able to compete with Samsung, especially when it comes to business support.
The Galaxy XCover Pro website links directly to Samsung’s Managed Mobility Services page, and Samsung said that “from device configuration and customization to management, Samsung has the mobility software you need for every stage of the device lifecycle.” That’s a positive sign for businesses looking to invest in a fleet of Galaxy XCover Pros, and it’s something that smaller, more speciality manufacturers may have a hard time competing with, despite gimmicks and features their phones have.
The Galaxy XCover Pro also comes with Samsung’s Knox security product, which it claims is “a defense-grade security platform built from the chip up for superior protection that’s easier to manage.”
If its advertising is truthful, Samsung simply has the resources to enable businesses to better manage and secure rugged devices that can be lost or stolen in the field than other manufacturers.
Additional resources:
What are the business applications of the Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro?
Samsung touts a variety of business applications for the Galaxy XCover Pro on its website, and describes the Galaxy XCover Pro as built for front-line workers. The five particular sectors where Samsung describes using the Galaxy XCover Pro are:
- Retail: The Galaxy XCover Pro is designed to accept EMV contactless chip credit cards. Many chip credit cards already in circulation have contactless capabilities, and those that are capable could check out wherever an employee has an Galaxy XCover Pro.
- Public sector: Samsung describes Galaxy XCover Pros paired with field service task management and collaboration software as a way to improve efficiency and communication with workers in the field.
- Transportation: The Galaxy XCover Pro has barcode scanning capabilities, making it suitable for warehouse picking and packing tasks, as well as proof of delivery photographs and scans, on-site payment processing, and paperless workflow tasks like customer sign offs.
- Healthcare: The Galaxy XCover Pro’s rugged design, Samsung said, makes it ideal for situations where it might slip out of a lab coat. be exposed to liquids, and deal with repeated cleanings with strong disinfectant chemicals.
- Manufacturing: Samsung describes the Galaxy XCover Pro’s role in manufacturing to be one of optimization because it’s able to be used in rough environments, and because of its integrations with Samsung’s other industry software tools.
Other capabilities of the Galaxy XCover Pro that make it ideal for various business roles include its ability to be operated with gloves on (ideal for people working outside in cold weather), its push-to-talk capabilities for communicating when cellular service is spotty, and swappable batteries for working in remote locations when charging isn’t available.
Additional resources:
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Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro: Durability for Tough Work Stations
Have you ever dropped your phone, winced and felt the pain as it hit the sidewalk? Either the screen splintered like a windshield being hit by a rock or the body broke into pieces upon impact. Remember those cheapie phones from about 12 years ago that shattered into nothingness if they inadvertently slipped from your hand? Glad those aren’t around any longer.
Well, if you had been holding a Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro instead of one of those others, you’d need not worry. This phone is made to be dropped; in fact, I think it likes being dropped. A big advantage is this: It doesn’t look or feel like one of those bulky, heavy, “rugged” phones you would use out on an oil rig; it looks like a regular business or personal phone that you’d be comfortable showing off to a friend.
I have been using an XCover Pro as my go-to smartphone for a couple of months. I don’t make a habit of dropping phones, but if I did drop this one, I feel I’d be OK with it. These are fortified just well enough to put your mind at ease at all times. You can drop one into water, and it will keep on working. A kid could drive over one with a bike, and it’ll be OK. It might even be able to survive being dropped in a campfire, although I don’t know that for sure. And, no, I’m not going to do that test.
You can’t have those things happen to an iPhone or most other devices, that’s for sure. With the XCover Pro, you have a fighting chance of surviving these mishaps and have the phone live to see another day.
Yes, the Galaxy XCover Pro can take a beating. This phone is dust- and water-resistant and proudly sports an IP68 rating. Devices backed by an international standard rating of IP68 are deemed fit to withstand dust, dirt and sand, and are resistant to submersion up to a maximum depth of 1.5 meters underwater for up to 30 minutes. The phone can be cleaned under running water, if need be. Naturally, you should avoid these things with a standard smartphone. Thus, you can use the XCover Pro basically anywhere in the world you can get a signal, no matter what environment you happen to be in.
What is the Processing power of the Galaxy XCover Pro?
The Exynos 9611 processor isn’t the biggest engine in the garage, and perhaps the most notable drawback of the XCover Pro is its 4GB of RAM. If you’re doing most routine business duties, such as email, texting, word document creation, net surfing, social networking and so forth, you’ll be fine with this. However, if you’re planning to use heavier business apps—such as network portals, spreadsheets, accounting apps, analytics tools, creative apps—I wouldn’t recommend it. For those, you need 8GB to 12GB of RAM at minimum; otherwise, you’ll be spending too much time watching arrows spin around as the app tries to get functioning.
I read a review of the XCover that claimed the phone was slowing down with each passing week. Although I didn’t experience that problem—and it IS a problem when it happens—the 4GB memory can cause that issue. It’s not unlike a 4-cylinder engine in a car; it’s fine for running around town and for traveling on flat surfaces for long distances, but as soon as you need power to go up a steep grade, forget it. We had a Toyota van years ago with a 4-cylinder power plant, and it could only hit 50 mph tops going up a mountain grade. Very frustrating, and I wouldn’t buy that type of vehicle again. Sometimes you just need a little extra power in the plant to help you get over a spike in your work.
Power Source of the XCover Pro
The XCover Pro has a battery purported to last six to eight hours of continuous heavy usage. I only had to charge the phone up once every two days or so, because I don’t use that phone to that extent. The backside of the device is made of heavy plastic and can be removed, so it’s possible to swap the battery without taking it to the Samsung store. The battery can be revved up using either a quick charger or a wireless charger. Overall, good ratings on battery life.
Is the Galaxy XCover Pro good for security?
The XCover Pro has good biometric software: face recognition, a fingerprint scanner and Samsung Pass for protection. You can encrypt or decrypt the SD card. It carries a special secure folder for top-secret files, so if you work for the CIA, that’s a good thing.
It also features the manufacturer’s standard Knox (as in Fort Knox) security system, and that’s a respected process that provides a distinct advantage. The mobile device management solutions of Samsung (and third parties) can completely secure this device and ensure that it is only usable for working with business applications. Encryption can also be applied, and the device can be managed remotely.
Push-to-Talk Integration
In a recent development, ESChat announced that it has integrated its Push-to-Talk (PTT) solution into the Galaxy XCover Pro. Now, users on carrier and enterprise LTE networks can take advantage of XCover Pro’s dedicated PTT buttons and have access to secure communication.
For remote areas where communication is still a priority, users can deploy Samsung’s XCover Pro with the ESChat package to access Samsung’s Enterprise LTE network solutions and Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) frequency Band. details are available here.
Best Use Cases for the Galaxy XCover Pro
For workers in construction or the hospitality industry, the XCover Pro can be a very workable device. Project managers at a construction site or a floor manager at a hotel, for two examples, might find the XCover a good choice for their staff. They also get the benefits from its toughness and water resistance.
Galaxt XCover Pro Cameras
The Galaxy XCover Pro has three cameras, two on the back and one on the front. The camera isn’t designed to be a tool for creatives; it can take basic pictures. It’s aimed to be used to take work-related photos; better to use a higher-end smartphone for sunsets, vacations and family photos you want to keep.
Configurable Buttons
The Galaxy XCover features additional physical buttons on both sides that users can configure with Samsung’s software. For example, you can choose to use a button for a walkie-talkie function or to launch a particular app quickly. In certain situations, this can improve the efficiency of a work process quite a bit, something that can be very useful in the earlier mentioned scenarios.
Is the Galaxy XCover Pro right for you?
The Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro is not designed as a replacement for a high-end device. It is aimed at a specific use case, valuable for people working in sectors where sturdiness and durability are important.
Galaxy XCover Pro Price
You get what you pay for, generally. The Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro, with ranging from 425 to 568, generally costs about half of a high-end iPhone or other Galaxy smartphone. That’s a huge consideration, especially if a company is buying a fleet of them.
Galaxy XCover Pro Specs
Product Name: Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro Screen Size: 6.3″ Broadband Generation: 4G Cellular Network: CDMA, GSM Connector Type: Headphone jack Features: Quad-Band, smartphone, unlocked, water resistant, fast charging RAM: 4GB Security: Fingerprint scanner SIM Slots: Dual SIM Front Camera Resolution: 13 MP Operating System: Android 10 Rear Camera Resolution: 25 MP Display Resolution: 2,340 x 1,080 Storage Capacity: 32GB, 49GB, 64GB, 512GB Weight: 7.69 ounces
Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro review: A simple, rugged smartphone
One problem with smartphones these days is that that in the quest to make them lighter and thinner, they also break easier. When most people purchase a new smartphone, they end up shelling out extra for a phone case that will keep their expensive purchase in pristine condition for longer.
There are a few companies that do make rugged phones, whether it’s for those who work in more demanding environments or just for general everyday use. These rugged phones give users the added peace of mind that their phone isn’t going to break should they accidentally drop it.
Our Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro review takes a look at a rugged phone from the company best known for its Galaxy and Note series devices. Read on to see how it performed during our time spent with it.
Specifications
What’s in the box
- Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro smartphone
- Travel adapter
- USB data cable
- Earphones
- Battery
- Quick Start Guide
- Samsung Care leaflet
Design
While the Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro does follow the basic smartphone design as of late, there are a couple of notable differences. Rectangular in shape, this smartphone also has rounded corners — which is the norm these days.
Back of the Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro rugged smartphone.
The XCover Pro has a couple more buttons than is normal, however. On the right edge, you’ll find the usual power and volume up/down buttons. The power button doubles as a fingerprint scanner as well. While we’re on the subject of biometrics, the device supports face recognition unlock as well.
On the top edge of the phone is a textured top key alongside a 3.5mm audio jack. The left edge has another textured key with a copper border around it that Samsung calls the XCover key. Finally, the bottom edge of the device is where you’ll find the USB Type-C charging port and bottom speaker.
The three buttons — side (power), top, and XCover can be programmed in the settings menu to perform different functions. These include press and press and hold options. You can program these to launch Bixby, an app, toggle the flashlight, or even send a voice to text message.
The next difference you’ll notice is that instead of smooth metal or plastic edges, the Galaxy XCover Pro has a nice, slightly thicker rubberized edge. This edge extends past the front of the display as well. This gives the phone screen some extra protection by lifting it up from surfaces when the phone is placed face down.
The back of the device has a nice textured surface as well, with the Samsung logo stamped near the bottom of it. The dual rear-facing camera and flash array is stacked towards the upper left of the back. It is also recessed slightly into the back cover, providing some protection for the glass around the lens when the phone is placed display up on a table or other surface.
The back cover also has a small notch along the right edge towards the top. Pry the cover open from this notch and it can be removed, exposing the SIM card slot, microSD card slot, and a removable battery. Yes, the Xcover Pro has a 4050Wh removable battery which can be swapped out for an extra if you need it. While most people won’t, if you’re working in a remote place with limited access to power, an extra battery could be a lifesaver. The cover snaps back on easily and tight, which is good considering the phone is also IP68 rated.
The back cover of the Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro rugged smartphone is removable.
Unlike some other rugged phones and phone cases that look beefy and bulky, the Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro retains a relatively thin and sleek look while having added protection on the edges and corners.
Display
The Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro has a 6.3″ FHD TFT 2340×1080 resolution display. The screen does have some side and top bezels to it, but nothing overly huge. The front-facing camera is located in a pinhole to the upper left of the screen, more or less out of the way of any apps or games you may be using.
While not the AMOLED displays found in other Samsung smartphones, it is still crisp and has decent colours. As with most devices, you can adjust the brightness, toggle adaptive brightness, enable dark mode, and more. In addition, you can increase the sensitivity of the screen for use with gloves, definitely a handy feature for a rugged phone when used outdoors in cooler temperatures. The 6.3-inch FHD display on the Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro rugged smartphone.
Software
Oddly enough, you can’t set up the phone without inserting a SIM card first. It’s not a huge deal though but when I’m setting up a new device, I like to set it up first, copy/transfer over from my old phone, then swap my SIM card out once the new device is set up to my liking.
At any rate, the Galaxy XCover Pro runs Android 10 with Samsung’s One UI 2.0 on top. As a result, instead of default Google apps for some things, you’ll get Samsung’s defaults instead. This includes the Gallery, Phone, Browser, Camera, Samsung Daily instead of Google News screen, the Galaxy Store, and Bixby instead of Google Assistant. That’s not to say you don’t have access to and can’t use Google’s default apps because you can as most are included with the device as well. Both One UI and Android 10 run just fine on the device and experienced and new users shouldn’t have any issues navigating the phone.
By default, you need to press the side (power) button and volume down button to turn off the phone. It then asks if you want to power off or restart and then confirm you want to power it off. This is a weird combination as this is also the button combination for taking a screenshot and if held too long it triggers the restart/power off prompts. That being said, you can set the side key to show the power off menu if you prefer. Doing so will override the default Wake Bixby command though.
As mentioned in the Design section, the three buttons — side (power), top, and XCover can be programmed in the settings menu to perform different functions. These include press and press and hold options. You can program these to launch Bixby, an app, toggle the flashlight, or even send a voice to text message.
The XCover button on the left side of the Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro rugged smartphone.
As for security updates, the device seems to be about a month behind. At the time of this review, the phone has the July 1, 2020 security update which came through a couple of weeks ago. While some of Samsung’s other devices get the security updates pretty quickly, it’s interesting that this one is a tad slower. That said, it is still faster than a lot of other OEMs out there.
On the subject of security, the Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro also features Samsung Knox and McAfee anti-malware for additional protection of your data and device.
Performance
With 4GB of RAM and the Exynos 9611 Octa-Core 2.3GHz/1.7GHz, the Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro will be more than adequate for most users. Phone navigation is smooth as is launching and switching between apps. Those that many users run frequently like the web browser and social media apps worked well and the games I tried, including Call of Duty: Mobile ran just fine. Some of these games you’ll have to run at reduced settings but at the end of the day, you’ll likely not notice the difference given the screen size.
Sound Quality
The Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro has a single speaker at the bottom edge. While it does get loud, it is a bit tinny sounding and has no low bass tone whatsoever. While it’s standard fare for smartphones, there are plenty of other phones out there that have much better sound.
That being said, the phone does have a 3.5mm audio jack and Bluetooth support so you’ll be fine with a good set of headphones when it comes to listening to music or watching videos on the device.
Camera
Samsung smartphone cameras are among the best you can get. However, those are typically reserved for their higher-end and more expensive smartphones. The rear camera on the Galaxy XCover Pro is a dual 25MP/8MP Ultra-Wide shooter while the front features a 13MP lens. For the most part, the camera performed well enough both indoors and outdoors.
The camera also has reduced functionality as well. There is no zoom on the rear camera. You do still have access to live FOCUS (blur), pro, panorama, food, night, super slow-mo, slow motion, and hyperlapse features though. While the camera isn’t as good as higher-end phones, it is still decent and, honestly, should be acceptable for most user’s needs.
Reception/Call Quality
Typically there aren’t many issues with reception and call quality on today’s smartphones. During our testing period, I had no issues with reception or call quality with this device.
Battery Life
With the included 4050mAh battery, I was able to easily get a full day and then some out of the Galaxy XCover Pro. In fact, some days I was still at 50% at the end of the day. As mentioned a couple of times, the phone also has a removable battery so if you are going to be off the grid for a few days, you can pick up an extra battery or two to get you through a weekend or few days easily without having to find a charger.
The Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro rugged smartphone features a removable battery.
Protection
I covered this briefly in the design section as the ruggedness is part of the Galaxy XCover Pro’s design. The reinforced edges and corners coupled with the device’s IP68 dust and water and MIL-STD-819G compliant ratings offer up to 1.5m drop protection and protection from the elements. In addition, the lip over the edges for the display and the recessed camera array on the back add extra protection for those elements of the phone.
My only complaint with the protection aspect is it’d be nice if a screen protector was included as well. It is a rugged smartphone after all and that would have been the icing on the cake.
Price/Value
With an MSRP of US499.99/CA699.99, the Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro is about the middle of the road when it comes to pricing. Given its performance and extra ruggedness, as well as the removable battery option, it is pretty reasonably priced considering what you can spend on a smartphone these days.
NOTE: While you can get it from Verizon in the U.S., apparently they will only sell it to business customers. If you are looking to pick one up, you’ll have to buy direct from Amazon or Samsung.
Wrap-up
In a time when smartphones can be complex, extravagant, and expensive, the Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro is a simple, rugged smartphone — and that’s not a bad thing. I’ve long lamented that flagship smartphones, while nice, are overkill for what the majority of people use a smartphone for.
At the end of the day, the Galaxy XCover Pro is easy to use, has decent performance, is rugged and element proof, and even comes with a removable battery should you need extra power while out and about for extended periods of time.
We use revenue-generating affiliate links and may earn commissions for purchases made using them. Mentioned pricing is in USD unless otherwise indicated and is accurate at the time of publishing. We often cover brand press releases and those do not constitute an endorsement of any product or service by Techaeris. Only our reviews are an endorsement or lack thereof. Read more on our disclaimer page.
Last Updated on February 3, 2021.
