Sascha Segan, a reporter with PCMag, would like suggestions on how best to try to destroy our newest Sonim ultra-rugged phone, the XP3.20.
Many have tried, but our tough phones really hate to be defeated. But if you've been harboring an hunch on how best to kill a Sonim phone, let Sascha know.
Sascha also updated PCMag readers on US availability of the XP3.20
"Great news for skiers, blue-collar workers and anyone who tends to drop their phone in the sink: Sonim's XP3.20, the world's toughest phone, is arriving in the U.S. early this summer thanks to a group of rural mobile phone carriers. That means the phone is coming sooner than we heard in February.
The XP3.20 may also be available unlocked directly through some retailers for use on AT&T's and T-Mobile's networks, Sonim chief executive Bob Plaschke said Friday.
I got some hands-on time with the XP3.20 today, and Plaschke explained what makes it far more rugged than 'semi-rugged' phones like the Samsung Rugby.
For instance, the XP3.20 has a rubber ridge around the screen and a few extra millimeters of space between the screen glass and the actual LCD display. That makes the display much harder to crack.
The XP3 can survive 100 9-foot drops to concrete (or more than 20 G-forces) and is certified to the IP67 standard, which is tougher than the usual IP57 standard you hear about. It's waterproof, dustproof, super-loud, and you can use it wearing gloves thanks to raised, ridged keys.
The phone's specs have been tweaked a bit from what we heard last October. The 'new' XP3 has a 1900 mAh battery for 15 hours of GSM/EDGE talk time, along with an unusually rich color LCD screen and a 2-megapixel camera. The phone's GPS is designed not primarily for driving directions - it's designed so rescuers or employers can find the folks carrying the phones. The XP3 will also come with PC syncing software so you can move your contacts over from your PC.
Even the XP3's box (shown at left) is tough. It's waterproof and so strong you can stand on it; it makes a great bait box, toolbox or lunch box.

