Rugged phones

Jessica Dolcourt
Senior Editor October 21, 2010 (updated on: September 9, 2011)

If you've got a tough job, harsh climate, or are ruthless to your cell phones, you'll need a handset that can stand up to your abuse--or to the pummelings of Mother Nature, as it were. Military-specified handsets do the best job forestalling the deleterious effects of wind, rain, heat, humidity, cold, dust, and other extreme conditions on a phone's delicate electronic innards.

For the ultimate in durable phones, you can't go wrong with a handset from Sonim. The company's latest model, the XP3300 Force, is encased in thick rubber, with a tough screen to match. With the highest military grade, it can survive everything from dried-up concrete, a dunk in antifreeze, and a tumble does the stairs. (However, don't push them too hard, or you might crack the screen, like we did.) It won't come cheap, though; it retails for around $399 for an unlocked model.

Motorola is also no stranger to durable phones, either. The Motorola Brute i686 for Sprint is a sturdy little number that can withstand a water bath for up to 30 minutes. If it's a smartphone you're after, look no further than the Casio G'Z One Commando for Verizon, the brand's first rugged Android phone, and T-Mobile's Motorola Defy, a good choice for a tough midtier Android handset.

Sprint also has the Sanyo Taho. Although it's not as big on features, you can throw it on the floor, dunk it in a vase, and hold it under a running faucet.