It’s not often that we see new rugged Android smartphones released, but that’s exactly what Caterpillar has for us today.
The Cat S41 is a rugged Android Nougat smartphone from Caterpillar, a company typically known for its construction equipment, and Bullitt Group. Its body is IP68-rated for water and dust resistance, it meets the MIL SPEC 810G standard so it can survive thermal shocks, and it’s drop tested from more than 5 feet high onto concrete.
Another interesting feature of the Cat S41 is its programmable shortcut key. You can use it for quick access to a number of special features, including Push to Talk, the SOS Lone Worker app, or to quickly jump to your flashlight or camera.
On the front of the Cat S41 is a 5-inch 1920x1080 display with Gorilla Glass 5 that can be used with wet fingers or while you’re wearing gloves. It’s also got an 8-megapixel front camera and a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera, both of which offer underwater functionality.
Inside the Cat S41’s rugged body is an octa-core MediaTek processor, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, and a microSD slot for adding even more storage. There’s also a 5,000mAh battery that can be used to charge other devices using the Cat S41’s USB Battery Share connector. Rounding out the S41’s feature set is VoLTE and VoWiFi support and a textured back for added grip.
The Cat S41 is priced at $449 and is available from Caterpillar’s website as well as Amazon, BestBuy.com, eBay, Home Depot, and B&H.
Rugged smartphones may not be for everyone, but for folks that can be hard on their devices or anyone that just wants a phone that they don’t need a case for, the Cat S41 may be worth taking a look at. It’s got a super tough body and a decent spec list that includes a huge battery that ought to let you stay away from the wall charger for awhile.