Lots of smartphones released nowadays are covered in glass and susceptible to shattering after any drop. If you're tired of glass-covered phones and you want something a bit tougher, Cat and Sprint may have what you need.
The Cat S48c is launching today at Sprint at a price of $20 per month for 18 months on a Sprint Flex Lease. Full retail price for this rugged Android smartphone is $480.
The body of the Cat S48c meets the MIL-SPEC 810G standard, which means it can withstand repeated drops onto concrete from up to six feet. The phone is also IP68 dustproof and waterproof, and it was testing in water up to four feet deep for 35 minutes. The Cat S48c's rugged credentials don't end there, as it's also certified for use in hazardous locations, like areas where flammable gas or flammable vapor from liquid may be present, and it can work in extreme temperatures ranging from -13 degrees Fahrenheit up to 131 degrees. Also of note is that the Cat S48c's 5-inch FHD touchscreen can be used with gloves or wet hands.
When it comes to raw specs, the Cat S48c is packing a 2.2GHz octa-core Snapdragon 630 processor, 4GB of RAM, and 32GB of built-in storage, as well as a microSD card slot that'll let you add more storage. There's a 13MP rear camera with flash on this rugged device and a 5MP front-facing camera for selfies. Cat has included a large 4000mAh battery with its new device, and the software is Android Oreo with an upgrade to Android Pie planned. Programmable push to talk support is included with the Cat S48c as well, complete with a dedicated PTT button on the left side of the phone.
It may not be the most high-end phone around, but the Cat S48c is more focused on being a rugged device that'll survive any tough environment that you use it in. And with specs like 4GB of RAM and an octa-core SD630 processor, it should be able to handle just about any kind of work that you've got. If you need a toughened phone to survive your work and life, you can buy the Cat S48c from Sprint right now.