Best Smartphones for Military Personnel

The Blackview BV8900 smartphone handles loads underwater, on land, and in the air thanks to comprehensive protection. It is aimed at use in the military, tourism, and extreme sports. Thanks to the MIL-STD-810H, IP68, and IP69K standards, the phone is not afraid of sand, dirt, submersion in water, pressure drops, high temperatures, or impacts, making it ready for travel to the hottest spots in the world and performing any tasks. The screen is protected by Gorilla Victus glass with increased scratch resistance and has high sensitivity, allowing the gadget to be operated in gloves. A customizable button on the side panel provides quick access to popular functions without the need to unlock the screen.

The FLIR thermal imager, although not the most advanced, will certainly help in many situations. It can be used to determine the location of a person or animal at a distance of about 100 meters, find vulnerable spots in home insulation, and potentially dangerous nodes in wiring and electrical equipment. A 4x zoom and the ability to set the temperature range from -10 to +140 degrees Celsius are available. The main camera from Samsung with 64 MP and an aperture of f/1.8 is complemented by ISOCELL Plus and Smart-ISO technologies. This allows for high-quality images with improved color and detail even in low light conditions. Optical stabilization (OIS) and the Anti-shake function help deal with vibrations, hand shaking, and video recording on the move. 4K and HDR shooting is supported.

The Blackview BV8900 has a capacious solid-state battery of 10000 mAh, which will ensure functionality in the field for several days. It handles critical temperatures better, maintaining efficiency in frost down to -30 degrees Celsius. Moreover, accelerated reverse charging will allow you to "revive" other gadgets — smartwatches, TWS headphones, flashlights. However, such advantages lead to excessive volume and weight (398 g). The smartphone comes with a powerful 33 W power adapter, which can quickly replenish the energy reserve if necessary — up to 50% in 71 minutes. The intelligent protection system controls the process, ensuring complete safety.

The UleFone Armor 17 Pro military-grade smartphone easily handles harsh field conditions, hiking trips, and extreme outings accompanied by dirt, dust, moisture, submersion in water, impacts, vibrations, and temperature fluctuations. It implements all modern protection standards — IP68 / IP69K and MIL-STD-810G. The display deserves special attention, with a refresh rate of 120 Hz and reliable Gorilla Glass 5.

The triple main camera module allows for high-quality photo and video shooting day and night. The main Samsung lens with 108 MP uses combined (9 in 1) superpixels, as well as ISOCELL Plus and Smart-ISO technologies. The user does not need to worry about settings; the system will automatically select the optimal parameters for photo and video shooting. Two IR sensors work in tandem with an additional lens to implement the night vision function. Information about objects can be collected and their movement tracked in complete darkness without revealing your location.

Regardless of the application, the UleFone Armor 17 Pro allows for a successful combination of work and entertainment thanks to the Helio G99 processor. It is certainly not top-tier, but for a mid-range rugged smartphone, it is a very decent solution. 8 GB of RAM can be expanded using virtualization to 13 GB to improve performance for complex tasks.

The manufacturer found the optimal balance between autonomy and compactness, so the gadget weighs only 290 g with a battery capacity of 5380 mAh. This is enough for 29 hours of communication. The figure is not the highest, but it is fully compensated by the standard 66 W adapter, which charges the battery to 90% in 30 minutes. Wireless energy replenishment and reverse charging of compatible gadgets are also supported.

The smartphone from the trusted brand CATerpillar S75 combines the best qualities of classic and rugged models — stylish design and impeccable military-standard MIL-STD-810H protection. The phone also implements IP68 / IP69K specifications. As a result, it is an armored device that is not afraid of water, dirt, impacts, or sand. The immersion depth is increased to 5 meters, and normal functionality is maintained at peak temperatures from -30 to +75°C. At the same time, the gadget weighs only 268 g, so it can be carried not only in a backpack or bag but also in a regular pants or jacket pocket. The screen operates at a frequency of 120 Hz and is reliably protected by Gorilla Victus glass.

CATerpillar S75 ensures communication with the outside world, regardless of location, thanks to Bullitt Satellite Connect technology. The user receives satellite communication with the ability to send messages and send an SOS signal in an emergency. This advantage will be appreciated by military personnel, tourists, archaeologists, and other specialists who often find themselves in places without mobile network coverage.

A feature of the CATerpillar S75 is 5G support, which significantly increases the range and quality of calls, as well as the speed and stability of the internet. This advantage became possible thanks to the use of the modern MediaTek Dimensity 930 processor, which also has good performance and multitasking capabilities.

In other respects, the smartphone has fairly familiar characteristics (cameras, connectors, sound, OS) for its class. The downside can be considered the price, which is slightly inflated compared to competitors. And the 5000 mAh battery provides not very long operation with active use. Wireless charging can be a consolation.

The CATerpillar S53 smartphone will be a find for those who value reliability, practicality, and functionality, as it has good protection (IP68, IP69K, and MIL-STD-810H standards) from all existing threats. It is worth noting the unjustifiably high cost, which is associated with the brand's popularity. But there are enough advantageous features in the phone. It is equipped with an ultra-bright flashlight (120 lm), which will make it difficult to get lost. And the speaker with a sound pressure level (107 dB) easily replaces an external speaker and allows for hands-free communication in the noisiest places (military range, construction site, concert).

Overall, the CATerpillar S53 does not stand out for its performance, and the HD screen resolution leaves much to be desired. But the processor supports the fifth generation of mobile communication 5G, which will undoubtedly please fans of fast traffic and quality communication. Considering the weight of the device (320 g), the battery capacity of 5500 mAh also remains in question. Fast and wireless charging come to the rescue in this matter, but it will still not be possible to go on a long hike without a power bank. A programmable button on the body helps speed up access to certain functions and programs.

The Samsung Galaxy Xcover6 Pro smartphone stands out from most rugged devices with its stylish appearance, lightweight (240 g), and enhanced performance. The Snapdragon 778G processor provides good performance in work and gaming modes, and 5G support gives the gadget additional advantages in countries where this network is already widely spread. The user gets faster access to mobile internet and improved communication quality. Although the smartphone is protected by military standards (MIL-STD-810H), the design speaks of complete demilitarization. The Samsung Galaxy Xcover6 Pro is suitable for students and managers, athletes and medics. The armored stylish case can handle all difficulties — water, sand, dirt, impacts (IP68 protection class).

The phone is equipped with a proprietary Infinity-V display, which stands out for its improved color reproduction and 120 Hz refresh rate. The image becomes smoother and more detailed. The difference is especially noticeable during games when compared to regular 60 Hz screens. The matrix is protected by the most advanced Gorilla Glass Victus+, which will protect against cracks and scratches. For many, the ability to operate in gloves when the high sensitivity mode is activated will be a bonus.

The proprietary Samsung DeX application allows you to stream videos or presentations from your smartphone to a large TV screen wirelessly. At the same time, the user can fully use the phone in multitasking mode. Two programmable buttons are set to perform popular functions and work without the need for prior unlocking.

It is also worth noting Samsung Knox's own protection system, whose algorithms encrypt data and eliminate attempts to hack the operating system. Despite the high cost, the device is equipped with a low-capacity battery (4050 mAh), which will not provide long autonomy. The problem is partially solved by fast charging.