Doogee S96 Pro review: this thing is a tank

Mainstream smartphones are not necessarily durable. That shiny glass and metal may not be able to withstand harsh environmental conditions. So, what will happen? This is where rugged smartphones come into play. Doogee S96 Pro provides a lasting experience at an affordable price. The question is, will it persist in daily work?Find out in Android Authority Doogee S96 Pro evaluation.

You can also take a look: The best rugged phone

• Doogee S96 Pro (8GB RAM, 128GB): 389 USD / 370 GBP / 319 Euro

The price of Doogee S96 Pro is only 400 US dollars, which is in the middle position among rugged Android phones. There is only one option-8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage space, which can be expanded to 256GB via a microSD card-S96 Pro definitely provides a considerable amount of storage space. This phone is available in two colors: fiery red and mineral black. The device we tested runs Android 10, with Doogee’s custom skin on top. Unfortunately, the device was not updated for Android 11, although the device did receive the Android security patch on March 5, 2021 during our use.

In terms of other specifications, Doogee S96 Pro is equipped with MediaTek Helio G90, with a huge 6,350mAh battery and a 6.22-inch 720p display. There is a 3.5 mm headphone jack and a USB-C port on the bottom. On the back, there is a monaural speaker that sounds loud, and there is even a fingerprint sensor mounted on the side. Finally, Doogee contains a smart key on the left, which can be remapped for various applications or functions, such as underwater cameras.

In the box, you will get a USB-C charger, a plastic pry for a waterproof SIM card slot, two screen protectors, a wrist strap, and some Apple-like headphones.

S96 Pro is constructed like an absolute tank. The device has IP68 and IP69K waterproof and dustproof functions, and passed the MIL-STD-810G drop protection certification. The latter is not the latest MIL-STD-810H level provided by some rugged mobile phones, but it can prevent shock, vibration, heat, cold, moisture, etc. In addition, metal and rubber materials mean that this phone can withstand almost anything. I threw it a few times, rinsed it under high-pressure water, even dropped it, and it left unscathed. Doogee packs S96 Pro with Gorilla Glass 5. If you put the phone face down, this should ensure your confidence.

Of course, if you are considering a rugged device, its durability is very likely, although you may be pleasantly surprised to find that this title also carries some unusual features. Doogee S96 Pro is equipped with a 20MP infrared night vision camera and can work normally. We have seen night vision cameras in other phones (such as the more expensive Ulefone Armor 11), but the performance of the Doogee S96 Pro is much better and can produce some clear and accurate images. Unfortunately, the camera can only capture night vision images, not video.

If the device cannot last all day, all these features are irrelevant. Thankfully, the 6,350mAh battery included in the S96 Pro means that the device can be used twice easily. In my tests, including heavy use of social media, light photography, and some games, the average screen on time of the device is about 8 to 9 hours. Unsurprisingly, the standby battery performance of this device is excellent, and the device consumes less than 1% of power per hour on average. It takes about 90 minutes to power up the phone from 0 to 100%, which is surprisingly fast for this type of device. S96 Pro also supports wireless charging up to 10W, which is usually not seen in rugged mobile phones.

The performance of the S96 Pro is comparable to other rugged devices on the market. It is equipped with MediaTek G90, which is an older generation of mid-range budget chipset, compared with the Snapdragon 730 in Google Pixel 4a. The device is also equipped with 8GB of RAM, which is higher than most other rugged products, so you can run more applications at once without noticing any slowdown.

What’s wrong?

Even with excellent battery life and a cool infrared night vision camera, the rest of the experience has some quality control issues. Although 720p displays are common in rugged devices, there are some issues with my specific device. I found that the color accuracy is poor and the contrast is a bit faded. In addition, I should mention that my particular device has two dead pixels, which is not a good example for the quality control of these panels.

The camera system on the Doogee S96 Pro performed well in a rugged device, but I did encounter a problem worth mentioning. I’m not sure if it is the camera app or the monitor, but when I tap the shutter button once, the phone keeps taking images continuously. It doesn’t happen every time, but often enough to make it annoying. If you are working in an environment that relies on taking images quickly, this may be a problem.

Doogee S96 Pro camera sample

You can find a high-resolution version of the camera sample here.

Doogee S96 Pro specifications

Priced at $389, it’s hard not to like Doogee S96 Pro. With Ulefone Armor 11 (580 USD) And Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro (499 USD). Both devices are more expensive and not as durable as the S96 Pro. Not every mobile phone can stand the test of time, let alone harsh environmental conditions, but the S96 Pro is one of the few devices that may be possible because of its rubber and metal construction. In addition, the inclusion of a sharp night vision camera may be useful for buyers working in low-light environments. Excellent battery life means that those who stay away from the charger for a long time will have no trouble using the device for several days.

Quality control display issues and camera errors can make the device a bit of a gamble for some people. But for those who are budget-conscious, work in harsh environments and need their equipment to be durable, Doogee S96 Pro has some very powerful features. If you are looking for other top rugged phones, be sure to check out Unihertz Atom XL (USD 329) And Cat S62 Pro (649 USD).

It is worth noting that the successor of this phone-Doogee S97 Pro-will be released on Amazon in late September 2021. It has a larger battery and a more powerful processor. We will test this phone soon to come to our conclusions, but even today, Doogee S96 Pro is still a good choice.