While not necessarily at the top of everyone"s wish list when it comes to their next smartphone purchase, a good rugged smartphone can be a big priority for those working in heavy industries, such as construction, and need to know their phone won"t break after the slightest drop.
Enter Blackview, a Hong Kong-based smartphone manufacturer that has been making rugged smartphones for a few years now. The company claims to have sold over 10 million units of its previous flagship rugged phone, the BV6000, since its launch in 2016 and is now following up with a sequel in the form of the BV6800 Pro.
Sporting a 5.7-inch Full HD display, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, the phone is powered by the octa-core MediaTek MT6750T. It also features an array of certifications: IP68, IP69K and MIL-STD-810G, the latter of which is a US Military Standard for environmental durability. What all of that means is that the phone is both dust- and water-resistant and able to withstand high temperatures or pressures.
Blackview"s promotional video includes a bevvy of tests designed to show off the phone"s ability to withstand whatever you may throw at it, such as repeatedly hammering the phone against a metal rail, drop testing from a height of several floors, driving a car over it and dipping the phone in a bucket of wet concrete and washing it off afterwards.
As expected from a rugged phone, the BV6800 Pro also features a large 6,580mAh battery, with support for 24W fast charging. The company claims a 0-100% charge should take about 2.5 hours. Support for 10W wireless charging is also thrown in for good measure.
The BV6800 Pro is available for preorder starting today on the company"s various stores on Aliexpress. The phone"s pricing strategy is interesting, to say the least. It will be available to buy for $189.99 from today, with the price increasing by $3 every day until October 1, when it will reach its regular price tag of $249.99. If you purchase the phone in that period, you are also eligible for a wireless charger, which normally goes for around $40. There are two models, with support for European and US bands, respectively.