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Rugged smartphones don't have to be huge

There's a tendency for rugged smartphones to be built like tanks, which makes them a pain to keep in a pocket or bag. The Blackview BV6300 Pro combines toughness with portability.
Written by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, Senior Contributing Editor

If you spend most of your working day in a nice air-conditioned office, then you don't have to think too much about how rugged your devices. But if you are an engineer or technician who has to work outdoors in the rain, wind, dust, mud, burning heat, or by water, then durability is something that comes into play.

But most of the rugged smartphones out there are built like tanks. I happen to like smartphones built like tanks, but even I have to admit that finding room for a huge slab of glass and plastic in a pocket can become tedious.

So, I've been excited to take the new Blackview BV6300 Pro for a spin.

Must read: Should you install iOS 13.7 on your iPhone?

Regular readers will know that I'm quite a fan of Blackview hardware. I really love the BV9800 Pro with its built-in FLIR thermal camera and keep finding more and more uses for this gadget. The BV6300 Pro doesn't have a thermal camera, but it has almost identical performance and durability specifications (the biggest difference is the smaller display).

Blackview BV6300 Pro - rugged, but not built like a tank

  • IP68 | IP69K | MIL-STD-810G
  • MediaTek Helio P70 octa-core processor
  • 5.7-inch 18:9 display
  • Samsung 16MP quad rear camera (slow motion, HDR, 120° ultra-wide field of view, night mode, macro)
  • Sony 13MP front camera
  • 6GB RAM + 128GB ROM
  • 4380mAh battery
  • Wireless charging
  • GPS+GLONASS+Beidou
  • SOS button
  • Global Bands & Dual 4G VoLTE
  • Android 10
  • NFC
  • Fingerprint Recognition | Face Unlock
  • 159.6x78.2 x11.6mm | 230g

Priced at $269.99, the Blackview BV6300 Pro is cheap. That said, the BV6300 Pro is a very nice, very capable handset. I'm going to be putting this handset through its paces over the next few weeks and will have more detailed thoughts about it later, but so far this handset looks like the perfect device for those who work outdoors, want a rugged handset, and don't have deep pockets.

HOPI HP-9800 20A energy monitor

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