ZDNET Key Takeaways

• This is a robust and not too bulky smartphone.
• It has a fantastic camera and battery life.
• I’m not sold on the 100-megapixel feature.

Rugged Android smartphones have a reputation for being big, bulky and unattractive. That said, they don’t have to be too big, bulky or unsightly! They can also incorporate interesting and cutting-edge technology.

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THE Doogee S200 packs a lot into a sturdy yet stylish package.

Doogee S200 technical specifications

• Display: 6.72 inches, 1080 x 2400 pixels (~392 ppi density) LCD 120 Hz
• Secondary display: AMOLED, 1.32 inches, 466 x 466 pixels
• Chipset: MediaTek Size 7050 (6 nm)
• Processor: Octa-core 2x Cortex-A78 at 2.6 GHz plus 6x Cortex-A55 at 2.0 GHz
• GPU: Mali-G68 MC4
• Cameras: 100-megapixel AI main camera, 20-megapixel night vision camera, 2-megapixel macro camera and 20-megapixel front camera
• Storage: 256 GB
• RAM: 12 GB DDR5 (+20 GB extended)
• Operating system: Android 14
• Battery: 10,100 mAh
• Biometrics: Fingerprint reader
• Dimensions: 179.5 x 82.5 x 16 mm
• Weight: 370g
• Robustness rating: IP68, IP69K, MIL-STD-810H

I’ve handled a lot of rugged Android smartphones over the past few years, and I have to admit that most fall into the category of bulky, heavy phones, the kind of phone that hangs around in your pants pocket all day. While this one isn’t a “thin and light” phone, I’ve carried heavier smartphones – much heavier.

There are many things I like about this smartphone. Coming from an iPhone, I really appreciate the high pixel density display. Some rugged smartphones have screens that look like everything is made of Minecraft blocks, so having a retina-quality screen that runs at a fast refresh rate is a nice touch.

The cameras are also more than acceptable. I’m not sure about the 100-megapixel mode feature, as I feel like it adds too much sharpness to the image, but the normal modes provide fantastic quality that will satisfy all but the most serious pixel watchers. more demanding. There is also an underwater camera feature if you want to take your smartphone on water adventures.

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I really like the huge battery that Doogee has crammed into this smartphone. It’s rated for nearly 500 hours of standby time – or 20 full days – and half a day of web browsing, and my testing bears that out. There’s no wireless charging, which is a shame, but it does support 33W wired charging, so the handset won’t be tethered to a cable all day.

There’s also a reverse charging feature that lets you use the handset as a power bank, which is a nice touch in situations where other people with smartphones with smaller batteries are running out of power. energy !

The handset’s speed is also a pleasant surprise, with the 6nm octa-core processor doing a good job of keeping everything running smoothly. The base 12GB of RAM is perfectly adequate, but I found a marked improvement in the smoothness of the operating system after increasing it to 32GB using 20GB of storage as RAM.

For me, this is an acceptable compromise.

I haven’t forgotten that rear screen either. It’s a good idea to be able to check the time and date without being distracted by notifications. AMOLED is bright enough to see in the sun and doesn’t seem to affect battery life at all.

ZDNET’s purchasing advice

I really like the Doogee S200even with its $425 price tag. It’s a rarity in that it’s a rugged smartphone that’s stylish enough to not look out of place in the office or restaurant.

Don’t let looks fool you; This is a smartphone that can take a beating, has a battery that makes fun of an iPhone, and a range of cameras suitable for the most dedicated snapper. The display is excellent, unlike the old-school block type usually found on many rugged smartphones. Even though I have an iPhone as my daily driver, this screen is nice and comfortable to my eyes.

If you want a rugged smartphone that won’t look too out of place in civilization and won’t weigh down your pockets, the Doogee S200 is a great choice.