As someone who always carries his phone on random adventures, I’m a huge fan of rugged smartphones. A name synonymous with smartphones is undoubtedly Doogee.
Well, Doogee is back again with another rugged Android smartphone, S96 GT, an improvement S96 Pro.
Is there anything good? Let’s see, we will.
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Specifications of Doogee S96 GT
- Display: 6.22-inch IPS Waterdrop Corning Gorilla Glass screen
- Resolution: 1520×720 pixels
- CPU: MTK Helio G95 Octa Core ； 2 x Cortex A76 2.1GHz + 6 x Cortex A55 2.0GHz
- GPU: ARM Mali-G76 Up to 900MHz
- smack: 8GB DDR4
- Warehouse: 256GB
- Rear camera array: AI Quad Camera (48MP + 20MP + 8MP + 2MP)
- Front camera: 32MP
- Operating system: Android 12
- Battery: 6350mAh
- Charger: 24W (15W wireless charging)
- SIM tray: Dual SIM + microSD
- Satellite positioning: GPS, Galileo, Glonass, Beidou
- Protection Rating: IP68 / IP69K / MIL-STD-810H
- Biometrics: Fingerprint reader
- Weight: 310g
- Size: 167 x 81.4 x 15.5mm
Externally, the S96 GT looks like many other rugged smartphones I’ve seen over the past few years. It’s a large screen covered in rubber, metal, and sealed ports.
Colorful metal and plastic are used to try to soften what would otherwise be a very utilitarian look, and for such a sturdy phone you could call the S96 GT “stylish.” “.
Well, if slim smartphones are your style, it’s yours.
As a smartphone, the S96 GT is fast, lag-free and easy to use. The speedy octa-core processor keeps everything running smoothly, and not once have I experienced any lag or hiccups when it comes to performance.
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The cameras are fine. Not good, but not me. The output is good for Facebook and Instagram likes or for sharing with friends and family. There are tons of camera features to play with, from Portrait, AI camera, and Night Mode, to Pro, Panorama, and Time Lapse modes.
A word of warning though. Don’t trust any sample photos the manufacturer uses on their website as a quick search shows that these are re-stocked images.
I really wish smartphone manufacturers would stop doing this.
Like the S96 Pro, there’s a 20-megapixel night vision camera that uses four built-in infrared headlights for black and white night photography. While it’s easy to “Ooooh” and “Ahhhhh” about this, I’d prefer a thermal camera, would be more useful, and less gimmicky.
However, if you want to see what’s happening around you – within about 20 meters – in the dark, this smartphone will give you that superpower.
Battery life is also good, with the 6350mAh unit sustaining this for more than a day of use, although I feel that battery life isn’t as good as what I got with the S96 Pro.
Taking the S96 GT outdoors? No problem.
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The IP68 rating means it works in wet and dusty environments, even being able to withstand being submerged in water to a depth of 1.5m for 30 minutes and, according to Doogee, a day in concrete at high 1m deep (not sure how you will. get it later).
You can even take photos and videos while underwater.
It can also handle extreme temperatures from 70°C (158°F) to -55°C (-67°F).
The rubber cover prevents dirt and water from entering the smartphone. Adrian Kingsley-Hughes / ZDNET
OK, not so good now.
First, the display. 720p screens in 2022 no longer crop. Yes, that’s fine on a budget phone, but on a phone that costs $350, it’s a huge disappointment.
Second, the weak microphone makes phone calls frustrating. Add some wind or traffic noise and it’s virtually unusable without using headphones.
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That said, how often does anyone call these days?
But one thing you do often on a smartphone is look at the screen and that 720p screen is really old.
If you are looking for a stylish, solid Android 12 smartphone with a good battery and camera, then Doogee S96 GT not a bad buy at all. Yes, there are some limitations and I would have preferred a thermal camera over the night vision feature, but it is still a solid, reliable, well-built smartphone that is capable of surviving anything. What great outdoors can throw at it.
