The biggest problems owners face with rugged phones

There are plenty of reasons why you might want to opt for a rugged phone instead of just getting a normal device like a Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra or the iPhone 18 Pro. Before you get started, there are a few things you should be aware of. Some of them have been facing problems for years, despite the progress companies have been able to make since the first rugged phones were introduced in the mid-to-late 2000s.

Although rugged devices existed before 2005, most were more rugged versions of walkie-talkies and terminals designed specifically for simple communication. The first feature-packed devices like smartphones didn’t arrive until the latter half of the 2000s, when the iPhone was just starting to make waves. Part of what makes rugged phones attractive to users is the fact that they are meant to last and even take a beating. This means that durability should be improved compared to traditional smartphones. Although sustainability is generally praised, it comes at a cost.

The device’s performance and even other hardware often lag behind, with the focus being on the device’s exterior durability. A user on Reddit complained about their Oukitel WP35 lagging excessively, noting that resetting the device “only fixes the issue for 2-3 days.” Of course, this isn’t the case for everyone, but it’s something to keep in mind since many of these devices prioritize their thickness and battery capacity over high-end specs over standard flagship smartphones.

The first big difference you’ll notice between rugged phones and smartphones, and perhaps one of the biggest problems with rugged phones, is their thickness and weight. Since they are designed to be durable and last longer, they need to be able to withstand drops and have room for large batteries. The trick to achieving this is often to make them thicker. One of the best rugged phones of 2026, the Oukitel WP210, is almost twice as thick as the S26 Ultra at 13.7mm. While the Ultra’s thickness certainly increases with a case, many cases won’t add that much extra thickness to Samsung’s flagship device.

Another thing to keep in mind is that these rugged phones are heavier. For example, the WP210 weighs around 311 grams. Compare that to Samsung’s S26 Ultra, which only weighs around 214 grams, and you’re looking at a much heavier device that stays in your pocket all day. Even older flagship devices like the S24 Ultra weighed less, with this one weighing 232 grams. Even the iPhone Duo, Apple’s new foldable phone, is thinner and weighs less, measuring 11.3mm when folded, compared to the WP210’s 13.7mm thickness.

Some of these handhelds also advertise themselves as “military grade,” but it’s important to remember that military grade smartphones and cases don’t mean what you think. Since there are “rugged” phone cases, opting for a rugged phone just because it’s supposed to be more durable may not always be a win. Especially if you don’t want to carry around such a thick and heavy device all the time.

Designing rugged phones to be durable means the focus is on durability rather than other features. The Oukitel WP66, for example, has been praised for its extreme durability. However, even reviews from media outlets such as TechRadar note that the phone’s performance is a bit lower because it uses outdated technology in the chipset. One reviewer even posted on Oukitel’s official website, noting that their WP210 completely froze during installation and they couldn’t get it to work at all before returning it.

Another issue that users complain about when it comes to rugged phones is software support. One Reddit user said they “started noticing constant 6GB RAM usage on a 12GB model.” Others have complained that despite having 16GB of RAM, some devices like the Unihertz Tank 3 Pro perform slower when multitasking compared to phones like the Galaxy S24, which only has 12GB of RAM. When users complain that they haven’t received security patches for several months, that’s not a good sign either.

An Ulefone user on Reddit said the 27 Pro received “no software support” despite six months having passed since its release. Because of these issues, those working in a harsh environment may want to forgo rugged phones altogether. Many eschew rugged devices in favor of high-end flagships and simply get around the lack of durability by adding a rugged phone case to their device or even tossing their device in a Ziploc bag at work. While rugged cases add a bit of extra bulk, they also avoid the big issues that come with rugged phones themselves.