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The Samsung Galaxy xCover is tough by name, but is it really? Sure it has IP67 certification that means it is water resistant in waist deep water for 30 minutes plus being dust and dirt proof but the phone in hand doesn’t feel overly rugged if I have to be honest.
The plastics used on the phone gives off a strong cheap sense. But while the build materials are rather cheap, build quality is up there. As light as the plastics may be, because of the rather simple design of the phone itself, they don’t feel as if they’re going to be the first component to fail on this device.
The Galaxy xCover gives off more of a “oh whoops I dropped my phone in water” vibe rather than creating a “take the phone and the dog to the park and play fetch” reaction. The latter is the reaction I got from my time with the Xperia Active I have already mentioned several times.
Where the Active felt as if it could be used as a (rather poor) skimming stone the xCover feels about as good for a source of music in the shower. Where the Active would alert me that the external ports are open, the competitor from Samsung does not. Where the Active has wet finger tracking technology as part of its display, once again the xCover is left lacking.
I’m not saying it isn’t tough though. It will obviously survive more than most smartphones, the xCover is akin to the old Nokia candybars everyone used to have in terms of durability.
The review wouldn’t be complete with a quick water dip either so I took it with me on a walk lasting some 30 minutes in a steady downpour; with no umbrella. It then happily sat in a rather soaked pair of shorts for half a morning. Only to later take a dip under a heavy waterfall (faucet) and sit in a lake (sink) for a few minutes. I have read elsewhere that some reviewers found that water had leaked into the battery compartment, I can say with confidence that this didn’t happen to my unit.
Point being, if you are looking for a truly rugged phone, you honestly cannot go past the Xperia Active. If you are looking for something waterproof and somewhat rugged, then you get to choose from the xCover, Active or Motorola’s Defy.
That is one hell of a review blair!
Well I have this phone and I think it sucks. id be harder on the product. I am on my third now via the phone company as the first two started developing problems (call dropout etc).
Its a pretty looking phone but its not the greatest.
Thanks Roger!
And Davis, I encountered none of the major issues you have mentioned. But trust me if I did you would hear about them
Like the benchmarks.
What is it like for playing app games? screen no use?
For Angry Birds and the like the display is fine, anything that involves a bit more of a 3D experience it won’t be that amazing. I didn’t really test many games on it to be honest though.
Unfortunately I have to go with any phone I purchase in 2G mode (T-Mobile USA). I am considering the Galaxy Xcover or purchasing the USA identical (Samsung Rugby Smart). But neither are getting rave reviews as far as I can see.
When the Motorola Defy continues to beat the Samsung(s), it really makes me reluctant and I don’t want a Defy.
The Rugby is more like the xCover’s long lost cousin, rather than the USA version of it. The Rugby has the better display, processor, camera and by noticeable amounts as well. That being said I have never seen the Rugby in person, nor used the Defy for long enough to say what it is best out of the two. But I imagine the xCover would come in third
I have an Xcover. It is okay, but it occasionally locks up and I have to remove the battery to reboot. The other thing, something I dislike far more than the phone, is the software that backs the phone to my computer is very limited. For instance I can find no way in which I can backup my txt messages and access them on the computer. The phone has too limited memory to be bothered with music. And why would I put a podcast on the thing? But I can and back it up. But no capacity or messages! I won’t be replacing it with another Samsung when my contract runs out in a year. The camera is okay, the images are quite clear even at quite large magnifications.
Sanda is what men and females call heer but it’s not the most feminine
title out there. Guam is thee only location he’s
beewn residing in. After becoming out of his task forr
years he becawme a dentist and her salary has
been truly fulfilling. Thee favourite hobby for my kids
and me is to go to ballet and I’m attemjpting too make it a profession.