Samsung Galaxy XCover Professional review: Kind over perform

Rugged telephones usually showcase a extra sturdy and confidence-instilling design. Nevertheless, the Samsung XCover Professional brings a special method to the rugged market. Its sq. design and muted colours make sure that the telephone is sleeker. However is it sturdy sufficient to face as much as the competitors? Discover out in Android Authority’s Samsung Galaxy XCover Professional review.

What it’s worthwhile to know concerning the Samsung Galaxy XCover Professional

Luke Pollack / Android Authority

• Samsung Galaxy XCover Professional (4GB/64GB): $499 / £399 / €499

Within the rugged system market, the Samsung Galaxy XCover Professional sits proper in the course of the pack. Priced at $499, the XCover Professional ships in a single colour (black) and one choice — 4GB of RAM with 64GB of storage, expandable to 512GB by way of microSD card. The unit I examined shipped with Android 10, and about six incremental updates later, I used to be capable of replace the telephone to Android 11/One UI 3.

The XCover Professional is powered by Samsung’s Exynos 9611 processor and an average-sized 4,050mAh battery. Nevertheless, the massive promote right here is that the battery is detachable, so you may swap out alternative batteries at will to increase its use. The telephone additionally comes with a Full HD 6.3-inch show protected by Gorilla Glass 5. On the underside, there’s an uncovered USB-C port and a single firing speaker. The highest sees an extra programable button in addition to a 3.5mm headphone jack, and the left facet sees one other sensible key button. The proper facet homes the amount rocker and energy/fingerprint sensor button.

Within the field, you get a USB-C charger and a few 3.5mm headphones.

Luke Pollack / Android Authority

The sleeker design of the XCover Professional in comparison with different heavy-duty telephones has its professionals and cons. Whereas the extra conventional kind issue is extra snug to make use of than its rugged opponents, it doesn’t really feel fairly as sturdy within the hand. It ships with an IP68 water and dirt resistance score, Gorilla Glass 5, and a rubber exterior that’s positive to deal with a number of drops. It’s additionally rated MIL-STD 810G for defense towards shock, vibration, warmth, chilly, humidity, and extra, although this isn’t the most recent MIL-STD 810H score provided by some rugged units.

If a mixture of sturdiness and design is what you might be after, the Samsung Galaxy XCover Professional would possibly supply one of the best compromise. Nonetheless, even with the glass score, I like to recommend utilizing a glass display screen protector on the show.

For testing, I dropped the telephone a number of occasions, submerged it below operating water, and even threw it. In every take a look at, the telephone carried out respectably. Nevertheless, I’d add that the detachable plastic again of the telephone felt a bit of fragile. The most important draw back of the design is perhaps the uncovered ports of the telephone. Whereas they’re sealed on the within, I wouldn’t suggest submerging this telephone in water for lengthy durations of time. That mentioned, it ought to be superb ought to it take a drop within the pool or a lake.

Aside from the glossy aesthetics, one of the best function of this telephone must be the show. It’s no shock {that a} Samsung system has a high quality show, and the XCover Professional isn’t any exception. The two,340 x 1,080 6.3-inch panel is vivid, with good distinction and sharpness, one thing I can not say of different rugged options I’ve examined. I want Samsung provided extra choices to customise the colour on the show, and whereas the colour was vivid, I discovered it was a bit of inexperienced for my liking. Nonetheless, it’s one of the best show on a rugged system that you simply’ll discover.

The Samsung Galaxy XCover Professional has one of the best show we have examined on a rugged telephone up to now.

Contemplating the smaller measurement of the 4,050mAh battery, I used to be genuinely shocked by the better-than-average efficiency of the XCover Professional. In my day-to-day, I averaged about seven to eight hours of screen-on time, which consisted of plenty of streaming video, social media, mild gaming, and images. Sadly, the included 15W quick charger takes simply over two hours to energy up the telephone, which is a substantial period of time for a battery this small. Additionally, the XCover Professional doesn’t help any type of wi-fi charging. What makes up for these drawbacks is the detachable battery. You’ll find battery replacements on-line, and it was fast and simple to swap out batteries once I wanted a full cost. That is undoubtedly a plus for the XCover Professional, particularly for individuals who wish to use their telephone for prolonged durations of time however gained’t be close to an influence level.

What’s not so good?

Luke Pollack / Android Authority

Up till this level, you may need thought the Samsung Galaxy XCover Professional was one of the best rugged telephone round, however sadly, the telephone has some drawbacks. The principle one is efficiency. The Exynos 9611 is a low-clocked chip that’s coupled with a meager 4GB of RAM. Though navigating in apps is comparatively responsive, loading occasions are fairly abysmal, and I needed to wait a strong 4 to 5 seconds for apps or pages to totally load. Don’t get me mistaken, the telephone is usable, however it may be sluggish. Additionally, due to One UI 3, the telephone has a substantial quantity of additional inventory apps and settings that may additionally result in common sluggishness. Sadly, efficiency on this system lacks behinds opponents with mid-tier Snapdragon chips.

The smaller 4GB of RAM means the system is just not constructed for pace.

Lastly, the Samsung Galaxy XCover Professional doesn’t function any help for 5G, one thing that’s present in a number of different rugged telephones across the similar value. Additionally, though I praised the sleeker design, some would possibly discover it not sturdy sufficient. Whereas it has an IP68 score and certification for drop safety, the plastic design and detachable again aren’t as reassuring as a few of its steel/rubber counterparts. The system additionally lacks rugged options that may very well be important for some shoppers, like an evening imaginative and prescient or thermal camera. So in case you’re a kind of in search of an absolute tank of a telephone with some further camera quirks, the Samsung Galaxy XCover Professional most likely isn’t for you. Talking of cameras, the XCover Professional has first rate onboard cameras that compete with different choices within the rugged style however photos are usually a bit of softer than the competitors.

Samsung Galaxy XCover Professional camera samples

You’ll find high-resolution variations of every picture right here.

Samsung Galaxy XCover Professional specs

Samsung Galaxy XCover Professional: Ought to I purchase it?

Luke Pollack / Android Authority

At first look, the Samsung Galaxy XCover Professional appears to be a well-rounded, rugged system, however in case you look nearer, that well-roundedness turns into some obvious shortcomings. Whereas I used to be impressed with the glossy design, Full HD show, and glorious battery life, the lower than ideally suited processor efficiency and not-so-durable construct make the XCover Professional a harder promote. Though the $499 value level is pretty aggressive, these downsides make sure the XCover Professional can’t compete with higher worth telephones just like the Doogee S96 Professional ($389) and Unihertz Atom XL ($329), or the extra well-rounded Cat S62 Professional ($649). That, coupled with the absence of 5G and lack of options comparable to an evening imaginative and prescient or thermal camera, make the telephone really feel much less geared in direction of rugged shoppers.

The Galaxy XCover Professional is a sleek-looking rugged telephone, however there are extra sturdy choices accessible with far superior efficiency.

On the finish of the day, the Samsung Galaxy XCover Professional outperforms in some main metrics however comes with some apparent shortcomings that make it a middle-of-the-road rugged telephone.

Samsung Galaxy XCover Professional

That is the most recent entry in Samsung’s vary of rugged smartphones. It touts a detachable battery, a contemporary design, and a complete lot of toughness.