Android Magazine UK - Issue No. 49

Review

Ifyouneedaphonethat can

withstand virtually anything,

then the Sonim XP7 is the tool

for the job

»Verdict

Value for money

The XP7 is very competitively priced against

similar specialist tools

Features

It has all the features that matter, but there

are a few extra things that could be useful

Design

TheXP7Extremeisaboutfunctional design,

butitgivesconfidenceanddoesits job well

Performance

The Snapdragon 410 processor is more

than capable of driving the WVGA screen

»^ Operating system ...............Android 4.4 KitKat

»^ Processor ...................................^ Snapdragon 410 1.2GHz

»^ Memory .......................................16GB storage / 1GB RAM

»^ Dimensions ..............................137mm x 72.1mm x 20.8mm

»^ Weight ..........................................290g

»^ Display size ...............................4-inch

»^ Display resolution ...............800x480 pixels

»^ Connectivity .............................4G

»^ Expansion slot .......................N/A

technical specs

Price $579

»^ More information http://www.indiegogo.com

»^ Supplied by Sonim

information

Sonim XP7

Extreme

CATS50

issue 46

N/A

better tha worse than

Sonim XP7 Extreme

T

he Sonim XP7 Extreme is not a conventional

phone. The fi rst clue is in the name – never

has the word ‘Extreme’ been used more

appropriately. Aside from the device itself, its

conception has also been a little unorthodox

compared to its competitors – its development

and release has been funded by a successful

crowdfunding campaign on indiegogo, which

quickly exceeded its $150,000 funding target.

The XP7 Extreme has a 1.2GHz Qualcomm

Snapdragon 410 processor at its heart, with 1GB

RAM and 16GB (non-expandable) storage. This is a

popular mid-tier confi guration at the moment but

on the Sonim it works particularly well. The

Snapdragon 410 CPU is very frugal when it comes

to battery consumption and with the relatively

low-resolution WVGA screen on the device, it is

more than powerful enough to provide a

consistently smooth experience.

Connectivity is a particular highlight on the

phone. As well as LTE support, the XP7 Extreme

includes dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 and NFC.

Signal strength is very impressive, which is useful if

you will be using the device in more remote

locations where signal is hard to come by.

If you buy a Sonim XP7 Extreme, it’s important to

be aware that this is a big phone. A really big

phone, thanks to its huge 4800mAh battery. It’s a

tool that is not likely to be for everyday use but

rather it’ll sit in your kit bag ready for when you go

out to do extreme sports or work in challenging

conditions. The IP68/IP 69 protection rating against

water and micro-particles, resistance to shocks of

up to 30G and vibrations from 5Hz to 500Hz, 6.5

feet drop and impact resistance, an operating

temperature range from -4 to 55 degrees celsius,

the ability to withstand a ton of metric pressure or

4J of impact (puncture resistance) on the case (2J

on the screen) and resistance to oils and

chemicals, means it’s going to be pretty hard to

damage or destroy the device. But if you do, a three

year warranty is included which covers accidental

damage. You get a lot of peace of mind for your

money with this phone.

However, this is Android Magazine and a very

important part of the XP7 Extreme is how well it

actually functions as an Android device. Thankfully

there are no disappointments there. The software

build is relatively stock with only a few useful

tweaks and additions and with the full complement

of Google apps, when you’re using the device it

feels just like any other Android handset, except

you can throw it around just for fun!

Other Android devices are available which offer a

degree of ruggedness and may be easier to live

with day to day, but if you want ultimate protection

with insane battery life, then the Sonim XP7

Extreme is the only choice.

Drop resistant
The XP7 Extreme is
resistant to drops onto
concrete from 6.5 feet,
from any angle and IP
68/IP 69 certifi ed for full
submersion in water 6.5
feet deep for up to 30
minutes. You can even
pressure wash it!

Strong screen
The screen on the XP7
Extreme is a relatively
low resolution (by
today’s standards) at
800x480 WVGA unit, but
it does have excellent
outdoor visibility, it is
usable with gloves and
of course, it is very
hard to break!

Clear speaker

Sonim realise that the XP7 Extreme

is likely to be used in noisy

environments and with that in mind,

it has an extremely loud 103dB

speaker. This is complemented by a

very bright notifi cation LED, built into

the ‘antenna stub’

Cover yourself

It’s all very well having a device

that makes fantastic claims

about it’s durability, but the XP7

Extreme also backs it up with a

3 Year comprehensive warranty

that includes accidental

breakage cover. You can use

the device with confi dence

Sonim XP7 Extreme

What if you need you need phone that’s not just

waterproof or even drop-proof, but virtually

indestructible? Sonim has you covered

Battery life

The XP7 Extreme’s

4800mAh battery is

truly epic, outlasting

anything else we’ve

ever tested