Doogee S98: the rugged phone with a smartwatch on the back

Doogee S98

We had the opportunity to try the new Doogee s98 for two weeks, the latest addition to the varied catalog of the Chinese brand specialized in the production of rugged smartphones or indestructible models, which are aimed at users who work in dangerous environments or those who love outdoor life. . Doogee S98 puts on the plate some interesting features such as a night vision camera, a long-lasting battery, a solid body assembled with quality material and - above all - the novelty of the round secondary display placed on the back, which is very useful in everyday life. Here are our impressions at the end of the test.



We can only start from the design in describing this rather unique smartphone, which certainly does not skimp on thickness and weight to guarantee maximum durability and solid resistance to extreme stimuli such as crushing, falls, bumps, jolts and of course diving into the water. The IP68 and IP69K certifications and the military grade Mil-Std 810g seal the constructive goodness of Doogee S98: the large 6.3 "front display is surrounded by a frame less thick than you might imagine, especially on the long sides, the left side houses the memory expansion slot and a programmable key, while the right side houses the volume and zoom rocker, the on / off key and the quick fingerprint scanner. The bottom side protects the usb type input -c with a flap that does not affect waterproofing. The back is certainly the most interesting side with the secondary display set in the center of the top and surrounded by the three photographic sensors, the night vision lights and at the bottom, by the flash. br>
An honest data sheet Almost impossible to use Doogee S98 with one hand

Moving on to the analysis of the technical data sheet, the main screen reaches a diagonal of 6.3 inches and a full hd resolution, the 16 megapixel front camera for selfies and video calls is welcomed inside a notch a drop while Gorilla Glass protective glass prevents damage from drops or scratches. To report the ability to reach a peak brightness of 480 nits ideal in case of strong sunlight against. The system is governed by the MediaTek Helio G96 chip accompanied by the Arm Mali-G57 graphics card, 8 GB of RAM memory and 256 GB of internal storage space that can be expanded by an additional 512 via microSD. The battery is another strong point of this device since it is from 6000 mAh, guaranteeing an autonomy that covers almost three days of intensive use without any problem and that can be recharged at 33 watts via cable (reaching 100% in two hours approximately) or at 15 watts wirelessly; the charger included in the package.

The package includes cable, charger, display protector and tool for disassembly

The secondary display is a kind of smartwatch, as it can show the time and date by choosing from a wide range of collection of dials, but can also act as a notifier of messages and news from various applications, control the playback of multimedia files and even answer incoming calls directly. There are three cameras on the back with the main 64 megapixel one that uses pixel binning technology to collect more information by incorporating 4 contiguous pixels, there is an 8 megapixel 140 ° wide angle sensor and the 20 megapixel night camera from Sony, which also uses dedicated lighting. The selfie camera is 16 megapixel and is produced by Samsung. The operating system on board is Android 12 with a rather light interface and updates guaranteed for 3 years, a service that is not so obvious even for many large manufacturers.

A pleasant user experience, but without peaks The programmable key of Doogee S98

The fingerprint scanner placed on the side is very precise and fast, it promises a reading in just 0, 19 seconds. The programmable button on the left is also very convenient, which can be used for functions such as the flashlight or for internal app functions and can also be very useful for special users such as those who live a lot outdoors or in heavy environments. There is also the NFC module for on-the-fly synchronization and secure contact payments. In general, this smartphone guarantees a very pleasant experience in the various functions of daily life. The cameras do not work miracles, but they are more than acceptable in good ambient light conditions, the night one is a little whim that maybe you will use a couple of times before forgetting, even if it can make sense when hiking, for example to take pictures. precisely at night to wild animals. The Methuselah battery (with a fairly fast recharge) guarantees this smartphone full usability for a long time even away from sources of electricity.

Night photo in almost completely absent light conditions

The presence of options such as nfc, the slot for memory expansion, the programmable key are certainly noteworthy extras. Sorry for the absence of the 3.5 mm jack, but it is due to the maintenance of the waterproofness avoiding to put another door not so necessary. There is no doubt that the great pro of this model is the secondary display, which is very convenient for checking the time, for receiving notifications from applications and also for answering calls; it is possible to customize it with a wide choice of digital dials. Ultimately, a good model for those who look at a rugged and have no problems carrying a tile, there is everything you need, without particular peaks of enthusiasm.

The selling price of Doogee S98 depends from various importers, it starts at about 313 euros on Aliexpress, but on average it is between 369.99 and 380 euros.

380 € - Buy on DoogeeMall 313 € - Buy on Aliexpress 369.99 € - Buy on Amazon Rating: 7

sportsgaming.win: indestructible body, rear display, infinite battery, very fast and accurate fingerprint scanner, programmable key, software updates guaranteed for three years, value for money.

Tired: 3.5mm jack is missing, night camera is cuter than useful