In a world of fancy flagship smartphones, the Galaxy XCover Series provides users with a simple rugged smartphone. It’s element-proof and has a replaceable battery.
A more modern revision was released in 2020, bringing in features like Samsung DeX, allowing for a desktop experience. It also had the biggest screen on an Xcover phone to date. It also added a customizable physical button for push-to-talk apps.
Display
The display is one of the biggest things that sets this device apart from others. It’s an LCD panel that supports a resolution of 1080p, so it’s not the best out there. However, it’s still enough for most purposes and it should be able to handle any brightness level that you need. The screen also has a scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass 5 layer.
The XCover Series phones are highly rugged and have MIL-STD 810G certification to prove it. They can withstand drops, shocks, vibrations, and even exposure to extreme temperatures. They also feature a dustproof design and are water-resistant to up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes. They’re also sanitizer-friendly, which is great for work environments.
Another feature that makes these devices unique is the fact that they offer expandable storage and a removable battery. This is an important feature for users who may need to use a device for long periods of time in harsh environments where the battery could fail.
The Galaxy XCover Pro is the latest model to join the lineup. It has a similar design to previous generations, but it’s more refined and it’s less bulky. It’s still fairly large, but it’s not the clunky kind of device that you would expect from a ruggedized phone. The programmable buttons are conveniently located, and the display is big and bright.
Camera
Samsung’s Galaxy XCover series phones are meant for rugged use. They are IP68- and MIL-STD-810H certified, meaning they are protected from dust and can be submerged in freshwater (but not beer) without risk of damage. They also feature a Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+-protected display, which doesn’t quite have the stability of its most recent iteration but should still hold up to everyday use. The main camera and front camera are sunk into the body, which means they are well protected from drops and dirt.
The cameras are surprisingly competent for this category of smartphone. The primary sensor shoots in 1080p at 30fps and is more than capable of taking good shots in daylight. However, low light performance is the weak point and it’s quite easy to see graininess at higher zoom levels.
Fortunately, the 13MP selfie shooter is quite good and handles facial details with ease. The phone also offers a decent level of subject separation in portrait mode.
Like other Galaxy smartphones, the XCover Series uses Android 14 with Samsung’s OneUI user interface. While this makes the interface look more modern, it also adds some extra functionality. Samsung has included a few proprietary apps that can’t be removed, but they are all fairly innocuous. In terms of business features, the XCover 6 Pro supports Pogo Pin connectivity and is mPOS-ready with EMV Level-1 technology. It also has a removable battery, which is a nice touch for environments where you might need to swap it out in the middle of a long shift.
Battery
Samsung’s rumoured new Pro-level rugged device could offer more than just a 6.6-inch FHD Plus display and a 50MP camera. GSMArena has spotted the assumed XCover 8 Pro in the SafetyKorea database for battery certification, which indicates the phone will have a 4,350mAh lithium-ion battery—a 300mAh upgrade over the last generation’s model.
With a quick-swap battery, you can keep going without slowing down. Simply remove the back cover, swap in your spare, and snap it back on to get back to work. 1
Get your job done faster with a fast processor and up to 1TB of storage.* And stay secure with Knox and up to 4 generations of OS upgrades.*
Stay connected with hyper-fast 5G1 and never miss a beat. Even when you’re offsite, a reliable connection keeps you productive, while the expansive 6.6” FHD+ display gives you plenty of space to view files and documents in detail. Gorilla Glass Victus+ offers enhanced scratch resistance, so it can handle the rigours of the field. Plus, it’s IP68-rated to protect against rain, dusty warehouses and accidental puddle incidents.*1MIL-STD-810H test scope: Altitude, Humidity, Immersion, Salt Fog, Dust, Vibration, Drop. 1Data download and upload speeds may vary by market, carrier and device settings.
Software
Unlike many other rugged phones, the battery in the Galaxy Xcover 6 Pro is replaceable. You can swap it out by removing the rear shell and then popping in a new battery. This makes it easier to operate the phone in areas away from civilisation for longer periods, where the Xcover’s dust and water resistance will prove invaluable.
The Xcover 6 Pro also offers better software integration with Samsung’s own apps and services. For example, the calendar app has been improved and now allows you to share events with other people. The Notes app has also been given a refresh and now includes emoji reactions to notes that you make.
Other useful features include a quicker way to switch between screens and more intuitive screen brightness controls. There are also more options for managing emergency contacts and safety settings and an improved search feature for settings.
The Galaxy XCover Series offers a great design for users who need a durable smartphone that can handle being outside without worrying about dust or water damage. Its cameras aren’t as good as those on the S series, though. And its battery isn’t as big as those on other rugged smartphones. But it still does the job well. And it’s priced reasonably too.
