Kyocera has launched its first 5G ultra-rugged Android smartphone, the DuraForce Ultra 5G UW, for Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband (UW) network. The phone is Kyocera’s first with a rugged lithium 4500 mAh polymer battery, specifically designed for drops and shocks. The touchscreen is designed to work when wet or with gloves, and uses facial recognition authentication plus fingerprint security sensor. The phone also has Covert Mode, which eliminates sound, notifications and light emissions, and Focus Mode, which can temporarily turn off non-work related or unwanted notifications.
The phone sports a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G mobile platform with the Snapdragon X52 5G Modem-RF System and 5th gen Qualcomm Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engine. The device also features Kyocera’s virtually scratchproof Sapphire Shield for its 5.45-inch FHD+ bright display and high-resolution cameras on the back. It carries the certified military standard 810H (MIL-STD-810H) to withstand drops of up to 5 feet directly onto concrete, water immersion (IPX5/IPX8), dust (IP6X), extreme temperatures, salt, fog, solar, shock and hazardous work environments, among other criteria. Because the phone is waterproof, it can safely be washed off and disinfected. The device is also HazLoc certified, with a standard of Non-incendive Class I, Division 2 for classified hazardous locations.
The display has Advanced Outdoor Viewing and three cameras, a 24 MP main camera with dual LED flash, a 16 MP wide angle (117 degree) camera and an 8 MP front-facing one. The cameras feature Time of Flight for fast auto-focus, image enhancement with 4-Cell Pixel Binning, sharp night vision, underwater camera m and action overlay (patented) which lets people add elapsed time, distance, speed, G-force, altitude, date/time and map of route traveled to photos and videos; data is captured and saved without interruption.
Certified for extended reality experiences
The phone is in addition ARCore Certified for extended reality (XR) experiences including virtual, augmented and mixed reality. AR can enhance situational awareness in emergencies, giving public safety officials access to real-time building infrastructure for route guidance, and danger avoidance, for example. Home decorators and DIYers can visualise new furniture and design choices in their space with ultra-realistic 3D models – and buy them simultaneously from the smartphone. Students access use 3D for their lesson while immersive apps like Building Information Modeling (BIM) will enable architects, engineers and construction firms to collaborate on projects in 3D CAD so designs, schedules and costs can be created and shared directly from the smartphone.
The rugged device also has 106dB broadband audio, ultra-loud dual front speakers and four noise-cancelling mics for clear mobile/Wi-Fi calling with HD voice. Both Push-to-Talk Plus (PTT+) and Mission-Critical PTT (MCPTT) are easily accessible with programmable PTT and international orange SOS button for emergency alerts. Indoor performance has been optimized with enterprise-grade Wi-Fi for large buildings plus Wi-Fi roaming and QoS support, precise indoor positioning with 802.11mc and dual-band GPS as well as Wi-Fi hotspot connectivity for up to 10 devices. The device also supports Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) for robust private networks. The phone comes with a two-year standard manufacturer’s warranty covering water damage and battery issuesto protect business’ tech investment.
The battery can be charged via USB, Qi Wireless and charging contacts.
