Samsung is releasing a rugged smartphone for the primary time in three years, and this one is constructed with companies in thoughts.
The Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro.
Image: Samsung
In January 2020, Samsung introduced the discharge of a brand new business-optimized and ruggedized smartphone known as the Galaxy XCover Pro to minimal fanfare and solely the briefest of mentions within the tech information cycle. It’s comprehensible that the XCover Pro did not advantage numerous buzz when Samsung’s different 2020 Galaxy gadgets pack so many flagship options. The XCover Pro is not a flagship telephone, and it is not packed to the gills with flagship options that improve gaming, internet browsing, and different shopper makes use of. What the Samsung XCover Pro does have is a design constructed with companies in thoughts. There are a wide range of functions for the IP68, MIL-STD-810G-compliant system that Samsung customers most likely will not care about, however companies in search of a fleet of devoted, robust, state-of-the-art gadgets positively will.What is the Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro?Samsung hasn’t launched a ruggedized smartphone since 2017’s Galaxy XCover 4, and the Galaxy XCover Pro is subsequent in that very same line of rugged Galaxy telephones. In the CNET story in regards to the XCover 4 (linked above), it appears the system was marketed to anybody who wished a much less high-end system however wished one thing that might take a beating. That is not the case with the XCover Pro, which is described as a business-first system for corporations that ship employees out into the weather.It does not boast essentially the most spectacular {hardware} specs, however that does not actually matter for the XCover Pro–it is not designed to be a substitute to an S-series Galaxy telephone. Instead, what the XCover Pro has going for it’s toughness and value in less-than-ideal situations.
The system meets IP68 requirements, that means it is dust-tight and may deal with immersion in additional than a meter of water for as much as 35 minutes. It’s additionally MIL-STD-810G compliant, which Samsung mentioned required it to go assessments for “21 specific environmental conditions, including temperature, dust, shock/vibration, and low pressure/high altitude.” The XCover Pro also can stand up to drops of one-and-a-half meters, or round 5 ft.
Along with being constructed to take abuse, the XCover Pro additionally has different options ultimate for enterprise customers working in hostile situations. The display screen is made from Gorilla Glass 5, and is able to working whereas moist and thru gloves, the 4,050 mAh battery (which Samsung mentioned will final 14 hours) is detachable, and it has two programmable buttons (one is about to push-to-talk by default) for fast entry to necessary work apps. SpecsScreen: 6.3″ edge-to-edge Gorilla Glass 5, FHD+ LCD, 2340x1080Dimensions: 6.30 x 3.02 x 0.39 in, 7.69 ozChipset: Exynos 9611 Quad 2.3 GHz + Quad 1.7 GHz octa coreMemory: 4GBStorage: 64GB, up to 512GB micro SD cardOperating system: Android 10.0Ruggedized features: IP68, MIL-STD-810G compliant, 1.5m drop testedCameras: 25MP and 8MP Ultrawide rear, 23MP frontPorts: USB 2.0 Type-C, 3.5mm headphone jackConnectivity: Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi (no Wi-Fi 6 support), Wi-Fi direct, GPS, LTE, NFC, EMV level 1 MPOS ready, Pogo Charging portSIM slots: 2Biometric security: Side-mounted fingerprint readerBattery: 4,050 mAh replaceable (Samsung reports 14 hours of life)Additional resources:Who is the Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro competing against?Because it’s a ruggedized business phone first, the Galaxy XCover Pro isn’t so much going up against Samsung’s usual competition. Instead, the Galaxy XCover Pro needs to be compared to other popular ruggedized smartphones.TechRepublic sister site ZDNet did a writeup on rugged smartphones in late 2019, and the competition it lists is what the XCover Pro is up against. The phones that ZDNet lists are similar in many ways to the XCover Pro, at least in terms of their ruggedized features: IP68 is the bare minimum (some are IP69 rated), drop protection from five or six feet is typical, and each seems to have a unique feature or two that makes it stand out.Heavy machinery manufacturer Caterpillar, for example, offers the CAT S61, which has a FLIR thermal imaging camera, as well as built-in laser measuring and air quality sensing hardware. The Blackview BV9700 PRO has a USB-C connectable night vision camera, as well as a CO2 sensor and gas monitor and the Doogee S90 has a full suite of clip-on magnetic rear panels with features like a gamepad, printer, extra battery, night vision camera, and more. In short, each rugged phone has a feature that its manufacturer claims makes it unique (which may or may not be the case), and each one does things that the XCover Pro can do, too.What Samsung may have going for it with the Galaxy XCover Pro is name recognition. A lot of the hardware listed in ZDNet’s article, and many rugged devices commonly found when searching the web, come from smaller manufacturers who may not be able to compete with Samsung, especially when it comes to business support.The XCover Pro website links directly to Samsung’s Managed Mobility Services page and Samsung said that “from system configuration and customization to administration, Samsung has the mobility software program you want for each stage of the system lifecycle.” That’s a positive sign for businesses looking to invest in a fleet of XCover Pros, and it’s something that smaller, more speciality manufacturers may have a hard time competing with, despite gimmicks and features their phones have.The XCover Pro also comes with Samsung’s Knox security product, which it claims is ” a defense-grade safety platform constructed from the chip up for superior safety that is simpler to handle.” If it is promoting is truthful, Samsung merely has the sources to allow companies to higher handle and safe rugged gadgets that may be misplaced or stolen within the discipline than different producers.Additional sources: What are the enterprise functions of the Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro?Samsung touts a wide range of enterprise functions for the XCover Pro on its web site, and describes the XCover Pro as constructed for front-line employees. The 5 specific sectors the place Samsung describes utilizing the XCover Pro are: Retail: The XCover Pro is designed to just accept EMV contactless chip bank cards. Many chip bank cards already in circulation have contactless capabilities, and people which can be succesful may try wherever an worker has an XCover Pro.Public sector: Samsung describes XCover Pros paired with discipline service job administration and collaboration software program as a method to enhance effectivity and communication with employees within the discipline.Transportation: The XCover Pro has barcode scanning capabilities, making it appropriate for warehouse selecting and packing duties, in addition to proof of supply pictures and scans, on-site cost processing, and paperless workflow duties like buyer signal offs.Healthcare: The XCover Pro’s rugged design, Samsung mentioned, makes it ultimate for conditions the place it’d slip out of a lab coat pocket, be uncovered to liquids, and take care of repeated cleanings with robust disinfectant chemical compounds.Manufacturing: Samsung describes the XCover Pro’s position in manufacturing to be one among optimization as a result of it is ready for use in tough environments, and due to its integrations with Samsung’s different trade software program instruments.Other capabilities of the XCover Pro that make it ultimate for numerous enterprise roles embody its capability to be operated with gloves on (ultimate for folks working exterior in chilly climate), its push-to-talk capabilities for speaking when mobile service is spotty, and swappable batteries for working in distant areas when charging is not accessible. Additional sources:How can companies get the Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro? The Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro was launched on the market in April 2020, and is on the market within the US for buy unlocked immediately from Samsung or Microsoft, or on contract from Verizon. In all three circumstances, the system prices $499 USD.Bulk buying of XCover Pros can also be accessible from Samsung, however there is not any low cost and orders are restricted to 25 gadgets. If it’s essential purchase extra you may must contact Samsung’s enterprise buying division immediately. Additional sources:
5G and Mobile Enterprise Newsletter
5G networks and gadgets, cell safety, distant assist, and the newest about telephones, tablets, and apps are a few of the subjects we’ll cowl.
Delivered Tuesdays and Fridays
Sign up as we speak