Rugged smartphone

A rugged smartphone is a specific type of toughened smartphone which is designed to be completely sealed within a durable housing to protect it against damage from, among other things, water, shock, dust, and vibration. Rugged smartphones are designed to survive extreme weather and temperatures, accidental damage, and rough handling; making them ideal for working outdoors, or in harsh environments, along with use during extreme sports, such as sailing, rock climbing, etc. Most rugged smartphones will have been tested to tough IP68 standards.
It is important to note that not all waterproof smartphones will be ruggedised.
Classification.
There are three general types of rugged phone:
Functional requirements.
The following IP code ratings for ingress protection (IP), as defined by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standard 60529 (equivalent to European standard EN 60529), are typically used for certifying various toughened and ruggedised smartphones.
Primary standard.
IP56 — solid particle (dust) protection level 5 (partial protection against dust that may harm equipment), liquid ingress (waterproof) protection level 6 (protection against direct high pressure water jets (all directions)), plus drop test of , conventional vibration.
Intermediate standard.
IP57 — solid particle (dust) protection level 5 (partial protection against dust that may harm equipment), liquid ingress (waterproof) protection level 7 (protection against full immersion for up to 30 minutes at depths between and (limited ingress permitted with no harmful effects), plus drop test of , conventional vibration.
Advanced (professional) standards.
IP68 — solid particle (dust) protection level 6 (totally dust tight; full protection against dust and other particulates, including a vacuum seal, tested against continuous airflow), liquid ingress (waterproof) protection level 8 (protection against extended immersion under higher pressure (i.e. greater depths); precise parameters of this test will be set and advertised by the manufacturer, and may include additional factors such as temperature fluctuations and flow rates, depending on equipment type), plus drop test of , conventional vibration.
IP69K — in the IEC 60529 rating system for ingress protection (IP), IP6* refers to the product’s ability to resist ingress of dust. The IP*9K refers to the product’s ability to resist ingress of high temperature (steam) / high pressure water. If the device passes all these tests, then it can be considered as IP69K rated smartphone, and can be used in harsh environments with high pressure / steam cleaning.
MIL-STD-810G.
MIL-STD-810G is a U.S. military standard that stipulates a level of durability for an item of equipment. Specifically, it means the equipment has been subjected to a series of twenty-nine (29) tests, including shock tests, vibration tests, and more. This means it should be field ready, or even 'combat ready' in principle. A lot of technology sold to the U.S. military must be MIL-STD-810G compliant.