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Cat S52 rugged phone looks like a 'regular' phone (Update: Out in UK now!)
Update, November 12, 2019 (09:58 AM ET): The Cat S52 rugged phone detailed below is now available for purchase in the United Kingdom. Simply visit the official Cat website and grab one for yourself for just £449 (~$578).
If you don’t want to buy online, you can always visit physical shops from GoMobile and Digital Phone Company and grab one there.
There is still no word on availability outside the UK for this device.
Original article, October 29, 2019 (05:51 PM ET): Cat just added a new device to its relatively short list of ultra-rugged smartphones: the Cat S52. Remarkably, the device looks a lot like a “normal” smartphone, rather than the usual thick brick design of other Cat phones.
Even with the design becoming a little more aesthetically pleasing, Cat didn’t skimp out on the usual durability customers have come to expect from the brand. The Cat S52 has an IP68 rating (naturally) and is also waterproof at up to 1.5 meters of depth for up to 35 minutes.
Cat also says the device will survive a 5-foot drop onto concrete, although it doesn’t say how many times you could do that before it would break.
Related: Best CAT smartphones: Ruggedness takes a whole new shape
Specs are never a big selling point of any Cat phone, considering people are paying for the ruggedness, not the latest-and-greatest internals. Still, the Cat S52 holds its own against many 2019 mid-rangers, and will even get an upgrade to Android 10 at some point (it ships with Android 9 Pie).
Check out some more photos of the device below as well as the specs table:
| Cat S52 Official Specs | |
|---|---|
Display | 5.65-inch HD+ IPS LCD in 18:9 ratio 1,440 x 720 resolution Gorilla Glass 6 Can be used with wet fingers or gloves |
Processor | MediaTek Helio P35 Octacore 2.3GHz |
RAM | 4GB |
Storage | 64GB Expandable with microSD slot |
Battery | 3,100mAh Non-removable Fast-charging |
Cameras | Rear: Sony 12MP sensor f/1.8, 1.4μm, PDAF, EIS Front: 8MP sensor |
Safety | Drop tested at 1.5m (5ft) on steel, 30 times, including on to all sides and corners IP68 rating for sand, dust, and dirt Waterproof up to 1.5m for 35 minutes Mil Spec 810G Resistant to vibration: Category 4 Resistant to humidity and salt mist |
Security | Rear fingerprint sensor |
Connectivity | LTE Cat 6, (VoWiFi, VoLTE, ViLTE supported) Dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz/5GHz), Bluetooth 5.0 NFC support GPS, AGPS, GLONASS/Galileo |
Ports | 3.5mm headphone jack (waterproof) USB-C charging microSD slot |
Operating System | Android 9 Pie (Upgrade to Android 10 imminent) |
Dimensions / Weight | 158.1 x 76.6 x 9.69mm 210g |
The Cat S52 is launching in Europe and the United Kingdom today. It has a retail price of €499 (~$555) and £449 (~$578) respectively and will be available starting November 12 from Cat’s official mobile site as well as other major European and British retailers.
Cat didn’t mention anything about the device coming to the United States, although most Cat phones eventually land here, so it’s likely just a matter of time.