March 1, 2018, 2:43 pm | Read time: 2 minutes
The Land Rover Explore aims to be a smartphone for rugged terrain. TECHBOOK took a detailed look at the outdoor smartphone: If you want durability, you have to compromise on aesthetics.
Since 1948, Land Rover has been synonymous with British off-road vehicles. Seventy years later, the company is venturing into the mobile phone market. The “Land Rover Explore” made its debut at the MWC 2018 in Barcelona.
Land Rover only as a name sponsor
The manufacturer describes its device as an “outdoor phone for those who live for adventure and need a phone that withstands all adversities.” Speaking of the manufacturer: Land Rover itself has nothing to do with smartphone production–no “Made in Great Britain.” The Bullitt Group is a licensee and also produces outdoor smartphones for other brands, such as Cat.
Large battery, average display
The most space inside the Land Rover Explore is taken up by a 4,000 milliampere-hour (mAh) battery. According to the manufacturer, this lasts for 48 hours with typical use. The 5-inch display offers Full HD resolution (1720 x 1080 pixels), which would be considered average in 2018. Users can even operate the touchscreen with gloves.
Thanks to a dual-SIM slot, two SIM cards can fit into the phone. For example, if you’re hiking in Tyrol, you can insert both an Austrian and an Italian SIM. An attachable battery pack (an additional 3,600 mAh) is also included, along with a case with an integrated carabiner.
Drop-proof and water-resistant
According to the manufacturer, drops from a height of 1.8 meters are no problem for the device. A factory-installed, replaceable protective film is even applied to the display. The device withstands desert, saltwater, and icy cold thanks to its IP68 rating.
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Further technical details:
- Android Nougat, with planned upgrade to Oreo.
- 4GB RAM and 64GB ROM, expandable via microSD card
- Deca-Core 2.6GHz 64-bit MTK Helio X27 chipset
- 16 MP rear camera, 8 MP front camera
- 5” Full HD display, Corning Gorilla Glass 5
- LTE Cat 6
Conclusion: First impressions of the Land Rover Explore
The device is not pocket-friendly; it’s simply too thick. However, those who often find themselves in extreme environments should overlook this downside. The necessary funds are a prerequisite! The Land Rover Explore will cost around 649 euros and will be available in stores starting in April.