The Best Rugged Smartphones for Builders

This great phone by Kyocera is waterproof and dust-proof. You can use it while it's raining to take photos of actual conditions on how the site is draining or to evidence ponding water. The company claims the phone can be immersed for up to 30 minutes in up to six feet of water. It's not meant to be used underwater, however, so it should be dried as soon as possible.

The Brigadier offers the Military Standard 810G protection against dust, shock, vibration, temperature extremes, blowing rain, low pressure, solar radiation, salt fog, humidity, blowing rain, and water immersion. Its front speakers are so loud they can be compared to a jackhammer being used just 6 feet away. It has a touchscreen that can you can operate with your gloves on, even when wet.

The CAT S50 smartphone is 4G compatible and equipped with an Android operating platform. This excellent rugged ​phone is waterproof and the touchscreen can be used with wet fingers just like the Brigadier. It offers waterproof, dust-proof, and scratch-resistant capabilities, making it ideal for rough work. It's equipped with a pre-loaded app store that offers some great applications for the construction pro.

The Sonim XP7 isn't that well known, but it's a great rugged option. With an LTE/WIF/Android operating system, this phone has a touch screen that can also be used while wearing your gloves. The manufacturer indicates that the unit can withstand drops from as high as 6 feet onto concrete surfaces without any major damage. It's waterproof and has a powerful battery to support many hours of text and calls. It comes with a 3-year warranty. 

The Kyocera Torque KC-S701 is another rugged phone that offers Military Standard 10G protection against dust, shock, vibration, temperature extremes, blowing rain, low pressure, solar radiation, salt fog, humidity, and water immersion. It can withstand dust for at least 6 hours, and it can be dropped from 4 feet and still function. It can withstand almost 10 days in a humid environment and be submerged in water for 30 minutes at a depth of 5 feet.

The Sony Xperia Z3 Plus offers HD quality images and can be submerged for more than 30 minutes in 3 feet of water. It can also be used with your gloves on and it comes with the Android operating system. It has external memory capabilities through a micro SD card and a 5MP front-facing camera. The Sony rugged phone also comes with an FM radio and additional tools can be used over Wi-Fi. It has 4GLTE and extended battery life.