The Sonim XP8 is a rugged smartphone designed for use in harsh environments. It was announced in April 2018 and was made available for purchase in May 2018. The phone is built to withstand extreme conditions, making it an ideal choice for individuals who work in construction, mining, law enforcement, or other rugged environments.
Design and Display
The Sonim XP8 has a rugged and durable design built to withstand harsh environments. The phone has a thickness of 18mm, which contributes to its sturdy build, and measures 152 x 79.5mm in overall dimensions. It also weighs 335g, significantly heavier than most smartphones on the market due to its rugged construction.
The phone is designed to resist dust and water, with an IP69 rating that guarantees protection against dust and water damage. It can withstand immersion in water up to a depth of one meter for up to 30 minutes.
The Sonim XP8 features an IPS LCD display that measures 5.0 inches diagonally, with a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels. This provides a sharp and clear viewing experience, even in bright or outdoor conditions. The display is also protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3, which provides additional protection against scratches and impacts.
The phone supports dual SIM card slots, which allow users to use two different phone numbers on the same device. This can be especially useful for individuals who need to keep work and personal phone numbers separate.
Processor
The Sonim XP8 runs on the Android 7.0 Nougat operating system, which provides a user-friendly interface and access to a wide range of apps and features. Under the hood, the phone is powered by a Qualcomm SDM630 Snapdragon 630 chipset, a mid-range processor built on a 14nm process.
The Sonim XP8 has an octa-core CPU featuring eight Cortex-A53 cores clocked at 2.2 GHz. This provides fast and responsive performance, even when running multiple apps or demanding tasks. The CPU can handle a wide range of tasks, including web browsing, video playback, and mobile gaming.
The phone also features an Adreno 508 GPU designed to handle graphics-intensive tasks like gaming and video playback. The GPU provides smooth and fluid graphics performance, even when running demanding 3D games or other graphics-intensive applications.
Camera
The Sonim XP8 is primarily designed for rugged and industrial use, so its camera capabilities are not its main focus. The phone has a 12-megapixel rear-facing camera that utilizes phase detection autofocus (PDAF) technology. The camera also features an LED flash, which can help to illuminate subjects in low light conditions.
Additional camera features on the Sonim XP8 include HDR and panorama modes. HDR (high dynamic range) mode helps balance exposure in images with a high range of brightness, while panorama mode allows users to take wide-angle shots that capture a broader scene perspective.
The main camera on the Sonim XP8 is capable of recording video at 1080p resolution and 30 frames per second (fps). This provides decent video quality for basic use cases but may not be sufficient for individuals requiring higher-quality video recording capabilities.
The Sonim XP8 also includes an 8-megapixel front-facing camera, which is suitable for taking selfies and making video calls. While the front-facing camera may not be as capable as the rear-facing camera, it still provides decent image quality for basic use cases.
Memory
The Sonim XP8 has 64GB of internal storage, providing ample space for storing apps, photos, videos, and other data. This internal storage capacity is suitable for most users, but the phone includes a microSDXC card slot for those requiring additional storage. This allows users to expand the phone’s storage capacity by up to 512GB, providing plenty of space for storing large files or additional apps.
The Sonim XP8 comes with 4GB of memory. This provides sufficient memory for running most apps and multitasking, allowing users to switch between apps and tasks quickly and smoothly. The 4GB of RAM is also sufficient for running demanding apps, such as 3D games or video editing software, without experiencing lag or performance issues.
Sound and Features
The Sonim XP8 has many features, making it a capable and versatile smartphone. The phone features a loudspeaker, which provides clear and audible sound for phone calls, music, and other audio content.
For connectivity, the phone supports Wi-Fi 802.11 and Wi-Fi Direct, providing fast and stable wireless internet connectivity. It also features Bluetooth 5.0 with support for A2DP, EDR, and LE, which enables users to connect wireless headphones, speakers, and other devices.
The Sonim XP8 includes GPS and GLONASS positioning, which provides accurate location information and enables users to navigate using various mapping and navigation apps. The phone also features NFC, which enables users to make payments and transfer data wirelessly using supported apps and services. The phone features a USB Type-C 2.0 port and a magnetic connector. In addition to the standard sensors such as the accelerometer, proximity, and compass, the Sonim XP8 includes a barometer sensor, which measures atmospheric pressure and can be used for weather forecasting and altitude tracking.
Battery
The Sonim XP8 comes with a large and removable Li-Ion 4900 mAh battery. This battery provides an impressive standby time of up to 720 hours and talk time of up to 30 hours, which means that users can use the phone for an extended period of time without worrying about running out of battery.
The phone’s battery supports 18W wired charging with Quick Charge 4 technology, which enables users to charge the phone quickly and efficiently. The phone’s battery also supports up to 70 hours of music play, which means that users can enjoy their favourite music for an extended period of time without worrying about running out of battery.
