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CAT S60
CAT S60
CAT S60
CAT S60
...


6.8/10
Informr score
The CAT S60 currently has an Informr score of 6.8 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 16 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • Waterproof up to 5m
  • Dustproof
  • Rated for 6 foot drops
  • Thermal imaging
  • Plenty of storage
  • Great battery life

What's bad

  • Price
  • Bulky design
  • Lackluster standard cameras

Rugged phones are gaining popularity. After all, when you’re dropping hundreds on a phone, you should be able to use it at work. The Cat S60 promises outstanding durability and a feature no one else currently has--thermal imaging. But does the phone sacrifice too much to provide durability as many models do?

Let’s see what reviewers are saying!

Every review available mentioned how heavy the phone felt. This is due to its rugged stainless steel and carbon fiber chassis and the monster-sized battery. The phone is rated to survive falls from up to 6 feet as well as submersion in up to 5 meters of water. It’s good for temperatures ranging from -13F to 132F.

Android Police put these claims to the test and said, “There isn't the tiniest bit of flex or creaking in the case. I have no doubt that if it became necessary, I could kill a man with the Cat S60. This phone looks and feels like a tool, a piece of equipment that doesn't need to be babied.”

Around front, you’ll find a 4.7-inch 720p display. The glass is treated for use underwater, with wet hands or when wearing gloves. Overall, reviews were decent. Everyone applauded how bright and dim the screen could be. Pixel density isn’t stellar, but it’s not so low to have pixels popping out in images or text. Android Police noted, “The viewing angles aren't ideal. There's noticeable dimming at off-angles.”

With a Snapdragon 617 processor and 3GB of RAM, you could feasibly use the phone to watch HD video or play basic games, but the phone is intended primarily for productivity and work use. Reviews lined up similarly, with CNet saying, “I was never disappointed; games and apps launched within seconds, navigation was swift, web pages loaded quickly and the screen was sharp and bright.”

To ensure you’ll have plenty of room for your apps, documents or videos, the phone includes 32GB of internal storage. A flap on the back of the phone also offers access to a microSD slot for added capacity.

The phone runs Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. Reviews show that apart the thermal imaging apps and an alternate app store, the phone is bloat-free and offers a mostly stock Android experience.

Keeping things running, you’ll find a 3600mAh battery. Thanks to the lower specs of the hardware and the large battery, reviewers had no issues lasting a day on a single charge. QuickCharge 2.0 also makes topping off the battery fast. The Verge took their Cat S60 through NYC and said, “[It] got me well past a day with each full charge.”

The phone features three cameras--a 13MP rear camera, a 5MP selfie lens and a 480p FLIR thermal camera. Reviews on the standard cameras were average, with Android Police summing up opinions well, saying, “The image quality is alright in bright light, but in very bright outdoor settings, the poor dynamic range causes issues. Shutter lag becomes an issue in medium and low light. The autofocus is also easily confused in these settings.”

However, every reviewer found the FLIR thermal camera fascinating. Capable of recording both images and video, the camera can analyze temperatures within a few degrees, even after the image is captured.

Overall, if you’re looking for a camera with built-in thermal imaging or outstanding resistance to bumps and the elements, reviews indicate the Cat S60 is a great option. Gizmodo summed up opinions well, saying, “The Cat S60 is ridiculously capable in water, can take a fall like no other phone, and can get a couple of other cool things done with its FLIR thermal camera. If you’re an average smartphone user, you don’t need the CAT S60, but if you’re someone ’s constantly checking gauges and working on homes, I can’t imagine a better phone for the job.”


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
1.5 GHz
Processor
Processor
1.5 GHz
4.7"
Screen Size
Screen Size
4.7"
13+ MP
Camera
Camera
13+ MP
3800 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


KnowTechie
KnowTechie

Really, the buying choice comes down to if you need the FLIR camera. Just the camera alone is $200 as a plug-in module for Android phones. For another $200, you get a self-contained FLIR that won’t break the bank. The fact that you can use the S60 as a phone is just a bonus.

- Joe Rice-Jones, KnowTechie
Gadgets 360
Gadgets 360

Overall, the Cat S60 handles smartphone duties pretty well but we can’t help but feel that it’s underpowered for a smartphone that you probably won’t be upgrading anytime soon. We wish the phone had better cameras and battery life. The thermal camera is a very cool addition to an already impressive...

- Roydon Cerejo, Gadgets 360
SlashGear
SlashGear

If you’re aiming for the newest smartphone software or any sort of device security, this isn’t the phone for you. If you need a device that can access the internet, email, send messages, and tell you the temperature of a nearby vehicle engine block, the CAT S60 is decent.

- Chris Burns, SlashGear
Gadgets Now
Gadgets Now

All in all, the Cat S60 impressed us on a lot of levels. We loved its ruggedness and the ability to work under water. What made it a deal breaker was its steep price of Rs 64,999.

- Sulabh Puri, Gadgets Now
Digit
Digit

The CAT S60 is not a phone for you and me. It's actually not a phone for most of us. It belongs to a niche market segment. We wish the regular market could have some of this ruggedness, or be at least 30% as rugged as this phone. For a rugged phone, the CAT S60 actually seems to be quite a device. I...

- Shrey Pacheco, Digit


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the CAT S60 user manual here.


Caterpillar backs up the CAT S60 with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your CAT S60 has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Caterpillar support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Caterpillar's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.




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Quick view

Screen Size
4.7"

The CAT S60's screen size is 4.7 inches with 720 x 1280 pixels resolution.

Processor
1.5 GHz

There is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 MSM8952 Quad core 1.5 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on the Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating system (OS).

Camera
13+ MP

You can take photos with the phone's onboard 13+ MP camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera with 5+ megapixels resolution.

Storage
32 GB

Internal memory is 32 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 128 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
3800mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 3800 mAh battery.

CAT S60 Specs

Overview
Release Date September 30, 2016
Regions Available USA, Canada, United Kingdom
Operating System Android 6.0 Marshmallow

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 MSM8952 Quad core 1.5 GHz
Internal Storage 32 GB
RAM 3 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible Yes
TTY/TDD No
Noise Cancellation No
SAR Head: 0.76 W/kg
Body: 0.9 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Manual
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE
Mobile / Cellular Data
4G/LTE
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling Unknown
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) Unknown
SIM card size
Yes
Dual SIM Yes
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support No
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 4.1
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, OPP/FTP
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi Yes
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 128 GB)
NFC Yes
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
13+ Megapixels
Zoom
Yes
Flash
Yes (Dual LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Panorama, Self-timer, Thermal imaging
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4
Video Recording Parameters
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
5+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology LCD (TFT)
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution 720 x 1280 pixels
Pixel Density 312 pixels
Size 4.7 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Digital Compass
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen, Corning Gorilla Glass 4, Glove touch
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity 3800 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging No
Video Playback Time Unknown
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Unknown
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Unknown
Standby Time Up to 43 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Plastic
Colors Black
Dimensions [H x W x D] 14.8 x 7.3 x 1.3 cm (5.8 x 2.9 x 0.5 in)
Weight 223 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Water Resistant
Rugged design Yes
IP Rating IP 68
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key Yes
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
More
Additional Information Other Names (AKA):
Related Links Manual (PDF)
CAT S60 Reviews
Where to buy CAT S60
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