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Sonim XP7
Sonim XP7
Sonim XP7
Sonim XP7
...


6.2/10
Informr score
The Sonim XP7 currently has an Informr score of 6.2 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 19 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • Ultra-rugged design
  • IP68/IP69 rating
  • Loud loudspeaker
  • Excellent battery life
  • Wide network support
  • Three-year worry-free warranty
  • Glove-friendly display

What's bad

  • Price
  • Older Android version (4.4.2)
  • No microSD support
  • Proprietary charge cord
  • Lackluster display

If your daily routine often involves outdoor adventures or high-impact work environment, you probably leave your sleek and shiny phone at home. It only takes a few drops or bumps to add a phone replacement to the cost of your day.

Sonim thinks they’ve fixed this problem by combining a full-featured smartphone with a rugged design built to handle tough environments. They even offer a three-year warranty with accidental damage coverage!

But if you’ve used a ruggedized phone, you’ve probably experienced the tradeoffs typically involved. Does the Sonim XP7 actually deliver a great phone experience and can it stand up to the durability claims?

Let’s see what the reviews are saying!

Every review was quick to point out the heft of the phone. The word “brick” was used often. The phone is wrapped in a rubber case with added protection on the corners and hardware buttons in place of the capacitive options on many handsets. PC Magazine notes, “This is not pocket friendly. This phone is designed to be kept in a coat pocket or on a belt clip.”

To put dimension in perspective, at 22mm thick, you could stack two of 2016’s flagship phones on top of each other and still not reach the thickness of the XP7. Phonescoop used the phone for a few days and noted, “I didn't have any trouble holding or using the phone, but the weight does get to you after prolonged use.”

The rugged design is IP68/IP69 rated for resistance to dirt and dust and submersion in water up to 6 feet for 30 minutes. It achieves part of this through a proprietary magnetic charge port. So don’t expect to use your usual USB cables with this phone. Reviews on the charger were positive, though you might have trouble sourcing a spare if you lose yours.

Coming around the front of the device, you’ll find a 4-inch LCD running at 800-by-480 pixels. Reviews of the screen were average. Android Authority summed up opinions well, saying, “The screen is functional, but in this day and age is quite a poor looking panel. Apart from the low resolution, colors are washed out, with a lot of color shifting when viewing off axis, which doesn't make for a very good gaming or media consumption experience.”

Keeping things moving at a snappy pace, the phone is powered by a 1.2Ghz Snapdragon 400 processor. While reviews were quick to point out this isn’t a gaming phone, none had any major complaints about performance. PC Magazine said, “Android productivity app performance was decent in my tests, but only decent. High-end games like Beach Buggy Racing have less than optimal frame rates. This is true for all midrange, Snapdragon 400 phones; there's nothing out of place here.” You’ll also find 16GB of internal storage to bring your favorite apps, movies and music along for the ride.

Part of the reason the phone is so thick and heavy is the 4800mAh battery. As the number suggests, reviews show this leads to some beastly battery life. PC Magazine said, “This is definitely a two-day phone—maybe even three.” ZDNet took their phone for a 12-mile Mudder and declared, “Battery life has been absolutely stunning. I actually had to check to make sure everything was running properly because I just couldn't believe there was still plenty of power remaining days after I started using it regularly.”

While the phone won’t take pictures you’ll frame and hang, the 8MP rear camera and 1MP front-facing lens received decent reviews. Android Authority tested the camera and said, “The picture quality is just about average in this case, but is certainly better than what I expected and offers a decent amount of color and detail.”

Overall, reviews of the device were positive--though most reviews agreed that this phone serves a specific market. Gigoam said, “For outdoor workers and those with very active lifestyles, I doubt you’ll find a more rugged Android phone than the Sonim XP7.” CNet summed up reviews well, stating, “The XP7 says ‘don't worry.’ It's a tool, and can be treated as one. And while it didn't prove indestructible (glass is glass), it took concentrated buffoonery to wear it down.”


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
1.2 GHz
Processor
Processor
1.2 GHz
4"
Screen Size
Screen Size
4"
8+ MP
Camera
Camera
8+ MP
4800 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


Android Authority
Android Authority

The Sonim XP7 is a rugged phone made to withstand a lot of punishment.

- Lanh Nguyen, Android Authority
Phone Scoop
Phone Scoop

If you spend most of your time outside doing active things in dangerous places, the XP7 is probably exactly what you need.

- Eric M. Zeman, Phone Scoop
PC Magazine
PC Magazine

Drop an iPhone or a BlackBerry Passport$499.99 at Amazon once, face down, on concrete, and you've cracked the screen. That's what sets tough, clunky smartphones like the XP7 or the Kyocera Brigadier apart from the rest: You don't have to put them in an Otterbox so they can survive your rough-and-tum...

- Sascha Segan, PC Magazine
GigaOM
GigaOM

No, these aren’t flagship specifications but in my experience with the phone, I think it’s an acceptable tradeoff. Performance is solid for what’s inside and you’re getting the peace of mind knowing that no matter what the environment throws at you, you don’t have to ba...

- Kevin C. Tofel, GigaOM
Cnet
Cnet

The Sonim XP7 sits in an entirely different category, aimed at businesses that need reliable performance in the worst conditions. I can certainly manage to find an outlet every few days to keep my gadgets topped up. I don't often need to check my email while wearing snowboarding gloves, caked in mud...

- Nate Ralph, Cnet


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Sonim XP7 user manual here.


Sonim backs up the XP7 with a 3 Years parts & labour warranty.


If your XP7 has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Sonim support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Sonim'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.




Resources


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Quick view

Screen Size
4"

The Sonim XP7's screen size is 4 inches with 480 x 800 pixels resolution.

Processor
1.2 GHz

There is a Qualcomm MSM8926 Quad core 1.2 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on the Android 4.4 KitKat operating system (OS).

Camera
8+ MP

You can take photos with the phone's onboard 8+ MP camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera with 1+ megapixels resolution.

Storage
16 GB

Internal memory is 16 GB. No external card slot is available for expansion.

Battery
4800mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 4800 mAh battery. Sonim's performance ratings are 420 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.

Sonim XP7 Specs

Overview
Release Date October 16, 2014
Regions Available Canada, United Kingdom
Operating System Android 4.4 KitKat

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor Qualcomm MSM8926 Quad core 1.2 GHz
Internal Storage 16 GB
RAM 1 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible Yes
TTY/TDD Yes
Noise Cancellation Yes
SAR Head: 0.64 W/kg
Body: 0.68 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 3 Years
Accessories Included AC Charger, Manual, Standard Battery, Headset, Data Cable
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE
Mobile / Cellular Data
4G/LTE
Push-to-talk (PTT) Yes
Wi-Fi Calling Unknown
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) Unknown
SIM card size
Micro-SIM
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Yes
USB OTG Support No
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 4.0
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HFP, HSP
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot No
NFC Yes
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
8+ Megapixels
Zoom
Yes
Flash
Yes (LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Effects, Geotagging, Panorama, Exposure
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, AVI
Video Recording Parameters
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
1+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology LCD
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution 480 x 800 pixels
Pixel Density 233 pixels
Size 4 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Digital Compass
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen, Glove touch, Corning Gorilla Glass 2
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity 4800 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging No
Video Playback Time Up to 480 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 420 minutes
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Unknown
Standby Time Up to 41.7 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Plastic
Colors Black
Dimensions [H x W x D] 13.7 x 7.2 x 2.1 cm (5.4 x 2.8 x 0.8 in)
Weight 290 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Water Resistant
Rugged design No
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): Sonim XP7700
Related Links Manual (PDF)
Sonim XP7 Reviews
Where to buy Sonim XP7
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