So you decided it is time to buy a rugged phone, but what do you need to keep in mind when buying and how do you make your choice?

When choosing a rugged phone you get the same functionality than you would have if you where looking at normal smart phones. Mostly the choice which phone to choose comes down to budget.

So what are the three budget classes and what is the difference?

High End Rugged Phones

The high end phones are in a price bracket from R8000 and upwards. These high end models are packed with features and a ton of extra's. These devices give you exactly the same as the top Samsung and Iphone models, they are just more rugged.

The high end phones have extra's like infrared camera's, great performance and no sacrifice will be made at all. The high end phones are quite pricey, and although all of the features are cool, many people do not need those. The high end phones are a great buy for people who work full time in constructions or other outdoor profesions, or who participate in dangergous sports like rock climbing etc.

Mid Range Rugged Phones

Mid range rugged phones will cost between R4000 and R7500. These phones are perfect if you are looking at getting a full feature smart phone that is rugged. These devices do not have the cool top end features like infrared camera's, and maybe compromise a litte. The mid range is the affordable option that still gives great performance and it won't break the bank. These phones are perfect for people on a budget or people who only need a rugged outdoor phone when they spend time outdoors on weekends. Basically this range is a very good compromise between price and performance.

Budget phones

Budget phones will be in the R3500 and below price point range. When buying a budget phone, there are compromises and not that much features. These phones have less memory but you can aways expand that with adding a memory card. Budget phones are smart phones that still give you a decent rugged phone that won't break easily, and won't break the bank, but storage and camera is one of the features that can be compromised. The budget range is perfect for people with low budget and who needs a regular rugged smart phone witout all the smart and exclusvie bells and whistles.