Mobile Technology

We've covered a bunch of anti-distraction phones on here, and they largely focus on stripping down your device's functionality to the basics. The Sidephone, meanwhile, takes a modular approach to customizing the hardware to fit into your life.

The V1 Pro monitor from Cardon is a compact display that attaches magnetically to the back of your phone and connects via USB-C, allowing you to see yourself while recording with the rear camera.

Oukitel’s WP68 Air and WP500 Ultra: giant batteries disguised as rugged phones. One has IR night vision and the other a proper thermal camera. Also, one of them nearly tempted me away from my Galaxy S22.

For its fourth product, anti-distraction device maker Light has gone with a retro flip-phone form factor. This physical design encourages you to be even more intentional with your screen time.

8849’s Tank 5 is a 25-oz rugged Android phone with a 2K DLP projector, 17,600-mAh battery, night-vision camera, camping light and impressive specs, but its bulk and price may be as striking as its feature list.

Rugged phones are not for everyone. They're generally huge and heavy, though most come with a long-life battery and all can withstand a beating. A relatively new name in the space has gone mini for a tough cookie that's also an actioncam.

OPPO is pushing the smartphone further toward dedicated standalone camera territory with the Find X9 Ultra, which introduces a 10x optical zoom telephoto, an optional external 300-mm teleconverter lens, dual 200-MP cameras, and pro-grade video tools.

Bigme’s HiBreak Dual combines a 6.13-inch E Ink display out front with a smaller LCD panel at the rear, aiming to reduce distractions while keeping core smartphone features like 5G, Android apps, and stylus support.

The 8849 Tank Pad Ultra combines a built-in 1080p projector that puts out 260 lumens for on-the-spot visuals, as well as night vision cameras, and a laser rangefinder in a rugged tablet designed for fieldwork and outdoor use.

Shanghai-based Unihertz has been making BlackBerry-style handsets with full physical keyboards for typing fanatics for years now. Its new Titan 2 Elite gets a swish new design and internals.

The iPhone has always been great for photography, but when you're taking selfies, you're at the mercy of the handset's less-capable front camera. This new phone case we just came across solves that with a second mirror-like screen.

Big screen, big battery and useful tools for outdoor enthusiasts – that's what we expect from rugged phones. But hefting one around can be like putting a brick in your pocket. Fossibot's latest effort shrinks the formula down a bit.

Ulefone subsidiary RugOne has revealed a rugged smartphone called the Xsnap 7 Pro that lets you detach an actioncam from within the body and wear it on your bike helmet, while the handset acts as a footage processing mothership.

Finnish smartphone brand Jolla isn't in the business of competing with the dizzying array of Android handsets out there. In fact, it took a long break before announcing its latest model – but from the sound of things, it might be worth the wait.

Ulefone's Armor 27T Pro+ combines thermal imaging and infrared night vision in a rugged Android phone built for rescue teams and field professionals. Its 10,600-mAh solid-state battery works at -22 °F, and promises week-long runtime.