DOOGEE S110 – The RUGGED smartphone that ROCKS but doesn't rock
On offer on Amazon
unboxing
Already from the sales package we realize that we will be dealing with a smartphone of impressive dimensions, but in any case inside we find everything necessary to start using the device immediately. In fact, we have a powerful 66W charger with USB Type-C input, therefore it can also be used for charging notebooks and much more. We then find the cable with double Type-C plug, for charging and data transfer as well as manuals and a second plastic film to protect the display, as one is already pre-applied by the company.
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CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS
As already mentioned, the term design poco fits in with the category of rugged smartphones, but the DOOGEE S110 is an exception, with a formula that mixes resistance and care for materials. The back of the smartphone is made with a plastic finish with a carbon fiber effect that is pleasant to the touch and resistant. It is precisely on the rear that we find an absolute novelty in this category of smartphone, namely the presence of a second 1,09-inch display with a resolution of 360 x 360 pixels, whose usefulness is probably solely aimed at the fashion side but still interesting to discover, as at a glance we will have information such as time, date, battery percentage, steps but also usable for viewing notifications, compass, music player, management of events such as the alarm clock as well as using it to take selfie photographs with the camera principal.
In my opinion, this last feature is the most interesting, as it allows us to obtain a quality of the shots at maximum resolution, ideal for manic selfies. Of this secondary screen, a bit like on smartwatches, we can choose the dial, set the shutdown timeout, adjust the light intensity, decide to enable it to turn on when we turn the phone face down or through a double tap but also display an incoming call (visible caller ID) to answer or reject the call. Visibility in direct sunlight is also good.
Next to the secondary display, we find the photographic compartment which is made up of 3 lenses and 2 LED flashes. To enrich the aesthetics of the product, we find metal inserts on the side profiles, which make the DOOGEE S110 robust but at the same time increase the weight which is brought to 390 grams while the dimensions are expressed in values of 178,5 x 83,1 x 17,9mm. This translates into a total lack of ergonomics and the fact that even after a few minutes of use, the smartphone will affect comfort, making it unpleasant in certain situations. At the same time, it is ultra-armored and reliable for falls and impacts in general, in addition to the fact that you can count on a military-grade standard IP68 / IP69K / MIL-STD 810H certification, therefore resistant to water, dust and immersion for up to 30 minutes in depth of 1.5 meters, drops from 1,5 meters and resistant to extreme temperatures ranging from -55°C to +70°C.
On the metal profiles, on the right we have the slightly knurled volume keys for easier recognition in the dark and the power button which incorporates the biometric sensor for unlocking the phone using fingerprints, the speed of which is not the fastest but at least in terms of unlocking reliability it performed very well. On the opposite side we find the SIM tray, capable of hosting 2 in nano format or by giving up the Dual SIM function, we can insert a micro SD card to expand the integrated memory. Know that this rugged phone is capable of connecting to 4G networks on both slots but during my tests I was never able to connect to the 4G+ signal. Despite the typically Eastern origin, band 20 is supported and the connection speed has proven to be more than satisfactory.
We also find an additional programmable button: with a single click, double click or long press we can invoke quick actions such as starting an audio or screen recording, starting the SOS function, taking a screenshot or we can start an application as we like. This is really a useful function, for those who perhaps use the smartphone with dirty hands due to work, and in this way there would be less interaction with the display, protecting it from dirt and scratches in general, even if in reality we don't have to have to worry about it. these fears, considering the nature of the smartphone.
Resistance to falls and impacts is however guaranteed by the reinforcements on the rigid rubber profiles, both on the upper and lower frames where we find the presence of the main microphone, USB Type-C input for charging and data transfer with OTG support (no video output ). The charging input is protected by a door and it should be noted that each charging cable adapts to insertion, which should not be underestimated. DOOGEE S110 also boasts a double stereo speaker, positioned between 4 grilles, two on the top and two on the bottom, with unimpeded sound output. In this regard, the volume is really high and the quality is excellent for this category of smartphone, offering no imbalance between the various tones, low, medium and high. There is no 3,5mm wired headphone jack but you will have to use Type-C, or the adapter included in the package. It's a shame that the FM radio only works with wired headphones, which could be uncomfortable and dangerous if we think about using a smartphone on construction sites for example.
DISPLAY
What is surprising, however, is the screen of the DOOGEE S110, a 6,6-inch IPS panel with 120 Hz refresh rate (user can choose 60/90/120 Hz frequencies) and Full HD+ resolution (2408 x 1080 pixel) in 20:9 format, 401 PPI, protected by Corning Gorilla Glass. Rather generous frames where we find elements such as a small notification LED (red or blue light), the generous ear capsule and the various proximity and brightness sensors all well detached from each other, achieving perfect operation in all conditions.
The only disturbing element of the screen is the teardrop notch that integrates the selfie camera, something that I personally would have avoided, considering the large frames on which the photographic sensor could be inserted, leaving the field of vision of the display totally free. Apart from this, the color rendering of the panel used is decidedly revolutionary in comparison to the band to which the device belongs, but unfortunately the company has not thought of including HDR support, but above all Widevine DRM which is level 3 and therefore streaming from platforms such as Netflix and similar it will not be in HD. Another point against it is the peak brightness which reaches 480 nits, not very high and which in terms of visibility under direct sunlight, could cause some difficulties.
HARDWARE, CONNECTIVITY AND SOFTWARE
However, the connectivity and related performance are good. I am referring to the presence of Bluetooth 5.2, GPS with connection to Galileo satellites, dual WiFi and NFC for mobile payments, but also the presence of the aforementioned FM radio. Reception is also good, relying on 4G (no 4G+) with excellent speeds in the speed tests, while for calls the audio was crystal clear.
We are talking about performance, which on this DOOGEE S110 impresses and surprises positively, counting on a hardware base that is expressed with a MediaTek Helio G99 SoC, an octa-core solution with a 2.2 GHz clock and a 6nm production process, capable of reaching over 435 thousand points on AnTuTu. The processor is supported by the ARM Mali-G57 MC-2 GPU, and 12 GB of LPDDR4X RAM which can be virtually expanded by a further 10 GB (thus reaching 22 GB of RAM) and 256 GB of UFS 2.1 storage expandable via micro SD with support up to 1TB.
This combination of elements allows the DOOGEE smartphone to also be used in environments poco congenial to rugged phones, i.e. also in gaming, benefiting from latest generation titles with good gaming performance, making do with graphic details that are not at the highest levels. Overall, the smartphone is always ready and responsive, with good speed in opening applications. Thanks to the operating system, based on a practically almost stock version of Android 13 and patches updated in August 2023. I have not encountered any bugs and the small customizations present in the system make it suitable for all users as well as simple to use. We find some software goodies, such as the Toolbox app, through which you will have tools such as a level, a compass, a plummet, a protractor, a magnifying glass, a decibel meter but also the underwater photo shooting function and so on. You then have the Game mode and the Children function, through which you can leave your device to your little child, limiting its functions and the launch of certain apps, or the easier launcher to have large icons, avoiding fiddling too much on the screen with dirty hands . We then have the possibility of using customizable gestures and much more. Particularly the notification center: to the right of the notch with a swipe downwards we access the quick toggles while on the left we access the app and/or system notifications. The only thing I don't feel like counting on is the stability of the release of updates and security patches, which will probably stop at what is expected out-of-the-box.
AUTONOMY
As far as autonomy is concerned, this is one of the greatest advantages of this device, counting on a 10800 mAh battery capable of reaching practically 4 days of use without giving up. There is also a 66W fast charge which in just 30 minutes allows the device to be recharged to 55%, while wireless charging is absent. With such a large battery, you can also use the DOOGEE S110 as a power bank: in fact, by connecting the cable to another smartphone, the latter will charge using the reverse charging technology with which our rugged phone is equipped.
PHOTOGRAPHIC AND VIDEO DEPARTMENT
The photographic sector of DOOGEE S110 is interesting considering the presence of a 50 MP, f/1.75 main camera, whose sensor is the good Sony IMX766, equipped with EIS stabilizer and HDR support, but only in manual mode. This is accompanied by a 16 MP ultrawide secondary camera, FOV 130° f/2.2, which unfortunately suffers from focusing in the corners, as well as returning "washed out" colors compared to the excellent performances recorded by the main camera.
We have rather basic but at the same time confusing software: to switch to the ultrawide lens you will not just need to press the zoom button, but you will have to look for the function right inside the camera's shooting menu, so to speak where you find the video function or the Night Vision. Here the latter is a real revelation, taking advantage of a special camera equipped with a 24 MP sensor. f/1.8, which allows you to capture images in total darkness using two infrared sensors. Also present in the menu is the possibility of capturing photos in portrait mode, but with a very unnatural effect, and the night mode which in my opinion turned out to be worse than a standard shot. We then have a 32 MP, f/2.0 selfie camera which in good lighting conditions returns very detailed shots. Videos can be recorded at a maximum resolution of 2K 30 fps, enjoying digital stabilization, which really amazed me in terms of performance, although the best results are obtained at 1080p but unfortunately 30 fps are the only usable values.
The colors returned are quite real, even if with the shades of red these are overexposed, therefore you will have to act manually with the on-screen selector. Night photos are a further negative point of the photographic sector, even if the objective of this terminal is not to be a camera phone, but to take good photos and videos in particular environments such as construction sites, etc.
On offer on Amazon
PROJECTED IMPACT
It seems clear that the rugged phone model in question appears superior in some ways to the various rugged phones in circulation, also net of a price that is not exactly prohibitive, i.e. less than 200 euros on the Banggood shop but can also be purchased directly on the Amazon store with shipping and Prime guarantee at a price of around 250 euros. At the moment it is among the best in the category that you can buy at this price, without any doubt. A price that is not high and which offers a degree of daily reliability in both software and hardware to the user. Ideal for example for couriers, bricklayers or delivery drivers, in short for all those who do not require specific functionality but can also count on a good dose of power as well as a device that lasts over time, understood as robustness.
