Most cell phones hate water. Get a few drops under the case, and that horrible little moisture indicator next to the battery goes red. Next thing you know, your phone doesn't work, and your carrier won't replace it.So bringing your phone to the beach can be a risky proposition. The good news is that there are plenty of handsets built specifically for active fun. They're not only great for outdoors, but they're also terrific for the accident-prone and those who work in rough environments.
The Casio Exilim C721 on Verizon Wireless is the ultimate summer phone. Why? Because it also doubles as a waterproof, 5-megapixel camera with 3X optical zoom and video capture—so you can leave your fragile digital camera at home, too. The Exilim is wrapped in a protective coating so you can shoot underwater. It's also certified to military specs against shock and vibration. If you spend a lot of time at the beach, this phone will be your best friend.
Starting at $279.99 with a contract, though, the Exilim isn't cheap. Verizon's $129 Casio Gz'One Boulder is also waterproof, and with an even tougher body for a lot less cash. You will, however, have to give up the 5-megapixel camera for a much weaker 1.3-megapixel sensor. Still, for quick snapshots and making calls, this phone is a good value.
Outdoorsy T-Mobilers should consider the unlocked Sonim XP3.20 Quest, which is the world's toughest phone—a claim I tested thoroughly. It can be tossed around violently, submerged, frozen, hit with a chisel, and used to hammer nails. Even if it does break, it comes with a no-questions-asked replacement guarantee. The Quest model I tested in May isn't on the market yet, but the similar XP3.10 is available now.
On Sprint, the Nextel i580 is the way to go if you're worried about durability. Bear in mind: It isn't waterproof, it's water-resistant—it'll survive a quick dunk or splash, but you can't completely submerge it. In my tests, it survived freezing, washing, dropping from a second-story window, and getting run over by a sports car. The i580 also has great call quality and a built-in MP3 player.
AT&T users should go straight for the Motorola Tundra VA76r. This flip phone is not only water-resistant and sand-proof, but it has the best reception and call quality of any AT&T phone we've tested to date. Its 2-megapixel camera takes decent beach shots, and you can pipe music from the Tundra's MP3 player out its beefy speakerphone.
These tough phones will do more than just serve you through the summer; they'll also withstand autumn mists and winter snow. Compare specs for these phones side-by-side and read the full reviews below.
Outdoor-Friendly Phones Featured in this Roundup:
Casio Exilim C721 (Verizon Wireless)
The nation's best beach phone is waterproof and features a 5-megapixel camera with video recording and optical zoom to capture your summer fun.
Casio Gz'One Boulder (Verizon Wireless)
Verizon's other waterproof phone has a much lower resolution camera, but it's also much more affordable.
Motorola Tundra VA76r (AT&T)
Not only is the Tundra water and sand resistant, it's got the best call quality of any AT&T phone out there today.
Nextel i580 (Sprint)
A durable, water-resistant case lets this flip phone go beyond its original target market of outdoor workers needing extra-tough gear, to anyone who's around sand and water this summer.
Sonim XP3.20 Quest (Unlocked)
Hands-on preview. Not rated
The world's toughest phone isn't officially out on any carrier yet, but it works with AT&T and T-Mobile.
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