14 DAY TRIAL // US-based carrier MetroPCS has just announced the immediate availability of the rugged Kyocera Hydro XTRM Android smartphone. The handset is waterproof, dust-proof and shock-proof, in order to meet all demands of consumers looking for a solid device.
More importantly, it can be purchased for only $170 (€125) plus tax and can be paired with any of the carrier's 4G LTE plans, starting at just $40 (€30).
According to MetroPCS, the Hydro XTRM is IP57 certified, so it offers protestation against dust and water immersion for up to 30 minutes in up to 3.28 feet of water.
In addition, thanks to the shock-resistant construction built to Military Standard 810G, the phone can handle bumps and drops.
But there's more to it, as Kyocera integrated it proprietary Smart Sonic Receiver technology, which allows users to hear conversations very clear even in noisy environments.
The bad news is that Kyocera Hydro XTRM ships with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system out of the box, which might not be something that most Android fans would want.
Other highlights of the phone include a 4-inch capacitive touchscreen display, 1.2 GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor 4G LTE connectivity, 5-megapixel rear-facing camera and 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera.
Kyocera's rugged smartphone is powered by a 2000 mAh Li-Ion battery and benefits from energy-saving features, such as MaxiMZR and Eco Mode apps, allowing for low power consumption.
“We know that drops, falls and splashes can't always be avoided and our customers demand a smartphone like the Hydro XTRM that can handle their every day life.
“MetroPCS is delivering a life-proof experience by combining the durability of the Hydro with the predictability and affordability of our unlimited data, talk and text service plans to help consumers deal with all of life's surprises, and we're doing it on a nationwide 4G LTE network they can rely on,” said Tom Keys, COO and executive vice president of MetroPCS.