14 DAY TRIAL // Kyocera and Sprint have a very long history together when it comes to smartphones. Customers looking for a rugged smartphone usually check out Sprint's portfolio, which contains several alternatives, mostly coming from Kyocera.
The newest ultra-rugged smartphone coming from Kyocera is the DuraForce Pro, a cheap but reliable Android handset that's already available for purchase at Sprint.
Those who want to buy the phone will be able to do so for just $18 per month over 24 months with installment billing. Also, the smartphone is available for a $432 retail price for those who don't want to commit to long-term monthly payments.
The rugged DuraForce Pro is dust and water-resistant, but it cal also withstand drops from up to 5 feet. In addition, the smartphone features IP68 and Military Standard 810G certifications, which confirms it's sturdier than a usual rugged handset.
The DuraForce Pro comes with a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera and a 5-megapixel front camera, but it also features a 135-degree Super Wide View Action camera on the back, which offers functionality that's usually reserved for GoPro cameras. This specific camera can be integrated with popular action-camera mounting systems and features an Underwater Mode.
Other highlights of the rugged smartphone include a decent octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 processor, 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal memory (expandable via microSD card).
Also, the DuraForce Pro sports a 5-inch display that supports full HD (1080p) resolution, and it's powered by a 3,240 mAh battery. According to Kyocera, the phone's power button acts as a biometric fingerprint reader as well, which will allow you to unlock the device.
As expected, the phone supports 4G LTE network and includes a dedicated side button for Sprint's Direct Connect PTT services, which can also be programmed by non-PTT users for one-touch access to one application that they use often.
It doesn't come with Nougat, but you'll be able to benefit from Android 6.0 Marshmallow features if you want to give the phone a chance.
