You have to love a phone that can handle it. Samsung made some, from the Galaxy Active series to the latest Xcover Field Pro. The latter made a splash with its high price and old software, but an updated Xcover 5 leaked on a software update schedule earlier today. A few hours later, photos and specifications are available.
The German website WinFuture.de is displaying photos of the front and back of the phone, along with a collection of unconfirmed specifications. It’s a rather modest model: the 5 in the name refers to its 5.3-inch 720p screen, which is practically tiny by modern standards. Its Exynos 850 processor, 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage, plus a MicroSD card slot, will also not turn heads. The single 16 MP rear camera will not be at the top of any DXOmark list.
On the other hand, its combination of low price and sturdy hardware can make it a success for anyone who is tired of paying for screen repairs. The Xcover 5 is reportedly classified as IP68 and compatible with 810G, which makes it impermeable to dust and resistant to immersion in water for up to one meter. There is no word on impact resistance, but the 9.2 mm thick phone body appears to have more padding than normal. Gorilla Glass 6 is not as tough as the new Victus, but it is much better than you would expect to find on a budget phone; the Pixel 4a uses GG3, for example.
Winfuture reports the estimated price of 290-300 €, which would be around US $ 350 in the USA. Perhaps the most important (and contrasting well with the Xcover Field Pro) is running Android 11 from the start and would qualify for Samsung’s promise to update its phones for four years. The indicators point to an immanent launch, although no one knows in which territories Samsung wants to sell the phone.
