Caterpillar: the name invokes images of bugs, but also gigantic yellow construction vehicles, belching smoke and hurling mounds of earth. And apparently, smartphones: the $349 (£249.99) Cat B15Q is the company's latest effort, a rugged device that wants to prove that surviving the elements needn't involve garish cases or massive rubber bumpers. I reviewed the dual-SIM model, which is available from Home Depot for $359.
I've dropped it, I've drowned it and I've called a few friends: it's still kicking, and still looking good. But a well-rounded smartphone experience needs to deliver in many respects, and the B15Q, while a strong contender, comes with quite a few caveats.V
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Rugged phones are pitched as devices that can withstand tumbles down hills, sitting out in sheeting rain and days spent toiling in dusty workshops. The reality is less romantic. Consider the Kyocera Torque: it's a run-of-the-mill Android phone that's swaddled in rubber, because you're a klutz.
The Cat B15Q is different. This a phone sold in places like Home Depot and presumably built for Caterpillar's clientele, grizzled professionals who'll tuck the device into their jumpsuits before donning a helmet to do something brave or dangerous or both. It's small, just shy of 3 inches wide with a 4-inch display. It's also just over half an inch thick -- not exactly svelte, but far more pocketable than your average ruggedized brick. And it weighs just under 6 ounces: again, relatively tiny compared to its peers. Caterpillar has released a few of its phones in Europe, including the Cat B100, and the Cat S50, both which carry on this rugged them.
A silver-anodized aluminum shell is a big part of the puzzle, lending strength without going overboard on weight. The rubber bumpers on the top and bottom of the phone help soften the edges so that it feels nice in hand, and add a bit of extra protection should you drop the device on its corners. And then there's the CAT logo up top, which evokes thoughts of big yellow machines tearing through giant mounds of dirt. The phone has a kind of industrial quality that just feels cool -- those screws on the side help.
