The Doogee S98: An Indestructible Phone You Can’t Destroy (Apparently)

The Doogee S98

Figure of The Doogee S98

Doogee S98

The Doogee S98

The Doogee S98 is the brand’s newest rugged phone, and after extensive testing, we can say that it can withstand a variety of risky circumstances. Thanks to its infrared sensor and IP68 rating, the Doogee can withstand intrusion from solid particles and water, and you can even use it to take pictures at night.

SPECIFICATIONS

  • Brand: Doogee
  • CPU: MediaTek Helio G96
  • Display: 5.3 inch, 1080×2340, 19:9
  • RAM: 8GB
  • Storage: 256GB
  • Battery: 6000mAh
  • Ports: Type-C, SIM/SD card
  • Operating System: Android
  • Front camera: 16MP
  • Rear cameras: 64 MP main, 20 MP night vision, 8 MP wide
  • Connectivity: 4G / Bluetooth / Wi-Fi
  • Dimensions: 6.7 x 3.2 x 0.6 inches
  • Display type: LCD FHD+ Waterdrop
  • Weight: 0.7lbs
  • Charging: 33 W fast, 15 W wireless, reverse charging
  • IP Rating: IP68
  • Price: $260

Pros

  • practically unbreakable
    giant battery
    stunning display
  • photographs taken in the dark and live views
  • Additional storage

Cons

  • No night vision video is available.
  • No 5G

The Doogee S98 is the most recent in a line of increasingly durable smartphones from Doogee, and it includes a number of features that are sure to be helpful for many users of rugged smartphones. It is offered by Doogeemall, AliExpress, and the S98 official page, with prices starting at $260. However, with features such as “explosion-proof” and a “military standard 810G rating,” you might mistakenly believe that you are purchasing an M1 Abrams or an F-15 fighter jet. You are, however, investing in a smartphone, which, based on my testing, should prove to be quite the investment for some. Let’s find out more about this smartphone.

Doogee S98 unboxing

Like most modern Doogee smartphones, it is packaged in a flat, square, black box with a silver sticker identifying the phone’s model on the bottom right and the Doogee logo across the top. When you open the box, you find:

  • Doogee S98 mobile phone
  • Cable and charger together
  • Screen-preparation tools and spare explosive film
  • Film removal device

The Appearance of a Durable Smartphone

The Doogee S98

We can see the S98’s dimensions are 6.7 inches long, 3.2 inches wide, and 0.6 inches thick. It is quite the chunk and slightly heavier than 0.7 pounds, but this is typical for a rugged phone. particularly one with a battery the size of the S98. Aluminum alloy and rubber make up the frame, which feels very much like what a rugged smartphone should feel like. The Doogee can withstand drops, bumps, knocks, and any other physical stress you want to subject it to thanks to its durable chassis.

The 16-megapixel front camera, the ambient light sensor, and the notification indicator light are all located on the front face. The 5.3-inch LCD FHD+ waterdrop display, with a 1080 x 2340 resolution and a 19:9 aspect ratio, is another option. As I mentioned earlier, the phone is allegedly explosion-proof, but in reality, Doogee has pre-applied an “explosion-proof film” to the screen, which can be seen if you look directly below the receiver at the top of the display.

Turning the device

Turning the device over reveals the camera array, which includes a flash, two infrared night vision lights for nighttime photos, a 64 MP main sensor, an 8 MP wide angle, and 20 MP night vision. The rear screen, which can display a variety of notifications in addition to a clock, is another thing you’ll notice. But to me, this is more of a decorative feature than a functional one. I can see the time and any WhatsApp notifications, for sure. But I can actually see all of those, in addition to a lot more, on the phone’s other face. If you don’t want a lot of notifications to bother you, it might be a good idea.

The Doogee S98

The speaker, microphone, and USB type-C port are all located on the bottom edge of the device. The USB type-C port is concealed until you remove the small plug that serves as a handy seal against dust and moisture. This is a great feature that has been available on several Doogee models in the past. Nothing will get inside the S98 if you drop it in the sand or water and damage your charging port.

The device’s custom key, sim card slot, and micro-SD card slot are all located on the left edge, while the volume rocker, power key, and fingerprint sensor are all located on the right. The tour of the Doogee is now complete.

What Do Specs Say?

There is a 6,000mAh battery inside, which is enormous and has a long runtime even when used as a daily smartphone. Therefore, it’s great for extended wilderness excursions, and you can use reverse charging to charge other devices from the S98. It is compatible with 15-watt wireless charging and 33-watt fast charging.

As an 8-core MediaTek Helio G96 processor powers the S98, this smartphone can only support 4G connectivity. That won’t be a problem for the majority of users, but it will be for some. If you have access to a cellular data network where you are, for instance, you won’t have any trouble uploading pictures of the development of a construction site to your company server. When using the handset, I experienced no connectivity issues, which is crucial when working in the field.

Doogee S98: Performance

Performance

We’ll start with graphics performance for the device. I downloaded the mobile version of the notoriously demanding game Genshin Impact and gave it a try. The game’s open-world environments and detailed graphics can put a strain on your phone’s chip, but the S98 handled it well and had no discernible lag.

For those who want a rugged smartphone, processing probably matters a little more. You probably use it for work, so you want it to finish tasks quickly. The S98 can handle running multiple apps simultaneously and doesn’t stutter when cycling through and loading them. It also doesn’t experience any app failures. However, keep in mind that this solely depends on the specific apps you use and the number of them open at once. As a result, this may differ slightly from person to person.

How “Rugged” is the Doogee S98 Really?

Rugged

In light of the fact that it can run the apps you want it to (or don’t want it to, depending on how you intend to use the phone), what about its ruggedness? I’m happy to confirm that it is a rugged handset, though. To ensure that the Doogee can live up to its claims and that you can buy with confidence, I put it through a number of tests.

First, a warning. I’m a stickler for an IP rating, as you may have noticed from my written reviews. The S98 is shielded from water and particle ingress thanks to its IP68 rating. An international standard called IP, which stands for ingress protection, is used to gauge how well-protected a device is. Since 6 is the highest possible score for particle ingress, no sand, dirt, or dust will enter the phone. The Doogee S98 has an 8 rating for water ingress, which means it can withstand immersion in up to 1.5 meters of water for up to 30 minutes.

Examining the Doogee S98 in Detail

Doogee S98 in Detail

I first immersed it in water for an hour before leaving it. Upon returning to the S98 after 60 minutes, I was somewhat relieved to discover that it had not suffered any damage and had continued to function as it should.

I later gave it a try using wet, stony muck. Again, the phone was saved from the mud bath by the explosion-proof film covering the gorilla glass screen. If you misplace your S98 at a festival and it gets trampled in some mud, as long as it’s still on and Find My Phone is enabled, you should be able to find it, clean it up, and get it back.

How About Additional Features?

The S98 is therefore sufficiently durable, but what about other features? The camera, in particular the night vision mode, is one that particularly stands out to me. The main camera’s 64-megapixel sensor produces some really lovely images. Therefore, if you’re working on set design, for instance, you can take pictures that are good enough to post on your company’s social media or to remotely report a problem to HQ.

I already mentioned the night vision camera, which is a really entertaining feature. The night vision camera can assist you in navigating in the dark, in addition to the obvious advantages of nighttime photography with the 20-megapixel Sony sensor, such as capturing images of nocturnal creatures and so forth.

Is a Doogee S98 a Good Investment?

Without a doubt, if you require a rugged smartphone. In addition to all the features you’d anticipate from your typical flimsy smartphone, the S98 is a rugged smartphone with a lot to boast about. This is a great device for the smartphone user who uses their device outdoors because it can take pictures at night and is tough enough to withstand a variety of conditions. Highly suggested.

Leave a Reply