We had a comment from a reader yesterday, asking for a comparison of the JCB TOUGH PHONE and the Samsung Solid. Well, since we’re always ready to listen to our readers, here it is!
Always the way, isn’t it? You wait ages for a rugged, strengthened mobile phone to come along (last one I had a play with: Nokia 5210), then two come along at once! And so, we have a new battle of the heavyweights taking place. Forget Ali vs. Foreman, forget the Rumble In The Jungle… this is the real prize fight.
Except, when you think about it, it isn’t, really…
Let me explain, by first going through the stats of our two contenders. On paper, the Samsung Solid is the more advanced. Yes, it has the rugged shell, yes, it is rated to IP54 (for a guide to what that means, see below), meaning it’s very resistant to dust and water. And it manages that without sacrificing features, because it has a built-in camera (albeit a bog standard VGA one). Oh, and of course, it has a flashlight built in, and it can send emergency messages if it all goes pear-shaped and you need some emergency assistance really rather quickly.
The JCB TOUGH PHONE doesn’t have any of that, and it’s rated to IP53, which on paper at least, implies it’s not as resistant to the elements as the Solid. But, you see, the thing is, when you actually see it in action, it is as resistant. Easily as resistant. Substantially more resistant than anything I’ve ever seen, actually (Don’t believe me? Check out our earlier video story about the TOUGH PHONE…), thanks in large part to the steel sub-frame that I’m absolutely sure the phone has.
Which brings me back to my main point. When you really think about it, they’re not fighting each other at all, because they’re targeted at very specific groups. The JCB phone was designed specifically for the building trade (as if that wasn’t blatantly obvious from the name), although it’s spread into other areas, for people who want a no compromise, only-high-power-ammunition-can-kill-it mobile phone, and aren’t fussed about frills.
On the other hand, the Samsung Solid, when you factor in the flashlight and emergency messages, seems to be designed more for people like ramblers or potholers, who live life hard, off the beaten track, and want fun while they do so. So, in that respect, they’re not really competing, because they’re both evolved to fill different niches, so they should be able to coexist rather nicely.
That was the objective comparison between the two. Now for the subjective one:
I prefer the JCB phone, because it’s bright yellow, and you could brain a whale with it, and I want one. Now.
Show your allegiance! Grab yourself either the JCB TOUGH PHONE or the Samsung Solid, today!
[Guide to IP ratings: the numbers after the IP are two individual scores for resistance to dust (1st digit) and water (2nd digit). So, IP54 means 5/6 for dust resistance, and 4/8 for moisture resistance (the ‘out of’ number for water is higher because it includes complete submersion in water, you see)]
January 29th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Nevermind who would win…..how many potholers do you think would manage to receive a signal 100ft underground??
Nevertheless a good blog. Keep them coming.
January 29th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Ah, well, now, ya see… the thing is…
I’ve never actually been potholing in my life, I just liked the sound of the word…
You get what I mean, though, people off the beaten track, so long as “off the beaten track” isn’t 100ft underground, and IS somewhere in range of a cell tower….
January 29th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
at the end of the day we all know the winner. The winner is…..CHUCK NORRIS
no applause needed i can sense your appreciation
February 24th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
ihave a jcb fone and it does the job but the best fone ever was the 5110 quality fone
May 22nd, 2008 at 8:52 pm
I bought the Samsung, fantastic for my all weather outdoor lifestyle. It has great battery life and is virtually indestructible.Just needs the screen to be a little larger.
September 7th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
I’ve got a non-JCB Sonim XP1; that’s the JCB phone direct from the manufacturer with an all black case and £25 cheaper. Yes, it’s nigh on indestructible, despite the daft comparison of these two phones that The Gadget Show did, but the controls are simply awful - out of the Stone Age in mobile phone terms. It’s slow too; a bit like going back to Windows 98! Worse, the darned thing keeps turning itself off. This has always happened a bit and I put it down to accidental key presses while it was in a trouser pocket - not forgiveable but kind of understandable - but recently I’m switching it back on 2/3/4/5 times a day. I am in communication with the manufacturer; their rep seems very concerned to be fair and to respond likewise I’ll be back here with a result. If they sort it they deserve my balancing the books so to speak.
Oh - there’s no ringtone composer; the tones are polyphonic. See what I mean about Stone Age?!
September 24th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Thinking about the Samsung just because of the camera (taking a photo of some ned whos just rammed my car/bike-provided I’m still breathing of course)Airo A25 is the baby of course ,does everything you can imagine(!)but very pricey.They say they are adding a international roaming Sim pack which will save money - oh & its quad band.But could not answer the question of reception & the value of the optional add on antenna that Sonim offer.Are these antenna any good?
September 25th, 2008 at 7:08 am
We read the reviews and got a JCB in January 2008 - fantastic! Dropped it (through the overalls pocket!) no problem. But… and this is now a very biG BUT the case is fine but the phone keeps turning off. I don’t know how much business I have lost with my phone being turned off. Took it back to Phones 4 U and they suggest it is software problem, take it in they will send it away. In the meantime … no phone! B …Charming. Beware. Am just about to get a Samsung as a backup.
September 25th, 2008 at 8:24 am
Mark:
Well, I’ve tried an antenna extension on an old Nokia, but not on the JCB phone. It did help on the Nokia, though. And as for the Airo A25, aye, that is one serious bit of kit!
Rated to IP67??? Crikey…
Alister:
I’ve not come across that software problem before, but thanks for letting us know. It’s this kind of thing we can’t realy test for, we can give you all our impressions at launch, but we don’t know what they’re like after 8 months, or a year.
So, a big thanks for letting us know. You could put that in our reviews section, as well, help people make an informed choice when it comes to their new phone!
September 27th, 2008 at 8:40 am
Just spotted the new Samsung B2700. Will it be worth the extra (no prices yet)over the M110 solid or not ?
October 22nd, 2008 at 11:08 am
Sonim xp3 expected soon also b2700 about £169.00 end of october tbc time for a new test methinks & if anyone spots half price Airo A25 let me know!!
November 11th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Also condurro have a rugged phone the LM801 available in the UK just got mine and works great!! got mine from futuregizmos