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Kyocera is bringing a new super wide view HD action camera to one of its ruggedized smartphones, the upcoming DuraForce Pro, which will also include traditional rear and front cameras. The new phone is aimed at a wide range of users who need ruggedized, waterproof, dustproof and tough smartphones in difficult environmental conditions, while also requiring excellent photographic capabilities.
The DuraForce Pro includes three built-in cameras—a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera, as well as a rear-mounted wide-angle 135-degree HD camera with fixed focus that is built to provide high-quality action images and video for users.
The new LTE phone, which was announced by Kyocera on Aug. 10, brings action camera capabilities to a rugged smartphone to serve a wider range of photographic needs for users. The phone will be compatible with mounts that are available for the small standalone action cameras that are already sold in the marketplace today, according to the company.
The DuraForce Pro, which runs on the Android 6 Marshmallow operating system, features a 5-inch full HD touch-screen display (1920 x 1080 resolution), a Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8952 octa-core processor, 2GB of memory, 32GB of built-in storage and a microSDXC slot that accepts additional storage cards up to 200GB.
Also included is a 3,240mAh non-removable battery, wireless and quick charging capabilities, a fingerprint sensor and WiFi, Bluetooth 4.2, Near-field Communications and mobile hotspot connectivity. In addition, the phone uses FIPS 140-02 encryption for user and device security.
The ruggedized handset is shockproof, drop-proof and dustproof, meeting IP68 standards for waterproofness for up to 30 minutes in up to 6.5 feet of water, and also meets Military Standard 810G certification for protection against dust, shock, vibration, temperature extremes, blowing rain, low pressure, solar radiation, salt fog, humidity, immersion, temperature shock and icing/freezing rain. The handset also features a side-mounted Push-To-Talk (PTT) button that can alternatively be used as a programmable button for a desired feature.
The phone also includes dual front speakers and the touch-screen is operable using gloved or wet fingers. The DuraForce Pro is 5.84 inches tall, 2.89 inches wide and 0.51inches thick and includes a two-year warranty.
Prices and an availability date will be announced in the future.
“Kyocera’s new DuraForce Pro provides consumers and businesses with industry-leading rugged technology and is the only rugged smartphone with a built-in high-definition action camera, enabling users to stay connected and capture the content they love no matter the circumstance or environment,” Chuck Becher, senior division vice president of sales and marketing in Kyocera’s communications equipment group, said in a statement. “With the breadth of durable features our customers have come to expect from Kyocera, DuraForce Pro delivers peace of mind, unmatched durability and rugged design, all at a price point consumers will love.”
In May, Kyocera’s DuraForce XD ruggedized smartphone went on sale through T-Mobile for $449.99, making it the first rugged handset being offered by the carrier, according to an earlier eWEEK story. The DuraForce XD is a 4G LTE smartphone with a 5.7-inch HD, In-Plane Switching (IPS), impact-resistant touch-screen display (1,280 by 720 pixels); a Qualcomm Snapdragon quad-core 1.6GHz MSM8928 processor; 2GB of memory; 16GB of onboard storage; and a microSD memory card slot that supports cards up to 64GB. The phone runs on the Android 5.1 Lollipop operating system. Also included is an 8-megapixel rear-facing main camera with auto-focus, 4x zoom, LED flash, and full HD video capture and playback; a 2MP front-facing camera; a 3,700-mAh battery for all-day power; and extra-loud dual front speakers for use in noisy work environments.