Aspera R8: Plans | Pricing | Specs

Water and dust resistance, a shock-absorbent shell and modern features like 4G compatibility and Android 6.0 make the Aspera R8 one of the more capable rugged phones on the market.

Spending hundreds of dollars on a new phone is a serious investment. Like all investments, odds are you're going to want it to last for the long haul in order to justify its expense. The problem is, most modern smartphones are built like fine china: gorgeous to look at but always one bump away from shattering into a thousand pieces.

For some folks, this isn't a big issue. If you spend your days in the safety of a quiet office, protecting your phone might be relatively easy. But what if you're constantly on the go or your daily routine brings you in close contact with dust, water and other hazards that can quickly turn a modern smartphone into an expensive doorstop?

This is where phones like the Aspera R8 come in. By incorporating an array of protective features such as a reinforced body, waterproofing and dust resistance, the R8 can withstand far more punishment than your typical iPhone or Samsung Galaxy handset. This makes it a compelling choice not only for workers in the industrial and trade sectors, but also for anyone who wants the security of knowing their phone can take the occasional fall or spill and keep right on trucking.

Design

• Rubberised, reinforced and sealed tight for protection against the elements
• Gorilla Glass touch screen resists scratches while affording all the benefits of a touch interface

• Read more on the Aspera R8's design

  

  Aspera's goal with the R8 is to combine the resilience of basic rugged handsets like the Aspera R25t with the advanced capabilities of a modern smartphone. To this end, the R8 follows the familiar smartphone design of pairing a large touch screen with three capacitive (non-physical) buttons for navigation. The IPS screen measures in at 4.5 inches and displays at a resolution of 854 x 480 pixels. Importantly, that screen is recessed 2mm below the phone's frame to minimise the chance of damage in the event of a fall. In case it does take a hit, the screen is made from Gorilla Glass 3 which offers resistance to scratch and contact damage.

  Moving away from the screen, the R8's entire body is covered with shock-absorbent rubber and coloured black and yellow to make it easier to spot should you drop it. The phone's frame is further reinforced with 14 screws to prevent warping or breaking on impact.

  Rain and dust pose little threat to the Aspera R8 thanks to its IP68 fluid and particle resistance rating. That IP68 rating certifies that the R8 is completely dust-tight and good for submersion in depths of up to 1m of water for 30 minutes. If you've ever accidentally knocked your phone into the sink or spilled your drink onto it, you'll know how much of a lifesaver that feature could be.

  For as fortified as the Aspera R8 is, it isn't lacking features. 16GB of internal storage provides a decent chunk of space for loading up music and videos, plus you can always expand it by adding a microSD card – so long as that card is no bigger than 32GB. When playing back music, videos or the built-in FM radio, you can plug in a standard set of headphones via the 3.5mm audio jack or connect a wireless pair over Bluetooth 4.0.

  On the software side, the Aspera R8 comes loaded with Android 6.0 aka Android "Marshmallow". In addition to providing access to millions of apps via the Google Play Store, Android 6.0 heralded a number of noteworthy improvements to the Android operating system including better battery management, finer control over the permissions you give individual apps and faster performance when multi-tasking. Just bear in mind that Aspera does not offer updates to later versions of Android with the R8.

  Unlike many other rugged phones, the Aspera R8 supports modern networking standards like 4G and Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n as well as the ability to share its Internet connection with other devices via USB tethering or by acting as a Wi-Fi hotspot.

Camera

• 8MP rear camera should prove sufficient for general photography
• Scratch-resistant lenses maintain the R8's rugged design

• Read more on the Aspera R8's camera

  

  Rugged phones make good companions for hikers, explorers and anyone else who enjoys roaming the great outdoors. Unfortunately, most rugged phones lack high-quality cameras to capture the beauty such adventures uncover. The Aspera R8 bucks this trend, packing a respectable 8MP rear-facing camera along with a 2MP front-facing camera for snapping a quick selfie. Both cameras feature scratch-resistant lenses, too, ensuring you can continue to document your travels even after a few nasty bumps.

  You'll also find an auto-focus feature on the rear camera to help dial in the best shot. Video capture is fully supported, too, as well as a nifty continuous-shot feature that can take up to 99 photos in rapid succession.

Performance

• Solid specs that should be sufficient for typical day-to-day use
• Android 6.0 remains a capable operating system, even if it is a little long in the tooth

• Read more on the Aspera R8's performance

  Phones built for harsh environments are typically lacking in the performance department, a limitation they get around by paring back features and using streamlined operating systems that require minimal processing power. Not so with the Aspera R8. To power the many features of Android 6.0, the phone packs a quad-core 1.3GHz processor along with 2GB of RAM. This isn't exactly a top-of-the-line combination, but it's a solid pairing that should have little trouble handling basic day-to-day tasks like sending emails, browsing the Internet and streaming audio or video.

Battery

• 2,600mAh battery with claims of up to 8.5 hours of talk time
• Battery is sealed for added protection

• Read more on the Aspera R8's battery

  A sturdy exterior isn't the only important component of a rugged phone like the Aspera R8. A resilient battery is just as vital, especially if you're setting off into the great outdoors and won't be crossing paths with too many power points on your travels. To account for this, Aspera has outfitted the R8 with a 2,600mAh battery it claims delivers longer-than-average performance under moderate use. In pure numerical terms, it pegs the R8's battery as capable of delivering 8.5 hours of talk time or 400 hours on standby. That's not too shabby when compared to modern smartphone standards, though how long the R8 will actually last you in practice is going to depend largely on how frequently you use it and what you use it for.

Pricing and availability

Aspera R8

Tough stuff

The Aspera R8 combines a rugged design with modern features to produce a hardy smartphone fit for those with physically active lifestyles.

• The Aspera R8 is available from online retailers like Amazon and Buy Mobile for an RRP of $399.