Aspera R8: Plans | Pricing | Specs

Where to buy

By incorporating an array of protective features such as a reinforced body, waterproofing and dust resistance, the Aspera 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

• Price: RRP $399
• Where to buy: eBay

Compare SIM-only plans for the Aspera R8

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Name	Product	Features	Data	Price
Finder Award Finder Exclusive: $10 for the first 3 renewals, then $35 per renewal. T&Cs apply. Ends 31 October 2021 Unlimited standard national calls & texts 50GB Data $0.20 per GB $10 per 28 days expiry Go to siteView details Exclusive	amaysim 50GB Finder Exclusive Plan SIM-Only - Prepaid Optus 4G network	Finder Award Finder Exclusive: $10 for the first 3 renewals, then $35 per renewal. T&Cs apply. Ends 31 October 2021 Unlimited standard national calls & texts Prepaid 28 days Unlimited data banking as long as you stay on this plan. T&Cs apply	50GB Data $0.20/GB	$10 per 28 days expiry Go to site View details		loading Fetching your data...
$35/mth for the first 6 months for new customers, then $45/mth. T&Cs apply. Ends 01.11.2021, 1pm AEDT Unlimited standard national calls & texts 100GB Data $0.35 per GB $35 per month Go to siteView details	Circles.Life 100GB Monthly Plan SIM-Only - Postpaid Optus 4G network	$35/mth for the first 6 months for new customers, then $45/mth. T&Cs apply. Ends 01.11.2021, 1pm AEDT Unlimited standard national calls & texts Option to add on another 3GB for $10	100GB Data $0.35/GB	$35 per month Go to site View details		loading Fetching your data...
Get the 1st month free then $35/mth. Use code FLX9. For use in Aus. New customers only. T&Cs apply. Ends 03 December 2021 Unlimited standard national calls & texts Unlimited data Speeds limited to 20Mbps $35 per month Go to siteView details	felix Subscription SIM-Only - Subscription Vodafone 4G network	Get the 1st month free then $35/mth. Use code FLX9. For use in Aus. New customers only. T&Cs apply. Ends 03 December 2021 Unlimited standard national calls & texts Unlimited international calls + text to over 40 selected countries. $5/mth add on One tree planted monthly for every active subscription	Unlimited data Speeds limited to 20Mbps	$35 per month Go to site View details		loading Fetching your data...
Finder Award -38% $9.80/mth for the first 12 months, then $15.80/mth. T&Cs apply. Unlimited standard national calls & texts 6GB Data $1.63 per GB $9.80 per month Go to siteView details	Moose 15.80 SIM Only SIM-Only - Postpaid Optus 4G network	Finder Award $9.80/mth for the first 12 months, then $15.80/mth. T&Cs apply. Unlimited standard national calls & texts Voice over LTE and WiFi calling from Optus Sign up for a chance to win a $1000 gift card of your choice. T&Cs apply. Ends 31.10.2021	6GB Data $1.63/GB	-38% $9.80 per month Go to site View details		loading Fetching your data...
Finder Award $15 for the first 3 renewals, then $30 per renewal onwards. T&Cs apply. Ends 31 October 2021 Unlimited standard national calls & texts 30GB Data $0.50 per GB $15 per 28 days expiry Go to siteView details	amaysim 30GB Plan SIM-Only - Prepaid Optus 4G network	Finder Award $15 for the first 3 renewals, then $30 per renewal onwards. T&Cs apply. Ends 31 October 2021 Unlimited standard national calls & texts Prepaid 28 days Unlimited data banking as long as you stay on this plan. T&Cs apply	30GB Data $0.50/GB	$15 per 28 days expiry Go to site View details		loading Fetching your data...
$15/mth for the first 3 months, then $20/mth. T&Cs apply. Ends 31 October 2021 Unlimited standard national calls & texts 12GB Data $1.25 per GB $15 per month Go to siteView details	Dodo Mobile $20 SIM-Only - Postpaid Optus 4G network	$15/mth for the first 3 months, then $20/mth. T&Cs apply. Ends 31 October 2021 Unlimited standard national calls & texts Includes 100 international mins to 35 selected countries	12GB Data $1.25/GB	$15 per month Go to site View details		loading Fetching your data...

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