JCB Toughphone
28 JAN 2008
Launch price
from £free
Stuff says
Barring a direct hit from a V2, the Toughphone is virtually indestructible – the perfect burly blower for builders and tradesmen alike
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Handsets like the Nokia 5140i and 5500 were designed for people with active lifestyles, but in the absence of anything burlier they inevitably showed up on plumbers' utility belts rather than strapped to joggers' arms.
But now there's a new breed of roughneck handsets built specifically to slide on the dashboard of a white van. If you're a tough man working a tough job, you need the JCB Toughphone.
Hangin' tough
JCB's pedigree as a leading construction equipment manufacturer means the Toughphone is already wise to the harsh vagaries of the building site. In fact it's been awarded an IP54 rating, meaning it's shock-, dust-, water- and drop-resistant, and operational in temperatures ranging from -20 to 60 degrees.
The more eagled-eyed will recognise the Toughphone as the Sonim XP1 decked out in JCB's signature yellow and black. But the livery isn't the only change – it's now encased in heavy-duty plastic and rubber, with extra buffers to easily withstand a few dates with the cement mixer.
But it's also relative lightweight for a bruiser. Moving parts are minimal, and the flaps protecting the charging and headset connections are durable and watertight. Similarly, nothing will get past the battery cover, locked into place by a screw.
We gave the Toughphone one hell of a pounding and it impressively absorbed all the hits. Sure, it's not going to handle being submerged in deep water, but it can take a blast from a pressure washer or a paddle in a shallow puddle on the chin.