Here's a stylish but basic rugged phone that's unique for its travel savvy, giving you an easy way to place and receive calls all over the globe.
Jessica Dolcourt
Jessica Dolcourt is a passionate content strategist and veteran leader of CNET coverage. As Senior Director of Commerce & Content Operations, she leads a number of teams, including Commerce, How-To and Performance Optimization. Her CNET career began in 2006, testing desktop and mobile software for Download.com and CNET, including the first iPhone and Android apps and operating systems. She continued to review, report on and write a wide range of commentary and analysis on all things phones, with an emphasis on iPhone and Samsung. Jessica was one of the first people in the world to test, review and report on foldable phones and 5G wireless speeds.
Jessica began leading CNET's How-To section for tips and FAQs in 2019, guiding coverage of topics ranging from personal finance to phones and home. She holds an MA with Distinction from the University of Warwick (UK).
The worldly National Geographic Xplorer isn't just a cell phone. Tucked under the rugged back cover is a SIM card capable of giving you both a U.S. and a UK phone number for your international travel.
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Rugged
Branded as part of the National Geographic family, the Xplorer has a distinctively rugged theme, from the baked-in loop on top for tying the phone to your pack, to the rubberized buttons on the dialpad.
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Style
The Xplorer also manages to be stylish in a sporty way, with red racing stripes up the spines.
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Locked in
To keep out dust, water, and other environmental extras, the Xplorer locks its battery (and its MicroSD card slot) behind a screwed-in back cover. A small coin is all you need to unlock it.
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Side view
See these bumps on the Xplorer's left spine? These belong to the volume rocker, and to the quite bright flashlight (torch) that sits on top of the phone.
