Ultra-rugged Sonim XP Strike IS now available on Sprint
The Sonim XP Strike IS is a tough, Intrinsically Safe handset from Sprint.
Sprint quietly revealed its second ultra-tough Sonim handset with the XP Strike IS. Available for $599.99 after users sign a two-year contract (without an agreement, the price jumps to $1,099.99), the feature phone sports a hefty 1,960mAh battery and 2-inch QVGA screen.
Though Sonim devices are indeed tough-- this one can reportedly survive a 6.5-foot fall on concrete and a dunk under 6.5 feet of water for 30 minutes -- they are bulky, and the Strike IS is no different.
For example, its battery physically bulges in the back, and the phone tips the scales at 7.75 ounces.
However, what it loses in looks, the Strike IS gains in being Intrinsically Safe.
This is a safety standard which ensures that due to their low voltage and electrical energy output, certain electronic devices can still be used safely in explosive or flammable environments.
And because most consumers don't live in particularly explosive surroundings (though, wouldn't that be fun?), the Strike IS isn't targeted for mass-market appeal.
Instead, handsets such as these are often necessary for those working in the oil and gas industry. Such companies also sometimes ban the use of camera phones. As such, the Strike IS doesn't have one, either.
Other features include 256MB of RAM, Bluetooth, and Sprint's Direct Connect push-to-talk capabilities.
If you're interested in the Strike IS, but don't need its Intrinsically Safe feature, the more market-friendly XP Strike is currently going for $99.99. The phone still delivers the same ruggedness alongside a slimmer build.
Update, Friday at 6:24 p.m. PT: Additional information and context has been added about the phone's Intrinsically Safe feature, and the battery info has been corrected.