Kyocera's tough DuraForce doesn't shy away from water (pictures)

Currently available from AT&T for $50 on-contract and $399 without, the Kyocera DuraForce is a 4.5-inch rugged and water resistant handset that runs Android 4.4.2 KitKat. It's also powered by a 1.4GHz Snapdragon 400 quad-core processor from Qualcomm, and a 3,100mAh non-removable battery.

Sporting an industrial aesthetic, the smartphone is encased with thick plastic and rubber. measures 5.39 inches tall, 2.78 inches wide and 0.55 inch thick. Because of its ruggedness, the device is heftier than most handsets (7.06 ounces to be exact), but doesn't feel any more heavier than, say, a regular smartphone inside a rugged case like an OtterBox. In either case, don't expect it to comfortably inside your jean pockets.

On the left of the handset are a volume rocker and a convenient programmable button outlined in red that you can customize to launch any app like the camera, the flashlight (which is useful for outdoor activities) or the carrier's push-to-talk service.

The DuraForce is dust-, shock- and waterproof. It is waterproof under the IPX5 standard, meaning it can survive in up to 6 feet of water for 30 minutes.

The device isn't functional underwater, and water shouldn't get into its internals. Before taking it for a dip, you'll need to make sure that its ports (like the headphone port on the top edge) are correctly and securely sealed beforehand.

Both the front-facing and 8-megapixel camera have several editing tools, like digital zoom, five types of white balances, and four shooting modes (like continuous shooting and color effect, the latter of which enables users to pick from 24 filters for the camera).

To emphasize the outdoorsiness of the DuraForce, Kyocera loaded useful tools for those with active lifestyles. There's a widget with with shortcuts to the compass, the barometer (which measures your altitude and atmospheric pressure), the flashlight, the GPS, and more. For more about Kyocera devices, check out our list here.