Rugged Cat S41 charges dying phones, take pics underwater

This Android handset is anything but boring.

Jessica Dolcourt Senior Director, Commerce & Content Operations

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).

Expertise Content strategy, team leadership, audience engagement, iPhone, Samsung, Android, iOS, tips and FAQs.

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Jessica Dolcourt

Jan. 10, 2018 2:20 p.m. PT

If you live a rough-and-tumble kind of lifestyle, the Cat S41 is a rugged phone with some genuinely interesting features.

First, this thing looks like it's built like a tank. It's heavy, thick, and is drop-proof for up to 6 feet, ot 1.8 meters. It's also fully waterproof. You can dunk it for 6.5 feet, or 2 meters, for up to an hour. It's resistant to shock, dust, vibration, humidity, the whole 9 shebang.

In fact, Cat is so confident in the phone's badassery that it included an underwater camera mode, so you can snap shots with the phone fully submerged. Most phones can't do that reliably, even if they're water-resistant. And if you're wearing gloves or your hands are wet, no problem. Cat promises the screen won't wig out on you.

The Cat S41 phone is built like a tank

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But maybe the best thing about this phone is that you can use its enormous 5,000mAh battery to charge another phone -- say your buddy needs a top up and you have plenty to spare. You can even set a limit so the other phone doesn't go all vampire-like and suck down all your battery reserves.

It's not going to be the highest-end phone ever; that's not really its job. You do get a 5-inch display, a 13MP camera, and an 8MP front-facing camera. There's 32GB of internal storage and Android Nougat software onboard.

Announced in October, you can buy it in the US for $449 from Amazon, Best Buy, New Egg, B&H and Catphones.com.