Phonemax R4GT rugged phone review

When it comes to rugged phones, Phonemax's latest update to the R4 tough smartphone is stands out despite it's compact size. 

But in the field of best rugged phones and durable devices which makes this a strong option for outdoor and on-site professionals? 

Phonemax R4GT: Price & availability

• How much does it cost? Starting from £171 / $219
• When is it out? Available now
• Where can you get it? You can get it directly from Phonemax Website

The Phonemax R4GT is widely available and can be purchased directly from the Phonemax website or major retailers like Amazon and AliExpress.

Availability and prices may vary based on the retailer and region, but it's currently available on the Phonemax website by clicking here. You can also find it on Amazon US, Amazon UK, and other online stores.

• Value: 4 / 5

Phonemax R4GT: Specifications

Phonemax R4GT: Design

The Phonemax R4GT is designed as an ultra-tough phone and features a solid outer casing with rubberized corners and edges to help protect from drops and bashes. The phones stands out due to its compact size measuring in at 121 x 59.2 x 18.3 mm and weighing just 190g, making it one of the lightest rugged smartphones out there.

The front houses a 4.3-inch screen with a 540 x 1200 resolution, and a 13MP front-facing camera. On the back, it features a thermal imaging camera (256 x 192 pixels), a 64MP AF main camera, and a 20MP night vision sensor for low-light photography.

One useful feature is the dual SIM slot, allowing two numbers or a SIM and microSD card for expanded storage. Both the Dual Sim slot and the USB Type-C port on the base of the phone are covered by push fit rubber flaps that when in position are flush to the body of the phone and ensure that it's fully water and dust tight.

Physically in size and weight, the R4GT is compact, ideal for hikers, mountain bikers, or outdoor enthusiasts who need a phone that can withstand water, dust, and rough environments without the bulk of larger rugged devices. This size also means that it fits easily into any jacket pocket or backpack without adding too much bulk or weight which is important if you're travelling light.

To ensure that the phone withstands all enviroments and pretty much anything that you throw at it it comes certified with IP68, IP69K, and MIL-STD-810H.

• Design: 4 / 5

Phonemax R4GT: Features

• Thermal camera
• Night vision camera
• Android 14

Many of the key features of the Phonemax R4GT are centered around its compact size, making it easy to carry alongside other kit you'll need on the trail. At 190g, it’s only slightly heavier than larger smart phones such as the iPhone 6 which weighs in at 170g, but doesn’t have the bulk of most other tough phone such as the Doogee VMAX Plus which weighs in at 541g.

The small 4.3-inch touch screen covers most of the front space on the phone, but does feature quite a deep bezel due to the reinforced case. Inside the phone packs a decent amount of processing power with a MediaTek Helio G99 (2.2GHz) processor, Mali-G57 MC2 GPU, 8GB RAM, and 128GB storage (expandable up to 512GB with a microSD card) and running Android 14.

Power is supplied from a 3200mAh battery that can support 18W fast charging and 15W wireless charging. On the base of the phone is a USB Type-C port for charging and data transfer when needed.

The front 13MP camera is ideal for video calls, while the back offers three cameras: a thermal imaging camera, a 64MP main camera, and a 20MP night vision sensor. 

Additional features include Face ID, NFC, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 5, and OTG support. The phone also offers comprehensive satellite navigation systems with GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, and Galileo. However, it only supports 4G, 3G and 2G networks, so there’s no 5G compatibility.

• Features: 4 / 5

Phonemax R4GT: Performance

• Ultra compact
• Dual SIM option

The Phonemax R4GT is an interesting phone because it breaks from the conventions of most  smartphones, and even from rugged phones, by being far smaller and more compact.

When testing the R4GT, several factors need to be investigated. Firstly, can it function like a standard smartphone? Will it make calls, and how fiddly is the small screen? Can you really get by with a keyboard that fits into the compact 4.3-inch screen and do the apps downscale properly, so they usable at this size?

Then there are the outdoor credentials: how tough is it and can it withstand everything tough larger phones can handle?

Finally, there are all the additional features, including the thermal camera, night vision camera, and, of course, the quick-access walkie-talkie function, which enables you to connect to others when networks are unavailable.

In the first part of this test, we looked at how easily we could access the internet, send texts, make and answer calls, and check work documents using Google apps. There's no doubt that the small screen makes things a little more difficult than the larger screens. However, it’s bright, clear, and crisp, so navigating web pages, documents, and apps is relatively easy—just on a smaller scale.

Streaming from BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and Netflix worked perfectly. The R4GT has a decent amount of processing power for video and multimedia playback. However, it's worth noting that this phone doesn’t have the GPU power for graphic-intensive games, though that’s not what the phone is designed for.

Using the phone to update Google Docs was tricky and while documents can be easily viewed on the small screen, the limited screen real estate and the need to delicately tap around can make tasks like editing more difficult especially with larger fingers. The small keyboard is surprisingly responsive and accurate for checking documents, writing emails, texting, or responding to WhatsApp messages and after some time, you get used to the small keypad.

When it comes to day-to-day use, the R4GT works like any other smartphone, just on a much smaller scale. It doesn’t have the GPU grunt that some of the other rugged smartphones have when it comes to more graphic-intensive work. However, for day-to-day use, and especially if you’re out in the field, enjoying the view, or adventuring, this smartphone does exactly what you need it to do.

Of course, this is a tough phone designed to withstand the elements and to keep everything protected the body has rubber flaps covering the ports, such as the USB Type-C on the base and the SIM card carrier on the side. The phone overall feels well-made and extremely robust. During testing, the phone was dropped from a height, submerged in water, and generally thrown around without any issues or negative effects on the phone’s performance.

In the next part of the test, we focused on the more unique features of the phone and started with the thermal imaging and night vision cameras to see how they performed. The thermal camera works through the Thermal Imaging app, and once loaded, it gives you access to all the features you would expect with thermal imaging. The heat map appears on the screen, allowing you to see heat signatures, even in dark conditions.

If you’ve never used a thermal imaging camera before, what it picks up can be surprising. Scanning around, you can immediately spot any animals hiding in the bushes, which is highly impressive considering the phone’s size and relative simplicity. The only issue is that the camera sometimes recalibrates, so the thermal imaging pauses for a few seconds before the image updates. This could be due to processing power limitations. While most apps run smoothly, benchmarking tests suggest it doesn’t have a huge amount of processing power.

Next, we tested the fast-access walkie-talkie feature, which uses the Zello software. This function takes a bit of setup and requires that everyone in your group has the app installed and is set up to join the same group. It’s worth noting that this app isn’t free—you only get a 14-day trial before needing to subscribe. However, once everyone is connected, the application works very well. Whether you're connecting through Wi-Fi or cellular networks, you can use the walkie-talkie feature as if you were using dedicated devices. It’s a lot of fun, especially if you're on a hike, as the group can all communicate at once without the need to connect via traditional phone lines.

Overall, in terms of performance, the R4GT is relatively good. It allows you to browse the internet, use apps, and view documents online without much trouble. It’s limited by its 4G connectivity, but this is more than adequate in most situations, whether you're streaming media, accessing your email, or sending text messages.

When it comes to durability, the R4GT stands out. The only thing to note is that you must make sure all the flaps are properly covering the ports, as these are only push-fit. Once they’re properly in place, it’s difficult to knock them out accidentally, and they blend seamlessly with the phone’s design and body.

• Performance: 3 / 5

Phonemax R4GT: Final verdict

The design and build quality of the Phonemax instantly makes it stand out especially with the neon green detailing around the screen. While other rugged smartphones are ideal for the great outdoors, their size and weight often make them prohibitive for certain activities. However, with the R4GT, you have the perfect weekend or activity phone. Whether you’re mountain biking or hiking, and don’t want to risk damaging your expensive smartphone, or if you know you're going to get wet or face tough weather conditions, this phone will see you through what might damage other phones. Likewise this toughness along with the thermal imaging camera will also mean that it will appeal to those working in trades. 

The small size of the R4GT means that it's easy to slip into a jacket or backpack pocket without adding too much weight or bulk. Then, theres all those extra features such as the night vision camera lets you see the wildlife that would otherwise go unnoticed, while the thermal imaging camera allows you to capture impressive heat signatures, great if you're a wildlife photographer for locating subjects or in a trade and needing to see the heat signature of piping or wires.

When it comes to processing performance, camera quality, and overall usability, it’s a mid-range phone. However, when you focus on the type of user this phone is aimed at, it offers the right balance of performance and features. This makes it an appealing choice for anyone looking for a solid-performing outdoor phone.

Should you buy the Phonemax R4GT?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

For more durable devices, we reviewed the best rugged laptops, best rugged tablets, and the best rugged hard drives