Land Rover Is Making A Rugged Android Smartphone

Smartphone makers, at large, are striving for sleeker phones. With wireless charging gaining more attention, it appears that a glass build will be more prominent in the coming months. Although an IP67 or IP68 rating has become more of a necessity in flagship devices nowadays, these phones are not meant rugged use by any means.

In comes Land Rover, a company known for making outdoorsy cars aimed at people who like the luxury. Land Rover has confirmed that it will soon launch a smartphone aimed at people who like outdoor life. The carmaker has teamed up with Bullitt Group, the same company that makes rugged CAT phones like the S60.

CAT phones are some of the most rugged Android smartphones on the market. They even have features like a thermal camera. So, going with Bullitt Group does seem like an appropriate choice for Land Rover to make rugged smartphones. The smartphone is called Land Rover Explorer and will be launched at MWC 2017. While there were no details ousted about the device, it will be available for order in  April.

One of the most differentiating features of the Land Rover Explorer is its modularity. Similar to the Moto Z family, you will be able to slap on a mod to increase the functionality of the device. The most talked-about mod is the Adventure Pack, which adds a powerful GPS antenna, extra battery life, and an AR viewfinder for navigating in the wilderness.

So far, the price of the smartphone has been revealed for the UK and European markets. It will be priced at €649 or £599 depending on the region. No details about the device’s global availability were made public. With its launch just a few weeks away, more details are expected to be announced at MWC 2018.