Doogee S98 Pro review

Finest Costs Right now: Doogee S98 Professional

Doogee makes fashionable rugged telephones and the S98 Professional is the most recent mannequin. It’s cumbersome and calls to thoughts what science-fiction films from the 90s would have imagined a smartphone to seem like.

It presents strong efficiency, good battery life, and an impressively vivid show – even whether it is an LCD. It’s additionally impressively constructed, with a troublesome outer shell and a Gorilla Glass show.

Then there are its cameras. The usual 48Mp sensor is sharp sufficient, however the extra night time imaginative and prescient one is nice – and can be utilized for thermal imaging, too.

If all of this sounds good to you, then you definately’ll be happy to know that at round £350/$439, the Doogee S98 Professional is impressively inexpensive, and it ought to final you some time too since, not solely is it powerful, it’s operating Android 12 proper out of the field.

Design & Construct

• 15.5mm
• 320g
• IP68 and IP69K safety rankings

The Doogee S98 Professional seems to be an terrible lot just like the S98 that launched earlier this 12 months – it’s cumbersome, with a ridged again that makes it surprisingly comfy to carry with one hand. On the again, you’ll discover a 48Mp important digicam and a 20Mp Evening Imaginative and prescient digicam, each from Sony, positioned centrally. Doogee says it’s alien-inspired design options the digicam bump because the alien’s head and the lenses because the eyes.

It’s additionally obtained a sizeable 6.3in LCD show with a ‘teardrop’ digicam notch on the high that homes a 16Mp snapper that helps facial recognition. Whereas the bezels are fairly skinny, the ridges across the show’s edges make it powerful to note, whereas there’s a refined hexagonal form to the telephone’s outer case.

Lloyde Coombes /Foundry

On the left-hand aspect, there’s SIM card slot with room for added storage, in addition to a customisable button that’s raised barely and simple to seek out whichever method you’re holding the telephone. On the suitable, there’s a quantity rocker, a lock/sleep button that doubles because the on/off button, and a refined fingerprint scanner if you happen to’d desire that to unlock together with your face (for instance, if you happen to’re usually carrying a masks).

On the underside, there’s a flap that’s fairly powerful to get into (which is type of the purpose), with a USB-C port inside. All of this, mixed with one thing Doogee calls an “anti-explosion movie” helps the S98 Professional hit the water and dust-proof score of IP68 and IP69K – the best score you will get together with safety in opposition to high-temperature stress jets.

Curiously, although, the telephone comes bundled with a further case that covers the corners and never lots else. That might be a sign that it’s maybe not as powerful in these spots, however I wasn’t about to throw it in opposition to a wall.

It’s no shock that the S98 Professional is thick and heavy, however among the weight is as a result of large 6000mAh battery – extra on that later. Nonetheless, 320g is a good quantity lighter than the Doogee S88 Professional.

Display screen & Audio system

• 6.3in LCD
• 2400×1080
• Mono speaker

Whereas we’ve seen extra inexpensive telephones stretch to as huge as 6.7in shows, the 6.3-inch panel on the S98 Professional is a lot better than you’d discover on the likes of the Moto G22.

It’s impressively vivid at 480 nits, even in direct daylight, and it’s nice for watching films or TV exhibits – I loved an episode of Kenobi on it simply wonderful, with the Full HD+ decision feeling excellent for a telephone at this value level. Viewing angles are first rate, too, helped by strong distinction, and whereas that is an LCD display screen versus an OLED one, it by no means feels too uninteresting. There’s a pixel density of 409ppi, which really will get it near iPhone 13 Professional ranges, too.

You’ll additionally must be pleased with a normal 60Hz refresh fee right here as Doogee hasn’t been capable of match something larger for the value right here.

Lloyde Coombes /Foundry

It’s additionally value noting that, in step with its “rugged” ambitions, the display screen consists of Corning Gorilla Glass which makes it a troublesome buyer – although Doogee doesn’t state what model. I selected not to take a hammer or something just like my assessment unit, however between the strengthened glass and the sizeable ridges that encompass the show, it’s good to know that the S98 Professional will probably be powerful sufficient to tackle regardless of the world throws at it.

The truth is, the one concern I’ve with utilizing the S98 Professional as a multimedia system is that it lacks stereo audio system, though I do concede that the audio system it does have, on the backside, are loads loud and provide a strong soundstage.

Specs & Efficiency

• MediaTek Helio G96
• 8GB RAM
• 256GB storage

Typically, when a telephone is designed for a really particular market (say, customers that want their telephone to be shielded from the weather), efficiency can undergo as producers take a ‘that’ll do’ method. I’m very happy to report that the S98 Professional just isn’t such a case, and presents genuinely good efficiency due to its 8-core Helio G96 processor, as discovered within the Infinix Notice 12 G96.

Lloyde Coombes /Foundry

I ran our normal sequence of benchmarks and hit a multi-core rating on Geekbench 5 of 1690 – it’s not flagship materials, but it surely’ll run a strong variety of apps directly, backed up by 8GB of RAM.

GFX Bench assessments supplied equally strong, if unspectacular, outcomes, however if you happen to’re utilizing inventory Google apps or flicking by way of photographs you’ll get pleasure from a fairly easy efficiency.

I did get some stutter when taking part in the most recent Diablo Immortal launch, although, so hardcore avid gamers will wish to look elsewhere. Apparently, the Doogee presents a Sport Turbo app that may assist eke out extra efficiency.

Should you preserve a variety of photographs and recordsdata in your system, although, you’ll be happy to know that there’s 256GB of built-in storage, in addition to assist for added storage as much as 512GB through a microSD card (not included).

Cameras

• 48Mp important digicam
• 20Mp night time imaginative and prescient digicam
• Thermal imaging digicam
• 16Mp selfie digicam

Firstly, an apology – when heading out to check the S98 Professional’s cameras, I didn’t realise that there was a (weird) setting that added a Doogee watermark to every picture till I used to be wanting again at them the subsequent day. Contemplate this a observe to any potential purchaser to deactivate that within the settings instantly.

Nonetheless, when you recover from that caveat, there’s lots to love right here. The principle digicam presents HDR assist, whereas the night time imaginative and prescient digicam is right if you happen to’re searching for, properly, night time imaginative and prescient in your telephone. 

Lloyde Coombes /Foundry

Mid-range telephones can usually be undone by extra advanced gentle, such because the picture of the figurine within the shadow of a room, however right here, the S98 Professional adjusts properly whereas sustaining element. It could actually, nevertheless, have somewhat hassle discovering focus within the foreground, as proven by the picture of the figurine in entrance of the art work.

Element may be a problem with zoomed-in photographs, although, as you may see from the picture of the seagull the place its face is totally obscured.

The selfie digicam is strong, too, and picks up loads of element in common lighting situations. The portrait mode is likely one of the higher ones I’ve utilized in latest months on the subject of noting hair and ears, however the exterior background does get somewhat too blurred for my style.

As for Evening Imaginative and prescient, it’s glorious right here and easily exhibits up within the digicam menu alongside your whole extra commonplace choices. As you may see from the dusty keyboard I discovered in the back of a really darkish cabinet, there’s a powerful quantity of element proven in photographs.

Then there’s thermal imaging, which is accessed by way of a separate InfiRay app. As you may see, it’ll not solely spotlight the temperature of one thing, but it surely’ll mark it, too – I had no thought how heat my laptop computer’s docking station was getting!

Battery Life & Charging

• 6000mAh cell
• 33W PD quick charging
• Adapter included
• 15W wi-fi charging

I took the Doogee on a number of lengthy walks to snap photographs, used it as a method to meet up with social media and electronic mail, and performed video games on it and it gave me simply over two days of battery life.

That’s due to its large 6000mAh battery, but in addition seemingly all the way down to a scarcity of 5G assist in addition to an LCD display screen. Doogee says it will possibly last as long as three days, and with rather less taking part in round with the thermal digicam, I obtained to round two and a half days with ease.

Lloyde Coombes /Foundry

Our normal PC Mark Work 3.0 check hit 13 hours and 33 minutes, which appears somewhat low contemplating the big capability right here and within the common mid-range promote it’s strong however rivals just like the Nokia XR20 and Motorola Defy went for much longer on this check (see the benchmark chart above).

Quick-charging is supported, too, so you may high that sizeable battery up comparatively rapidly. I obtained it to only over 20% in quarter-hour, and 46% in half an hour. The charger within the field is a 33W PD (energy supply) fast-charger. There’s additionally wi-fi charging at a slower 15W velocity, however that is uncommon for the mid-range.

Software program & Apps

• Android 12
• A couple of Doogee additions

The Doogee S98 Professional presents Android 12 as commonplace, that means you’ll get entry to all of Google’s newest OS goodness, together with the customisation options.

As you’d count on, all of Google’s inventory apps are right here, in addition to Google Assistant, and all the pieces is good and responsive all through. The truth is, the one place we noticed even a modicum of slowdown was when opening the digicam app,

In step with its rugged ambitions, there’s an app bundle referred to as Out of doors Toolkit that features a compass, alarm, protractor, and extra, making it a helpful system to have on a toolbelt. Except for that and the aforementioned Sport Turbo app, there’s little in the best way of bloat right here.

Lloyde Coombes /Foundry

There’s additionally the choice to cover or present the software program “navigation” buttons on the backside of the display screen. I used to be wonderful toggling them off, however many customers will undoubtedly wish to preserve them on the display screen for fast entry to the house display screen. As with all fashionable Android telephone, you may change to gesture-based controls, too, so {that a} swipe brings you to your own home display screen whereas holding opens multitasking.

Doogee doesn’t make any guarantees about OS updates however I think about the telephone will not less than get Android 13.

Value & Availability

The S98 Professional is rolling out globally with a value of US$439.99. It’s solely obtainable in black and you should purchase it from Doogeemall for that RRP, although it says it’s $160 off which doesn’t match with the RRP given to us.

The telephone can also be obtainable through AliExpress for round £350, which is slighter cheaper if you happen to convert the $439.99. The common S98 is on the market from Amazon UK so hopefully the Professional will probably be added quickly.

Take a look at extra choices in our chart of the very best rugged telephones.

Verdict

Doogee’s S98 Professional is a wonderful choice for anybody searching for a telephone that’s powerful sufficient to face up to water, mud, and the rest thrown at it (possibly even explosions), but it surely’s additionally far more than that.

It’s an excellent Android 12 system with some very cool cameras, spectacular battery life, and a vivid show, and it’s simple to advocate at this value level – so long as you don’t want 5G.

Specs

• Android 12
• 6.3in LCD, Full HD+ (2340×1080), 60Hz
• MediaTek Helio G96 octa-core processor
• 8GB RAM
• 256GB UFS 2.2 strorage
• MicroSD card slot (as much as 512GB)
• 48Mp important, f/1.8, Sony IMX582
• 20Mp night time imaginative and prescient, f/1.8, Sony IMX350
• Thermal digicam
• 16Mp entrance digicam, f/2, Samsung S5K3P9SP
• Facet mounted fingerprint scanner
• 11ac dual-band Wi-Fi
• 3G/4G
• Bluetooth 5.1
• NFC
• GPS
• USB-C
• 6000mAh battery
• 33W charging
• 15W wi-fi charging
• 172 x 82 x 15.5mm
• 320g
• IP68/IP69K
• Traditional black