Buy Sonim phones
Sonim phones are built for jobs where an ordinary smartphone wouldn’t last long: construction, engineering, agriculture and healthcare. The brand specialises in robust devices, ranging from a simple work phone to a fully-fledged robust smartphone running Android. This overview lists all the Sonim models we’re comparing, with the current prices from all providers side by side. We don’t earn more from one brand or device than another, so the order does not reflect our preference. Use the filters to compare the models side by side.
What should you look out for in a Sonim phone?
First, choose the type of device. Sonim offers both a basic business phone and an Android smartphone, and the difference between them is greater than their shared rugged casing might suggest. Next, look at the certifications, weight, warranty and user interface.
Work phone or Android smartphone
The two models in this overview are designed for different situations.
- Sonim XP100: a compact business phone with a small colour screen, a torch and dual SIM. Designed for making calls and sending text messages, with no app store. A smaller screen also means fewer parts that can break.
- Sonim XP400: Android smartphone with a 6.5-inch screen, NFC and programmable buttons. For those who also fill in forms, take photos or use navigation whilst out and about.
Not sure? Take a look at your working day. If you mainly make calls and send texts, and want to have battery left at the end of the day, then the work phone is sufficient. If you need software from your employer whilst on the move, then the smartphone is the only option of the two.
Certifications: what IP and MIL-STD do and don’t mean
Both Sonim models carry the same set of certifications: IP68, IPX9K and MIL-STD-810H. IP68 means dust-tight and resistant to immersion. IPX9K goes a step further and refers to a jet of hot water under high pressure – exactly what a device has to endure when it’s hosed down at the end of the day.
MIL-STD-810H sounds more rigorous but is actually less specific. The IP rating specifies the test method, although with IP68, the manufacturer itself determines the depth and duration of the test. MIL-STD-810H offers even greater flexibility: it is a collection of test methods from which the manufacturer chooses which to carry out and under what conditions. Two devices with the same MIL-STD designation may therefore have passed different tests.
What you sacrifice for ruggedness
Robust means heavy. The Sonim XP400 weighs 230 grams, and you can really feel that in your pocket and on your belt. On the other hand, it has a 5000 mAh battery, which is designed to last a full working day. You cannot replace the Sonim XP100’s battery yourself, so carrying a spare battery isn’t an option with that model.
Take a realistic look at the rest of the hardware too. The XP400 runs on a Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 with 6 GB of RAM: entry-level to mid-range. Here, you’re paying for the casing and the certification, not for processing power or camera quality. Anyone primarily looking for speed or photography would be better off with a standard smartphone.
Warranty and operation
Sonim states that it offers a three-year manufacturer’s warranty on the XP400. That’s longer than the manufacturer’s warranty offered by most other manufacturers. In addition, you have a statutory warranty, which isn’t tied to a fixed period but depends on what you can reasonably expect from a product.
When it comes to operation, look out for physical buttons. A programmable button that you can press whilst wearing gloves is more practical on the work floor than an icon on a touchscreen, especially with wet or dirty fingers.
Still not sure whether you need a brand-specific work phone? Then take a look at the wider range of rugged phones or, if you’re mainly looking for simplicity, the feature phones.
