
Blackview has been making a reputation for itself within the rugged smartphone marketplace for some years now, releasing Android units that stand as much as the form of use and abuse that will destroy your high-end Samsung or Google handset.
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In case you want a handset that may stand up to drops onto concrete or dips into water, Blackview is unquestionably an organization to check out.
And Blackview has a brand new handset out — the BV8900.
Blackview BV8900 tech specs
- CPU: MTK Helio P90, Octa core processor with, 2 x A75 2.2GHz core and 6 x A55 2.0GHz cores
- OS: Android 13.0
- Show: 6.5-inch FHD+ IPS 1080 x 2400 decision with Corning Gorilla Glass 7
- RAM: 8GB+ 8GB RAM Enlargement
- ROM: 256GB + 1TB enlargement
- Rear Digital camera: 64 megapixel + 5 megapixel + thermal imaging by FLIR
- Entrance Digital camera: 16 megapixel
- Battery: 10380mAh with 33W quick charging
- SIM: Twin SIM Card or 1x SIM Card & 1x TF/SD Card
- Navigation: GPS, Glonass, Beidou, Galileo
- Biometrics: Fingerprint and Face ID
- Different Options: OTG, FM, NFC, Google Play
- Ruggedness Certification: MIL-STD-810H + IP68/IP69K.
Externally, the BV8900 seems like a variety of different rugged smartphones (which, in flip, seem like most different smartphones, solely a bit extra chunky).
It is a large, chunky slab of glass and rubber. And that rubber is there for a motive.
The BV8900 is rated to IP68, IP69K, and MIL-STD-810H, which signifies that it will possibly stand up to drops from heights as much as 6 ft, can survive submersion in 4 ft of water for as much as half-hour, and is totally shielded from mud and sand ingress.
Every thing is protected against detritus, even the SIM tray — which incorporates a very nice silicone seal.
Good silicone seal on the SIM tray
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
However these are widespread options on these sorts of smartphones.
What’s it that units the Blackview BV8900 aside from the myriad of different rugged smartphones on the market?
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First off, this one runs Android 13. That is refreshing, as so many appear to run Android 12, and even 11. For instance, the large Doogee S100 Pro — an absolute brick of a smartphone with a ginormous 22000mAh battery — runs Android 12.
From a future-proofing standpoint, it is good for a smartphone to be operating the most recent launch of Android.
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Then there’s the no-compromise design. This telephone has all of it — it is rugged, and has a built-in thermal digital camera and night time imaginative and prescient. Common readers will know that I completely love thermal cameras and carry on discovering all types of makes use of for the superpower of having the ability to see warmth.
When you begin to have a look at the world utilizing thermal imaginative and prescient, you will be turning to this superpower on a regular basis.
The BV8900 has a formidable digital camera array that features a FLIR Lepton thermal digital camera
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
This telephone additionally comes with a passive night time imaginative and prescient digital camera — there are not any infrared LEDs on the handset to supply a flood of invisible mild — however it nonetheless works nice for issues like peering into darkish cellars or attics.
I am not an enormous fan of night time imaginative and prescient. The truth that the telephone additionally has a flashlight makes the night time imaginative and prescient characteristic really feel like a little bit of a gimmick. That stated, with the BV8900, you do not have to decide on between one or the opposite.
However the whole lot else — the general efficiency, the standard of the cameras and show — is greater than acceptable for the value.
The BV8900 is chunky within the hand, however not too chunky.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
This brings us to the value — the BV8900 has a retail price ticket of $450.
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At that worth, this is among the most cost-effective thermal imaging smartphones you should purchase. In truth, an add-on InfiRay P2 Pro thermal camera for Android smartphones will alone set you again $300!
In case you’re on the lookout for an Android telephone with thermal functionality in-built, this telephone deserves a re-assessment.