'Heavy' handset challenges all comers to prove its mettle

Antennas at dawn

Handset manufacturer Sonim is so confident of its "indestructible" XP1 handset’s anti-smash capabilities that it’s inviting people to come and have a go if they think they’re hard enough.

Sonim's XP1: the Captain Scarlet of mobile phones?

The phone has apparently been engendered to meet the needs of extreme sports enthusiasts and people who don’t work in cosy offices.

Sonim's taking the tri-band GSM phone on global tour of toughness, stopping at construction sites and DIY stores to demonstrate the device’s mettle. It claims the XP1 can withstand pretty much all the world’s harshest environments, tweaking the nose of shock, water, wind, dust, dirt and extreme temperatures.

The phone can supposedly survive a 1.65m drop onto concrete and works at temperatures between -20°C and +60°C, but we imagine it’s still best served at room temperature. It also has two loudspeakers, Bluetooth connectivity and a scratch resistant 128 x 150 display capable of displaying 65,536 colours. Polyphonic ringtones are supported too.

A three-year unconditional warranty’s also thrown in with the handset, but we’re sure you won’t need that. Should a passing elephant step on the XP1, a lifetime casing guarantee is included too.

The Sonim XP1 is available now for around £250 (€380/$500).