Rugged phones are built to withstand the harshest conditions, appealing to adventurers, construction workers, and anyone needing a durable device. Today, we pit two contenders against each other: the Blackview BV7200 and the Cat S42 H+. Let's see which one emerges as the champion.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Blackview BV7200 clearly wins in terms of performance thanks to its significantly more powerful Helio G85 chipset. While the Cat S42 H+ offers a more established brand and potentially better software support, the BV7200 provides a superior user experience for most tasks.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 40 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 14, 17, 25, 26, 41, 66, 71 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE-A (2CA) Cat6 300/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, October 26 | 2021, April 20 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, November 01 | Available. Released 2021, April 20 |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 165.3 x 81.6 x 16 mm (6.51 x 3.21 x 0.63 in) | 161.3 x 77.2 x 12.7 mm (6.35 x 3.04 x 0.5 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| Weight | 288 g (10.16 oz) | 220 g (7.76 oz) |
| | IP68/IP69K dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Drop-to-concrete resistance from up to 1.8m
MIL-STD-810H compliant | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1560 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~282 ppi density) | 720 x 1440 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~293 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.1 inches, 91.3 cm2 (~67.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.5 inches, 78.1 cm2 (~62.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) | Quad-core 1.8 GHz Cortex-A53 |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6769Z Helio G85 (12 nm) | Mediatek MT6761D Helio A20 (12 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G52 MC2 | PowerVR GE8320 |
| OS | Android 12, Doke-OS 3.0 | Android 10, planned upgrade to Android 11 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM | 32GB 3GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF
8 MP, 117˚ (ultrawide) | - |
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/4", 1.12µm | 13 MP, f/2.0, (wide), PDAF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 5 MP |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | - |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | - |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C, OTG | microUSB 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), gyro, accelerometer, compass, barometer | Accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired
2.5W reverse wired | - |
| Type | 5180 mAh | Li-Ion 4200 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Orange, Green | Black |
| Price | About 250 EUR | $ 249.87 / C$ 298.00 / £ 182.00 / € 188.58 |
Blackview BV7200
- Significantly better performance
- Larger battery capacity
- Reverse wired charging
- Potentially better camera
- Larger screen
- Less established brand
- Potentially shorter software support
- Design may be less refined
Cat S42 H+
- Established brand reputation
- Potentially longer software support
- More compact size
- IP68/IP69K rating (likely)
- Significantly slower performance
- Smaller battery
- Less impressive camera
- Slower charging
Display Comparison
Both phones feature relatively standard displays for rugged devices. The BV7200 likely has a slightly brighter display due to its higher resolution, but both are designed for outdoor visibility. Expect decent color accuracy but not flagship-level quality. The BV7200 likely has a larger screen size.
Camera Comparison
The BV7200 likely boasts a more capable camera system, potentially with higher resolution sensors and more advanced features. Expect better image quality, especially in low-light conditions. The Cat S42 H+'s camera is adequate for basic photography but won't impress.
Performance
This is where the BV7200 shines. The Helio G85 is a substantial upgrade over the Helio A20. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the BV7200. The Cat S42 H+ will feel noticeably slower, especially with demanding apps.
Battery Life
The BV7200 has a larger battery capacity and supports 18W charging, including reverse charging. The Cat S42 H+ has a smaller battery and slower charging speeds. Expect significantly longer battery life from the BV7200.
Buying Guide
The Blackview BV7200 is ideal for users prioritizing performance and a larger battery. The Cat S42 H+ is a better choice for those who value brand recognition, potentially longer software support, and a slightly more compact form factor, even if it means sacrificing some power.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone is more durable?
Both phones are rugged and offer IP68/IP69K ratings, meaning they are dustproof and waterproof. The Cat S42 H+ has a stronger brand reputation for ruggedness, but the BV7200 is also built to withstand harsh conditions.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
The Cat S42 H+ likely has better software support due to Caterpillar's established brand and commitment to updates. Blackview's software support can be less consistent.
