Cat S53 vs Cat S61: Which Rugged Phone Reigns Supreme?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Cat S61 generally offers a more robust experience with its faster processor and wired fast charging. However, the S53 boasts 5G connectivity and wireless charging, making it a compelling option for those prioritizing those features. Ultimately, the S61 provides better overall performance.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Cat S53 | Cat S61 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 - EU/ROW |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 - EU/ROW |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 41, 66, 77, 78 | - |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat12 600/150 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| - | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 25, 26, 28, 29, 66 - USA | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, July 19 | 2018, February. Released 2018, June |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, July 19 | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 171 x 81 x 16 mm (6.73 x 3.19 x 0.63 in) | 163 x 78 x 13 mm (6.42 x 3.07 x 0.51 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM (South Africa only)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 320 g (11.29 oz) | 250 g (8.82 oz) |
| IP68/IP69K dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 35 min) Drop-to-concrete resistance from up to 1.8m MIL-STD-810H compliant Dedicated flashlight | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 3m for 60 min) Drop-to-concrete resistance from up to 1.8m MIL-STD-810G compliant | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~424 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~73.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.2 inches, 74.5 cm2 (~58.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Kryo 460 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 460) | Octa-core 2.2 GHz Cortex-A53 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM4350 Snapdragon 480 5G (8 nm) | Qualcomm SDM630 Snapdragon 630 (14 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Adreno 508 |
| OS | Android 11 | Android 8.0 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 9.0 (Pie) |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide) 2 MP (macro) | - |
| Features | LED flash | Thermal imaging, heat palettes, temp. spot meter, dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0 | 16 MP, PDAF, FLIR thermal camera (Lepton module) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0 | 8 MP |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, SBAS |
| Radio | No | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, indoor air quality sensor |
| - | Laser-assisted distance measurement tool | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | Wireless | 18W wired, QC4 |
| Stand-by | - | Up to 888 h (3G) |
| Talk time | - | Up to 35 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Po 5500 mAh | Li-Ion 4500 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black | Black |
| Price | About 530 EUR | About 900 EUR |
Cat S53
- 5G Connectivity
- Wireless Charging
- Rugged Design
- Compact Size
- Lower Performance than S61
- Less Established Model
- Slower Charging (Wireless)
Cat S61
- Better Performance
- Larger Display
- Faster Wired Charging
- More Established Model
- Robust Build Quality
- No 5G
- No Wireless Charging
- Larger Size
Display Comparison
The Cat S61 typically features a larger display (5.7 inches) compared to the S53 (5.2 inches), offering more screen real estate. Both utilize durable displays, but the S61's larger size can be advantageous for media consumption and productivity. Both have similar resolutions, so pixel density is comparable.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature decent cameras for their class, but the S61 often has a slightly better camera system with improved image processing. Expect similar low-light performance, but the S61 might offer slightly more detail and dynamic range. Both are primarily designed for durability, not photography.
Performance
The Cat S61's Snapdragon 630 generally outperforms the S53's Snapdragon 480 5G in everyday tasks and demanding applications. The S61's Cortex-A53 cores are more efficient for sustained performance. While the S53 has 5G, the S61's overall processing power is superior.
Battery Life
The Cat S61 typically has a larger battery capacity (4000mAh) than the S53 (3800mAh), translating to longer battery life. The S61 also supports 18W wired charging, while the S53 offers wireless charging, which can be convenient but slower.
Buying Guide
The Cat S53 is ideal for users needing 5G connectivity and wireless charging in a rugged package, and who are less concerned with raw processing power. The Cat S61 is better suited for those prioritizing performance, a more established track record, and faster wired charging, especially in demanding work environments.