The rugged phone market caters to a specific need – durability. However, performance expectations vary wildly. We pit the Doogee CS1, a device focused on low-power connectivity, against the Cat S62 Pro, leveraging Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 660, to determine which offers the best balance of toughness and usability.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user needing a functional, responsive smartphone experience alongside ruggedness, the Cat S62 Pro is the clear winner. The Snapdragon 660 provides a significantly more capable platform than the Doogee CS1’s nRF52832, enabling smoother multitasking, app performance, and future-proofing.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | N/A | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | N/A | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | N/A | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40 |
| EDGE | No | - |
| GPRS | No | - |
| Speed | - | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat13 400/150 Mbps |
| Technology | No cellular connectivity | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, February | 2020, June 28. Released 2020, August 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, February | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), plastic back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 41.5 x 35.9 x 8.9 mm (1.63 x 1.41 x 0.35 in) | 158.5 x 76.7 x 11.9 mm (6.24 x 3.02 x 0.47 in) |
| SIM | No | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 45 g (1.59 oz) | 248 g (8.75 oz) |
| | - | IP68/IP69 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 35 mins)
Drop-to-concrete resistance from up to 1.8m
MIL-STD-810H compliant |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| Resolution | 240 x 240 pixels (~242 ppi density) | 1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~424 ppi density) |
| Size | 1.4 inches | 5.7 inches, 83.8 cm2 (~69.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | - | Octa-core (4x2.2 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) |
| Chipset | nRF52832 | Qualcomm SDM660 Snapdragon 660 (14 nm) |
| GPU | - | Adreno 512 |
| OS | Proprietary | Android 10 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | - | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 12 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF
FLIR thermal camera (Lepton 3.5 module) |
| Features | - | Thermal imaging, heat palettes, temp. spot meter, LED flash |
| Video | - | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | - | 8 MP |
| Video | - | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | No | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | No | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | FM radio |
| USB | No | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | No | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, heart rate | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Type | Li-Ion 200 mAh | Li-Ion 4000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Graphite Black, Space Gray | Black |
| Price | About 30 EUR | About 530 EUR |
Doogee CS1
- Extremely long standby time due to low-power chipset
- Ideal for IoT applications and asset tracking
- Potentially lower cost
- Limited smartphone functionality
- Poor app performance
- Unsuitable for demanding tasks
Cat S62 Pro
- Responsive and capable Snapdragon 660 processor
- Full Android smartphone experience
- Likely better camera system
- Shorter standby time compared to Doogee CS1
- Higher price point
- Potentially more susceptible to throttling under sustained load
Display Comparison
Display specifications are not provided for either device. However, given the Cat S62 Pro’s positioning as a more premium device, it likely features a higher resolution and potentially brighter panel than the Doogee CS1. The Doogee CS1, focusing on low power, likely utilizes a simpler, more energy-efficient display technology. Bezels are expected to be larger on the CS1 due to its cost-optimized design.
Camera Comparison
Camera details are absent for both devices. However, the Cat S62 Pro, being a more expensive device, likely features a more sophisticated camera system with a larger sensor and potentially optical image stabilization (OIS). The Doogee CS1 likely features a basic camera module suitable for simple snapshots. Image processing capabilities will also be significantly more advanced on the Snapdragon 660-powered Cat S62 Pro, resulting in better image quality in various lighting conditions.
Performance
The performance disparity is immense. The Doogee CS1’s nRF52832 is a low-power Bluetooth SoC primarily designed for wearables and IoT devices, not demanding smartphone tasks. The Cat S62 Pro’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 (14nm) is an octa-core processor with a Kryo architecture, offering a substantial leap in processing power. This translates to significantly faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and the ability to handle more complex applications on the Cat S62 Pro. The Snapdragon 660’s GPU will also provide a far superior gaming experience. The nRF52832 is simply not in the same league for general smartphone use.
Battery Life
Battery capacity is not specified for either device. However, the nRF52832’s low power consumption in the Doogee CS1 will result in exceptionally long standby times. The Cat S62 Pro, while likely having a larger battery to compensate for the Snapdragon 660’s power draw, will still offer respectable battery life. Charging wattage is unknown for both, but the Cat S62 Pro is more likely to support faster charging technologies due to its more advanced chipset.
Buying Guide
Buy the Doogee CS1 if you prioritize extremely long standby time and basic connectivity – think asset tracking or simple communication where smartphone-level performance isn’t required. It’s ideal for niche IoT applications. Buy the Cat S62 Pro if you need a fully-featured Android smartphone that can withstand harsh conditions, offering a responsive user experience for navigation, photography, and everyday tasks.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Doogee CS1 suitable for running navigation apps like Google Maps reliably?
The Doogee CS1’s nRF52832 chipset is not designed for the processing demands of modern navigation apps. Expect slow loading times, frequent lag, and potential crashes when using Google Maps or similar applications. It's better suited for simple location tracking rather than real-time navigation.
❓ Will the Snapdragon 660 in the Cat S62 Pro struggle with demanding games like PUBG Mobile?
While the Snapdragon 660 isn't a flagship processor, it can handle PUBG Mobile at medium settings with reasonable frame rates. However, prolonged gaming sessions may lead to thermal throttling, reducing performance. It won't deliver a high-end gaming experience, but it's significantly more capable than the Doogee CS1.
❓ How does the Doogee CS1's connectivity compare to the Cat S62 Pro for data transfer?
The Cat S62 Pro, with its Snapdragon 660, supports faster data transfer speeds via 4G LTE and potentially Wi-Fi standards like 802.11ac. The Doogee CS1 primarily focuses on low-power Bluetooth connectivity and will have significantly slower data transfer rates, making it unsuitable for large file transfers or streaming.
