Kyocera has long been a stalwart in the rugged phone market, catering to users who demand durability above all else. This comparison pits the older, budget-focused Kyocera Hydro C5170 against the more modern and feature-rich Kyocera DuraForce Pro 2, examining how much performance and convenience you gain with a higher price point.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user needing a reliable, durable phone for basic tasks, the Kyocera DuraForce Pro 2 is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 630 chipset delivers significantly improved performance and efficiency compared to the Hydro C5170’s aging Snapdragon S2, justifying the price difference for anyone beyond the most minimal usage.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | CDMA 800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | - | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 13, 66 |
| Speed | EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat9 450/50 Mbps |
| Technology | CDMA / EVDO | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2012, May. Released 2012, Q3 | 2018, November. Released 2018, November |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 115 x 62 x 12.8 mm (4.53 x 2.44 x 0.50 in) | 150.2 x 73.4 x 13.5 mm (5.91 x 2.89 x 0.53 in) |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 120 g (4.23 oz) | 243 g (8.25 oz) |
| | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 mins)
IPX5, IPX7 certified | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 2m for 30 mins)
MIL-STD-810G compliant
Push-to-talk button |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Sapphire crystal glass |
| Resolution | 320 x 480 pixels, 3:2 ratio (~165 ppi density) | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~441 ppi density) |
| Size | 3.5 inches, 36.5 cm2 (~51.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~62.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | 1.0 GHz | Octa-core 2.2 GHz Cortex-A53 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8655 Snapdragon S2 | Qualcomm SDM630 Snapdragon 630 (14 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 205 | Adreno 508 |
| OS | Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) | Android 8.0 (Oreo) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDHC (dedicated slot), 2 GB included | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 2GB 512MB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | - | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 3.15 MP, AF | 13 MP, AF
8 MP (ultra wide; dedicated video camera) |
| Video | Yes | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | - | 5 MP |
| | No | - |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 2.1, A2DP, EDR | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | - | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, A-GPS | GPS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/i/r/k, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| | MP4/WMV/H.264 player
MP3/WAV/eAAC+ player
Organizer
Photo/video editor
Document viewer
Voice memo/dial/commands
Predictive text input (Swype) | - |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 10W wired
Wireless (Qi) |
| Stand-by | - | Up to 312 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 8 h 20 min | Up to 21 h (3G) |
| Type | Removable Li-Ion 1500 mAh battery | Li-Ion 3240 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black | Black |
| Price | - | About 400 EUR |
Kyocera Hydro C5170
- Extremely affordable
- Ruggedized build quality
- Simple and easy to use
- Very slow performance
- Outdated chipset
- Limited features
Kyocera DuraForce Pro 2
- Significantly faster performance
- Wireless (Qi) charging
- More modern features
- Higher price point
- 10W charging is relatively slow
- Still not a flagship-level camera
Display Comparison
Details regarding the displays of both devices are unavailable. However, given the Hydro C5170’s age and market positioning, it likely features a lower resolution and less color accurate panel than the DuraForce Pro 2. The Pro 2, being a more recent model, likely benefits from improved viewing angles and brightness. The absence of display specs highlights the Hydro C5170’s focus on core functionality over premium features.
Camera Comparison
Camera specifications for both devices are limited. It’s safe to assume the DuraForce Pro 2 offers a more capable camera system, benefiting from advancements in image processing technology since the Hydro C5170’s release. While neither phone is likely to compete with flagship camera phones, the Snapdragon 630’s ISP (Image Signal Processor) will deliver superior image quality and faster processing times compared to the S2. The absence of detailed camera specs suggests neither phone prioritizes photography as a key feature.
Performance
The performance gap between these two devices is substantial. The Kyocera Hydro C5170’s Qualcomm MSM8655 Snapdragon S2, with its single-core 1.0 GHz CPU, is severely outmatched by the DuraForce Pro 2’s Qualcomm SDM630 Snapdragon 630. The 630’s octa-core 2.2 GHz Cortex-A53 architecture provides a massive leap in multitasking capabilities and responsiveness. The 14nm manufacturing process of the Snapdragon 630 also contributes to better power efficiency, translating to longer battery life under load. Users needing to run anything beyond basic apps will find the Hydro C5170 frustratingly slow.
Battery Life
Battery capacity details are unavailable for the Hydro C5170. The DuraForce Pro 2 supports 10W wired charging and Qi wireless charging, a significant convenience feature absent in the older model. While the 10W charging isn’t particularly fast by modern standards, the wireless charging option provides flexibility. The Snapdragon 630’s improved power efficiency also contributes to better real-world battery life on the DuraForce Pro 2, even if the battery capacity is similar.
Buying Guide
Buy the Kyocera Hydro C5170 if you need an extremely affordable, basic smartphone primarily for calls and texts, and durability is your only major concern. You're willing to accept very slow performance and limited multitasking. Buy the Kyocera DuraForce Pro 2 if you prefer a phone that can handle modern apps, streaming, and occasional gaming, alongside the rugged build quality, and appreciate the convenience of wireless charging.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Snapdragon 630 in the DuraForce Pro 2 powerful enough for modern apps like Facebook and WhatsApp?
Yes, the Snapdragon 630 is more than capable of running modern apps like Facebook and WhatsApp smoothly. It offers a significant performance boost over the Hydro C5170’s Snapdragon S2, providing a much more responsive user experience.
❓ Does the DuraForce Pro 2 support software updates, and will it receive security patches?
Kyocera’s software update track record is not as robust as some other manufacturers. However, the DuraForce Pro 2, being a more recent model, is more likely to have received at least some security updates compared to the Hydro C5170, which is likely end-of-life in terms of software support.
❓ What type of user would benefit most from the Hydro C5170's simplicity?
The Hydro C5170 is ideal for users who primarily need a phone for basic communication – calls and texts – and require a rugged device for harsh environments. It's a good option for those who aren't tech-savvy and don't need smartphone features beyond the essentials.
