The rugged smartphone market offers a compelling alternative to fragile mainstream devices, but performance and battery life can vary wildly. We pit the newer Oscal Tiger 12, powered by a Mediatek Helio G99, against the Doogee S88 Pro, featuring an older Helio P70, to determine which delivers the best blend of durability, power, and longevity.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Oscal Tiger 12 is the superior choice. Its significantly more efficient Helio G99 chipset, coupled with a vastly superior 48h 18m battery endurance, overshadows the Doogee S88 Pro’s wireless charging capabilities. The performance uplift is substantial, making the Tiger 12 a more future-proof investment.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 7, 8, 19, 20, 28, 40, 41 | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2023, November 14 | 2020, June 06. Released 2020, June 06 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, November | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass), aluminum back with rubber, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 168.5 x 76.6 x 8.4 mm (6.63 x 3.02 x 0.33 in) | 171.6 x 85.5 x 18.7 mm (6.76 x 3.37 x 0.74 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 198.3 g (6.98 oz) | 372 g (13.12 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Mohs level 7 | Corning Gorilla Glass |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2460 pixels (~396 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.78 inches, 109.2 cm2 (~84.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.3 inches, 97.4 cm2 (~66.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 120Hz, 500 nits | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (4x2.1 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Helio G99 (6 nm) | Mediatek MT6771T Helio P70 (12 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 | Mali-G72 MP3 |
| OS | Android 13, Doke OS 4.0 | Android 10 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 64 MP, (wide), 1/1.97", 0.7µm, PDAF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | - | 21 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/2.4", 1.12µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 130˚, (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1440p@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 13 MP, (wide), 1/3", 1.12µm | 16 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 4.2, A2DP |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 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 (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 33W wired | 24W wired
10W wireless
5W Reverse wireless |
| Type | 5000 mAh | 10000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Cerulean Blue, Flowing Purple, Cloudwing Grey | Fire Orange, Army Green, Mineral Black |
| Price | About 190 EUR | About 130 EUR |
| EU LABEL |
|---|
| Battery | 48:18h endurance, 800 cycles | - |
| Energy | Class B | - |
| Free fall | Class C (114 falls) | - |
| Repairability | Class B | - |
Oscal Tiger 12
- Significantly longer battery life (48h 18m endurance)
- More powerful and efficient Helio G99 chipset
- Faster 33W wired charging
- Potentially better long-term battery health (800 cycles)
- Display specifications currently unknown
- Wireless charging not supported
Doogee S88 Pro
- Wireless charging support (10W)
- Reverse wireless charging (5W)
- Decent contrast ratio (1641:1)
- Established brand in the rugged phone market
- Significantly shorter battery life (202h endurance)
- Older and less efficient Helio P70 chipset
- Slower 24W wired charging
- Performance limitations for demanding tasks
Display Comparison
The Doogee S88 Pro boasts a contrast ratio of 1641:1, suggesting decent image quality, but lacks specific details regarding peak brightness or panel technology. The Oscal Tiger 12’s display specifications are currently unavailable, making a direct comparison difficult. However, given the Tiger 12’s focus on modern internals, it’s reasonable to expect a comparable, if not superior, display experience. Without knowing the Tiger 12’s peak brightness, it’s hard to assess outdoor visibility, a crucial factor for rugged phones.
Camera Comparison
Neither device’s camera specifications are detailed enough to draw firm conclusions. However, the rugged phone market often prioritizes durability over camera quality. Without knowing sensor sizes, apertures, or image processing capabilities, it’s difficult to assess which phone offers a better photographic experience. The presence of a 2MP macro lens on the Doogee S88 Pro is likely a marketing gimmick, offering limited practical benefit. Focusing on the main sensor’s capabilities would be more informative.
Performance
The Oscal Tiger 12’s Mediatek Helio G99 (6nm) represents a significant leap forward in efficiency and performance compared to the Doogee S88 Pro’s Helio P70 (12nm). The G99’s newer Cortex-A76 cores (2x2.2 GHz) offer a substantial improvement over the P70’s Cortex-A73 cores (4x2.1 GHz). The 6nm process node of the G99 also translates to lower power consumption and reduced thermal throttling under sustained loads. This means the Tiger 12 will handle multitasking, demanding apps, and even moderate gaming with greater ease and consistency. The P70, while adequate for basic tasks, will struggle with more intensive workloads.
Battery Life
The Oscal Tiger 12 dominates in battery endurance with a remarkable 48h 18m rating, compared to the Doogee S88 Pro’s 202h. This difference is largely attributable to the more efficient Helio G99 chipset. While the Doogee S88 Pro offers 24W wired, 10W wireless, and 5W reverse wireless charging, these features don’t compensate for the significantly shorter battery life. The Oscal Tiger 12’s 33W wired charging provides a reasonable charging speed, and the 800 charge cycles suggest excellent long-term battery health.
Buying Guide
Buy the Oscal Tiger 12 if you prioritize long-lasting battery life, responsive performance for everyday tasks and light gaming, and a modern chipset. This phone is ideal for outdoor workers, adventurers, or anyone who needs a reliable device that won't quit before the end of the day. Buy the Doogee S88 Pro if wireless charging and reverse wireless charging are absolute must-haves, and you primarily use your phone for basic communication and light social media – understanding that performance will be noticeably slower and battery life considerably shorter.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Oscal Tiger 12 struggle with graphically intensive games like PUBG or Genshin Impact?
While the Helio G99 is capable, it's not a flagship gaming chipset. Expect playable frame rates at medium settings. The improved thermal efficiency compared to the P70 in the Doogee S88 Pro will help mitigate throttling during extended gaming sessions, but don't expect a high-end gaming experience.
❓ Is the Doogee S88 Pro’s reverse wireless charging useful for anything beyond emergencies?
The 5W reverse wireless charging is primarily useful for topping up small accessories like wireless earbuds or a smartwatch in a pinch. It’s too slow to significantly charge a smartphone, making it more of a convenience feature than a practical charging solution.
❓ How does the older Helio P70 chipset in the Doogee S88 Pro affect everyday tasks like browsing and social media?
You'll likely notice slower app loading times and occasional stutters when multitasking compared to the Oscal Tiger 12. While sufficient for basic use, the Helio P70 will feel less responsive and may struggle with demanding web pages or complex social media feeds.
❓ What does '800 charge cycles' mean for the Oscal Tiger 12's battery longevity?
This indicates the battery is designed to retain at least 80% of its original capacity after 800 full charge-discharge cycles. This is a strong indicator of long-term battery health and suggests the Oscal Tiger 12 will maintain its impressive battery life for a longer period than many competitors.
