Nokia has made a tough phone that is also easy to use called the Nokia XR20. This phone can survive drops, water, and rough conditions but still works like a normal smartphone. Most rugged phones are very strong but not very good at being regular phones. The Nokia XR20 is different because it tries to be both tough and useful at the same time.
Why This Phone is Special
Making a rugged phone costs a lot of money for companies. They need to add special protection against drops, water, dust, and heat. Because of this high cost, most rugged phones have weak internal parts to keep the price low. Nokia decided to spend a bit more money to make the XR20 better. The phone costs around £399 or €499, which is still affordable but gives you a good processor, nice screen, and decent camera.
How the Phone Looks and Feels
The Nokia XR20 is 10.6mm thick and weighs 248g, which is heavier than normal phones. Even though it is heavy, the phone doesn’t feel like a tool for construction workers. My test phone came in Ultra Blue color, but you can also get it in Granite color. The sides have strong metal that shows through the tough plastic body. The phone looks modern and not too industrial.
Special Design Features
The top of the phone has a small red button called an emergency key. You can program this button to do anything you want. I set mine to turn on the flashlight, but you can choose any function. The bottom of the phone has a 3.5mm headphone jack, a place to attach a lanyard, and a USB-C charging port. These features are common in rugged phones and very useful.
How Tough is This Phone
The Nokia XR20 has a MIL-STD-810H rating, which is a military standard test. This test is newer than the one used for other rugged phones like the Motorola Defy. The phone went through tests with extreme heat, cold, drops, vibrations, and exposure to liquids. This means the phone can work even in war zones or very harsh conditions.
Real World Drop Test
I dropped the Nokia XR20 onto concrete from 1.2 meters high to test how strong it is. The phone got a small dent on the plastic corner that hit the ground first. There was also some light scratching on the back cover. But the most important thing is that the screen stayed perfect with no cracks. The phone has Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, which is the same strong glass used in expensive flagship phones.
Water and Heat Protection
The phone has an IP68 rating, so it can go underwater without breaking. It can also handle hot liquids, which most regular phones cannot do. I poured hot water at 60 degrees Celsius directly onto the phone to test it. After drying it with a towel, the phone worked perfectly. Nokia is so confident about the screen that they offer a 1-year free screen replacement and a 3-year warranty.
| Toughness Feature | Rating/Specification |
|---|---|
| Military Standard | MIL-STD-810H |
| Water Resistance | IP68 |
| Screen Protection | Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Drop Test Result | Minor dent, no screen damage |
| Hot Liquid Test | Passed at 60°C |
| Screen Warranty | 1-year free replacement |
| Overall Warranty | 3 years |
Screen Quality and Display
The Nokia XR20 has a 6.67-inch IPS LCD screen with Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400. The screen is bright and detailed, which is much better than other rugged phones. The screen brightness is 550 nits, so you can see it clearly even in bright sunlight. This is very important for a phone made to be used outdoors. The colors are not as vibrant as OLED screens, but the screen is clear and sharp.
Screen Refresh Rate
The screen has a 60Hz refresh rate, which is slower than modern phones. Many new phones have 90Hz or 120Hz screens that look smoother. The 60Hz refresh rate is a bit disappointing, but it helps save battery power. For outdoor use, battery life is more important than a super smooth screen.
Sound Quality
The phone has stereo speakers that get very loud. The sound is not very detailed, but it is good enough for watching videos. If you are in a noisy place, you can still hear the audio clearly. Combined with the good screen, watching videos on this phone is a pleasant experience.
Performance and Speed
The Nokia XR20 uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 5G processor. This processor is not very powerful, but it supports 5G internet. The phone comes with either 4GB or 6GB of RAM. In Geekbench 5 tests, the phone scored 1642, which is better than other rugged phones but much slower than regular phones at the same price.
Gaming Performance
For gaming, the phone runs PUBG Mobile on HD graphics and High frame rate without problems. If you want better gaming performance for the same money, you need to buy a regular phone like the Poco F3 or OnePlus Nord 2. Those phones are faster but not as tough. The Nokia XR20 does everyday tasks well, but it feels a bit slow compared to cheaper regular phones.
Storage Space
The top model has 128GB of storage inside. The cheaper model only has 64GB. You can also add a microSD card if you need more space. For most people, 128GB is enough for apps, photos, and videos.
| Performance Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Processor | Snapdragon 480 5G |
| RAM Options | 4GB or 6GB |
| Storage Options | 64GB or 128GB |
| Storage Expansion | microSD card support |
| 5G Support | Yes |
| Geekbench Score | 1642 (multi-core) |
| Gaming Capability | HD graphics, High frame rate |
Who Should Buy This Phone
The Nokia XR20 is perfect for people who work in tough conditions. Construction workers, outdoor adventure lovers, and people who often drop their phones will love this device. If you need a phone that can survive water, drops, and rough handling, this is a great choice. The price of £399/€499 is reasonable for what you get.
Is It Worth the Money
For the price, you get a phone that is both tough and usable. It is not the fastest phone, and the screen is not the smoothest. But it can survive situations that would destroy a regular phone. If you value durability over speed, the Nokia XR20 is worth buying. You also get a long warranty and free screen replacement, which adds more value.
