Can I use a rugged phone as my everyday phone?

Yes, but expect trade-offs. Rugged phones are thicker (12-15mm vs 8mm), heavier (250-300g vs 180-200g), and have worse cameras than mainstream phones. If you work in construction, outdoor recreation, or any environment where phone damage is a regular expense, the durability trade-off is absolutely worth it.

Do screen protectors work on rugged phones?

Most rugged phones use Gorilla Glass Victus or sapphire crystal that resists scratches better than regular phones. A screen protector adds marginal benefit and can interfere with wet-touch and glove-touch functionality. We recommend skipping the screen protector on rugged phones — the display glass is already toughened beyond normal phone standards.

Best Rugged Smartphones IP68 2026