Cat S41

Seriously rugged ; Excellent battery life ; Decent DIY tools ; Programmable key is useful

No confirmed Oreo update ; Some hardware compromises

A solid choice for anyone on the market for a rugged smartphone.

Super durable ; Simple, uncluttered software ; Excellent battery life

Poor camera ; Subpar performance in price tier ; No fingerprint sensor ; No Android 8.0 Oreo

The Cat S41 is simply too expensive for what it offers. Your phone will be able to suffer multiple drops and will get amazing battery life, but you’ll have to suffer through average performance, a near-worthless camera, and boring design.

Conservative design, unlike some rivals ; Recognizable brand ; Can be used as an emergency charger ; Stock Android

No biometric security ; More expensive than the competition

The Cat S41 has hit a sweet spot by going after an audience who will know about the brand, and are likely to request VAT refunds and look for a solid aftersales service – which similarly priced Chinese-sourced rivals won’t be able to match on either...

robust case with IP68 and MIL SPEC 810G ; dualSIM and microSD can be used simultaneously ; good system performance ; solid camera quality

GPS slightly inaccurate

In our test, the CAT S41 shows itself as a robust outdoor smartphone with a relatively good system performance. The Android system runs smoothly and the performance is sufficient for apps that demand more than WhatsApp and the Internet browser. In...

Design is actually aesthetically appealing ; No need for a case, the phone is the case ; Camera is actually decent ; Lightweight despite its bulk ; Rugged and IP68 certified ; Massive 5,000 mAh battery ; Display is surprisingly vibrant and nice ;...

Physical nav buttons ; Android 7.0 no 8.0 ; I would have liked a 5.5" screen ; Volume rocker and power could stand to be placed lower

The CAT S41 isn’t for everyone and isn’t a phone for the average consumer. It’s not pretty, it’s not expensive, it doesn’t run the latest software, and it’s not a status symbol. What it has going for it is it’s a functional and rugged tool that is...

Stellar long battery life ; High level of dust, water, and shock resistance ; Snappy performance for typical every day tasks ; Ability to charge other devices with its massive battery

No biometric security ; MicroUSB for charging

Great build, big battery can be used to recharge other phones

Camera could have been better

Extremely rugged ; Long-lasting battery ; Programable PTT button ; Wide array of ports ; IP68 dust and water resistance

Sub-par performance ; Micro-USB ; Terrible cameras

Extremely durable ; Bright display ; Long-lasting battery doubles as an external pack

Terrible camera ; Underwhelming performance ; A little pricey ; No fingerprint sensor

There's no question the latest Cat smartphone can take a beating. But can it beat the competition?