Is the Doogee V20 Smartphone the Ultimate Survivor?

In the event you’re an extremely clumsy individual like me then the trendy class of rugged smartphones might be fairly helpful to you, and if there’s one phrase that would describe the Doogee V20, it’s “rugged.” Each inch of the cellphone is designed with sturdiness in thoughts, and it comes full of a set of options that give it favorable comparisons with the earlier v10 mannequin in virtually each space. Does this imply that the V20 is Doogee’s final smartphone?

To rejoice the launch of the V20, Doogee is running a giveaway, however entries shut on the 18th of February so be fast! (Notice, this giveaway isn’t affiliated with MakeUseOf.com)

The Doogee V20’s Design

It’s very clear that Doogee has leaned closely into the rugged design philosophy. Throughout my time with the cellphone, I had a number of individuals asking why they couldn’t take away the case, earlier than studying that there was no case, and that is simply what the cellphone is like naturally. That ought to offer you an thought of simply how thick and weighty this cellphone is. Shifting again to an iPhone 12 felt ridiculous like I used to be holding one thing extra akin to a chunk of paper than a smartphone. To some, myself included, the load and dimension of the cellphone are a plus. It appears like it could take a tactical nuclear strike to wreck this factor. Nonetheless, these with smaller arms could undergo.

The v20 additionally incorporates a 2400 x 1080 px (FHD+) AMOLED show on the entrance, in addition to a 1.05-inch mini-display on the again. There’s wi-fi charging as much as 15W, and superfast charging as much as 33W with a port protected by a canopy that may cease particles from stepping into the charging port even when it’s underwater or buried in mud. As you would possibly count on, this offers the cellphone the much-coveted IP69K ranking, which means it’s utterly shielded from mud and particles, in addition to protected towards even excessive strain and high-temperature liquids up shut.

Different key options embody the thumbprint sensor that’s constructed into the facility button, a function carried over from the v10. This sensor works comparatively nicely and responds nicely even in case you have it arrange to reply to a fingerprint at an odd angle, equivalent to utilizing your index finger when holding the cellphone naturally. There’s additionally a programmable button on the alternative facet that may be personalized to open apps, activate the torch, and even take screenshots. You might also have observed the three lenses on the again, which is a part of the AI-assisted digital camera setup.

An Spectacular Array of Cameras

The primary lens is a 64MP foremost digital camera, a substantial improve over the one options on the unique V10. There’s additionally a 20MP evening imaginative and prescient digital camera, in case you are feeling like reenacting the Blair Witch Challenge, and an 8MP wide-angle digital camera to squeeze extra into your photographs, although it needs to be made clear that the wide-angle lens doesn’t assist video seize. It additionally looks like a couple of options are lacking from this model of the cellphone during the last one.

As an example, there is no such thing as a macro mode, so it’s probably not potential to take hyper close-up pictures and count on them to be in focus. On the plus facet, the digital camera options which might be there do work extremely nicely. It’s potential to take high-quality pictures if you already know what you’re doing, however the AI help is complicated. It doesn’t appear to make lots of distinction whether or not you might have it on or not, however there’s each probability that underneath the fitting circumstances it may very well be useful, equivalent to low-light or with sudden adjustments in publicity.

One type of unusual factor to notice right here is the truth that the V20 can solely report in 1080p in relation to video. That’s not an enormous situation, as HD nonetheless presents loads of high quality, however with 4K seemingly the trendy normal for smartphones, it appears unusual to not chase that top decision that everybody else goes for.

In case you are a smartphone filmmaker then there are another options of the Doogee V20 that you just would possibly discover extra helpful. As an example, there’s an anti-flicker setting that may be swapped between 50hz and 60hz to match the refresh price of any screens you occur to level it at. So in case you’re filming a scene the place you want to have the ability to see a display screen, it’ll be simpler to do right here. You may also disable the microphone and shutter noise which might each probably be helpful in a film-shoot state of affairs.

What About Efficiency?

One facet that many individuals prioritize with any smartphone is efficiency. The Doogee V20 comes with 8GB of high-speed RAM (much like the v10) however comes with double the storage, with 256GB as normal which will be expanded with a microSD card in case you want it.

Whereas it’s truthful to say that the V20 isn’t essentially the most highly effective smartphone available on the market, it does pack sufficient of a punch for day-to-day use and a good bit for gaming as nicely. Working 3DMark gave us scores largely comparable with a Samsung A52 when it comes to graphics, whereas it’s nearer to the Galaxy M51 when it comes to processor.

The efficiency shouldn’t be an excessive amount of of a shock as that is operating the very same MediaTek Dimensity 700 SoC and 8GB of RAM that the v10 was utilizing. There’s not been an enormous step up right here (or any, in actual fact), however then once more, it looks like high-performance wasn’t the goal of the sport. In reality, throughout a non-gaming benchmark, the cellphone performs admirably, and in day-to-day use, I skilled no decelerate or stuttering.

Gaming on the Doogee V20 Smartphone

In case you are on the lookout for a gaming expertise in your cellphone, then you definitely received’t need to miss out on an excessive amount of with the Doogee V20. Clearly, it does not wrestle in any respect in relation to streaming providers like Google Stadia, or GeForce Now. In reality, the largest wrestle I discovered in relation to gaming on this cellphone, is becoming its bulk securely into some third celebration controller grips.

When you do have that sorted, gaming is just about a breeze. Something from Genshin Influence to ARK: Survival Advanced will run easily, and clearly meaning the identical is true for extra normal cell video games like Tremendous Mario Run or Crossy Street. On the subject of emulation, the cellphone handles even GameCube emulation with out a lot bother, so you possibly can play virtually something from the sixth console technology or earlier.

Cellphone Points

On the subject of utilizing the precise cellphone a part of the cellphone, there have been a couple of hiccups right here and there. The mic high quality is usually acceptable however talk-time seems to have been a number of lowered because of a a lot smaller battery within the V20 over the v10, and I can’t work out why that was significantly essential. Positive, going from an 8500mah battery within the V10 to a 6000mah battery within the V20 has shaved off round 40g in weight, however is the trade-off truly value it?

The strangest situation is that the cellphone appears to have bother protecting a name linked over an extended time period, akin to what occurred with the iPhone 12 and 13 late final 12 months.

Past that, there may be not less than some consolation in that the cellphone does assist 5G networks, and has been in a position to connect with 5G extra usually than a Samsung Galaxy S21 that can be on the identical community in the identical home. I’m not 100% certain what this mismatch between name power and 5G sign power is, nevertheless it’s necessary to know that it does exist. One other necessary issue right here is that the cellphone continues to be operating Android 11, with no plans within the foreseeable future to improve to Android 12, which is a disgrace, however not a deal-breaker most often.

The one different unusual factor to speak about is the again display screen. This can be a much-touted function of the cellphone, however in actuality, it’s exhausting to see the aim of it. Positive, it shows the clock in case you have the cellphone face down, and you need to use it to regulate your music, however I can’t think about a state of affairs the place that may be that a lot simpler than simply selecting up the cellphone or utilizing controls in your Bluetooth headphones. You’re extra more likely to simply get irritated whenever you flip the cellphone over at evening solely to have the again display screen mild up for 10 seconds and stop the room from absolutely darkening.

Is The Doogee v20 Well worth the Cash?

Right here comes the all-important query: is the Doogee V20 value your cash? The value level sits at round $400, which sits comfortably within the lower-middle of the mid-range in relation to smartphone costs. For that value, you get a cellphone that looks like it might straight up survive a nuclear blast and can stand as much as the type of abuse that may solely come from absent-mindedly holding your cellphone whereas cooking or strolling someplace. The digital camera array on the again is fairly good high quality for a mid-range smartphone however has a couple of key options which might be missing.

Total, the Doogee V20 rugged smartphone feels prefer it’s designed for somebody who’s fed up with changing their smartphone each month as a result of they’ll’t cease dropping it. It supplies common efficiency, however except you’re chasing a high-end gaming expertise, you most likely received’t discover a stark distinction between this and every other cellphone within the value vary. Briefly, this can be a cellphone with one key purpose: to outlive. All different bells and whistles could look good within the advert, however they’re not the primary cause you need to be shopping for this cellphone.

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