Thursday 22nd February 2018

Land Rover Explorer phone

For the man who loves being among the elements. And likes people to know it

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Enjoy going hiking in the wilderness? But worry about getting lost? Well, Land Rover has taken its knowledge of building cars built to tackle the elements in extreme temperatures and teamed up with the Bullitt Group to create one of the most rugged phones around.

Inspired by Land Rover's go-anywhere SUVs, the Explorer phone is one of those devices that can be used in practically any situation. The display has been purposefully developed to work with wet or gloved hands and claims to have two days of on-screen time in extreme conditions thanks to the massive 4,000 mAh battery. (To put that into perspective, the iPhone X has a meagre 2,716mAh battery.)

If that still isn't enough, the added adventure pack has an additional 3,600mAh battery with a ceramic GPS patch to aid GPS signal in the wilderness and a stainless steel carabiner with canvas strap. Land Rover has thrown in detailed off-road topographical mapping options from ViewRanger with Augmented reality skyline that labels features as you walk. Needless to say, the phone works with all Land Rover in-car connected apps.

The Explorer runs Android OS with a scheduled upgrade to its latest Oreo OS, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage that is expandable via microSD. Being out and about, you would hope the camera is up to taking snaps worth sharing and on paper, it does - thanks to a 16MP rear sensor with 4x digital zoom. It is due to be revealed at the Mobile World Congress in the coming days and it will cost £599 with the Adventure pack.

However, it would be remiss of us not to point out that the Bullitt group does make rugged phones for other brands like the CAT S41 which is similar to the Land Rover Explorer phone but undercuts it on price. Who'd have thunk it, eh?

[Over over under steer]

I don't care how tough they make this, my girlfriend will still manage to smash the screen within a week.

[Brynjaminjones]

Surely the last company you'd want to buy a complex electronic device from?

[Dynamic Space Wizard]

Why couldn't they get a decent picture of it? Did they use another one to take them?

[skidskid]

Strapping your phone to yourself with a carabiner is a good way of making you look a right berk.

[Toptrumps2]

Great battery life, while your waiting for your Disco to be recovered you can play candycrush on it!

It seems like a nice bit of kit but a very niche market

[chickensoup]

With the i-pace coming up I am surprised JLR went android

[cookie1600]

Over over under steer said:

I don't care how tough they make this, my girlfriend will still manage to smash the screen within a week.

Don't worry, according to the article it's only for men and then only those that like being in the elements. In this day and age of equality, I'm surprised it isn't more unisex....

Edited by cookie1600 on Thursday 22 February 12:33

[unsprung]

Brynjaminjones said:

Surely the last company you'd want to buy a complex electronic device from?

Next up: The smartphone from Lucas Industries, available in a delightfully retro 1970s colour palette.

[Hairymonster]

unsprung said:

Brynjaminjones said:

Surely the last company you'd want to buy a complex electronic device from?

Next up: The smartphone from Lucas Industries, available in a delightfully retro 1970s colour palette.

With special 'Prince of Darkness' torch app!

[Plug Life]

skidskid said:

Strapping your phone to yourself with a carabiner is a good way of making you look a right berk.

In the forests and the mountains? Eh...

[MrGeoff]

Looks like a phone for butter fingers.

[Jordan210]

Good little marketing gimmick.

But if you needed a tough phone there are already a few on the market. caterpillar for example make a few difrent types.

[skidskid]

Plug Life said:

In the forests and the mountains? Eh...

Its on a par with having a mug dangling off your kit with some string.

[Plug Life]

skidskid said:

Its on a par with having a mug dangling off your kit with some string.

I didn't know that hiking is a fashion contest.

[CS Garth]

Nice item. I can see it fitting well on utility belt next to my leatherman, tactical torch, nail clippers and Swedish penis enlarger

[Cold]

I guess Sir Ranulf's is old tech now.

[CS Garth]

Cold said:

I guess Sir Ranulf's is old tech now.

That looks like he has just pulled it from someone's arse in a smuggle into prison attempt.

[Cold]

CS Garth said:

That looks like he has just pulled it from someone's arse in a smuggle into prison attempt.

I doff my cap to your superior experience in such matters.

[Bear-n]

He can tell by the ring tone.

[CS Garth]

Cold said:

I doff my cap to your superior experience in such matters.

I'm not sure we are taking this the thread the way Landrover Marketing hoped it would go.....