Samsung is gearing up to fill a void in the Indian smartphone market by introducing its first-ever rugged device, the Galaxy XCover 7. Launched recently in Europe, the smartphone comes with military-grade certification and boasts a sturdy design that can easily withstand shock and drops even on harder surfaces.
According to a report by Gizmochina, the Galaxy XCover 7 received its BIS certification in November 2023 and bears the model number “SM-G556B”. The handset has an IP68 water-resistant design and is MIL-STD-810H compliant to handle physical stress. The phone’s shell is specifically crafted to endure the rigors of a robust lifestyle, making it suitable for workers in the manufacturing and logistics industries.
The Galaxy XCover 7 has a 6.6-inch FHD+ TFT display with heightened touch sensitivity catering to glove usage. A layer of Gorilla Glass Victus+ also shields the device’s display to resist damage.
The handset is powered by a 6nm octa-core processor, likely the Dimensity 6100+, which works in tandem with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage (expandable to 1TB via microSD card). The handset has a 3.5mm audio jack, POGO pins, and a USB-C port further enhancing its practicality.
The Galaxy XCover 7 also gets a decent camera setup for a rugged device. It features a 50MP main camera and a 5MP front camera. The smartphone gets a customizable XCover key, barcode scanning capabilities with Knox Capture, and audio support through Dolby Atmos.
Similar to Samsung’s other recent launches, the Galaxy XCover 7 also runs on OneUI 6 based on Android 14. The smartphone is powered by a 4,050 mAh battery cell, which seems slightly on the lower side but should last for a day.
Overall, the Galaxy XCover 7 has a decent spec sheet with rugged aesthetics. If Samsung launches the handset at a good pricing, it could find a good user base in a country like India where the category hasn’t picked up yet. Nokia did launch its pricey XR20 5G rugged phone but no one seemed to be interested in a Nokia’s rugged handset costing INR 40,000.
But Samsung can turn around the tables with its brand value and good resale value. More brands can introduce rugged smartphones once Samsung is done testing the waters with its XCover 7. We will update this space with more information on the device’s expected pricing and availability in the coming weeks.