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8849 Tank 4: 30-second assessment
The 8849 Tank 4, together with the extra premium Tank 4 Professional, are the primary cell phones to function an built-in 720p projector alongside their extra commonplace rugged potential. The telephone is a major replace over the prevailing Tank 3S, with a lift in CPU and GPU and an improve within the decision from 854×480. This telephone stands as much as submersion in water and drops from a top. It comes full of all the standard IP68 credentials for a telephone of this kind and is well-suited to anybody working outside or seeking to hike or journey off the overwhelmed monitor. In order for you a telephone with a design and battery life that may final for a number of days, if not weeks, between recharges, while additionally enabling you to undertaking greater than 5 hours anyplace, then that is the telephone for you.
The telephone itself is strong, and in comparison with earlier fashions, it is barely slimmer and fewer cumbersome. Whereas the design is harking back to earlier projector telephones, it is extra in keeping with different rugged smartphones with regards to that all-important measurement and weight.
In use, the telephone places in an honest efficiency throughout the board, standing as much as knocks and being totally submerged. The processing energy is greater than able to opening Google purposes, though total efficiency is decidedly midrange. The massive 6.78-inch display gives loads of room to replace and assessment paperwork for work.
There are additionally some helpful extra options. Two massive LED lighting panels provide brightness flexibility, ideally suited for checking cavities on website or used as a extra common mild when tenting. The panels shed an excellent brightness with simply sufficient diffusion to make it a cushty lamp for common use.
The primary function of this smartphone is the brand new projector, now upgraded to 720p. The standard is in keeping with many ultra-portable projectors. Whereas brightness may be restricted, projection in opposition to an honest display in darkish situations is surprisingly good, and the 720p decision makes a visual distinction in comparison with what was seen on the Tank 3 Professional.
Whereas the projection high quality is improved, the small speaker nonetheless sounds a bit of tinny. The quantity is sweet, but it surely lacks the depth of a premium client telephone. Nonetheless, if you happen to’re out on the planet watching a film, the audio high quality is appropriate.
The digital camera additionally performs effectively. The Samsung sensor affords a 50MP decision and performs effectively in shiny situations, excellent for surroundings or website visits. As mild ranges drop, high quality dips, and the low-light digital camera appears considerably restricted. Nonetheless, it is a step up from earlier Tank fashions.
Versatility is a robust level, with 12 GB RAM expandable through digital RAM, and the power to make use of microSD and twin SIM playing cards ensures loads of storage and connection choices.
Powering the telephone is the 11,600 mAh battery, simply delivering a number of days of use and standby for over a month, and as I’ve seen with different smartphones, you should utilize that inner battery to offer energy to different gadgets, primarily utilizing it as an influence financial institution.
The Tank 4 affords one thing completely different with its slimmer, lighter design and upgraded projector decision. Nonetheless, until you want a projector constructed into your telephone, a few of the best rugged phones we have reviewed are value contemplating.
8849 Tank 4: Value and availability
- How a lot does it price? TBC
- When is it out? Now
- The place are you able to get it? Extensively out there
The 8849 Tank is on the market from the official web site by clicking here.
The RRP is $470, however at time of assessment, it is priced at $420.
8849 Tank 4: Specs
CPU: MediaTek Dimensity 7300
Graphics: Mali‑G615 MC2 GPU
RAM: 12 GB LPDDR5X
Storage: 512 GB UFS 4.0 (elective 1 TB), microSD help
Entrance Ports: USB‑C 3.0 (additionally DP-out), 3.5 mm headphone jack
Facet Ports: microSD slot (shared SIM tray)
Connectivity: 5G NR, Wi‑Fi 6/6E, BT 5.3/5.4, NFC, GPS L1/L5 twin‑frequency
Audio: 3.5 mm audio jack, speaker with tenting lights additionally usable as an alarm and torch
Digital camera: 50 MP essential (Samsung S5KGN1SP), 64 MP evening imaginative and prescient, 50 MP telephoto, 32 MP entrance
Measurement: 174.9 × 87 × 22.5 mm;
Weight: 530 g
Battery: 11,600 mAh, 120 W quick cost, 25 W reverse cost
Equipment: Charger, USB‑C cable
8849 Tank 4: Design
The 8849 Tank 4 is, as anticipated, a rugged smartphone with a design that displays its skill to face up to extra abuse than most different smartphones and comes with IP68 water and mud certification. In relation to the dimensions and weigh, 174.9 × 87 × 22.5 mm, and 530 g, whereas it’s smaller and lighter than it is predecessor, it is nonetheless a cumbersome telephone.
The design is per rugged telephones and feels good and strong, and with that certification, it implies that it may be submerged in water to a depth of 1.5 meters, dropped and can be sealed in opposition to mud ingress, all good to know if you happen to’re engaged on website or in search of a telephone for journey.
On the entrance is a 6.78-inch AMOLED show with a 2652 × 1200 decision and 120 Hz refresh charge. The rear homes three cameras: essential, infrared, and telephoto
Across the system, you may discover a energy button, DLP projector venting, speaker, sensor (for autofocus), and projector lens. The left aspect homes quantity controls, SIM/TF card tray (as much as 2 TB), and two programmable buttons. The bottom features a 3.5 mm headphone jack and USB-C port, which additionally helps reverse charging as much as 120 W.
Whereas it does function IP68 certification, it lacks a few of the different formal adventure-ready credentials; nonetheless, the construct high quality remains to be excessive. For these working outside or heading off-grid on an journey, the added projector makes this a flexible and distinctive choice.
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8849 Tank 4: Options
The primary function of the brand new Tank 4 rugged smartphone is the 720p projector. It contains quick laser autofocus and keystone correction, making it simple to make use of even with out a devoted projection display.
Brightness stays at round 100 lumens, however the decision has been upgraded to 1280 × 720, placing it in keeping with entry-level house projectors. The 60 Hz refresh charge is respectable sufficient for media viewing.
Digital camera-wise, it includes a 50 MP essential digital camera, a 64 MP evening imaginative and prescient digital camera, and a 50 MP telephoto digital camera, giving good flexibility. These are aligned in a row on the rear, with infrared fill mild and an LED flash. Beneath these sit two LED panels functioning as tenting lights, that are controllable through companion apps throughout the Android 14 interface.
Powering the telephone is a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 CPU with a Mali-G615 MC2 GPU, which delivers mid-range efficiency that is completely good for media playback and projection.
Battery life is a serious spotlight of those telephones, as they pack within the capability to not solely provide the telephone with energy but in addition the potential to utilise the facility to cost and energy different gadgets. The 11,600 mAh battery helps 120 W quick charging and 25 W reverse charging, which is beneficial off-grid.
In relation to communication, the telephone helps twin SIM and a storage enhance with the addition of an elective TF/microSD card.
Connectivity contains 5G, USB 3.0, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, and L1/L5 dual-frequency GPS supporting GLONASS, BeiDou, and Galileo.
8849 Tank 4: Efficiency
Beginning up the telephone, the Android 14 setup is easy, signing into your Google account will get you entry to key apps rapidly.
Opening Google Docs and Sheets revealed that the 12 GB RAM and Android 14 OS might deal with work duties with absolute ease, and likewise, web efficiency on each Wi-Fi 6 and 5G was akin to that of an iPhone 15 Professional.
Nonetheless, some apps like 3DMark would not run on account of {hardware} compatibility points. For gaming, the telephone managed most titles tremendous, although efficiency did dip with extra graphics-intensive video games, and when modifying utilizing CapCut, there have been glitches within the edit that meant that the workflow was a bit of slower than I might often count on.
The projector is the principle function and one that’s distinctive to this line of telephones. What I immediately appreciated in regards to the integration of the undertaking on the Tank 4 was simply how far this has superior in such a short while. The massive projector icon is simple to find and hundreds rapidly, with the projection mild flickering to life inside a number of seconds. Then, not like a few of the older handsets, the autofocus and keystone correction kicked in rapidly and, for essentially the most half, have been correct. The projection throw can also be respectable sufficient with the 100 lumens, which within the grand scheme of issues is not really that shiny, being simply sufficient in low mild and ideally suited in pitch black. The 720p decision is a giant improve from the Tank 3s and delivers a far sharper and brighter picture.
Whereas the visible efficiency is a step up, the audio stays a weak level. The speaker is purposeful, however the sound is tinny and lacks depth. Nonetheless, for watching movies on the go, I would say it is acceptable. I could not fairly get previous the novelty.
The Tank 4 is over 100 g lighter than its predecessor, making it simpler to hold and use, and it now suits in a big pocket relatively than needing a bag.
The cameras carry out moderately with the 50 MP essential sensor, giving strong ends in shiny situations. The 64 MP evening imaginative and prescient digital camera is useful for short-range, low-light photos, and the IR mild on the entrance undoubtedly helps to light up scenes which can be in any other case forged into pitch black. The 50 MP telephoto can also be respectable sufficient, and whereas the cameras are removed from cutting-edge picture high quality, you will not be disillusioned with the pictures that they do seize.
The selfie digital camera is 32 MP and performs effectively for video calls and selfies, though I would not suggest utilizing it for something extra. Altogether, the cameras are an honest match for worksite use and informal pictures, however not for fans.
Sturdiness was examined on the finish of the assessment with drops and water submersion in a stream. As there are vents on the aspect of the telephone, I used to be a bit of doubtful in regards to the telephone going into the water; nonetheless, as soon as towelled down, all of it appeared to work after a 10-minute stint in about 30 cm depth of a chilly operating stream.
Total efficiency was good in decidedly mid-range, the benchmark scores have been unexpectedly decrease than these of many rugged telephone fashions reviewed not too long ago, and there have been some points with some apps operating in any respect. Whereas it seems to be like the worth level is effectively balanced, it might be that that is at the price of the general efficiency.
8849 Tank 4: Closing verdict
The Tank 4 is an honest improve over the Tank 3, with the 720p DLP projector as the point of interest. Its lowered weight improves usability over the Tank 3 as effectively, though I might have appreciated to have seen a bit of extra from the general efficiency.
For common use, akin to making calls, utilizing Google apps, and lightweight gaming, the Tank 4 is greater than succesful, although the decrease benchmark scores and the shortcoming to load some Apps present that the processing energy of the telephone is restricted.
The cameras are surprisingly good in shiny sunlit situations, but it surely must be famous that they are considerably restricted in low mild. When it comes to connectivity, it is effectively outfitted, with twin SIM and expandable storage offering flexibility and the power to retailer numerous movies for projecting and watching again within the wilds.
Battery life is great, with the 11,600 mAh cell providing prolonged use and reverse charging functionality, once more a helpful function if you happen to’re working or trekking off-grid.
The projector, over the Tank 3S, is a big improve, and now with autofocus and keystone correction, it makes for a really respectable viewing expertise. Whereas audio remains to be missing, it is completely acceptable contemplating the kind of gadgets that it’s; only a bit extra depth to the audio can be very welcome.
As a projection telephone, it affords an excellent stability of battery life and options, but it surely’s only a disgrace that the efficiency is decidedly mid-range.
Ought to I purchase a 8849 Tank 4?
|
Worth |
The mixture of telephone and projector would not totally justify the price |
tbc |
|
Design |
Sturdy construct, however lack of certifications limits rugged credibility |
4 |
|
Options |
Nicely-equipped, although CPU/GPU are barely underpowered |
4 |
|
Efficiency |
Glorious projection, however CPU underdelivers |
4 |
|
Overalls |
A telephone with severe potential let down by underwhelming efficiency |
3.5 |
Purchase it if…
Do not buy it if…
For extra sturdy out of doors gadgets, we have reviewed the best rugged laptops and the best rugged tablets round.
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