The Doogee S98 is the most recent in a line of increasingly durable smartphones from Doogee, and it includes a number of features that are sure to be helpful for many users of rugged smartphones. It is offered by Doogeemall, AliExpress, and the S98 official page, with prices starting at $260. also you can check our article on Doogee S98 rugged smartphone review. However, with features such as “explosion-proof” and a “military standard 810G rating,” you might mistakenly believe that you are purchasing an M1 Abrams or an F-15 fighter jet. You are, however, investing in a smartphone, which, based on my tests, should prove to be quite the investment for some. Let’s find out more about this smartphone.
Doogee S98 rugged smartphone review: Design
The S98 comes in a square, thin cardboard box, similar to those used by most Doogee tough phones, that is pleasant to the touch due to the application of textured material on all sides. Both retail boxes demonstrate that Doogee is paying attention to this aspect, even though the texture is different from the one used for the V20’s packaging. Even if it won’t matter to many purchasers, the Doogee S98 and its accessories are protected in a box that looks and feels high-end. The extensive collection of accessories that come with the S98 won’t surprise brand loyalists, but those unfamiliar with Doogee will undoubtedly be pleasantly delighted by the retail bundle. The retail box also includes a SIM extractor tool, a USB-C to USB-C connection, a 33 W power converter, an extra screen protector, a bag of accessories, and an instruction booklet in 13 different languages. Sadly, the special item that is not included in the typical retail packaging is the cosmonaut figure that can be seen in the pictures at the conclusion of this section. The Doogee S98’s UFO-inspired design does the trick for me. Of course, some people might not like it, and this is true of almost any phone. But we’re confident that the majority of smartphone consumers will consider the Doogee S98 to at least have an intriguing and unique look. There are three colour options: red, orange, and black. A green or grey camouflage finish, at the very least, would be a welcome addition to the portfolio, in our opinion.
Display
The 6.3-inch Full HD waterdrop notch display on the Doogee S98 has a 19:9 aspect ratio. It is an LCD panel with a maximum brightness of 480 nits and a typical 60 Hz refresh rate. These are definitely not high-end specifications for a phone in 2022, but they work fairly well for a design that emphasizes dependability and usefulness. The Doogee S98 actually boasts what is most likely the best tough phone display. you can read our article on Doogee S98 rugged smartphone review. The screen creates brilliant colours and has a superb touch responsiveness. For an LCD, viewing angles are reasonable, and videos seem passably well but not very immersive. Sadly, the phone was unable to watch Netflix HD content. Moving on, outdoor visibility is best described as ordinary. If your profession requires you to work outside, you can experience a few minor vision issues with the LCD panel because it appears a little dull in direct sunshine.
Doogee S98 rugged smartphone review: Software
One of the most notable aspects of the Doogee S98 is that it will be an early adopter of Android 12, with new features focused on work, convenience, play, and for a better user interface, privacy dashboard, and some interesting customization additions with UI that has better gesture navigation controls, a Dark Theme, and contains most of the standard features, the most significant of which is the presence of all Google services, MMS, and other messaging apps. As we frequently state, the stock Android operating system is preferable for inexpensive smartphones, with a straightforward and responsive launcher for improved performance, especially given that it lacks pre-installed apps or games, which we truly dislike because to the abundance of adverts. However, the outside toolbox folder has various toolkit programmes that will provide you with a compass, a pedometer, a height metre, an alarm, a flashlight, and more. but is free of pop-up advertisements and does not strain the device.
Hardware and performance
The Mediatek Helio G96 system-on-chip included in the S98 is comparable to the Dimensity 700, albeit a little slower, employing a more advanced manufacturing node, and without 5G. It is supported with 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage and 8GB of LPDDR4x RAM. Doogee’s primary camera has a 64-megapixel Samsung sensor, while the front-facing camera has a 16-megapixel Samsung sensor and the night vision camera has a 20-megapixel Sony IMX350 sensor. You also receive a warranty card, a screen protector, and an instruction booklet in addition to the charger and cord. Both rapid charging (33W) and wireless charging are supported by the 6Ah battery (18W). Given that the S98 is built on a mid-range processor, we didn’t have high expectations for it. It is marginally quicker than G95-powered devices and marginally slower than cellphones built on the Dimensity 700, according to benchmark results. So, with a little gaming thrown in, anticipate it to be adequate for the majority of chores. In addition to the stock Android 12 build, the S98 includes the usual set of Mediatek-powered smartphone apps: the Easy Launcher, GameSpace, Children Space, and the ubiquitous toolbox (with a pedometer, compass, etc.). These apps create virtual environments for the targeted users with varying degrees of lockdown capabilities.
Camera
First of all, we apologies. We didn’t realize there was a setting that added a Doogee watermark to every shot until we were reviewing the S98 Pro’s cameras the next day. Consider this a reminder to any potential purchaser to deactivate that setting right away. However, if you get over that disclaimer, there’s a lot to enjoy about this. The night vision camera is the best choice if you want night vision on your phone because the main camera supports HDR. also you will learn our article on Doogee S98 rugged smartphone review. The image of the figurine in the shadow of a room, which may often render mid-range phones ineffective, is handled nicely by the S98 Pro while keeping detail. However, as the photograph of the figurine in front of the artwork demonstrates, it can occasionally struggle to focus in the foreground. However, as you can see from the photograph of the seagull, where its face is completely hidden, detail can sometimes be an issue with zoomed-in photographs. Even under ordinary lighting situations, the selfie camera performs admirably and captures a lot of detail. The portrait mode is one of the better ones we’ve seen recently for identifying hair and ears, but we don’t like how blurry the background outside gets. Regarding Night Vision, it works great in this location and is available in the camera menu along with your other more common settings. There is an astonishing level of detail displayed in images, as can be seen from the dusty keyboard we discovered at the back of a pitch-black cabinet.
Doogee S98 rugged smartphone review:Battery life
With moderate use, the S98’s larger 6,000mAh battery pack easily lasts two days on a single charge. The stock Android UI and common 60Hz refresh rate LCD are two more aspects that contribute to the longer battery life in addition to the larger battery cell. At this pricing point, the phone even has 15W wireless charging capability in addition to 33W cable fast charging support. A complete refuel takes about two hours. In 2022, the Doogee S98’s lack of 5G compatibility will be disappointing. One SIM card and a microSD card can be used to increase storage, or two 4G nano-SIM cards can be used simultaneously. The phone is Bluetooth 5.1 and Wi-Fi 2.4GHz and 5GHz compatible. NFC is also available for wireless mobile payments.
Price and availability
Directly from the manufacturer’s website, the Doogee S98 costs $340 (about £270/AU$480), saving you $160 off the suggested retail price. The three international warehouses that are now stocking the smartphone were two to three weeks behind schedule at the time of writing. Wine red, traditional black, and phantom grey are the colour options for it. It would be worthwhile to browse around as AliExpress had it on sale for as little as $260 (about £210/AU$370). Keep in mind that these costs do not include any applicable local taxes or third-party handling charges.
Conclusion
The Doogee S98 has a classy appearance and superb craftsmanship, as well as a respectably quick processor, a sizable amount of internal storage, a sizable battery with wireless charging capability, and a pure Android experience. The DOOGEE S98 smartphone is a powerhouse thanks to its tough build, amazing cameras, and cutting-edge back display. It is designed to last the entire day and then some. It truly is ideal for everyone, even if it was primarily created for those with busy outdoor lifestyles and vocations that might easily destroy most phones.
