In the toughest of professions, only the most rugged of gadgets will keep up with the demands of the job. For over a century, Caterpillar, or CAT, has produced equipment that can withstand the most challenging of tasks. Here’s our review of CAT Phones.
The CAT line of phones is a testament to their philosophy of creating tough products. In this article, we’ll give a complete review of Cat phones and their range to help you choose which one fits your needs.
History of CAT Company
Tracing its origin to the Holt Manufacturing Company, the term Caterpillar referred to how their continuous track tractor moved while in operation.
In 1909, the company name would be officially changed to the Holt Caterpillar Company, though a patent on Caterpillar didn’t come around until 1910.
During the First World War, Holt Caterpillar shifted its focus to military applications, while agricultural machines were dominated by its competitor C. L. Best. After the war, and with the effects of the Depression inhibiting their progress, the two companies would merge despite years of litigation between them.
This merger resulted in the Caterpillar Tractor Co. and saw the business become one of the world’s Fortune 500 corporations. The CAT brand is one of Caterpillar Inc.’s flagship portfolios which produces a wide array of machinery and technology products.
CAT and Bullitt
The Bullitt Group is a British company focused on the development of mobile phones and other consumer electronics. In 2012, they became a licensee of CAT for the creation of rugged mobile phones for use in the toughest of industries.
Since the start of the partnership, Bullitt and CAT have created some of the most resilient mobile devices while still remaining quite versatile. The company’s products would go on to win accolades from the Mobile Industry Awards as the Most Ruggedized Manufacturer of the Year in 2020.
Top CAT Products
Below are comprehensive reviews of CAT’s top rugged mobile phone products.
CAT S42H+
When you work in a dirty industry, making sure that your equipment can be easily cleaned is a definite must. This is where the CAT S42H+ shows its worth. With a body blended with silver ions to prevent the growth of bacteria, it’s the ideal phone for the dirtiest of jobs.
The CATS42H+ offers an extended battery life of up to two days with its 4,200 mAh battery. It features an Android 10 operating system, which can be upgraded to Android 11. Plus, it has a powerful MediaTek Helio Quadcore 1.8GHz processor, along with 3GB of RAM and 32 GB of memory. Storage can be increased up to 128 GB via the available microSD card slot.
The phone features two cameras, a front-facing 5-megapixel sensor camera, and a rear-facing 13-megapixel camera.
The S42H+ lives up to CAT’s reputation of creating tough devices, with an Ingress Protection rating of IP 68 and IP 69. It’s able to withstand dust, dirt, and sand, and can be submerged in 5 feet of water for as long as 35 minutes. It can withstand drops of up to 6 feet even onto steel surfaces. The CAT S42H+ can operate efficiently between -22°F to 167°F. Whether you’re inside a cold storage warehouse or a steel mill, the SH42H+ will keep on working.
The external body of the SH42H+ has been covered in silver ions as a form of germ defense. Even when the phone gets dirty, it can withstand harsh cleaning products like alcohol and bleach, making for easy cleaning.
It’s the perfect phone for workers who are exposed to contaminants during the course of their workday. With the ease of cleaning and the bacteria-resistant body, the CAT42H+ will keep you connected in the harshest of environments.
CAT S62 Pro
Some jobs require more from their work phone than simple communication. The CAT S62 Pro is a good example of a feature-rich CAT mobile device. With a built-in FLIR thermal imaging camera, it’s a great work tool for tasks that require thermal scanning and diagnosis of surface areas. Whether it’s in plumbing, electrical work, or construction, the CAT S62 Pro is a worthy addition to your tool belt.
The CAT S62 Pro can operate for up to two days, thanks to its 4,000 mAh battery. The phone runs on the Android 11 operating system, with Android Enterprise support. It features a powerful 2.0 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 Octo Core processor, enabling it to run most software without any problems. The device has an impressive 6 GB RAM and internal storage of 128 GB. Users can expand this via a microSD card for up to 256 GB of additional memory. The phone also features dual SIM slots, allowing users to connect or switch between networks easily.
The CAT S62 Pro has a front-facing 8-megapixel camera, along with a rear-facing 12-megapixel camera. Its most outstanding feature is the integrated Lepton 3.5 FLIR thermal camera that can measure temperature variations of between -4°F to 752°F. This is perfect for finding drafts, leaks, electric shorts, or hotspots hidden behind the walls of your work area.
The CAT S62 Pro doesn’t compromise on ruggedness either. With Ingress Protection ratings of IP 68 and IP 69, no dust, dirt, sand, or water can compromise your phone. It can be left submerged for up to 35 minutes beneath 5 feet of water and can be dropped from a height of 6 feet onto steel surfaces without suffering a scratch.
CAT S52
For those who need a rugged phone, but also want a stylish mobile device to boot, the CAT S52 is a great choice. Touted as the world’s thinnest truly rugged phone, the CAT S52 was designed to be eye-catching but still endure the toughest of activities. If you enjoy extreme sports or simply lead an active lifestyle, then this phone is surely one to consider.
The CAT S52 has a capacity of 3,100 mAh, providing users with up to 29 hours of uninterrupted talk time. The batteries support fast charging, reducing downtime for those always on the go. Running on the Android 9 framework, it can be upgraded to Android 10 along with security updates for up to two years.
The device features the 2.3 GHz Mediatek Helio P35 Octacore processor, allowing it to run a majority of apps without many problems. With its 4 GB of RAM along with an internal storage of 64 GB, you can easily install a ton of software.
The phone has a rear-facing 12-megapixel Sony camera and a front-facing 8-megapixel camera. The phone also features a biometric fingerprint sensor, a Gyroscope, an Accelerometer, Ambient Light and Proximity sensors, along with an E compass. It’s a great device for outdoorsy types who still want to have a means to communicate.
Even with its compact build, the CAT S52 lives up to its reputation of ruggedness. With an Ingress Protection rating of IP 68 and IP 69, no amount of sand, dust, dirt, or moisture will ruin your phone. It can be dropped onto concrete from up to 5 feet and submerged for 35 minutes in water that’s 5 feet deep. The device can withstand temperature fluctuations between –13°F and 131°F and is resistant to both humidity and salt mists.
CAT B40
Sometimes all you need is a no-frills mobile device for use during those jobs when you need to stay connected. The CAT B40 might just be the industrial strength, military spec, professional-grade phone that meets your rigorous requirements.
The CAT B40 was designed to be simple to operate. It doesn’t have complex features but will perform its job perfectly. The phone has a 1.0 GHz Unisoc T117 chipset under the hood and supports external memory via microSD of up to 32 GB. It doesn’t have Wi-Fi connectivity but does support Bluetooth 5 if you need to connect to other gadgets. The 1,800 mAh battery can last up to 660 minutes of uninterrupted talk time and can remain on standby mode for up to 30 days without fully emptying the battery. It doesn’t support quick charging though, so it’s best to plug it in when the bar reaches below 50%.
It has a single rear-facing 2-megapixel camera, so it may not be the best for taking pictures, but it comes with a 100 Lumen built-in flashlight for when you need to illuminate a specific area. The phone also has a 4-inch display along with external buttons to provide easy tactile inputs.
The best feature of the CAT B40 is its toughness. With an Ingress Protection rating of IP 68 and IP 69, no amount of dirt, dust, or moisture can compromise your phone. With CAT’s Hygiene Plus assurance, the exterior has been coated with silver ions to prevent the growth of bacteria.
This phone has also been designed to be cleaned easily, as its bleach and chemical-resistant surface can be wiped down with any cleaner of your choice. If you decide to just power wash the device, it’ll remain operational once you’ve done so.
CAT S22 Flip
If you’re looking for a phone that balances simplicity with versatility, then the CAT S22 Flip certainly fits the bill. Pair it with the toughness and reliability that CAT mobile phones are known for, then you’ve got a device that’s fit for almost any application.
With a removable 2,000 mAh Lithium-ion battery, it can last surprisingly long on a full charge. It supports Pogo Pin charging, allowing you to place the phone on a charging dock without the need for unwieldy cables. It runs on a 1.3 GHz Qualcomm 215 quad-core processor, with an Android 11 (Go Edition) operating system.
The CAT S22 Flip offers 2 GB of Ram and 16 GB of internal memory. A microSD slot allows expansion for up to 128 GB when you require more space for your applications. The flip feature also means that it has a separate tactile alpha-numeric keyboard along with its 2.8-inch VGA touchscreen display.
The phone has two cameras, a rear-facing 5-megapixel camera, and a front-facing 2-megapixel camera. The phone also has several sensors, including a proximity sensor, an ambient light sensor, a barometer, and an accelerometer.
The CAT S22 Flip doesn’t compromise when it comes to ruggedness. It has an Ingress Protection rating of IP68, making it dust, sand, and dirt resistant. It can be submerged in up to 5 feet of water for 35 minutes and will withstand falls of up to 6 feet onto steel surfaces. This phone can tolerate thermal shocks of between 13°F to 122°F for up to 30 minutes. This phone is as tough as it is versatile.
Keeping your mobile device sanitary isn’t a problem when it comes to the CAT S22 as it can be wiped down with bleach, alcohol, or any cleaning solution you may want to use.
CAT S61
There are fully loaded phones, then there’s the CAT S61. Made to satisfy even the most demanding connoisseur, it is packed with lots of tools to help get any job done. If you’re looking for one of the most feature-rich rugged phones on the market, then the CAT S61 may be the device for you.
The CAT S61 boasts a 4,500 mAh Lithium-ion battery that offers up to 35 hours of uninterrupted talk time on a full charge. On standby mode, it can last up to 37 days before running out of power. The phone supports quick charging, so it’s easy to top off the battery whenever it becomes too low.
The phone runs on a 2.2 GHz Qualcomm SD630 Octa-core processor and the Android 8 operating system. The OS can be upgraded to Android 9 if the user requires it. It has 4 GB of Ram and 64 GB of internal memory. Storage can be later expanded via a microSD card.
The device features both a front-facing 8-megapixel fixed focus camera and a rear-facing 16-megapixel auto-focus camera with dual LED flash. The CAT S61 also has an integrated Lepton FLIR thermal imaging camera that can measure temperature variations of up to 752°F.
This phone comes with a lot of sensors, including an accelerometer, a proximity sensor, an ambient light sensor, location sensors, ambient light sensors, and thermal sensors. There’s also a compass, a gyroscope, and a barometer for use on assignments outdoors. For indoor work, the indoor air quality sensor is able to measure humidity and temperature for those tough jobs in enclosed spaces.
Buying CAT Products in Bulk
If you need multiple devices to support your communication infrastructure, then calling on the experts at Energy Electronics is the best choice.
Our highly trained and experienced staff will be able to recommend the best devices to fit the needs of your company. If you have an industry-specific requirement, rest assured that we can meet even the most stringent of demands.
Our well-established contacts in the industry allow us to provide competitive pricing for bulk orders. We’ll be able to give exclusive deals and promote cost-effective solutions for your mobile communication needs.
The means and inventory at our disposal ensure that we can deliver your purchases in the most efficient manner possible. We offer direct contact with our management team to update you on the status of your orders.
Talk to a CAT Expert
With the variety of devices that CAT has to offer, finding the right gadget for your business may seem daunting. The CAT mobile experts at Energy Electronics are well-equipped with both experience and know-how to match the best CAT phones to the jobs that you need them for.
Feel free to get in touch with us for any questions that you may have.
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