I’ve reviewed more than a dozen rugged phones in the past two years, and while I love the extra drop protection and the big batteries, there are a few drawbacks. First, they’re big, heavy devices, often weighing in at over a pound.
These items become difficult to handle unless you have a backpack or a crane to move them.
More importantly, companies often compromise on specs and performance in favor of a rugged design. Sure, they can withstand an 8-foot drop, but gaming becomes difficult. What good is a smartphone that can withstand a fall but doesn’t run smoothly?
Doogee offers a different take on the DK10 smartphone. It still has all the specs of a rugged smartphone, with an IP69K rating that provides peace of mind, but it weighs in at 304g – almost half the weight of a typical rugged phone. Plus, it has an AMOLED display and a powerful chipset, giving it a more attractive look than these devices usually offer. However, while we welcome the DK10’s enhanced specs, it still has its flaws, making it a tougher decision to buy than it should be.
Doge DK10
The Doogee DK10 offers solid performance to complement its rugged build. Doogee has equipped the DK10 with a bright 1080p AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It is powered by the Dimensity 8020 chipset, which is capable of delivering good performance and gaming. It comes with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, with a MicroSD card slot that can be expanded up to 2TB.
- Bright and sharp screen
- Strong design
- Fast performance
- accidental shutter lag
- No software support
Price, Availability and Contact
The Doogeee DK10 isn’t available through any US carriers, but the manufacturer does sell it officially on Amazon US and AliExpress. Unfortunately, prices vary, with prices starting at $370 and going up to $630. If you’re comfortable with AliExpress, you’ll find the best deal, but Amazon is more reliable for US consumers, where the DK10 will set you back $530. Doogee ships the DK10 with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, in two color options: Emerald Green and Kevlar Black.
Like many third-party devices, connecting to a carrier can be difficult in the US. For the DK10, T-Mobile and the MVNOs that operate on its network will work best. It’s possible to use Verizon with an active SIM card, but I wouldn’t recommend trying it. And as always, AT&T is not a good choice, as the company will destroy your SIM card itself like a scene from Mission: Impossible.
What’s good about DK10?
Solid build with decent performance.
Although the device is thinner than most rugged devices, it still meets all the expected ratings and standards, making it weather-resistant and able to withstand drops from several feet. The back of the device is adorned with a high-gloss metal and Kevlar-like material, while the display is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus on the front. It feels solid in the hand, and I’m confident it will survive a few bruises.
Under the hood, the DK10 comes with a Mediatek Dimensity 8020 chipset, capable of mid-range performance and graphics. It’s not the best out there, but the Dimensity 8020 is noticeably better performing than the Helio G99 I’ve seen in a lot of rugged devices. It’s also capable of 5G connectivity, allowing for better speeds and connectivity.
Overall, the DK10 feels fast, thanks to the 12GB of RAM that gives me plenty of room for cached apps. It breezed through my Instagram and Facebook feeds without issue, and even light to medium-duty gaming was fine on the DK10. Don’t ask it to do too much, and you’ll be happy with the performance, especially if you’ve used other rugged phones before. While hardware horsepower like the Unihertz Tank was enough, the DK10 takes it up a notch (with all due respect, Emeril).
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The DK10’s display is another big upgrade over other powerful smartphones. It’s a gorgeous 1080p AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The display is bright and vibrant, with saturated colors that pop off the screen. Movies and games look great, and I had no trouble viewing the DK10 outdoors.
While it’s not 15,000mAh, the DK10’s battery is big enough to get the job done. The 5,150mAh battery cell got me through the day with the extra space, but I did notice a bit more battery drain overnight than I would have liked. The DK10 even comes with a charging brick in the box, unlike most OEMs in 2024. It’s fast, too, capable of 120W wired charging and 50W wireless charging. Doogee claims the DK10 can be fully recharged in 16 minutes. I can attest to that claim, as I’ve occasionally put the phone down for a quick 30% recharge, and it’s done before I can even check the progress.
I found myself enjoying other features of the DK10, such as the MicroSD card slot, which can expand storage by up to 2TB. The stereo speakers produce good sound that doesn’t distort at higher volumes, and I appreciated the availability of Wi-Fi 6 for faster speeds. Doogee paid attention to detail in the design, which goes a long way in justifying its relatively high price compared to the competition.
What’s bad about Doogee DK10?
We need at least some support.
Frankly, I could have put the camera in either category. When you add up everything else the DK10 offers for around $500, it’s an acceptable—and in some cases, good—camera. The 50MP main sensor is capable of capturing rich, saturated images with good contrast. And at 1/1.31-inch, the sensor lets in enough light and data to produce a high-quality image.
Macro lenses are usually a waste of time on smartphones, but the DK10 includes one that’s worth it. It’s 50MP, which means there’s not a huge drop in image quality between the main sensor and the macro. I hate it when companies throw in a 2MP macro lens that looks dull and soft compared to the main lens, but Doogee hasn’t made that mistake here. The night vision lens also works well, allowing you to take photos in complete darkness.
Unfortunately, the camera system is a major glitch. Selfies look good, though they are blown out in harsh lighting, but shutter lag is terrible. I thought the camera had taken the shot, so I moved it away from me, only to realize the DK10 had taken a photo of the sky. Turning off flicker protection helps a bit, but its performance is inconsistent at best. There’s nothing worse than missing a shot due to shutter lag, which detracts from the DK10’s quality.
Fortunately, the issue doesn’t extend to the rear cameras, but I did encounter a few instances where the DK10 struggled to focus in low light. I didn’t miss a shot because of this, but the camera software needs some improvement.
Speaking of software, while Doogee’s Android OS is relatively traditional, don’t expect monthly security patches from the company. It runs Android 13 out of the box, with a security patch due in April 2024, but that latest patch is a function of the phone’s release date, not a sign that Doogee is committed to frequent updates.
It’s a problem for smaller OEMs, which makes recommendations difficult. With other manufacturers offering four, five, or even seven years of support at similar prices, it puts phones like the DK10 at a disadvantage from the start.
Should you buy it?
I definitely have some reservations about the Doogee DK10, but that’s not something that’s uncommon for smaller manufacturers. In fact, Doogee does a better job than most other manufacturers in giving the DK10 solid performance and excellent build quality. I worry that it won’t get many software updates.
However, if you’re comfortable taking risks, the DK10 offers better cameras and features than most rugged phones without the extra weight that usually comes with them. Overall, the DK10 is a well-made device, and if you can get it at a good price, it’s worth buying.
Doge DK10
The Doogee DK10 trims some of the fat found in other powerful devices by offering a smaller battery but without sacrificing build quality. It also boasts above-average performance for its price range and a gorgeous 1080p AMOLED display. Charging is fast, too, with 120W wired charging and 50W wireless charging. The 50MP main camera does a good job of producing quality photos in good lighting.
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