One of the benefits of being a tech reviewer is getting to use devices from companies I would never consider buying. We spend a lot of time complaining about how boring devices from Samsung, Apple, and Google are, but if you broaden your horizons a little, you’ll find some interesting gems.
The Oukitel WP33 Pro is a powerful smartphone with a large battery, but it’s a good phone for everyday use. Unlike other rugged phones, it’s not unwieldy to hold, and it performs well enough for most daily tasks and even moderate gaming. If you like the appeal of a rugged phone with a week-long battery life, but have shied away from big devices in the past, the Oukitel WP33 Pro might be a phone to consider.
Oukitel WP33 Pro
The Oukitel WP33 Pro offers a practical solution for people who need a powerful smartphone with great battery life. It features a 22,000mAh battery, which can last up to a week on a single charge, and an 8D stereo speaker capable of up to 136dB. The hand strap on the back helps lighten the weight of the phone.
- Great battery life
- Solid construction
- Great rear speaker
- Intermittent software support
- heavy
Price, Availability and Compatibility
The Oukitel WP33 Pro is available on the company’s website and Amazon. Its price varies, and while the MSRP is $500, it often sells for around $330. It comes in one configuration: 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.
Compatibility can be a challenge for devices from smaller manufacturers. T-Mobile works fine on the WP33 Pro, as do most MVNOs that operate from its network. Verizon is a mix of companies, with activated SIM cards usually getting the job done. However, AT&T will remove your SIM from the network, and I’m pretty sure they’ll put a lien on your home if you try to use an uncertified device — so buy accordingly.
What are the good features of Oukitel WP33 Pro?
Decent performance and excellent battery life
If you’re considering a phone like the WP33 Pro, its design and weight are selling points rather than negatives. The phone weighs in at around 1.25 pounds, but with that, you get IP68 and IP69K ratings and military-grade drop tests, ensuring that your WP33 Pro can withstand even the most rigorous work sites and activities.
Additionally, the extra weight has been used to equip the WP33 Pro with a massive 22,000mAh battery that Oukitel claims can last for a full week of use. I don’t doubt those claims, as the WP33 Pro’s battery life was great in my testing, with overnight battery drain being almost non-existent. It can also be used as a battery pack, charging other devices through its USB-C port. Whether you’re spending a weekend camping or just don’t like having to worry about charging your phone overnight, the WP33 Pro can keep going all the time.
Unlike other phones with huge batteries, Oukitel has equipped the WP33 Pro with a strap on the back, including a loop to attach it to a belt or bag. It’s a welcome touch, and while it’s not the most original feature I’ve ever seen, it makes the WP33 Pro usable on a daily basis – it barely Removes excess weight.
One of the standout features of the WP33 Pro’s design is the massive stereo speaker on the back of the device. Oukitel claims the speaker can output a whopping 136 decibels of sound, which is louder than a giant jet jet passing overhead. It’s also capable of 8D digital audio playback, a process where the left and right speakers emit slightly different frequencies.
The theory is that the varying frequencies create a larger, concert hall-like sound – essentially tricking your ears. I can’t comment on the merits of the 8D. However, the sound is very good, with excellent bass and high volume levels achieved without distortion – perfect for your next outdoor event, especially when paired with the WP33 Pro’s impressive battery life.
Rugged smartphones often suffer from poor performance, as most of the cost of the phone is in the solid build quality. With the WP33 Pro, that’s not a problem, as it packs the same powertrain as the Samsung Galaxy A15 5G I just reviewed: the MediaTek Dimensity 6100+. It’s an excellent chipset, especially with 8GB of RAM, providing enough power to run high-end games at decent frame rates. It’s also power efficient, which increases the WP33 Pro’s battery life.
Read our review
Samsung Galaxy A15 5G Review: Everything You Need for Just $200
It’s not flashy, but the A15 does the job for people who don’t read reviews or don’t care about specs.
Another weakness of rugged smartphones is the display, which tends to be dull and unfortunately dim. Thankfully, Oukitel hasn’t fallen into that trap with the WP33 Pro. While the 6.6-inch LCD won’t blow the world away, it’s still a 1080p display with saturated colors and decent brightness. Media looks good on the display, and while no one would confuse it with Samsung’s OLED, it still gets the job done.
What’s bad about Oukitel WP33 Pro?
Intermittent software updates
The WP33 Pro’s software is both a strength and a weakness. Oukitel’s approach to Android is relatively clean, though the notification shade and lack of an app drawer take some getting used to. The problem, though, isn’t with the software itself; it’s with the updates — or lack thereof. You won’t exactly get monthly feature releases with the WP33 Pro, and it’s already behind the curve, running Android 13 and a November 2023 security patch.
This isn’t a huge deal, but you need to be aware of things – you’ll be lucky if you get two security updates a year. That’s not to say Oukitel doesn’t fix bugs. It has a system that can update the phone and fix issues that arise without a full security update. This system can be a bit iffy, but it’s a workaround if something breaks or capabilities are upgraded later.
Despite having a 64MP Sony IMX686 main sensor, the WP33 Pro’s camera performance is spotty. If you know what you’re doing, you’ll be able to get a good photo, but point-and-click shooting is a challenge. The phone has a stubborn habit of softening parts of the image and tends to blow out images in bright light. It’s not a matter of poor hardware; the WP33 Pro simply can’t match the computational photography of Google or Samsung.
This isn’t a bad phone at all, the night vision camera works well. It’s perfect if you’re out camping or working early in the morning, and it’s useful for more things than you might think. Overall, the camera system can take some decent shots, but don’t expect more than you’d get from a budget phone.
Should you buy it?
The WP33 Pro is perfect for people who have never picked up a Mario Kart game. If you’re tired of perfectly balanced phones, the WP33 Pro might be the phone for you. Not every phone should appeal to everyone, but it’s nice that companies like Oukitel offer options for people who need great battery life and durable designs. More choice is a good thing; you just have to broaden your horizons a little to discover hidden gems like the WP33 Pro.
Oukitel WP33 Pro
The Oukitel WP33 Pro has all the features and durability you would want in a powerful smartphone, with an added bonus of gaming performance. Its 22,000mAh battery provides superior battery life for those who don’t like charging overnight. It also features an 8D rear speaker that can pump up the volume, perfect for summer parties.
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