When you mean rugged, it means that it is waterproof and dustproof, plus it can withstand a lot of beating or drop. That’s the main feature of this smartphone from CAT. We know CAT or Caterpillar as a manufacturer and distributor of construction machineries and not only that, they also bring the best tools and gears for construction. But for 2014, we encountered this new mobile device with the CAT label, it’s the first smartphone from CAT that is designed and modeled perfect for construction people, handyman or for outdoor adventurous person.
The CAT B15Q is the first rugged smartphone from CAT, with the logo and brand name, I got the first impression that this smartphone is heavy duty and unbreakable, with that logo of CAT, I felt that this phone might be built for the construction people, but then when I learned that the phone is waterproof and dustproof…or lets say, completely weatherproof, I realized that this phone is perfect for the outdoor people and adventurers, because we need a smartphone that can live with dust, dirt, rain, flood or even mud.
When I met the distributor of CAT phones – Cable Access Tech, they mentioned to me that their target market for this phone are the engineers, construction head and the corporate collared guys, I told them that they can also target the extreme adventurers and also the “dads” who are looking for the best phone that can take a lot of beating, like ME!!! I want this phone and I’m ready to replace my android phone with the CAT phone. It’s a bit bulky and thick, but my main catch here is that the durability and its phone-of-steel feature.
Price --
The SRP of CAT is PHP 15,990 and this is not yet available in the local market here in the Philippines. It will be available soon this 2015, but if you want to buy one and want to order this CAT B15Q smartphone, just drop me an email or comment and I will refer you to the official distributor.
For the price range of PHP15k, its quite okay for me, but with the body feature of steel and the awesome power of Android, you know that your money is paying for the right thing.
let me show you my unboxing and also tech specs of CAT B15Q
Tech specs:
body : silver anodized aluminum
touch screen: scratch registant Corning Gorilla glass
OS: Android 4.4 KitKat
Processor: 1.3ghz quad core Media Tek
screen size: 4 inches
Display: 4 inches WVGA (480x800) capacitive multi-touch
camera: 5MP rear with flash / VGA front
IP67 certified dustproof
battery: 2000 mah
talk time: up to 16 hours
standy by: 21 days
Sim: dual sim
with Wifi and bluetooth
Memory: ROM flash 4GB / 1 GB RAM / can be extended up to 32 GB
more specs here at http://catphones.com/phones/b15q-smartphone/
The box
yeah..I just want to show you guys our CAT payloader toy hahahah
inside the box
Here’s the CAT B15Q
Inside the box
There’s an instruction sticker under the cover. It’s a manual on how to open the battery casing
and also how to use the lock
The 2000 mah battery
Dual sim slot and the memory card slot
inserting the battery
Battery attached.
all locked up
Ready to power it up…but first I have to remove the sticker on the screen
Here’s the main booting sequence and logo of CAT
Waiting to finish to the boot up
Android is here….
CAT B15Q is preloaded with lots of apps
majority are from Google. I also noticed that there are some apps from CAT
Here’s my main screen, I have to place my email, FB and Instagram here at the main screen.
Here’s what inside the 2nd screen
About the phone
Navigating the Play Store
Checking the CAT app. its just a CAT phone info and also…
Gateway to contact the CAT supplier if you want to buy or rent some machines
Reading my blog via CAT B15Q
The Gorilla Glass….
Side body of the CAT B15Q, all are bolted in the alum steel to withstand any damage and to make it waterproof
The top of the phone, the headphone jack got its own rubber cover
The volume control
How I handle the rugged smartphone
69.5 mm wide
14.95mm thick
125 cm in height
Always make sure that the covers are secured
The small front camera – VGA only
the 5MP camera with flash
also you can see the speaker of the phone
Back case
Ready to roll…..and accept any drop test challenge
Drop test 1:
Drop test 2
Drop test 3
The alum steel and rubber body protects the smartphone from cracking, it bounces and it lands on the side or body side. I was a bit nervous when I did the the drop test, I throw it in the air, let it drop from my hand and then the last..throw it 6 feet away from me.
The camera looks okay, with 5 MP specs and with flash
the camera performs better in outdoor
The video mode is good in outdoor or environment with available sunlight
here’s the rubber lock for the head phones
rubber lock for the micro USB
take note that you must lock this properly before using it. Just to guarantee you the waterproof and dustproof feature.
Here’s how I use the CAT B15Q at home….I use it during my carpentry gig
I created a parol for my son, and I used the CAT B15Q as my device to flash the reference of the Christmas parol.
I saw a wood and let the smartphone lie on the ground, I got no worries for any smudge on the screen and also its easy to remove the wood powder from the body and screen. What I did is that…I cleaned the phone with water ahahahha.
I’m glad that its water proof
Review:
The touchscreen feature is superb!! Its very reactive and its super smooth. CAT did a great job on making it fast to scroll and control via the Gorilla glass screen. The quad core processor is also a big thumbs up because that’s the best requirement for a better smartphone. The camera is quite okay, its not good for selfies but the rear can do the photo and video capture whenever you need it for outdoor or in indoor, but for me, its best to use the camera indoor.
I’m a skateboarder, biker, adventure lover and I love rugged stuff, even my wrist watch is rugged with rubber cover…. for me, this is the best rugged Android smartphone for the adventure seekers and also outdoor enthusiast.
I’m now excited to know if ever they will make another version 2 of CAT B15Q
