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MagyarSamsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro review: Lightweight outdoor smartphone with power
Outdoor smartphones are supposed to achieve the impossible: They should be compact and lightweight, well protected from shocks and environmental influences, equipped with the latest ports and a lot of processing power, but not too expensive. Perhaps this is why many large smartphone manufacturers do not even bother trying.
Samsung has been successfully offering robust phones with its XCover series for many years now. The latest model of the series is called Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro and we take a closer look at it in this review. The latest XCover smartphone combines time-tested virtues such as a modest design and a replaceable battery with a potentially quite powerful SoC, but it has also become more expensive.
Possible Competitors in Comparison
Rating | Date | Model | Weight | Drive | Size | Resolution | Best Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 81.9 % | 08/2022 | Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro SD 778G 5G, Adreno 642L | 235 g | 128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | 6.60" | 2408x1080 | |
| 78 % | 03/2020 | Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro Exynos 9611, Mali-G72 MP3 | 218 g | 64 GB UFS 2.0 Flash | 6.30" | 2340x1080 | |
| 81.6 % | 03/2021 | Blackview BL6000 Pro Dimensity 800, Mali-G57 MP4 | 273 g | 256 GB UFS 2.1 Flash | 6.36" | 2300x1080 | |
| 81.1 % | 08/2021 | Nokia XR20 SD 480, Adreno 619 | 248 g | 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash | 6.67" | 2400x1080 | |
| 79.7 % | 08/2022 | AGM Glory G1S SD 480, Adreno 619 | 315 g | 128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | 6.53" | 2340x1080 |
Case - Not rubberized, but ribbed
The XCover 6 Pro is quite light and practical for an outdoor phone: At 235 grams, it weighs more than conventional smartphones, but much less than some rugged smartphones with special cameras. It's also quite slim for a shockproof smartphone at under one centimeter.
The case is made of plastic and does without the rubber coating that is otherwise common in rugged smartphones. Instead, Samsung uses pronounced ribbing to increase grip. This works quite well, but rubber coating still provides more security against phone slips or drops. The display is protected by a slightly protruding frame and Gorilla Glass Victus.
The design is simple and the color a classic black. Only the buttons on the left and upper sides of the case have metallic red accents. The detachable back cover creaks very loudly when twisted. Pressure on the front does not get through to the display.
The XCover 6 Pro is IP68 and MIL-STD-810H certified, meaning it can withstand dust and submersion in water for extended periods of time. Dropping the smartphone from not too great a height should not cause worry, as you are unlikely to incur anything more than a few scratches. However, such accidents are explicitly excluded from the warranty, so you'll have to pay for the repair yourself in more serious cases.
Equipment – More storage for Samsung's stable smartphone
The Galaxy XCover 6 Pro comes with 128 GB of mass storage and 6 GB of RAM. This is on par with other current outdoor smartphones; the XCover Pro predecessor had less storage. The RRP was just under US$ 500 for the latter, and now the manufacturer is asking around US$ 599 for this year's model.
Samsung specifies a USB 3.2 Gen1 port. However, thanks to the completely confusing nomenclature of USB technology, it is a port with up to 5 GB/s, which corresponds to the USB 3.0 standard. At least you get much faster wired transfer rates than with USB 2.0.
The smartphone houses two SIM slots.
microSD Card Reader
Those wanting to use a microSD card for storage expansion can insert cards with up to 1 TB of storage capacity and use a dedicated slot so that the two SIM slots remain usable.
In our tests with the Angelbird AV Pro V60 microSD reference card, the XCover 6 Pro achieves good transfer rates and also proves to be comparatively fast in the CPDT benchmark, especially when writing.
| SD Card Reader - average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs) | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro (Angelbird V60) | |
| AGM Glory G1S (Angelbird V60) | |
| Nokia XR20 (Angelbird V60) | |
Cross Platform Disk Test (CPDT)
Software – One UI including Samsung DeX
Samsung pre-installs the Android 12-based OneUI 4.1 on the smartphone, which comes with some third-party apps such as Microsoft Office or Spotify. These are a nuisance, especially on a smartphone in a business environment, but can be uninstalled quickly and easily.
The security updates were from July 2022 and thus quite up-to-date at the time of review. There are no special software adjustments regarding the smartphone's outdoor function, aside from the configuration options for the freely assignable buttons.
The XCover 6 Pro supports Samsung DeX, which allows for the mirroring of screen content via cable or even wirelessly on certain Samsung TVs. A special user interface even enables operation via mouse and keyboard or remote control and expands the application possibilities.
Communication & GNSS - Even WiFi 6E is on board
Samsung's Galaxy XCover 6 Pro is able to connect to Wi-Fi networks in the 6 GHz band and comes with WiFi 6E. It achieves solid speeds that leave the predecessor in the dust, but in our test with the Asus ROG AXE11000 reference router, it doesn't quite come close to high-end smartphones in terms of transmission speed.
The smartphone also operates in the 5G network and there are so many frequencies in the LTE range that the XCover can also be used abroad. On the other hand, Samsung's rugged smartphone is not a real world smartphone, as it lacks several of the more exotic bands.
We measured the reception randomly in our tests and compared it with other smartphones. The Galaxy XCover 6 Pro proves to be quite competitive here, but occasionally shows one reception bar less than high-end phones from Apple or Honor. On the other hand, signal strength was always sufficient during testing, even indoors.
| Networking | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| AGM Glory G1S | |
| Average of class Smartphone (40.5 - 1810, n=190, last 2 years) | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
| Average of class Smartphone (229 - 1894, n=42, last 2 years) | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
| Average of class Smartphone (598 - 1840, n=42, last 2 years) | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| iperf3 transmit AX12 | |
| Blackview BL6000 Pro | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| Average of class Smartphone (42.9 - 884, n=36, last 2 years) | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro | |
| iperf3 receive AX12 | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| Blackview BL6000 Pro | |
| Average of class Smartphone (50.4 - 938, n=37, last 2 years) | |
| AGM Glory G1S | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro | |
We took the smartphone outside and put its tracking capabilities to the test. It communicates with all the usual satellite networks, namely GPS, GLONASS, Beidou and Galileo, but does not support SBAS for more accurate positioning. We were quickly pinpointed with an accuracy of 3 meters outdoors.
An outdoor smartphone should also have decent positioning capabilities in everyday use, but the XCover 6 Pro is only on an average level here: localization works quite well in wider streets, but the smartphone proves inaccurate in narrow alleys, putting us in buildings. But the deviations are still tolerable, so the Galaxy XCover 6 Pro can be used for navigation if absolute accuracy is not required.
Telephony & Voice Quality - Not very pleasant
Samsung also installs its own phone app, OneUI, which differs from the Android phone app in several aspects. Of course, Google's Original can also be installed and used if desired.
We don't like the call quality via the earpiece that much: the other party sounds a little muffled, but is still intelligible for the most part. Our voice usually comes through well enough, even when we speak a bit softer, but the other party describes it as very high-pitched.
At maximum volume, the loudspeaker produces a few frequencies that sound unpleasant. The intelligibility of the conversation partner is sufficient, but listening to him/her would prove uncomfortable over longer periods of time. The problem is less pronounced when we reduce the volume. If we speak too softly via the hands-free microphone, the called party can no longer hear us.
Cameras - Wide angle at the back, narrow field of view at the front
HDR shots are quite decent with the 50-megapixel main camera of the Galaxy XCover 6 Pro. However, colors look a bit dull. The surrounding environment shows a lot of detail, but also appears a little over-sharpened in places. In low light, outlines are missing in dark areas, and the lightening is mediocre. The sensor of the main camera comes from Samsung, is called Isocell JN1, and is being used in many mid-range phones this year.
There is also a 8 MP wide-angle camera. The sensor is from Sony, distorts visibly at the edges, and hardly any far-away details can be seen. Overall, this camera is more suitable for snapshots.
Videos can be recorded with the main camera in 4K resolution at a maximum of 30 fps; light adjustment and autofocus react quickly and accurately. We like the picture quality, colors are reproduced vividly, and the picture does not look too noisy even in slightly weaker light. The ultra-wide-angle camera can record videos in Full HD at most. Switching between the two lenses during recording is also possible, but there is no hybrid zoom.
It is odd that the 13-megapixel camera on the front, also from Sony, offers a quite narrow field of view. So there is less room for other people in the picture, or you have to hold the smartphone further away. The picture quality is decent, but you should not enlarge the photos too much, otherwise they become very grainy.
Image Comparison
Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.
Main camera: flowerMain camera: surroundingsMain camera: low lightWide angle camera
Accessories & Warranty - No more charger
Samsung has also made cuts to the XCover series and removed the charger. Only a USB cable is included. A SIM tool is also missing, since the back can be removed to access the SIM slots.
Samsung charges just under US$ 50 for a charger online, but adapters from other manufacturers can often be used without issue. For a smartphone with a replaceable battery, like the Galaxy XCover 6 Pro, it is interesting to see what the replacement batteries cost: there are offers starting at US$ 35 online, although it is surprisingly difficult to find corresponding offers. Samsung itself does not offer batteries on its website either.
Input Devices & Operation – Lots of assignable keys
The touchscreen of the Galaxy XCover 6 Pro is easy to use and sensitive in all areas, even at the edges. You can increase the touchscreen's sensitivity and thus also use it with thin gloves. The device can also be used with wet fingers. We only had problems when there was too much water on the display.
On the left of the casing is the so-called XCover key, a physical button that can be assigned with numerous functions or used to start an app. The smartphone can differentiate between short and long presses if desired. The standby button, which is slightly recessed on the right side of the case, can also be assigned with different functions when pressed twice or for a long time. There is also another freely assignable button at the top of the case.
The fingerprint sensor has been integrated into the standby button, which also unlocks the smartphone from standby. This works almost immediately and reliably when the button is touched with a registered finger. Face recognition can also be used, but this option is not as secure due to the pure software solution.
Display - Inaccurate color reproduction on 120 Hz screen
A Full HD screen is standard for slightly more expensive outdoor phones. For a smartphone that is used a lot outdoors, a brightness higher than 510 cd/m² in maximum is ideal. Nokia's XR20 manages nearly 100 cd/m² more, and Samsung also achieves significantly higher brightness levels with the OLED screens of its normal mid-range smartphones in Boost mode.
The manufacturer provides a 120 Hz screen that ensures smooth scrolling, but the user cannot reduce it to lower frame rates to conserve battery power.
The color representation cannot be used for a professional evaluation of printing colors. Our tests with the spectrophotometer and the CalMAN software reveal a heavy blue cast.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 92 %
Center on Battery: 510 cd/m²
Contrast: 1109:1 (Black: 0.46 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 7.41 | 0.55-29.43 Ø5.1
ΔE Greyscale 10.6 | 0.57-6493 Ø6.6
99.9% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.518
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro PLS, 2408x1080, 6.60 | Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro IPS, 2340x1080, 6.30 | Blackview BL6000 Pro IPS, 2300x1080, 6.36 | Nokia XR20 IPS, 2400x1080, 6.67 | AGM Glory G1S IPS, 2340x1080, 6.53 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | 15% | 11% | 35% | 7% | |
| Brightness middle | 510 | 569 12% | 583 14% | 599 17% | 390 -24% |
| Brightness | 495 | 562 14% | 518 5% | 598 21% | 377 -24% |
| Brightness Distribution | 92 | 91 -1% | 83 -10% | 99 8% | 91 -1% |
| Black Level * | 0.46 | 0.42 9% | 0.6 -30% | 0.33 28% | 0.43 7% |
| Contrast | 1109 | 1355 22% | 972 -12% | 1815 64% | 907 -18% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 7.41 | 6.14 17% | 4.78 35% | 4.52 39% | 5.13 31% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 13.26 | 10.92 18% | 8.7 34% | 7.6 43% | 7.96 40% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 10.6 | 7.9 25% | 5.5 48% | 4.2 60% | 5.7 46% |
| Gamma | 2.518 87% | 2.256 98% | 2.22 99% | 2.279 97% | 2.423 91% |
| CCT | 10050 65% | 8696 75% | 6830 95% | 7309 89% | 7974 82% |
* ... smaller is better
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM not detected |  | ||
In comparison: 54 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 19019 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured. | |||
We did not notice PWM, even at very low brightness levels. The screen's response times are relatively slow.
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 14 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 9 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 5 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 27 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (21.9 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 31 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 16 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 15 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.25 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 33 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (34.6 ms). | ||
In outdoor use, the performance of the smartphone is average. A brighter screen would have certainly been beneficial for long periods of time outdoors.
When viewing the display from the sides, screen content can still be recognized very well. Only slight brightness differences become visible in large black areas.
Performance - Gaming SoC in an outdoor phone
Manufacturers usually have to cut back on the SoC for outdoor smartphones, since complex case seals and other special features tend to prove too much for the budget. At least Samsung uses an upper mid-range processor for the Galaxy XCover 6 Pro.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G is actually a SoC for gamers, which is also quite obvious in the graphics benchmarks: hardly any of the comparison devices can keep up here, and our review sample also runs much faster than other outdoor smartphones in the processor benchmarks.
There is thus adequate power for most scenarios, even if you run several apps simultaneously. Of course, the SoC cannot keep up with real high-end processors, but it should be more than enough for everyday use.
| Geekbench 5.4 | |
| Single-Core | |
| Average of class Smartphone (119 - 1885, n=237, last 2 years) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G (765 - 791, n=11) | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| AGM Glory G1S | |
| Multi-Core | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G (2785 - 3000, n=11) | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| Average of class Smartphone (473 - 5538, n=237, last 2 years) | |
| AGM Glory G1S | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| Antutu v9 - Total Score | |
| Average of class Smartphone (102602 - 1322448, n=165, last 2 years) | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G (438254 - 540593, n=11) | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| PCMark for Android - Work 3.0 | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G (9330 - 13296, n=10) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (4761 - 28378, n=228, last 2 years) | |
| AGM Glory G1S | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| BaseMark OS II | |
| Overall | |
| Average of class Smartphone (411 - 9679, n=165, last 2 years) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G (4079 - 5002, n=11) | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro | |
| System | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G (8751 - 10816, n=11) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (2376 - 19657, n=165, last 2 years) | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro | |
| Memory | |
| Average of class Smartphone (670 - 11617, n=165, last 2 years) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G (3956 - 6372, n=11) | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro | |
| Graphics | |
| Average of class Smartphone (697 - 31928, n=165, last 2 years) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G (6594 - 6783, n=11) | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro | |
| Web | |
| Average of class Smartphone (10 - 2392, n=165, last 2 years) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G (1155 - 1534, n=11) | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| AImark - Score v2.x | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G (136987 - 140376, n=6) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (1043 - 286905, n=98, last 2 years) | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| 3DMark | |
| Wild Life Extreme Unlimited | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| AGM Glory G1S | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| Wild Life Extreme | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| AGM Glory G1S | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| Wild Life Unlimited Score | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| Blackview BL6000 Pro | |
| AGM Glory G1S | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| Wild Life Score | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| Blackview BL6000 Pro | |
| AGM Glory G1S | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7 | |
| T-Rex Onscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro | |
| 1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro | |
| GFXBench 3.0 | |
| on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro | |
| 1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro | |
| GFXBench 3.1 | |
| on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro | |
| 1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro | |
| GFXBench | |
| on screen Car Chase Onscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro | |
| 1920x1080 Car Chase Offscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro | |
| on screen Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| Blackview BL6000 Pro | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| AGM Glory G1S | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro | |
| 2560x1440 Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| Blackview BL6000 Pro | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| AGM Glory G1S | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro | |
| on screen Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| Blackview BL6000 Pro | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| AGM Glory G1S | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro | |
| 1920x1080 Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| Blackview BL6000 Pro | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| AGM Glory G1S | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro | |
Our review sample performs well when surfing: Pages load quickly and images load while scrolling. Overall it feels good to surf the web on your phone, even though high-end phones still offer a slightly smoother experience.
| Jetstream 2 - Total Score | |
| Average of class Smartphone (17.3 - 282, n=170, last 2 years) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G (58.8 - 86.8, n=11) | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro (Chrome 104) | |
| Nokia XR20 (Chrome 92) | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro (Chrome 80) | |
| Speedometer 2.0 - Result | |
| Average of class Smartphone (14.4 - 375, n=156, last 2 years) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G (52.5 - 61.5, n=9) | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro (Chome 104) | |
| Nokia XR20 (Chome 92) | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro (Chome 80) | |
| WebXPRT 3 - --- | |
| Average of class Smartphone (36 - 292, n=138, last 2 years) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G (93 - 131, n=10) | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro (Chrome 104) | |
| Nokia XR20 (Chrome 92) | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro (Chrome 80) | |
| Octane V2 - Total Score | |
| Average of class Smartphone (4633 - 74261, n=202, last 2 years) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G (23915 - 31915, n=11) | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro (Chrome 104) | |
| Nokia XR20 (Chrome 92) | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro (Chrome 80) | |
| Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total Score | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro (Chrome 80) | |
| Nokia XR20 (Chrome 92) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (414 - 9999, n=170, last 2 years) | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro (Chrome 104) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G (1323 - 1893, n=11) | |
* ... smaller is better
Samsung has upgraded the storage: The Galaxy XCover 6 Pro not only has more mass storage, but it is also much faster than its Galaxy XCover Pro predecessor. Many other outdoor phones are unable to keep up. The difference is mainly noticeable in the shorter loading times and faster data processing in everyday use.
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro | Blackview BL6000 Pro | Nokia XR20 | AGM Glory G1S | Average 128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AndroBench 3-5 | -48% | -14% | -19% | -19% | -3% | 38% | |
| Sequential Read 256KB | 841.6 | 508 -40% | 873 4% | 485 -42% | 497.9 -41% | 714 ? -15% | 1228 ? 46% |
| Sequential Write 256KB | 484.7 | 181.1 -63% | 198.5 -59% | 452 -7% | 484.1 0% | 521 ? 7% | 815 ? 68% |
| Random Read 4KB | 170.6 | 108.6 -36% | 190.2 11% | 174.8 2% | 168 -2% | 186.3 ? 9% | 215 ? 26% |
| Random Write 4KB | 204.2 | 100.5 -51% | 181.9 -11% | 146.2 -28% | 141 -31% | 182.3 ? -11% | 225 ? 10% |
Gaming – Fast gaming possible
The gaming SoC makes a good impression in games. For example, it is able to fully utilize the screen's frame rate in Armajet and manages well over 110 fps. In PUBG Mobile, 60 fps is still possible at low settings, otherwise it runs well at 40 fps. We tested the frame rates using the GameBench tool.
The controls via the position sensor and touchscreen also work smoothly.
Emissions – Lasting performance assured
Temperature
The Galaxy XCover 6 Pro does not become excessively warm even under heavy and long loads at room temperature: We measured a maximum of 41.9 °C on the front in the area of the selfie camera. However, temperatures may rise even further in hot environments.
This did not cause problems for the SoC in our test. The smartphone still has the same power even after many runs of 3DMark Wild Life.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 41.9 °C / 107 F, compared to the average of 35 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 56 °C for the class Smartphone.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 38.5 °C / 101 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 28 °C / 82 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.
3DMark Wild Life Stress Test
| 3DMark | |
| Wild Life Stress Test Stability | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| Blackview BL6000 Pro | |
| Wild Life Extreme Stress Test | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
Speakers
The mono speaker is located on the smartphone's bottom edge, which can get quite loud, but booms unpleasantly in the high range. If you lower the volume a little, this effect disappears and the sound is OK. The speaker is thus sufficient for occasional music listening or videos.
The sound only really gets good when using headphones or speakers that can be connected via Bluetooth or the 3.5 mm jack. However, only aptX is available for wireless connection, not the more modern variants. In return, you get Samsung's own Scalable Codec, AAC, SBC and LDAC. Hi-Res audio codecs are therefore also available, but the variety is limited and you should check whether your wireless headphones are compatible.
Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (86.2 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 74.8% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(-) | nearly no mids - on average 74.8% lower than median
(+) | mids are linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(-) | nearly no highs - on average 74.8% lower than median
(+) | highs are linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(-) | overall sound is not linear (120.3% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 86% of all tested devices in this class were better, 11% similar, 3% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 39%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 96% of all tested devices were better, 3% similar, 1% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 26%, worst was 134%
AGM Glory G1S audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (85.6 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 74.5% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(-) | nearly no mids - on average 74.5% lower than median
(+) | mids are linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(-) | nearly no highs - on average 74.5% lower than median
(+) | highs are linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(-) | overall sound is not linear (120.4% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 86% of all tested devices in this class were better, 11% similar, 3% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 39%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 96% of all tested devices were better, 3% similar, 1% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 26%, worst was 134%
Battery Life - The replaceable battery does the trick
Power Consumption
In terms of power consumption, the Galaxy XCover 6 Pro is on an average level. The smartphone is slightly more power hungry under full load than in its predecessor, for example, but there is also more computing power available.
Unfortunately, the smartphone can only be charged with a maximum of 15 watts. A charger is not included, but our USB chargers all worked with the smartphone without problems. Due to the rather small battery, it took a maximum of just under 2 hours until the smartphone reached 100% capacity.
| Off / Standby |   0 / 0.1 Watt |
| Idle |  0.9 / 1.4 / 1.8 Watt |
| Load |
4.7 / 8.1 Watt |
    
| |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro 4050 mAh | Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro 4050 mAh | Nokia XR20 4630 mAh | Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | -11% | 27% | -17% | 3% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 0.9 | 0.9 -0% | 0.7 22% | 1.106 ? -23% | 0.876 ? 3% |
| Idle Average * | 1.4 | 1.8 -29% | 1.1 21% | 2.07 ? -48% | 1.491 ? -7% |
| Idle Maximum * | 1.8 | 2.3 -28% | 1.6 11% | 2.32 ? -29% | 1.699 ? 6% |
| Load Average * | 4.7 | 5.4 -15% | 2.7 43% | 4.17 ? 11% | 4.55 ? 3% |
| Load Maximum * | 8.1 | 6.9 15% | 4.9 40% | 7.81 ? 4% | 7.4 ? 9% |
* ... smaller is better
Power Consumption: Geekbench (150 cd/m²)
Power Consumption: GFXBench (150 cd/m²)
Battery Life
With a battery capacity of 4,050 mAh, nothing has changed compared to the predecessor. However, one important feature has been retained: The battery can be replaced quickly and easily, so you can maintain runtimes with replacement batteries.
The Galaxy XCover 6 Pro lasts a little longer than the two-year-old XCover Pro, but the runtimes are quite similar in everyday use, as the differences are only minor. Other outdoor phones have much more stamina, but often do not have a replaceable battery, so you should consider which solution better suits your needs before purchasing.
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro 4050 mAh | Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro 4050 mAh | Blackview BL6000 Pro 5280 mAh | Nokia XR20 4630 mAh | AGM Glory G1S 5500 mAh | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Runtime | -4% | 10% | 19% | 24% | |
| Reader / Idle | 1321 | 1259 -5% | 1786 35% | ||
| H.264 | 856 | 802 -6% | 895 5% | ||
| WiFi v1.3 | 768 | 731 -5% | 846 10% | 927 21% | 952 24% |
| Load | 266 | 268 1% | 301 13% |
Pros
Cons
Verdict: A special phone, even for ordinary days
The Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro is a plainly designed outdoor phone that does not stand out in meetings or on the desk. In addition, the sturdy case is quite light despite IP certification and possesses a detachable back cover that provides access to the SIM slots and, of course, the replaceable battery.
This is probably one of the biggest arguments for the Galaxy XCover 6 Pro, especially since the runtimes are not bad. Also praiseworthy is the high system performance that even allows for 120 Hz gaming - unusual for an outdoor smartphone. Lastly, there is also the fast Wi-Fi and solid positioning accuracy.
The screen, which could be brighter and should be able to render colors more accurately, is not always convincing. The case also creaks very loudly when subject to torsional stress, and the charging power is low with a maximum of 15 watts. The mediocre voice quality is also annoying.
Samsung introduces a great update for its rugged smartphone: The XCover 6 Pro scores with strong performance and a replaceable battery.
The Nokia XR20 is also inconspicuous, sleek and rugged, although it delivers considerably less performance. For special tasks such as thermal imaging, there are also specialists among the outdoor smartphones such as the AGM Glory G1S, which can even take night shots.
Price and Availability
Avaibility of the Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro around the globe appears to be sporadic. The smartphone appears to be widely availble in various configurations across Europe, such as France, Spain, Italy via Amazon. In the US, only the 64 GB variant appears to be available on Amazon for US$ 399.99. Amazon UK offers both the 64 GB and 128 GB variants for £450.60 and £605.80, respectively.
Buyers are thus advised to check regularly via Amazon or other relevant suppliers for availability.
Prices are as of 21.08.2022 and subject to change.
Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro
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08/18/2022 v7
Florian Schmitt
Pricecompare
