Samsung Galaxy XCover Series

Processor: Marvell Technology Group Armada PXA1908, Mediatek Dimensity 6100+, Qualcomm Snapdragon SD 778G 5G, Samsung Exynos 850, Samsung Exynos Exynos 7570, Samsung Exynos Exynos 7884B, Samsung Exynos Exynos 9611
Graphics Adapter: ARM Mali-G52 MP1, ARM Mali-G57 MP2, ARM Mali-G71 MP2, ARM Mali-G72 MP3, ARM Mali-T720, Qualcomm Adreno 642L, Vivante GC7000UL
Display: 4.50 inch, 5.00 inch, 5.30 inch, 6.30 inch, 6.60 inch
Weight: 0.154kg, 0.172kg, 0.218kg, 0.235kg, 0.24kg
Price: 219, 249, 259, 299, 359, 499, 610 euro
price: 84%, performance: 63%, features: 69%, display: 80%, mobility: 84%, workmanship: 83%, ergonomy: 84%, emissions: 96%

 

Samsung Galaxy Xcover 3

The Samsung Galaxy Xcover 3 is an Android smartphone which runs on Android OS KitKat. The feature that stands out on this device is the water and dust resistant capability. It is IP67 certified and thus dust and water resistant up to 1 meter and 30 minutes. On top of that, it is also meets the MIL-STD-810G military standards, which cover resistance against salt, dust, humidity, rain, vibration, solar radiation, transport and thermal shock. The 4.5 inch capacitive touchscreen displays at 480 x 800 pixels. This Xcover 3 model features a 1.2 GHz Cortex-A53 quad core processor and 1.5 GB of RAM. There is only 8 GB of internal storage, but the storage capacity is expandable up to 32GB through the micro SD card slot. The 5 MP rear camera shoots at 2592 x 1844 pixels and records at 1080p @ 30fps, while the 2 MP front facing camera is ideal for self-shots. There is only one color available, which is gray. With all the body protection, this device weighs in at 154 grams and has a maximum thickness of 10 mm. A 2200 mAh battery should be able to last a whole work day. In conclusion, the Galaxy Xcover 3 is a tough smartphone which is dust and waterproof (IP67) and even meets the US Military Standard. Thus it is built to handle rugged use.

Specifications

Notebook: Samsung Galaxy Xcover 3
Processor: Marvell Technology Group Armada PXA1908
Graphics Adapter: Vivante GC7000UL
Display: 4.50 inch, 5:3, 800 x 480 pixels
Weight: 0.154kg
Price: 219 euro
Links:  Samsung notebook section

Pricecompare

Average Score: 76.43% - good

 

Foreign Reviews

 

Samsung Galaxy XCover 4

If there is one word to describe the Samsung Galaxy Xcover 4, it will be ‘x-treme’. It is definitely a far cry from the Korean chaebol’s flagship S or Note models; yet it is an ideal choice for those who require a rugged, no nonsense smartphone for use under intense conditions. Save for the row of physical buttons, the Xcover 4 easily passes off as one of Galaxy’s series of mid-range phones. It may be argued that mechanical buttons are pretty much a thing of the past. Nevertheless physical buttons allow users to manoeuvre around the device even when gloves are worn. This smartphone is definitely capable of withstanding mere accidental water spills and tumbles. Firstly, it is certified with IP68 water- and dust-resistant rating. Samsung claims that it can withstand immersion for up 30 minutes in up to 1 metre of water. Furthermore, it is guaranteed by US Military Standard MIL-STD 810G to withstand drops, high or low temperatures, mechanical shocks, intense sunlight and salt water mist. This makes the Xcover 4 suitable for use in the rigours of building sites, desert roads or ski slopes. This smartphone maintains a slim and compact profile thus making it a practical device for carrying about. In terms of looks, it looks more like the older Samsung Galaxy S4 Active in many ways. That is not a bad thing as it's rugged look might interest some. It comes with a 4.99-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 720x1280 pixels. This is a notable improvement from its predecessor, which is 4.5 inch in size. On top of that, the screen is usable even with gloves on, a feature Samsung has been implementing on its phones since the Galaxy S4 days. The Xcover 4 is powered by a 1.4 GHz Exynos 7570 quad core processor and it comes with 2 GB of RAM. The available storage is 16 GB and it can be expanded by up to 256 GB via a microSD card. For optics, Xcover 4 packs a better camera than the Xcover 3 as it comes with a 13 MP primary camera on the rear and a 5 MP front facing camera. Battery life has also improved substantially since the Xcover 4 is shipped with a non-removable 2800 mAh battery. Another key feature of the Xcover is that it comes pre-installed with Android 7.0 Nougat and not Android 6.0 Marshmallow. For now, this smartphone is being shipped in a single SIM format. The Xcover 4 in many ways seems to be put together by combining parts from Samsung's previous flagships. It may not be the phone for everyone, but it is idyllic to those who want a solid, robust and all-round device. This smartphone makes a good companion for mountain bikers, beach goers and mountain skiers. After all, an active person might need an active phone. Hands-on article by Jagadisa Rajarathnam

Specifications

Notebook: Samsung Galaxy XCover 4
Processor: Samsung Exynos Exynos 7570
Graphics Adapter: ARM Mali-T720
Display: 5.00 inch, 16:9, 1280 x 720 pixels
Weight: 0.172kg
Price: 249 euro
Links:  Samsung notebook section

Pricecompare

Average Score: 81.5% - good

 

Reviews

Foreign Reviews

 

Samsung Galaxy XCover 4s

The Samsung Galaxy XCover 4s is a rugged, high performance and secure smartphone. This smartphone represents ruggedness and sophistication that go hand in hand. The slim 9.7 mm Galaxy XCover 4s was made to handle rough conditions, and sticks with users when the going gets tough. Its non-slip finish keeps it snug in user’s hand even while on the go. The Galaxy XCover 4s meets the IP68 and MIL-STD 810G standards. So it is durable enough to withstand harsh environments. IP68 means the smartphone is water resistant in up to 1.5 meters of freshwater for up to 30 minutes and protected from dust, dirt, and sand. Whether working in the field or manufacturing site troubleshooting problems, it provides comfortable operation so users stay one step ahead of the job at hand. When business operations demand gloves to be worn at all times, the Galaxy XCover 4s ensures that the work gets done safely. Its increased screen sensitivity allows field engineers, factory workers and construction crews to keep projects running smoothly while protecting their hands. As for hardware specification, it has a octa-core processor of 1.6 GHz, 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB ROM. Out of 32 GB, the available memory is 21.2 GB. Besides that, it has external memory support with MicroSD of up to 512 GB. The 5.0-inch high-resolution display on the Galaxy XCover 4s delivers an optimal viewing experience for photos, maps and other visual content even when users are exploring off road, or out in the field. High resolution brings surroundings into focus. The powerful 16 MP rear camera captures the scene while the LED flash brightens up the space for shooting even in low-lit environments. Users can simply double click the home button for instant access and begin shooting. The Galaxy XCover 4s is engineered with a powerful interchangeable 2,800 mAh battery. Users can replace their battery and stay focused on tasks for a long time while on business trips or in the field and unable to find a power source. Built into the phone's hardware and software from the start, Samsung Knox protects their phone from the minute it's turned on. Offering multi-layered security, it defends their most sensitive information from malware and malicious threats. As a conclusion, the Samsung Galaxy XCover 4s is a good device for users who work under harsh environments. It is not common for Samsung to release a rugged smartphone, thus it is definitely a new move. The features are not groundbreaking, but it is sufficient to handle many daily tasks such as making calls, snapping a photo or checking emails. Hands-on article by Jagadisa Rajarathnam

Specifications

Notebook: Samsung Galaxy XCover 4s
Processor: Samsung Exynos Exynos 7884B
Graphics Adapter: ARM Mali-G71 MP2
Display: 5.00 inch, 16:9, 1280 x 720 pixels
Weight: 0.172kg
Price: 259 euro
Links:  Samsung notebook section

Pricecompare

Average Score: 80.5% - good

 

Reviews

Foreign Reviews

 

Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro

Specifications

Notebook: Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro
Processor: Samsung Exynos Exynos 9611
Graphics Adapter: ARM Mali-G72 MP3
Display: 6.30 inch, 19.5:9, 2340 x 1080 pixels
Weight: 0.218kg
Price: 499 euro
Links:  Samsung notebook section

Pricecompare

Average Score: 79.5% - good

 

Reviews

Foreign Reviews

 

Samsung Galaxy XCover 5

Specifications

Notebook: Samsung Galaxy XCover 5
Processor: Samsung Exynos 850
Graphics Adapter: ARM Mali-G52 MP1
Display: 5.30 inch, 18:9, 1480 x 720 pixels
Weight: 0.172kg
Price: 299 euro
Links:  Samsung notebook section

Pricecompare

Average Score: 70% - average

 

Reviews

Foreign Reviews

 

Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro

Specifications

Notebook: Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon SD 778G 5G
Graphics Adapter: Qualcomm Adreno 642L
Display: 6.60 inch, 20:9, 2408 x 1080 pixels
Weight: 0.235kg
Price: 610 euro
Links:  Samsung notebook section

Pricecompare

Average Score: 80.6% - good

 

Reviews

Foreign Reviews

 

Samsung Galaxy XCover 7

Specifications

Notebook: Samsung Galaxy XCover 7
Processor: Mediatek Dimensity 6100+
Graphics Adapter: ARM Mali-G57 MP2
Display: 6.60 inch, 20:9, 2408 x 1080 pixels
Weight: 0.24kg
Price: 359 euro
Links:  Samsung notebook section

Pricecompare

Average Score: 78.67% - good

 

Reviews

Foreign Reviews

 

Comment

Samsung: Samsung Group is the largest South Korean conglomerate and was founded in 1938. Samsung Group employed 489,000 people in 2014 and is one of the world's largest companies in terms of revenue and market strength. The name Samsung means "Three Stars" in Korean and represents the three sons of the company's founder. The company was founded in 1938 as a grocery store. With its subsidiary Samsung Electronics, founded in 1969, Samsung took up the production of electrotechnical items, focusing on consumer electronics and household appliances at an early stage. Other branches in which the large corporation is active include mechanical engineering, automobiles (Hyundai), insurance, wholesale, real estate and leisure. Samsung manufactures a wide range of electronic products, including smartphones, televisions, home appliances and semiconductors. The company's Galaxy line of smartphones is one of the most popular in the world. Samsung is also a major player in the semiconductor industry, making memory chips and processors for many other electronics manufacturers.

---

These graphics cards are not suited for Windows 3D games. Office and Internet surfing however is possible.

Vivante GC7000UL: Low end GPU for ARM SoCs that supports OpenGL ES 3.1.

ARM Mali-T720: Integrated graphics card in ARM based SoCs. Can be configured with up to 8 cores (T720 MP8) and 650 MHz core clock (at 28nm). Supports OpenGL ES 3.1, OpenCL 1.1, DirectX 11 FL9_3, and Renderscript.

Non demanding games should be playable with these graphics cards.

ARM Mali-G71 MP2: Integrated GPU that can be found e.g. in the Mediatek Helio P23 SoC with 700 or 770 MHz clock speed. Supports OpenGL ES 3.2, Vulkan 1.0, OpenCL 2.0, DirectX 11 FL11_1 and RenderScript.

ARM Mali-G72 MP3: Integrated graphics card from ARM with 3 cores based on the 2nd generation of the Bifrost architecture.

ARM Mali-G52 MP1: Integrated mid range graphics card with 1 clusters. ARM states that the G52 series is 30% faster and 15% more efficient compared to the G51 series on the same process node. The MC1 / MP1 variant is the smallest version.

Qualcomm Adreno 642L: Graphics chip for smartphones and tablets that is integrated within the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G SoC. Qualcomm claims that it is 40% faster than the Adreno 620.

Only some 3D games with very low demands are playable with these cards.

ARM Mali-G57 MP2: Integrated mid range graphics card with 2 clusters. Based on the Valhall architecture.

» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List.

---

Mediatek :

Armada PXA1908: Low end ARM SoC with four ARM-A53 CPU cores (quad-core) clocked at up to 1.2 GHz.

Exynos 850: Mid range octa core SoC with 8 small and power efficient ARM Cortex-A55 cores that can clock up to 2 GHz. Furthermore, the SoC integrates a LTE Cat 7 (300 Mbit/s download) modem and WiFi-5 (ac).

Dimensity 6100+: The Dimensity 6100 Plus is a lower mid-range SoC with an integrated 5G modem. It includes two fast ARM Cortex-A76 cores at up to 2.2 GHz and six power efficient Cortex-A55 cores at up to 2 GHz. The specifications are similar to the old Dimensity 700 SoC and nearly identical to the 6020.

Samsung Exynos:

Exynos 7570: Exynos-7-SoC with four ARM Cortex-A53 cores clocked at up to 1.4 GHz. It also integrates a GPU, LTE Cat.4 2CA modem, WiFi, GPS and video engine for H.265.

Exynos 7884B: Exynos 7 Series SoC that includes two big Cortex-A73 cores clocked at up to 1.6 GHz and six power efficient Cortex-A53 cores clocked at 1.35 GHz. The integrated LTE modem supports 150 MBit/s Download and 50 MBit/s Upload. Wifi 4 (802.11 b/g) and Bluetooth 5.0 are also integrated.

Exynos 9611: Mid-range SoC that integrates 8 processor cores in two clusters: four ARM Cortex-A73 cores at up to 2.3 GHz and 4 ARM Cortex-A53 cores for power saving at up to 1.7 GHz. 

Qualcomm Snapdragon:

SD 778G 5G: Fast mid-range ARM SoC with 8 CPU Kryo 670 cores (four fast ARM Cortex-A78 core at up to 2.4 GHz and four small ARM Cortex-A55 cores at up to 1.8 GHz) and an integrated X53 5G modem (up to 3300 Mbps download). The SoC is manufactured in the modern 6 nm process at TSMC.

» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors.

---

5.00:

It is a very small display format for smartphones. You should by no means be mis-sighted and you will generally see very little on the screen and only have a small resolution available. In return, the device should be very small and handy.

» To find out how fine a display is, see our DPI List.

---

No weight comment found (one expected)!

---

78.77%: This rating is not earth-shattering. This rating must actually be seen as average, since there are about as many devices with worse ratings as better ones. A purchase recommendation can only be seen with a lot of goodwill, unless it is about websites that generally rate strictly.

» Further information can be found in our Notebook Purchase Guide.

Devices from a different Manufacturer and/or with a different CPU