Samsung outdoor smartphones compared: What distinguishes the XCover 7 from the XCover 7 Pro?

We recently had the Samsung Galaxy XCover7 Pro in our test lab, an outdoor smartphone that performs well in harsh environments. It is waterproof, robust, and can withstand drops without issue. The battery is also removable and replaceable, making it easy to extend battery life.

It shares all of these features with the Samsung Galaxy XCover7 from 2024, which costs significantly less and is also well-suited for business and outdoor use. We provide a clear list of all the differences between the two devices here, so you can easily decide whether the more expensive Pro model is worth it or whether the XCover7 is enough for your needs:

• The XCover7 Pro ships with Android 15 and will receive seven years of security and feature updates, i.e., until 2032. The XCover 7 starts with Android 14 and officially receives four operating system updates and five years of security updates from market launch, i.e., until approximately 2029.
• The XCover7 Pro essentially has the same display as the cheaper model, but also supports a 120 Hz refresh rate.
• An additional ultra-wide-angle camera is only available on the XCover7 Pro. The front camera also has a higher resolution.
• Samsung has upgraded several of the Pro model's features: It now features a faster USB-C port with up to 5 Gbps for data transfers, more modern Bluetooth 5.4, and Wi-Fi 6E, which also makes the less-used 6 GHz band available for Wi-Fi. Data rates were significantly higher in our review of the XCover7 Pro.
• The battery is slightly larger at 4,350 mAh. This, along with the more efficient SoC, significantly improves battery life.
• Hybrid stereo speakers are now available. They do a decent job.
• Many of these differences are, of course, also made possible by the choice of a faster SoC: The Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 makes the XCover7 Pro quite fast compared to similarly priced outdoor smartphones.

Those willing to compromise may be able to settle for the XCover7 without issue, which currently costs just under $400 at Amazon.

But if you're looking for a fast, high-quality, rugged smartphone, we recommend taking a closer look at the Samsung Galaxy XCover7 Pro in our detailed review.