The best outdoor phone is also one of the cheapest: How Xiaomi pulled it off

Anyone who enjoys outdoor sports, spends a lot of time working outdoors or likes going on long hikes has different requirements for their smartphone than the average office worker: The phone needs to withstand prolonged downpours, mud and dust must not damage it right away, and if it slips out of your hand, it must not suffer serious damage. 

At the same time, of course, it needs to last a long time away from a power outlet, and the screen should be bright enough to read easily even without shade.

The Xiaomi Poco X8 is also a phone for the outdoors

The Xiaomi Poco X8 ticks all these boxes, even though it is not particularly expensive: It is already available for under US$ 350. 

And it does not look like a typical rugged phone: On the contrary, the dark gray, orange and white color options look quite premium, even if you only get a plastic case here. At this price point, however, that is easy to forgive.

In return, the case is IP68- and IP69K-certified, meaning it can withstand submersion in shallow water, even for extended periods. Dust should not affect the phone either, and it is supposed to withstand drops from several meters onto hard surfaces without losing functionality.

The smartphone's battery can handle any day trip

On top of that, battery life is excellent: Anyone spending more than a day out in the field will appreciate this. In our Wi-Fi test, the 8,340 mAh battery lasted almost 30 hours—and that was with continuous use.

The screen is also suitable for outdoor use: With a brightness of over 1,000 nits, it is easy to read even in bright locations.

The GPS works quite well

Satellite positioning also proves useful in our test: Although it is not always entirely accurate, it works well for determining your location and navigating.

We have compiled even more information about the outdoor-ready Xiaomi Poco X8 in our in-depth review.