RugOne, a brand under Ulefone, has announced the Xsnap 7 Pro, a new rugged smartphone with an unusual camera setup. The phone comes with a small detachable action camera that is stored inside the rear panel when it is not being used.
The cube-shaped camera can be removed from the phone and used separately for recording videos. It supports video recording at up to 2.7K resolution at 30fps and connects to the smartphone wirelessly through a companion app. The camera has 64GB of built-in storage and can record for up to 40 minutes on a single charge.
The camera attaches magnetically to the rear of the phone when stored. It is also waterproof up to 5 metres, so users can take it away from the phone for outdoor activities without having to carry the entire smartphone.
The Xsnap 7 Pro has a 6.67-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It is powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 8400 chipset, which puts the phone in a fairly powerful performance category for a rugged device.
For regular photography, the phone has a 50MP primary rear camera with optical image stabilisation. It is joined by a 64MP infrared night-vision camera with dedicated IR LEDs. This camera is designed for capturing photos and videos in dark environments where a conventional camera may struggle.
The detachable action camera works as a separate camera, giving the Xsnap 7 Pro a different approach compared with conventional smartphones that simply add more cameras to the rear panel.
As a rugged smartphone, the Xsnap 7 Pro is designed to handle conditions where a regular phone may not be suitable. It has an IP69K rating for dust and water resistance, making it suitable for outdoor and demanding working environments.
The detachable camera also adds another layer of practicality for outdoor use. Users can remove it from the phone when they want to record from a different position without having to hold the smartphone itself.
Price and availability
RugOne will officially unveil the Xsnap 7 Pro at IFA Berlin this weekend. The company plans to launch a Kickstarter campaign for the phone on September 7, with an early-bird price of €799.
The smartphone is expected to become available globally from next month at a price of $999. It will be offered in Classic Black and Sand Dune colour options.
RugOne previously introduced its Xever 7 series of rugged smartphones at IFA last year. With the Xsnap 7 Pro, the company is taking a more unusual approach by turning part of the phone’s camera system into a separate action camera.
