Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsGood Value - If you value it! Upgraded Version of V30
Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2023
I do lots of Research before I buy phones, & I decided to buy the DooGee V30T. I have Pixel 6a as my main driver, but I needed a 2nd phone for hikes, camping and longer outdoor trips. The battery life, ruggedness & overall value was a perfect fit. It is a niche product but if you are reading this you probably are looking for at least some of these features. Therefore, I am going to provide a full breakdown of my experience and choices.
Apparently this is the upgraded version of the V30, and that phone was pretty great judging by the reviews. Doogee has been around for 10 years so I am quite confident in their products.
OS:
This phone is running pretty much stock Adroid 12 OOTB (not android 13) with Doogee Skin on top - layout very similar to stock android and is quite nice. It uses basic Android apps and features - Gboard, VPN, Screen Record, Screen Capture, Android Auto, Hot Spot etc.. its mostly all there.
Color:
I bought this Rose Gold - I heard the marble (discontinoud) was not nearly as nice, so this one was a better option.
Mobile:
The phone is 5G Unlocked and claims Dual-SIM but I only see one SIM slot, 2nd one may be an eSIM slot, (not sure how that works).
LCD Screen:
Screen is 6.58" IPS LCD made of Gorilla Glass 120Hz Refresh Rate - can change to 60hz or 90hz and preserve (even more) battery. Bezels are very thick (like many other Rugged phones) actual phone is more like 7 inches from tip to tip. Viewing angles are Decent, very vibrant Colors. I wish it was an OLED screen, brightness is not as high as I would like. Viewing in the sun is not as bright as I would have liked. YouTube does paly at 1080, but looks the same at 720 because it is a 6.58" display.
RAM & CPU:
It advertises 20GB of RAM but its really 12GB DDR5 + 8gb Vram or virtual RAM - I believe this means its swapped to the drive when not in use
MediaTek Dimensity 1080 chipset - Mid Range Processor, but runs really smooth & Performance is very good. Some reputable Samsung phones are using the same processor.
Tasks:
Multi Tasking is very possible on this phone (YouTube + Google Keep)
Games run Fine - Lower to Mid setting runs really well, some games lower frames on higgher settings. I played Call of Duty mobile (see Pictures) and it played excellently.
Ruggedness:
This Phone is very Rugged, Durable and is built like a tank, but its also Super thick and heavy - 387 Grams - Which means if it falls there is more Mass, to create a harder impact. Most Phones are around 200 Grams. It has an IP68 water rating which means it can go underwater. It also has a IP69K Rating which means it's sealed against water and Dust. You can see this more with the bottom cover and SIM/SDcard covers with its rubber seal. came with a screen protector (needed to install) to protect against cracks, but since it is plastic i don't really know if I want to install as it may lower the touchscreen performance. The exterior screws look nice and give it an ever tougher vibe.
Camera's:
there are 3 Cameras 1. 108MP Main Samsung Sensor, great sensor! sharp pictures, does 4K and I will try to Include Some pictures. 2. 20MP night vision camera. LED that does black & White night shots, it Utilizes the IR blasters (LED's next to cameras) and is really great. 3. ultra wide camera - Decent camera (lower Quality). On the Front there is SONY 32MP HD. It's got an option for Underwater Camera. Camera app looks a lot like stock android (my Pixel 6a). The microphone is not great quality.
Battery:
The battery IS INCREDIBLE. The 10800mAh Battery Will last 3-5 Days on normal use. Power brick is big and Provides 66W (20v 3.25a - Similar to a laptop adapter) fast charge makes a long-lasting rugged smartphone 55% charged in 30 minutes. its a USC C to USB C charger
Storage:
256gb Storage (probably EMMC) + Micro Sd Card slot (up to 1 or 2tb - not sure) which is Great for offline storage for hiking can keep a lot on it, Movies, Podcasts, Music.
Unlock:
Face Unlock Works really well. Side Fingerprint reader is ok not as good as face. (not like the 3a)
Physical attributes:
There is a notification light (like on my Samsung Galaxy S5!) There is Bluetooth Wifi NFC (duh). There is no Headphone Jack :(. Dual Hi-res Stereo Speakers, they are better tha most phones but a little tinny at higher volumes. there is Texture for buttons (except fingerprint reader). There is a Customization Multi function Button can set it to Sound recorder, Flashlight, open underwater camera, Sos and Game mode. can also set double click, and long click for those
Easy to take out Micro Sd card/ Sim Card Slot
Conclusion:
For the price its well worth it. The Value is here. There is Room for improvement. for my purposes it is a 4.7/5 Stars. Would recommend!