For the past few weeks, I made a major switch: I temporarily retired my trusty Huawei P30 Pro and moved my daily SIM card into the Doogee S95 Pro. The S95 Pro is not just another rugged phone; it’s a modular beast that promises to survive everything. We’ve been documenting this phone’s journey since our unboxing at their Shenzhen offices, and now it’s time for the definitive verdict.
We all know the struggle: balancing performance with durability. The S95 Pro attempts to do both with its military-grade build and a surprisingly capable MediaTek chipset. But can a phone this tough truly integrate into daily life—from work calls to capturing memories?
In this review, I’ll share my unfiltered, on-the-ground experience covering the Build Quality, the surprising Performance, the disappointing Cameras, and the genuine utility of the Added Modules. If you’re considering this phone, stop here. What I found might surprise you. (You can grab the Super kit on Amazon: [Amazon Link to S95 Pro])
Section 1: Built Like a Tank – The Durability Test
The S95 Pro is unapologetically heavy. Clocking in at 285 grams (a noticeable jump from the 192 grams of my P30 Pro), this weight is the price you pay for true ruggedness. It is, quite simply, built like a tank.
The Certifications That Matter
It proudly carries the IP68 and the rare IP69K certification. That IP69K is a crucial detail—it guarantees survival against “powerful high-temperature water jets.” This confidence comes from the industry-leading rubber housing on the back and the secure coverings over every port (USB, SIM, microSD). It also passed the MIL-STD-810G military environmental tests, which is no easy feat.
Our Extreme Testing
At Tech Travel Geeks, we don’t just trust certifications. We took it further: the phone endured being frozen in ice and survived being “liberated” with a hammer. Both times, it powered right back on.
However, the viral test of driving over it with a Tesla was where the line was drawn. While the phone survived the attempt on grass (just a few scratches on the screen protector), the second attempt on hard concrete proved too much. The screen eventually failed, succumbing to ghost touches.
My Takeaway: The S95 Pro is super durable—it will handle drops, mud, and water better than any standard phone. But heed the friendly reminder: don’t try to run it over with a car! And yes, you absolutely need two hands to operate this beast.
Section 2: Surprising Performance & The Display
Before I swapped my SIM, I had concerns. Moving from a high-end chipset to a MediaTek felt like a downgrade. Yet, the octa-core 12nm Helio P90 chipset genuinely impressed me.
Real-World Speed Check
In everyday use, the software experience was exceptionally smooth with virtually no slowdowns. This is aided by the 8GB of RAM. I pushed it hard, throwing every demanding game I had at it:
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Racing Games: Asphalt 8 and Asphalt Xtreme were smooth. Even the latest Asphalt 9 was easily playable, with a minor, non-game-breaking performance hit.
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FPS/Action: Dead Trigger worked perfectly. PUBG was mostly good, though it had some minor slowdowns during intense action.
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The Ultimate Test (Fortnite): I was even able to play Fortnite! Again, there were minor slowdowns, but the fact that it runs at all on a rugged phone is a huge win and definitely exceeded my expectations.
The only minor annoyance was that some larger games did take a bit longer to load. It requires a touch of patience, but the capability is clearly there. For storage, the phone has 128GB built-in and supports a microSD for expansion.
The Screen Experience
The front display is a 6.3-inch Full HD (1080 x 2246 pixels) IPS screen. It’s an LCD, not an OLED, so don’t expect the deep blacks or fast refresh rates of current flagships. However, the quality is decent. It’s bright enough for daily use outdoors and perfectly fine for watching Netflix or YouTube on the go.
Section 3: Software, Power, and Connectivity
This is where the Doogee S95 Pro shows its age and its strengths.
The Software Situation
The phone runs on Android 9, and unfortunately, it’s not kept up to date. As of writing (May 8th), the device was still stuck on the January 2020 security update. This lack of major and security updates is concerning and is a major drawback for security-conscious users.
The default Doogee launcher is very basic and lacks an app drawer, which is a struggle for me personally. I quickly installed Action Launcher to restore that functionality. Beyond the launcher and update issues, the overall software experience itself was all right.
Exceptional Battery Life
As expected from a device this size, the battery life is a massive positive. The 5150mAh battery will easily last you a day of constant, heavy usage, and much longer for average users.
Charging is flexible:
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Wired: It uses USB-C and supports Doogee’s 24W “turbo quick charge.”
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Wireless: A great feature for a rugged phone, it supports 10W wireless charging.
Global Connectivity
The S95 Pro offers worldwide 3G and 4G connectivity and supports dual SIM cards—perfect for grabbing a cheap local SIM while abroad. Crucially, it supports NFC, allowing for wireless payments with Google Pay.
Section 4: The Cameras – The Only True Compromise
As a photographer, the camera system is the one area that prevents me from using the S95 Pro as my primary device. While the specs look good on paper, the real-world performance is inconsistent.
The Hardware Specs
The setup includes a 48MP main lens, an 8MP wide-angle lens, and a 16MP front-facing camera.
Inconsistent Image Quality
The main lens can capture some genuinely good photos in daylight. My shots from a beach in North Berwick, Scotland, and the monuments in Barcelona all looked sharp. Even the Night Mode (tested on photos of the Sagrada Familia) was surprisingly good—as long as you stick to the main lens.
The problems begin when you switch:
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Wide-Angle: Photos immediately suffer. Colors shift heavily towards red, images get darker, become pixelated, and are unfortunately unusable.
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Zoom: The 2x zoom performs poorly. A close-up of the Arc de Triomphe showed severe detail loss, looking more like an oil painting.
Video: You get 4K at 30fps, but be aware it’s quite shaky.
Section 5: Modular Attachments – Adding Functionality
The S95 Pro’s 16-pin connector on the back is its unique selling point. The Super Kit comes with two functional modules: the battery and the speaker.
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The Battery Module (3500mAh): This snaps on easily and securely. In our tests, it boosted the phone from 20% to 70% in around 3 hours. It’s brilliant for urgently needing a top-up while traveling.
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The Speaker Module (6W): This 6W speaker features a stand, and the sound is loud and surprisingly good, easily filling a room.
Summary: The Verdict on the Beast
If you are specifically looking for a rugged phone, the Doogee S95 Pro should be at the top of your list. The combination of its great battery life, surprisingly good performance, and the increased functionality from the modules makes it an excellent device that can survive almost anything.
Just remember the trade-offs: the cameras are inconsistent (stick to the main lens!), and software updates are severely behind. If durability and battery are your priority, this phone is a winner.
