I LOVE my XP7. I am looking forward to getting my XP8. My XP7 has done everything we need it to do. We have a farm and it has been to the bottom of the troughs and even got chewed on by an 800 pound Yorkshire sow with not a scratch on it! When we took the kids camping they used it in the pool to take underwater pics and video. It fell out of my pocket once and my 19 hand, 2100 pound Belgian horse kicked it a couple times on the gravel driveway before stepping on it. Again, not a scratch on it. Sonim's may not be fancy but they are tough. Wouldn't have another phone!
I work for a farmer here in Saskatchewan Canada and my Sasktell contract is up on my SonimXP7 so I'm jumping up to the 8. After couple years of hard abuse gotta say my XP7 could easily go another couple years and not have a problem. I was glad to see someone finally made a good tough phone. To say how tough my XP7 is after doing a oil change on a John Deere 510RT twin track witch holds a ton of oil my phone got nocked into the tub of used oil. It sank right to the bottom my coworkers jaws hit the floor when I reached my hand in pulled it out took it to the sink and washed it off with Dawn dish soap and hot water. Didnt faze the phone in anyway. The only complaint I really ever had was were it plugs in would gum up and sometimes it was hard to get it to charge and the contact points are hard to get at to clean and I had to replace the charger once at almost $70.
did you get service with it in places regular phones dont get it? i don't have service on most of my farm, and I want to replace my current phone since all of it's speakers are broken.
Been close to a week now since the fix. The handset is operating awesomely. I really love this phone, left it outside the other day -45c, 2 plus hours in the open. I was able to answer a call, no problem. I have had other phones, calf out in these temperatures, and it has taken them awhile to get back up. Liking it, a l lot.
Nice demo of phone. Very informative and useful visuals. I just ordered one based on your review. The regular I-phones and Samsung phones are nice but they can not handle any kind of abuse; and everyone from time to time does something stupid, (drop, get wet) Unfortunately have "leased this thru Sprint", which has the worst customer service of any company I've ever dealt with. Looking forward to using the phone. Thanks Bryan
After cracking 3 S8 Active screens, I ordered an xp8 tonight. Done with samsung cellphones. Not durable enough for my needs. Huge plus in my book is the removable battery.
Yeah isnt it stupid how the screens just crack on their own?so annoying right?Oh wait YOU broke them!Maybe you should invest in a case since youre inclined to damage your phones and be mad because they arent durable enough for you.
That Orange Button is the Officer Down/ Emergency Call Button. You can set it to call 911 without having to dial it or set it to send an SOS Alert Signal after 30 seconds if the phones tilted the Alarm will go off so they can find your location when they arrive.
Have had an XP7 for 3+ years. Great phone, but from a software, processor speed, and screen/camera quality it is not up to snuff. The built on rubber casing had been eaten by my parrot, the phone has been in the water and freezing Canadian snow over and over and still works like the day I bought it. Hence I am afraid to upgrade to the xp8 as this xp7 just "works" so well each and every day that I'm just scared something won't be as reliable on the 8.
I think you will find a big improvement on the 8. Android 7.1.1 is far superior to 4.4.4. The touchscreen is still not as responsive as my Samsung S8 but it is better.
Thanks for your reply Bryan. I’m almost at the point now with the little I need a smartphone. I may just get a xp5s and be done with the large bills thanks
It could be argued that none of the latest Smartphones are worth what they cost. The iPhone XS Max 256 GB comes in at $2100 here in Canada. For those who need the ruggedness of the XP8 and the intrinsically safe capabilities and for those who have ever paid $400 or more in repairs because they dropped their phone, the price of the XP8 is well worth it. It is not now and never will be the phone for everyone. For those who need it it is well worth the cost.
Bryan The Cell Phone Guy hi Bryan I have the xp7 love it but find its so slow and lagging.is the xp8 much better.more like a Samsung galaxy phone for speed ? Thanks Ronnie
@@sheepdogtruckcamper520 Hi Ron, I use the XP8 and a Samsung S8. The screen response time on the Samsung is much better. The XP8 is better than the seven but I still find it frustratingly slow compared to the Samsung.Think of it as comparing the acceleration of a Muscle Car to a Gravel Truck. Then compare the same two vehicles as far as durability goes. Sometimes you have to sacrifice some things to get others.
I have a theory. The cause for the negative reviews (specifically keyboard related) is caused by the screen PROTECTOR. The phone ships with a FILM on the screen with an obvious tab to remove it. Underneath that is a quite thick, hard plastic screen PROTECTOR. Removing that solved my issues with the keypad lag.
There are a couple things about this phone that are profoundly better than any flagship phone I've ever owned (my last phone was the Samsung S7). One is the battery life. I consistently get 3 days of battery life from a full charge no matter how I use it. In fact the battery has so much capacity that it takes forever to charge it so I try to remember to plug it in before I go to sleep. Also, if this isn't the loudest speaker of any smart phone on the market, I'd love to know what is. You could use this phone as a boom box at a pool party. This phone is also rather heavy, I feel like the only way I could break it is if I dropped it screen first onto concrete from a height, and even then it comes with a screen protector already applied.
I have this and Pixel 3xl. The only advantage of the sonim is durability. The pixel is just as loud, and twice as clear. Plus, it can be used as a smartphone; something Sonim is terrible at. An old S4 with otter box would be an upgrade.
If you cant find a dealer out there who is fluent in Sonim, you can order it through my store and we will send it to you. I have been a Telus dealer for 27 years.
hi just ordered mine from Telus I have to wait a few days... very excited but also worried about the screen a little, does it come with any sort of screen protection or do you recommend buying a glass protector online?
The screen is the toughest I have ever seen so there is no need for screen protection. If it ever does break the three year unconditional warranty gets it fixed for free.
@@Bryanthecellphoneguy I just recently purchase my New XP8 through Ebay. As regards the warranty and Sonim registration procedure...I've had no cooperation.I fill-out the information wait a week or more and I get a "follow the instructions" response which are less then understandable and non-specific themselves. The form is totally lacking clarity about imei numbers and which one are which and and where to find the specific imei they want, I have to stop here..it's a real pain and I end up mad at SONIM's short fused reply's. Not friendly is perhaps a COVID19 sufferer? I don't know...(FYI)
I'm looking for a replacement for my LG v20, the last phone with a removable battery. I've been buying them new in box on Ebay whenever I break the previous one, then install a ZeroLemon 10,000 mah battery. So it is easily larger than the Sonim. But it seems nobody makes such phones anymore, and while the LG works great when first booted up, it tends to bog down real bad over the course of 6 months or so as updates and apps are installed.
What happened to the follow up video sir? I'm thinking about going with the XP8 over my iphone X because I'm doing a lot of hunting and rugged things lately. Took my iphone X hunting and of course I chipped my screen within the first hour hahahaha. I'm axiously awaiting your follow up video sir.
There are a lot of pros and cons converting to the XP8 from a flagship phone from Apple or Samsung. Some pros: Ridiculous durability (although it's always smart to be careful with the screen--it comes with a screen protector already applied). Ridiculous battery longevity. Ridiculous speaker volume. A really good phone for work crews, E.M.T.s, etc. Reasonably snappy interface, runs everything my old Samsung S7 did so far without hiccups. Some cons: Standard 1080p screen. Standard issue cameras, functional but unspectacular. Interface is close to stock Android, which could be a pro or con depending on your needs. Upper mid-level specs for a flagship price--although admittedly I haven't noticed the difference so far.
@@rwilson6856 Strange, another reviewer said the same thing. I have very basic uses for the phone (web browsing, TH-cam, simple games on my work breaks, flashlight, messenger) so maybe more memory intensive apps cause problems. Do you close your apps or leave them running in the background?
Lewis T Maybe this guy didn't do such a things like you said. R Wilson is a bitch. Why would he buy those phone which were just launched ?! He should buy later when the upgrade and unlocked version coming
If you are in Edmonton I can help with that. Alberta Mobility is one of the oldest and highest volume Telus dealers in the west. We are located at 101 St and Kingsway ave. We would be happy to help you with this.
So after just over a year of ownership (on the Telus network) Telus is great but this phone is absolute junk. I still owe over $500 on my account and the phone barely functions. The screen scratched day 1 without even trying, now it's damaged and has water under the screen, I should say this phone has been to hell and back but really it should have stayed dry. The camera is useless, the touch screen is very imprecise, typos constantly happen. The best part is battery life and GPS, both are beyond impressive. Battery lasts for days typically and GPS apps work with zero cell signal. So that's my opinion as a actual owner that uses the phone for work, I'm a HD mechanic in Alberta I also take it hunting, quadding etc. It could be better, the xp7 was even better than this one! Hopefully the warranty works out as I will send it in one day if actually craps out .
Bryan, I notcied the XP8 was only discontinued last year. Some stores are still selling the XP8 on clearance. If i can get a good deal do you think the XP8, running Android 10 (the highest update it will take) is still worthwhile in 2023, and until Anrdoid 10 is obsolete and when would this likely be, in 3 years time...?
Hopefully you've been using it this whole time and can be a lot more detailed seeing as we wait a lot longer than a couple weeks for a follow-up review video
I bought one about 2 weeks ago. So far I like the phone. I’m having an issue with my Blue Parrot headset. Connects fine but microphone doesn’t work. Ear piece audio is perfect but no one can hear me. I’ve tried contacting Sonim but so far no reply. Called Blue Parrot support and they were unable to solve my issue. Is there a setting somewhere I’m missing or maybe an app I need to have to make this issue go away? The phone connected and works perfect to the Bluetooth in my Pickup. My Blue Parrot is a high end noise canceling headset with boom mic, so not a dollar store special. It worked flawlessly on my old iPhone so wondered about a compatibility issue. Cleared device memory from my headset but didn’t help. Any help would be appreciated. Not looking forward to buy another $200 headset.
Hi Bryan did you ever do a follow up on your experience with the sonim xp8 and what you thought usability durability ect I have a 3 flip xp5700 xp 6 and a xp 7 I haven’t used yet
It does but it takes a bit of getting used to. It is not a responsive as bare hands and typing is an issue but mostly due to the size of the fingers hiding the keys. When I use gloves and try to use my Samsung it becomes apparent that the Sonim is better suited for this. You would have to play with one to see if you can get used to it.
Great review. Now, do you know how it compares to the Kyocera Duraforce Pro 2? I can pull up specs, but hoping someone has real world experience with both to share any issues in connectivity, performance, etc?
I have an XP8 and the full owners manual. there is no mention of an IR sensor. There is a barcode scanner that can be added to the Xpand port but that is a separate option.
Ok been going on an hour since I put in the fix and the phone is now working good. The rebooting has stopped, it was rebooting every 15 minutes to half hour. Not anymore, just might keep this handset now. It is built strong very strong
In another section video, you say this phone is junk ? And now you say it worked perfectly ? So you have been return your phone for fix your Sonim XP8 right ??
This phone is like 2 years old now... When's XP9 coming out? Also, I actually like the Outer "design" of the XP7 better, looks more "rugged/protective".
Hi. The replacement is due out in the spring of 2021. One of the beauties of Sonim phones is that they don't change just for the sake of change. With over the air software patches and security upgrades, this phone is as functional today as it was when it launched. Three year warranty, three year life cycle. BTW rumour has it that the new one will be the XP10. Hang in there.
I have an XP5S on order and expect it to arrive in about a week. It doesn't launch until around the 15th on Telus so I am trying to match the video with the launch. Stay tuned.
THANKS BRYAN, YOUR VIDEOS ON THE SONIM LINE R GREAT, BEEN USING SONIM IN SF AREA FOR YEARS, I TELL MY FRIEND WHO WORKS FOR SONIM IN SAN MATEO CA THAT YOUR VIDEOS DO THE BEST JOB IN SHOWING OFF THE GREAT SONIM PHONES. THANKS - FCK BARABBAS
Thanks Bryan, your's is the first video on YT for the XP8. Very informative. Can't wait for your follow up video after field testing. Just wondering about the bloatware, is it stock Android or are there preloaded apps by Sonim or AT&T?
It is very close to stock Android. The only Sonim app that is preloaded is Sonim scout. This is a program that aids in setup, support and diagnostics. Most often it is employed by an IT department as an MDM solution. I am in Canada so i cant speak to what AT&T preloads but my carrier, Telus, has nothing installed. The look of the icons and menus reminds me very much of my Pixel 2. Does that help?
I only work as a bar back and any phone that's actually rugged and has good battery life appeals to me... This hyper consumeristic focus on sleek and sexy at the expense of functionality annoys the hell out of me
I've also been looking for more info on the Canadian xp8. Thanks for making this video. I'm wondering how many of the buttons are programmable on the telus version. I don't use PTT, but can put the buttons to good use.
The only button that is programmable is the yellow one. the Red one is for the emergency call service and the PTT button only works for PTT. I have my yellow button programmed to launch Instagram.
According to the manual the 3 button are programmable. It's a mistake from the manual ? P.26 "You can asisign any application to the programmable key. 1. From Notifications or App screen, tap on Settings ( ) > Personal > Programmable keys ( ). 2. You can program any application for the following keys: • Select PTT Key app • Select YELLOW Key app • Select ALARM Key app" Thanks!
François Rousseau Hi Francois. The three buttons are programmable. Go to settings and scroll down to personal and you will find programmable keys. Open that and you will see the three keys available for customization. Select one of them and a list of available options.
Sonim tec support sent me instructions on how to fix the isssues with rebooting. I am going to try to follow the instructions and see what happens. Hope it works, informed me it was the network which is Telus. I believe this is the fix Bryan was offering.
Do these phones have better cell reception than other phones due to the large antenna on top? I miss the old days where phones had actual good reception. Also, does this support WiFi calling and wireless charging? I'm thinking of upgrading
Hows the phone holding up? Is the network signal strength better or strong? How many days before charging? Can you be out in the field and talk and surf the net at the same time over lte and data?
Hi Bryan Can you be out in the field and talk and surf the net at the same time over data? Its one of the reason I'm m still using the Samsung note 3 with sprint because its a tri band phone. Thanks for the reply
Purchased one today from Telus. I'm very curious about the expansion ports and if anyone has released pinouts? How does the fingerprint module and barcode module communicate with the device? Are they over low power Bluetooth and simply take power from the device or are they serial devices? Why is there two threaded holes in at the top of the device, are they used for mounting? Should I forward my questions to sonim instead?
Hi, The accessories for the phone will be released over the next few months. The holes on the top are for mounting the expand battery pack and several other soon to be announced accessories. The phone does support Bluetooth 5.0 and BLE
Hi Robert, That's a really good question. The first unlock after being turned off requires a pin or pattern to unlock the device. After that each subsequent screen unlock uses the fingerprint. I should have explained that better. Thanks for pointing it out.
How could be Sonim XP8 didn't available on mobiloscope.net yet as the latest rugged phone released in these website ??? Almost all of latest rugged smartphone are always been available in mobiloscope website after its release but this phone didn't shown at these website yet.
You need to purchase the adapter. On the right hand side of the phone you will see a series of brass pins and two threaded holes. The adaptors mounts on there and has a 3.5 mm hole for headsets. It would be cheaper to buy a Bluetooth headset instead. The adapter is pricey and only available on Www.sonimtech.com
The manual states that the max capacity for an sd card is 128 but I dont a reason why it wouldnt take a 512. Some of the older LG phones were rated for 2 TB cards long before even the 1TB existed. The only way to know for sure is to try it. Keep in mind that a lot of issues that occur with memory card usage are due to the quality and speed ratings of the card and not the phone. IMHO Samsung and Sandisk are the best.
No not yet. Software upgrades need network approval so each carrier will decide on the timing and availability of upgrades. Check with you specific carrier for any further details.
Hi Will, I find the 8 has a better screen for viewing. Side by side the 8 appears brighter but it also helps that the screen is bigger. Overall the 8 seems like a big improvement.
Mine is on the Telus network in Canada and the Android 8.1 upgrade was released 6 months ago. I would check with your carrier and see if they have plans to release it. You could also check in settings under the "check for update" section. Android 8 offers me everything that I need.
You should have no issues with any of these functions. I am not sure why AT&T rates it poorly. The screen is not as responsive as my Samsung S8 but i tend to be a bit impatient when using my phone. Other than that it works well.
A lot of the answer depends on which country you are in. The Xplore M60 isn't available in all markets and it isn't Intrinsically safe. There are many similarities between the two devices but I would still give the nod to the Sonim
yes. The Klein adapter sells for about $129 and screws on to the connector on the right hand side of the phone or you could use a Bluetooth set if you have one.
The phone has fingerprint scan, facial recognition, screen password protection and Google FRP lock. It is as secure as any modern phone. You shouldn't have issues as long as you follow the procedures.
Longest lasting battery of any smartphone I've ever used. My old Samsung S6 Active had a 3500 mAh battery and the XP8 blows that out of the water, I consistently get 3 days of use from a full charge no matter how I use it.
I don't play a lot of really graphically intensive games on my phone so I might be the wrong person to answer that. The Rick and Morty RPG runs great as does the tower defense game that I play.
Hi Arthur, We didn't experience a dropped call issue in our area. There was an issue with the phone freezing up but that has since been corrected. There have been no issues since.
@@Bryanthecellphoneguy ok Cool, I'm in Ottawa With the Ottawa Carleton District School Board. and we're testing the XP8's we have particular issues with the current phones, in that signal is horrible in some Schools, or non existant, and then the dropped call when we use the PTT feature. :)
Don't forget Poptel P60 is the latest Rugged smartphone ever made. Its pretty durable, and it have excellent feature like many decent smartphone for today standard. It support Split Screen tab as well. Oh, when does that Kyocera(which has IP69) released ??
JN-IS GN-GK Kyo actually has Sapphire Shield so I wouldn’t really call it the most durable. Remember that Kyo has held the market for rugged phones for years. Idk when the phone releases.
Not sure what i was thinking when I said that. The screen on the 8, although still small by today's standards, is a significant improvement over the 7. Nice catch.
There are a lot of similarities. Because everything NEXTEL was made by Motorola and Sonim has a lot of influence from the big M. Take a look at the XP3 video i just did and you will see what I mean.
@@Bryanthecellphoneguy that's awesome. I just miss the push to talk. It was very convenient. The XP looks very durable. I saw a comment where someone dropped their xp in oil....in oil!!! It totally survived! Thank you for these videos. You're very detailed and you answer questions!!!
I have one question if you happen to have the time. I see that they state a max SDcard size of 128 GB. Is this a mistake, or for real? It's the one thing keeping me at jumping at this.
The base memory is 64 and with a 128 SD card you have 192 GB. This would be more than enough for most people. Most android phone will support higher memory but the only way to see for sure is to try it. I would think it would support 256 GB as well. LG phone running android 7 and up claim to support up to 2 T of SD memory.
This isn't for office workers, or people who live in fancy, clean environments. It isn't even directly marketed to the public! It is intended for companies to buy, in industries where other phones don't hold up. Hence the intrinsically safe model, and the lone worker thing, which is like "OnStar", but in a phone. Suffice to say that most of these phones will never have a game installed on them.
I do not understand why people actually spend so much on these?? It looks like a blackberry with one of those keyboards is newer, like i really dont know why anyone would spend 900 bucks on this thing
I hear that a lot. This phone is not and never will be a high volume consumer oriented device. It is made to fit a specific market and it dies that very well. The unlimited three year warranty, the amazing durability and the PTT service make it the phone of choice for construction, first responders, utility workers etc. If you need it, just having a non incendiary camera device is worth the $900.
Hi Bryan, Great video. Can you ease send me the "owners manual"? Thank you very much. It's a fantastic phone, I had the xp7 before and they have done a marvelous job with the 8!!
If the XP7 is any indication, this will be pure garbage. They focused too much on durability and made it useless. Slow, unusable camera, terrible charger, heavy, poor screen. When considering Sonim, have a look at a used S3 or anything else roughly 4 or more years old and get an otter box. I know two large companies that use this device, and they all HATE it. A blackberry curve would be an upgrade.
Hi Patrick, The XP7 battery would not fit as the mounting screws are in a different spot and the overall length of the phone is different. According to the Sonim website the xpand accessories are not yet available.
I LOVE my XP7. I am looking forward to getting my XP8. My XP7 has done everything we need it to do. We have a farm and it has been to the bottom of the troughs and even got chewed on by an 800 pound Yorkshire sow with not a scratch on it! When we took the kids camping they used it in the pool to take underwater pics and video. It fell out of my pocket once and my 19 hand, 2100 pound Belgian horse kicked it a couple times on the gravel driveway before stepping on it. Again, not a scratch on it. Sonim's may not be fancy but they are tough. Wouldn't have another phone!
So...... Believable
Dam!! Sound like you can go to hell and comebacks harmless with this brick.
I work for a farmer here in Saskatchewan Canada and my Sasktell contract is up on my SonimXP7 so I'm jumping up to the 8. After couple years of hard abuse gotta say my XP7 could easily go another couple years and not have a problem. I was glad to see someone finally made a good tough phone. To say how tough my XP7 is after doing a oil change on a John Deere 510RT twin track witch holds a ton of oil my phone got nocked into the tub of used oil. It sank right to the bottom my coworkers jaws hit the floor when I reached my hand in pulled it out took it to the sink and washed it off with Dawn dish soap and hot water. Didnt faze the phone in anyway. The only complaint I really ever had was were it plugs in would gum up and sometimes it was hard to get it to charge and the contact points are hard to get at to clean and I had to replace the charger once at almost $70.
Jesse James Curley does Sasktel support some of the options mentioned like emergency call or the “ radio” function ?
did you get service with it in places regular phones dont get it? i don't have service on most of my farm, and I want to replace my current phone since all of it's speakers are broken.
Been close to a week now since the fix. The handset is operating awesomely. I really love this phone, left it outside the other day -45c, 2 plus hours in the open. I was able to answer a call, no problem. I have had other phones, calf out in these temperatures, and it has taken them awhile to get back up. Liking it, a l lot.
Nice demo of phone. Very informative and useful visuals. I just ordered one based on your review. The regular I-phones and Samsung phones are nice but they can not handle any kind of abuse; and everyone from time to time does something stupid, (drop, get wet) Unfortunately have "leased this thru Sprint", which has the worst customer service of any company I've ever dealt with. Looking forward to using the phone. Thanks Bryan
After cracking 3 S8 Active screens, I ordered an xp8 tonight. Done with samsung cellphones. Not durable enough for my needs. Huge plus in my book is the removable battery.
looool!
Yeah isnt it stupid how the screens just crack on their own?so annoying right?Oh wait YOU broke them!Maybe you should invest in a case since youre inclined to damage your phones and be mad because they arent durable enough for you.
Or maybe he just gets the sonim.
@@Ron.J23 seems like you dont know how everyday blue collar work tends to be like on phones regardless of how well you take care of them.
@@Michaelation08 buy a goddamn case
That Orange Button is the Officer Down/ Emergency Call Button. You can set it to call 911 without having to dial it or set it to send an SOS Alert Signal after 30 seconds if the phones tilted the Alarm will go off so they can find your location when they arrive.
It's called Sonim SOS but the feature is not supported by all carriers. Check with your's to make sure it is available.
Have had an XP7 for 3+ years. Great phone, but from a software, processor speed, and screen/camera quality it is not up to snuff. The built on rubber casing had been eaten by my parrot, the phone has been in the water and freezing Canadian snow over and over and still works like the day I bought it.
Hence I am afraid to upgrade to the xp8 as this xp7 just "works" so well each and every day that I'm just scared something won't be as reliable on the 8.
I think you will find a big improvement on the 8. Android 7.1.1 is far superior to 4.4.4. The touchscreen is still not as responsive as my Samsung S8 but it is better.
Or get an otter box for a good phone. Got one for my Pixel just to not have to suffer with my sonim work phone.
I like the XP7. Never seen any of these before
Thanks for your reply Bryan. I’m almost at the point now with the little I need a smartphone. I may just get a xp5s and be done with the large bills thanks
It could be argued that none of the latest Smartphones are worth what they cost. The iPhone XS Max 256 GB comes in at $2100 here in Canada. For those who need the ruggedness of the XP8 and the intrinsically safe capabilities and for those who have ever paid $400 or more in repairs because they dropped their phone, the price of the XP8 is well worth it. It is not now and never will be the phone for everyone. For those who need it it is well worth the cost.
Does earphone come with that Sonim XP8 boxes in it ??
No. The XP8 doesn't have an earpiece jack. You need to buy an adapter that screws onto the side of the device and this has the 3.5 mm jack on it.
Bryan The Cell Phone Guy hi Bryan I have the xp7 love it but find its so slow and lagging.is the xp8 much better.more like a Samsung galaxy phone for speed ? Thanks Ronnie
@@sheepdogtruckcamper520 Hi Ron,
I use the XP8 and a Samsung S8. The screen response time on the Samsung is much better. The XP8 is better than the seven but I still find it frustratingly slow compared to the Samsung.Think of it as comparing the acceleration of a Muscle Car to a Gravel Truck. Then compare the same two vehicles as far as durability goes. Sometimes you have to sacrifice some things to get others.
Does this phone have wireless charging?
I have a theory. The cause for the negative reviews (specifically keyboard related) is caused by the screen PROTECTOR. The phone ships with a FILM on the screen with an obvious tab to remove it. Underneath that is a quite thick, hard plastic screen PROTECTOR. Removing that solved my issues with the keypad lag.
that's what i need!
I hope that this will be available from bell. Love these phones, amazing warranty too!
It is available with bell
Verizon has it
There are a couple things about this phone that are profoundly better than any flagship phone I've ever owned (my last phone was the Samsung S7). One is the battery life. I consistently get 3 days of battery life from a full charge no matter how I use it. In fact the battery has so much capacity that it takes forever to charge it so I try to remember to plug it in before I go to sleep. Also, if this isn't the loudest speaker of any smart phone on the market, I'd love to know what is. You could use this phone as a boom box at a pool party. This phone is also rather heavy, I feel like the only way I could break it is if I dropped it screen first onto concrete from a height, and even then it comes with a screen protector already applied.
I have this and Pixel 3xl. The only advantage of the sonim is durability. The pixel is just as loud, and twice as clear. Plus, it can be used as a smartphone; something Sonim is terrible at. An old S4 with otter box would be an upgrade.
Update. ......my carrier did 2 over the air updates & so far its resolved the ptt button sensitiveness
Great video and review on the XP8, this is the only video I have found showing the phone. ordered my own here in Ontario through Telus.
If you cant find a dealer out there who is fluent in Sonim, you can order it through my store and we will send it to you. I have been a Telus dealer for 27 years.
hi just ordered mine from Telus I have to wait a few days... very excited but also worried about the screen a little, does it come with any sort of screen protection or do you recommend buying a glass protector online?
The screen is the toughest I have ever seen so there is no need for screen protection. If it ever does break the three year unconditional warranty gets it fixed for free.
@@Bryanthecellphoneguy I just recently purchase my New XP8 through Ebay. As regards the warranty and Sonim registration procedure...I've had no cooperation.I fill-out the information wait a week or more and I get a "follow the instructions" response which are less then understandable and non-specific themselves. The form is totally lacking clarity about imei numbers and which one are which and and where to find the specific imei they want, I have to stop here..it's a real pain and I end up mad at SONIM's short fused reply's. Not friendly is perhaps a COVID19 sufferer? I don't know...(FYI)
The Sonim xp8 looks like a great phone for me. I like it a lot. It`s better than what I have now.
Would really like to see the 3.5 mm jack adapter demonstrated.
I am thorn between this one and the CAT S61
Has anyone found a way to root this phone yet
owners manual please....And I like your presentation.
I'm looking for a replacement for my LG v20, the last phone with a removable battery. I've been buying them new in box on Ebay whenever I break the previous one, then install a ZeroLemon 10,000 mah battery. So it is easily larger than the Sonim. But it seems nobody makes such phones anymore, and while the LG works great when first booted up, it tends to bog down real bad over the course of 6 months or so as updates and apps are installed.
What happened to the follow up video sir? I'm thinking about going with the XP8 over my iphone X because I'm doing a lot of hunting and rugged things lately. Took my iphone X hunting and of course I chipped my screen within the first hour hahahaha. I'm axiously awaiting your follow up video sir.
There are a lot of pros and cons converting to the XP8 from a flagship phone from Apple or Samsung.
Some pros:
Ridiculous durability (although it's always smart to be careful with the screen--it comes with a screen protector already applied).
Ridiculous battery longevity.
Ridiculous speaker volume.
A really good phone for work crews, E.M.T.s, etc.
Reasonably snappy interface, runs everything my old Samsung S7 did so far without hiccups.
Some cons:
Standard 1080p screen.
Standard issue cameras, functional but unspectacular.
Interface is close to stock Android, which could be a pro or con depending on your needs.
Upper mid-level specs for a flagship price--although admittedly I haven't noticed the difference so far.
@@rwilson6856 Strange, another reviewer said the same thing. I have very basic uses for the phone (web browsing, TH-cam, simple games on my work breaks, flashlight, messenger) so maybe more memory intensive apps cause problems. Do you close your apps or leave them running in the background?
Lewis T Maybe this guy didn't do such a things like you said. R Wilson is a bitch. Why would he buy those phone which were just launched ?! He should buy later when the upgrade and unlocked version coming
It is working fine now. I contacted Telus who in turn, sent me a instructions on the fix.
@@rwilson6856 I'm glad.
My xp7 is a war horse, it just won't die! I'm going to get this new one with Telus up here in Alberta.
If you are in Edmonton I can help with that. Alberta Mobility is one of the oldest and highest volume Telus dealers in the west. We are located at 101 St and Kingsway ave. We would be happy to help you with this.
So after just over a year of ownership (on the Telus network) Telus is great but this phone is absolute junk. I still owe over $500 on my account and the phone barely functions. The screen scratched day 1 without even trying, now it's damaged and has water under the screen, I should say this phone has been to hell and back but really it should have stayed dry. The camera is useless, the touch screen is very imprecise, typos constantly happen. The best part is battery life and GPS, both are beyond impressive. Battery lasts for days typically and GPS apps work with zero cell signal. So that's my opinion as a actual owner that uses the phone for work, I'm a HD mechanic in Alberta I also take it hunting, quadding etc. It could be better, the xp7 was even better than this one! Hopefully the warranty works out as I will send it in one day if actually craps out .
I got a used telus unit from ebay, and it has dual sim slots ....these phones are great.
Bryan, I notcied the XP8 was only discontinued last year. Some stores are still selling the XP8 on clearance. If i can get a good deal do you think the XP8, running Android 10 (the highest update it will take) is still worthwhile in 2023, and until Anrdoid 10 is obsolete and when would this likely be, in 3 years time...?
How did you unlock the bootloader
Still working on it. hang in there.
Hopefully you've been using it this whole time and can be a lot more detailed seeing as we wait a lot longer than a couple weeks for a follow-up review video
Hi Alec,
The follow up video is coming. Life and my day job are getting in the way. hang in there :)
Yessss! I 2 am looking 4 the fallow up sir.
I bought one about 2 weeks ago. So far I like the phone. I’m having an issue with my Blue Parrot headset. Connects fine but microphone doesn’t work. Ear piece audio is perfect but no one can hear me. I’ve tried contacting Sonim but so far no reply. Called Blue Parrot support and they were unable to solve my issue. Is there a setting somewhere I’m missing or maybe an app I need to have to make this issue go away? The phone connected and works perfect to the Bluetooth in my Pickup. My Blue Parrot is a high end noise canceling headset with boom mic, so not a dollar store special. It worked flawlessly on my old iPhone so wondered about a compatibility issue. Cleared device memory from my headset but didn’t help.
Any help would be appreciated. Not looking forward to buy another $200 headset.
Sounds like a software issue, maybe you need a specific driver
Hi Bryan did you ever do a follow up on your experience with the sonim xp8 and what you thought usability durability ect I have a 3 flip xp5700 xp 6 and a xp 7 I haven’t used yet
Amazing
Hi. Does touch screen work with, for example, construction gloves?
It does but it takes a bit of getting used to. It is not a responsive as bare hands and typing is an issue but mostly due to the size of the fingers hiding the keys. When I use gloves and try to use my Samsung it becomes apparent that the Sonim is better suited for this. You would have to play with one to see if you can get used to it.
Great review. Now, do you know how it compares to the Kyocera Duraforce Pro 2? I can pull up specs, but hoping someone has real world experience with both to share any issues in connectivity, performance, etc?
You said that the connection on the top is for the battery expansion. which one would fit on it? is it the same as the xp7?
I have an XP8 and the full owners manual. there is no mention of an IR sensor. There is a barcode scanner that can be added to the Xpand port but that is a separate option.
I find the screen quality to be as good as the XP7 but I like it more because it is a 5" instead of a 4" . The resolution is also slightly better.
Do you know anything about the radio feature being able to communicate with an emergency dispatcher for emergency personnel
Ok been going on an hour since I put in the fix and the phone is now working good. The rebooting has stopped, it was rebooting every 15 minutes to half hour. Not anymore, just might keep this handset now. It is built strong very strong
In another section video, you say this phone is junk ? And now you say it worked perfectly ? So you have been return your phone for fix your Sonim XP8 right ??
This phone is like 2 years old now... When's XP9 coming out?
Also, I actually like the Outer "design" of the XP7 better, looks more "rugged/protective".
Hi. The replacement is due out in the spring of 2021. One of the beauties of Sonim phones is that they don't change just for the sake of change. With over the air software patches and security upgrades, this phone is as functional today as it was when it launched. Three year warranty, three year life cycle. BTW rumour has it that the new one will be the XP10. Hang in there.
LOVE THE SONIM XP8 , NOW DO A FIRST LOOK FOR THE NEW XP5S, THANKS
I have an XP5S on order and expect it to arrive in about a week. It doesn't launch until around the 15th on Telus so I am trying to match the video with the launch. Stay tuned.
THANKS BRYAN, YOUR VIDEOS ON THE SONIM LINE R GREAT, BEEN USING SONIM IN SF AREA FOR YEARS, I TELL MY FRIEND WHO WORKS FOR SONIM IN SAN MATEO CA THAT YOUR VIDEOS DO THE BEST JOB IN SHOWING OFF THE GREAT SONIM PHONES. THANKS - FCK BARABBAS
It's almost, but no headphone jack.
Bluetooth buds?
I'm a big guy with fat fingers and I prefer this screen sensitivity
I have much less typos with this phone than any I've had
Thanks Bryan, your's is the first video on YT for the XP8. Very informative. Can't wait for your follow up video after field testing.
Just wondering about the bloatware, is it stock Android or are there preloaded apps by Sonim or AT&T?
It is very close to stock Android. The only Sonim app that is preloaded is Sonim scout. This is a program that aids in setup, support and diagnostics. Most often it is employed by an IT department as an MDM solution. I am in Canada so i cant speak to what AT&T preloads but my carrier, Telus, has nothing installed. The look of the icons and menus reminds me very much of my Pixel 2. Does that help?
Single sim or dual sim.?
Every bit as good. 4900 MaH goes a long way and Android 7 is much more efficient than 4.4 was
A waterproof phone with a removable battery? So it IS possible! Would have liked to see how the back cover attaches.
The back has a rubber seal and is hooked at the top and has a screw at the bottom to complete the seal.
Ok, thanks, Bryan.👍
Which one better comparing with kyocera duraforce pro 2?
Sorry. I have no experience with the Dura Pro.
Follow up video coming soon or has it been scrapped?
I only work as a bar back and any phone that's actually rugged and has good battery life appeals to me... This hyper consumeristic focus on sleek and sexy at the expense of functionality annoys the hell out of me
does this phone have programmable tranceiver function?
Is this a Satellite phone or not?
No. Satellite phones are a completely different technology. This is a Cellular phone.
I've also been looking for more info on the Canadian xp8. Thanks for making this video. I'm wondering how many of the buttons are programmable on the telus version. I don't use PTT, but can put the buttons to good use.
The only button that is programmable is the yellow one. the Red one is for the emergency call service and the PTT button only works for PTT. I have my yellow button programmed to launch Instagram.
According to the manual the 3 button are programmable.
It's a mistake from the manual ?
P.26
"You can asisign any application to the programmable
key.
1. From Notifications or App screen, tap on Settings
( ) > Personal > Programmable keys ( ).
2. You can program any application for the following
keys:
• Select PTT Key app
• Select YELLOW Key app
• Select ALARM Key app"
Thanks!
François Rousseau
Hi Francois.
The three buttons are programmable. Go to settings and scroll down to personal and you will find programmable keys. Open that and you will see the three keys available for customization. Select one of them and a list of available options.
Nathan Baron. See below for the answer. Thanks.
Sonim tec support sent me instructions on how to fix the isssues with rebooting. I am going to try to follow the instructions and see what happens. Hope it works, informed me it was the network which is Telus. I believe this is the fix Bryan was offering.
The fix worked on mine. Hopefully it works on yours as well. Have a great New Year's.
It worked great, my handset is working flawless, thank you for the offer, Have a great New Year's @@Bryanthecellphoneguy
Do these phones have better cell reception than other phones due to the large antenna on top? I miss the old days where phones had actual good reception. Also, does this support WiFi calling and wireless charging? I'm thinking of upgrading
that's a speaker not an antenna
What's price?
Here in Canada the full price is $980 but with a contract on the big three it could be down to $0
Hows the phone holding up? Is the network signal strength better or strong? How many days before charging? Can you be out in the field and talk and surf the net at the same time over lte and data?
The phone is holding up very well. I generally get about two - three days on a charge with normal use.
Hi Bryan Can you be out in the field and talk and surf the net at the same time over data? Its one of the reason I'm
m still using the Samsung note 3 with sprint because its a tri band phone. Thanks for the reply
So does that mean the phone will not work at all in Canada? Or that you are just limited to using one sim card?
In North America the phone will only respond to a sim in sim slot 1. In other overseas markets both will work . Check with your local carrier.
Purchased one today from Telus. I'm very curious about the expansion ports and if anyone has released pinouts? How does the fingerprint module and barcode module communicate with the device? Are they over low power Bluetooth and simply take power from the device or are they serial devices? Why is there two threaded holes in at the top of the device, are they used for mounting? Should I forward my questions to sonim instead?
Hi, The accessories for the phone will be released over the next few months. The holes on the top are for mounting the expand battery pack and several other soon to be announced accessories. The phone does support Bluetooth 5.0 and BLE
Why did he do a pattern unlock when talking about finger print sensor?
Hi Robert, That's a really good question. The first unlock after being turned off requires a pin or pattern to unlock the device. After that each subsequent screen unlock uses the fingerprint. I should have explained that better. Thanks for pointing it out.
Now is 2019, please test a gaming performance on it especially on the unlocked version of XP8
I am the wrong guy to speak about gaming. The last video game I played was the original Super Mario Bros. My focus is more business applications.
How could be Sonim XP8 didn't available on mobiloscope.net yet as the latest rugged phone released in these website ??? Almost all of latest rugged smartphone are always been available in mobiloscope website after its release but this phone didn't shown at these website yet.
Maybe they were so disappointed, they didn't want to.
new xp8...phone keeps shutting down overnight and on weekend....do you know what settings to go to to allow it to stay on all the time?
Hi Ray. What network are you on?
@@Bryanthecellphoneguy bell. I think I figured out
Love mine,
Sonim
XP8
cool
How do I listen to music or watch movies on the airplane? Headphone jack is???
You need to purchase the adapter. On the right hand side of the phone you will see a series of brass pins and two threaded holes. The adaptors mounts on there and has a 3.5 mm hole for headsets. It would be cheaper to buy a Bluetooth headset instead. The adapter is pricey and only available on Www.sonimtech.com
@@Bryanthecellphoneguy Do you think this would work? www.amazon.com/Braided-Type-C-Femaile-Adapter-Compatible/dp/B07HKVNR3C
@@Bryanthecellphoneguy Also, USB-C to 3.5mm audio jack adapter - $15 at the Telus store.
@@barryminnis4906 Good idea. I haven't tried that yet.
Hi sir its able with wireless charger?
This phone does not support wireless charging.
@@Bryanthecellphoneguy ok thanks
Not as good as my blackview 9500 pro, but it's the closest that att will support.
Will they make a Instrincally Safe model like xp7 IS ?
This one IS certified but only Class 2 Div 1. This is acceptable for 90% of People. Only if you need Class 1 Div 1 is there a problem.
I would love a service manual ,how can I get one
Www.sonimtech.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/XP8_BELL_EN_UG_260518.pdf
Can this phone run SD cards larger than 128 gb? I have a 512 gb card and was wondering if it could work.
The manual states that the max capacity for an sd card is 128 but I dont a reason why it wouldnt take a 512. Some of the older LG phones were rated for 2 TB cards long before even the 1TB existed. The only way to know for sure is to try it. Keep in mind that a lot of issues that occur with memory card usage are due to the quality and speed ratings of the card and not the phone. IMHO Samsung and Sandisk are the best.
Can you upgrade to android 10?
No not yet. Software upgrades need network approval so each carrier will decide on the timing and availability of upgrades. Check with you specific carrier for any further details.
which has better screen brightness xp8 or xp7
Hi Will, I find the 8 has a better screen for viewing. Side by side the 8 appears brighter but it also helps that the screen is bigger. Overall the 8 seems like a big improvement.
@@Bryanthecellphoneguy thank you!! Do you think it will be visible under sunlight
This runs on Android 7? No updates past it? Jeeez. Looking to get this for ptt features for att first net ptt add on for work
Mine is on the Telus network in Canada and the Android 8.1 upgrade was released 6 months ago. I would check with your carrier and see if they have plans to release it. You could also check in settings under the "check for update" section. Android 8 offers me everything that I need.
How is the function of the internet, email and texting ? Mostly poor reviews on att website . Thank you
You should have no issues with any of these functions. I am not sure why AT&T rates it poorly. The screen is not as responsive as my Samsung S8 but i tend to be a bit impatient when using my phone. Other than that it works well.
Bryan The Cell Phone Guy alright thank you very much
I'm looking at this or a xplore m60 any comparison?
A lot of the answer depends on which country you are in. The Xplore M60 isn't available in all markets and it isn't Intrinsically safe. There are many similarities between the two devices but I would still give the nod to the Sonim
@@Bryanthecellphoneguy Thank You
Is Sonim XP8 had been unlocked ?
All phone sold in Canada are now sold unlocked. It may be different if you are in another country. Please check with the carrier.
Bryan The Cell Phone Guy
How to check ?
aww I liked the magnetic charger
It's a lot like a PocketPC.
Sooo i have to buy an adapter to use earphones?
yes. The Klein adapter sells for about $129 and screws on to the connector on the right hand side of the phone or you could use a Bluetooth set if you have one.
Google branded USB-C to audio adapter, $15 from Telus. Works well, but doesn't provide the FM radio antenna.
It's a taste of the iphone experience, and you don't even have to buy an Apple product!
can it be upgraded to Android 9 Pie?
Currently it runs 8.1 Oreo. . There are no plans to release a new version anytime soon.
One thing that sucks this phone is not super secure you're not set it to Auto factory reset after incorrect passwords are entered
The phone has fingerprint scan, facial recognition, screen password protection and Google FRP lock. It is as secure as any modern phone. You shouldn't have issues as long as you follow the procedures.
@@Bryanthecellphoneguy still can be brute forced unless they give us the option to Auto factory reset after 10 tries
@@Bryanthecellphoneguy "android 7" "secure" lmao
What's battery life like? My favorite feature of the 7 model is the battery life!
Longest lasting battery of any smartphone I've ever used. My old Samsung S6 Active had a 3500 mAh battery and the XP8 blows that out of the water, I consistently get 3 days of use from a full charge no matter how I use it.
Lewis T
Is XP8 is good for gaming too ?
I don't play a lot of really graphically intensive games on my phone so I might be the wrong person to answer that. The Rick and Morty RPG runs great as does the tower defense game that I play.
Lewis T
How to connect earphone/headphone on it if this phone doesn't have an Earphone/headphone jack ??
I'm researching that now. Of course there's always the bluetooth option, but I'm trying to figure out if the phone has other connectivity.
How bout "Dropping Calls" is that bug been dealt with ?
Hi Arthur,
We didn't experience a dropped call issue in our area. There was an issue with the phone freezing up but that has since been corrected. There have been no issues since.
@@Bryanthecellphoneguy ok Cool, I'm in Ottawa With the Ottawa Carleton District School Board. and we're testing the XP8's we have particular issues with the current phones, in that signal is horrible in some Schools, or non existant, and then the dropped call when we use the PTT feature. :)
@@CooperTheDog1000 Hi Arthur, what carrier are you using? I may be able to help.
@@Bryanthecellphoneguy The Board uses Rogers
Does it have Bluetooth?
Yes. It has Bluetooth 5.0 and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)
I am looking for this mobile but can not get it in India
Hi Jatin, You could probably buy it directly from the Sonim Webstore. Here is the link: store.sonimtech.com/
i searched all the internet i did not find a way to buy this phone
What country and city are you in?
Does this phone have Bluetooth?
Yes it does
Why can’t APPLE make an iPhone like that one?
Ip69? If that has ip69 then that means it beats Kyocera. Just when I thought Kyo was untouchable when it comes to durability
Don't forget Poptel P60 is the latest Rugged smartphone ever made. Its pretty durable, and it have excellent feature like many decent smartphone for today standard. It support Split Screen tab as well.
Oh, when does that Kyocera(which has IP69) released ??
JN-IS GN-GK Kyo actually has Sapphire Shield so I wouldn’t really call it the most durable. Remember that Kyo has held the market for rugged phones for years.
Idk when the phone releases.
The screen size difference is NOT significant? What??
Not sure what i was thinking when I said that. The screen on the 8, although still small by today's standards, is a significant improvement over the 7. Nice catch.
Hmmm, sounds like a nextel... Push to talk, durable, and looks and feels like a brick. If it is, I gotta get one.
There are a lot of similarities. Because everything NEXTEL was made by Motorola and Sonim has a lot of influence from the big M. Take a look at the XP3 video i just did and you will see what I mean.
@@Bryanthecellphoneguy that's awesome. I just miss the push to talk. It was very convenient. The XP looks very durable. I saw a comment where someone dropped their xp in oil....in oil!!! It totally survived! Thank you for these videos. You're very detailed and you answer questions!!!
I have one question if you happen to have the time. I see that they state a max SDcard size of 128 GB. Is this a mistake, or for real? It's the one thing keeping me at jumping at this.
The base memory is 64 and with a 128 SD card you have 192 GB. This would be more than enough for most people. Most android phone will support higher memory but the only way to see for sure is to try it. I would think it would support 256 GB as well. LG phone running android 7 and up claim to support up to 2 T of SD memory.
I wonder if he ever got it.
@@michaelcerda5514 me too.
It's a Nano
In no way at all is this phone worth $700
No but your mom was
This isn't for office workers, or people who live in fancy, clean environments. It isn't even directly marketed to the public! It is intended for companies to buy, in industries where other phones don't hold up. Hence the intrinsically safe model, and the lone worker thing, which is like "OnStar", but in a phone. Suffice to say that most of these phones will never have a game installed on them.
I do not understand why people actually spend so much on these?? It looks like a blackberry with one of those keyboards is newer, like i really dont know why anyone would spend 900 bucks on this thing
I hear that a lot. This phone is not and never will be a high volume consumer oriented device. It is made to fit a specific market and it dies that very well. The unlimited three year warranty, the amazing durability and the PTT service make it the phone of choice for construction, first responders, utility workers etc. If you need it, just having a non incendiary camera device is worth the $900.
Trying to give my Step dad this phone cuz he's still clinging onto his flip phone
lmaoooo !
Hi Bryan,
Great video.
Can you ease send me the "owners manual"?
Thank you very much.
It's a fantastic phone, I had the xp7 before and they have done a marvelous job with the 8!!
Sure. What email address should i use?
Bryanthecellphoneguy
maxzvh@gmail.com
If the XP7 is any indication, this will be pure garbage. They focused too much on durability and made it useless. Slow, unusable camera, terrible charger, heavy, poor screen.
When considering Sonim, have a look at a used S3 or anything else roughly 4 or more years old and get an otter box.
I know two large companies that use this device, and they all HATE it. A blackberry curve would be an upgrade.
All phones are difficult to use in bright sunlight but this is one of the better ones.
I want to buy used phone so i can save on customs duty , pls inform
Bryan The Cell Phone Guy Hey Bryan can I get copy of Manual to eddiemac1975@ yahoo.com
Hi Patrick, The XP7 battery would not fit as the mounting screws are in a different spot and the overall length of the phone is different. According to the Sonim website the xpand accessories are not yet available.