Editor's Review of the Tough
These days are characterized by an increased fame of the fashionably designed mobile phones that are flooding the markets. Although many people prefer good-looking mobile phones, the durability of these handsets has been compromised for their appearance in most cases. Commonly displayed in stores today are handsets which quality has apparently been exchanged for the most handsome designs. Notably, mobile phones that do not guarantee to last for at least two years are selling like hot cakes these days, simply because they appear stunning.
The geniuses behind Sonim has created the JCB Tough phone and paved the way for destruction-proof handsets. It can be safely assumed that Sonim has pioneered the making of mobile phones with the durability standards that the JCB Tough has set. This handset was launched in the United Kingdom, and with the popular JCB brand on its tag, the mobile phone ensures toughness that works from this perspective.
Sonim demonstrated through road-tests all over Europe the durability and toughness that the JCB Tough was all about. Remarkably, the JCB Tough remained unaffected, unscratched and functioning properly despite its exposure to water and liquor. Through the toughness tests, The JCB Tough proved its strength even in wet conditions -- an environment that most mobile phones can hardly stand.
To further prove how the XP-1 -- Sonim's code name for the JCB Tough -- lives by its reputation of invincibility, the test included a Volkswagen running over it. Again, the JCB Tough proved that its toughness is hard to beat - the phone remained in its original form and retained its functionalities, as if loads of weight hasn't even touched it.
As the tests have proven, the JCB Tough is impact and drop resistant, dust resistant, shock resistant and water resistant, and it has gained up to an IP53 rating. Particularly, it also flaunts a scratch and glare resistant display screen, which is perfect for those who often spend their time outdoors or who are always on-the-go. Some people have recommended the JCB Tough for the types of mobile phone users who have a hard time keeping their handsets safe and damage-free.
The JCB Tough is outlined by a black-coloured rubber material, with its main body is covered in yellow shade. While its looks are not as impressive as its durability, most owners are satisfied of, and appreciate, the phone. This powerhouse mobile phone, some say, is created to fit the lifestyles of hardworking laborers, such as tradesmen whose lives are as hectic as can be or those working in construction sites. This is because for these types of people and in these working scenarios with harsh environments, a phone that resists what is damaging to most recent mobile phone models of various brands is a must.
Men, who are the majority owners of JCB Tough, compare the handset with a tool that is built for usability, where appealing looks need not be required. Indeed, while the JCB Tough is incredibly durable, its physical features aren't as great, most reviews have said. One review found the JCB Tough to be downright ugly.
Naturally, a downside of the mobile phone, especially to those who are features-conscious, is that it doesn't come with the perks that most modernist mobile phones offer. In fact, the mobile phone's features are very limited to plain messaging and incoming or outgoing calls. To the frustration of those who want some photos captured in their mobile phones, the JCB Tough doesn't come with a camera. Neither does it have a music player and related music functions, nor dedicated slots for a memory card. Moreover, the JCB Tough doesn't have any games installed, and does not support Java applications. Perhaps its only good point, however, is that this phone houses two loud-speakers that serve as a remedy for phone conversations in very noisy environments.
Indeed, Sonim has backed up its claim of its creation's unquestionable durability. While its looks don't have it, its guaranteed, almost damage-free feature makes it worth the buy. True, style-conscious teenagers and women will not go for the JCB Tough, simply because of its unimpressive look and lack of modern features. However, for those who want it simple, neat and more importantly, long-lasting, grabbing the JCB Tough is the best way to go.
User Reviews
phone was good for first few months.really loud ringtone which was great for noisy environments...never missed a call.battery would last over a week and a half without charge.UNFORTUNATELY PHONE HAS COMPLETELY DIED AND WONT TAKE A CHARGE OR TURN ON
The phone keeps freezing and need to remove the battery to reset.
Terrible! Avoid. Resets, randomly dials numbers, no support!
what a terrible product! the concept is marvellous, but in reality.... my first one will not accept calls sometimes, the second has a mind of its own when you try to text, the warranty is virtually void, as who do you contact??? sonim usa no longer available, same with their uk web address, also the warranty number in the booklet is an answering machine, where you leave details, but are not contacted
all in all a wonderful idea, but the product has problems and there is no customer service i can find,
I could not agree more with all of the above I am on my second handset and all the problems ranging from no lock to calls that people make do not ever reach me it turns itself off and what i thought would be an amazing phone turned into a nightmare,JCB seem to have put there name to a inferoior prodct
Well here i am again. I have found another bug bear with this phone. My wife often says i call her from my pocket, so i use the key lock. Great you all say. You would like to think so, however, with the key pad locked you can still make emergency calls. so 999, 911, 122 and others i am sure can still be dialed whilst the phone is in the pocket. Also as stated by steve gould from taunton you can turn the phone off with the keypad locked. Who thought of that stupid idea. Lock all the keys or don't bother.
Being a landscape gardener my mobile gets plenty of abuse.
So as you can imagine, finding out that i could get a JCB TOUGH as my free contract upgrade made me as happy as a pig in s##t.
Having read the specs from the Sonim website i thought this would be the phone for me,how mistaken can one man be.
From design faults such as being able to turn the mobile off when the keypad is locked.
To function keys not working and very poor quality sound,i can only put this down to poor quality manufacturing or components.
On the whole i am very disappointed with my new JCB TOUGH as it is the second one i have had in only three weeks.
I brought this phone for a change from the norm and also because I work in various different environments where other phones wouldn't be suited. (I have wrecked phones in the past, working).
My first impression of the phone is that it looks like a small brick, but with the bright yellow and black colouring - somewhat appealing.
It's easy to type on with the slightly larger keys, which is a godsend as I used to make loads of mistakes by miskeying on my old phone because the buttons were so small. Obviously it's lacking in features, however ALL previous phones i've owned (quite a few) i've found these things to be more of a "gimmick" that has lost it's appeal after a few weeks of ownership. An example of this is the camera, in my experience on all but a few i'd rather use a decent stand alone camera anyday.
It does what I want it to do and that's make/recieve phone calls, without falling apart because it's been dropped a meter or so from a ledge. My only gripe with the phone is the software, which seems a little sluggish and outdated at times, however i've had none of the problems listed by other reviewers here regarding SIM problems, Own info etc - all works fine for me.
i purchased A jcb tough or tough phone 3 months ago and have since gone through 3 phones, all 3 phones keep cutting out and my husband needs a reliable phone for his skip business, i thought this one would be perfect as its water proof and tough.i took the 3rd phone back to our local dealer today and they are sending it away for repair but after three phones i would rather scrap it and buy something more reliable, JCB should now know they have a problem with all the complaints and should look at refunding all the disatisfied customers.
I've tried a JCB tough phone and wasn't that impressed, small low res screen & no camera. I've got a Duraphone Q800 now and it looks virtually the same as a JCB but has loads more features including large full colour screen, camera MP3 & MP4 players plus spare battery & too many other things to list. Get one they are great.
My phone was delivered today after being bought from price drop . tv and after only having it since about 3pm today it stopped working at about 7pm this was because the shopping channel claimed that the tough phone was compleately waterproof and showed a demo among others that the phone could withstand a pressure hose and the presenter of the channel even threw one at a wall on a number of occasions. It was then that i decided to buy one as i am a fisherman and often use phones whilst i am fishing and we all know that water and phones dont mix i have since dropped the phone a couple of times and re created the demo shown on tv and it has stopped working is this phone to good to be true or is mine just dodgy or was the demo a big con
Back again. Score getting lower. I have to agree with MICHAEL FAULKNER - DERBY. JCB have added their name to a Sonim Phone. Who has heard of Sonim. No one hence the JCB marketing logo to sell in the UK. JCB you should have made sure the phone was more compatible with the various networks before slapping your logo over it. Yes it is tough and yes its a phone. Thats it though. Sim menu's don't work. Wish i had bought the phone with the Sonim logo and not JCB. Bad move on your part JCB good diggers Terrible Phone.
You score 2 and thats only because i have dropped it a few times and it still works.
I THOUGHT THIS PHONE WAS A GREAT DESIGN AND SOMETHING THAT I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR FOR YEARS AFTER BREAKING MANY PHONES IN MY JOB AS A BUILDER. IT SHOULD WORK ON ANY NETWORK BUT I HAVE FOUND THAT BEING ON ORANGE NO OF THE PHONE BOOK FEATURES WORK AND SO IS UNUSABLE. THERE IS NO CUSTOMER SUPPORT FROM JCB WHO I FEEL HAVE PUT THERE NAME TO THIS PHONE JUST FOR MONEY MAKING PURPOSES. IF SOMEONE COULD MANUFACTURE A PHONE LIKE THIS THAT WORKED I WOULD BUY ONE BUT JCB HAVE FAILED.
The sim menu doesn't work as i am on O2. They tell me they don't support the phone. So a phone that doesn't have many features has even less. Having been using it a while and dropping it. it has survived well. However as for being loud and always able to hear it well i would have to say thats not quite right. many a time i miss calls and texts even though it is my pocket. So on a noisy site, i say no chance. If you want a tough bouncy phone then cool. anything other than that, then go elsewhere.
i bought a jcb phone but had to return it as it would not accept calls from t mobile. i was given a replacement phone and that was the same and within three weeks it packed up alltogether .i have now been waiting for 4 weeks for phones 4 u to send another replacement .not happy at all
Love the phone. However when i try to copy to the sim, update Own info, or worse still at completely random times when you are not looking. The phone will like half reset itself. so the message Insert sim appears on the screen. You cant do anything and if you call the phone it is as if you are off the network. you have to switch the phone off and then on again. it then works fine until the next time.
any one else have this problem.
I recently purchased the jcb phone from 'phones 4 u' after 2 days I returned it due to a constant buzzing noise when on speaker phone. The assisatant got 2 more phones out to try and they were the same. Do they have a bad batch or is this a fault on the phone? Otherwise I was impressed and would like to purchase another one.
Just bought mine 2 day, so far looks good, nice n chunky like the Nokia 3410 I just replaced (hate those new flimsy girly phones). Early days yet, one or two things yet to discover, like why is there no "silence" incoming call facility? Very little info out there to help too at this stage, book is not all that clear on instructions. Also, one MUST lock this phone, I rang the first number in my directory about 8 times inadvertently using the side buttons whilst it was in my pocket