Samsung Galaxy XCover6 Pro review: The last unicorn

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With the Galaxy XCover6 Pro, Samsung has created a very special smartphone that features features such as a removable battery, memory expansion, 3.5 mm jack and status LED with features such as a 120 Hz display and fast processor combined. The result is an outdoor smartphone for the niche that costs around 530 euros.

Table of contents

  1. 1 The last unicorn
    1. Outdoor smartphone starts at 530 euros
    2. Technical data of the Galaxy XCover6 Pro
    3. Outdoor smartphone with almost no rugged design
    4. More buttons than normal smartphones
    5. Pogo pins for charging docks
    6. Battery can be changed quickly
    7. Inexpensive memory expansion via microSD card
  2. 2 Display, performance, software and battery life
    1. PLS instead of AMOLED screen
    2. Brightness disappointing for an outdoor smartphone
    3. No settings for the screen
    4. Snapdragon 778G delivers solid performance
    5. 128 GB UFS 2.1 is faster than the competition
    6. Card reader writes rather slowly
    7. Android with five years of updates
    8. Advertisement also for enterprise customers
    9. Average battery life
    10. 18 hours of use with 5 hours of screen-on time
  3. 3 camera and conclusion
    1. Photos are satisfactory
    2. Video mode without stabilization
    3. Conclusion

Outdoor smartphone starts at 530 euros

Without a removable battery, memory expansion or jack connection, a new smartphone is basically out of the question? In this case, Samsung delivers the right phone with the Galaxy XCover6 Pro, which offers all these features and even features like a status LED for notifications.

Where's the catch? In order to get these features, you have to use the latest outdoor smartphone from Samsung, which is not particularly cheap at 609 euros, but is significantly better equipped than previous models in this device class. Features that are now common in “normal” devices, such as a 120 Hz display, two cameras or a fast processor from current production, are also available for the Galaxy XCover6 Pro. In online retail, the smartphone also fell to around 530 euros shortly after the market launch.

Technical data of the Galaxy XCover6 Pro

Samsung Galaxy XCover6 Pro Software:
(at release) Android 12.0 Display: 6.60 inch, 1080×2408
400ppi, 120Hz
PLS, Gorilla Glass Victus+ Controls: Touch, fingerprint sensor, face scanner SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G
1 × Kryo 670 Prime, 2.40GHz
3 × Kryo 670 Gold, 2.20GHz
4 × Kryo 670 Silver, 1.80GHz
6nm, 64-bit GPU: Adreno 642L RAM : 6,144MB
LPDDR5 Memory: 128GB (expandable) 1st Camera: 50.0MP, 2160p
Dual LED, f/1.8, AF 2nd Camera: 8.0MP, f/2 ,2 3rd Camera: No 4th Camera: No 5th Camera: No 1st Front Camera: 13.0 MP 1080p
Display Flash, f/2.2 2nd Front Camera: No GSM: GPRS + EDGE UMTS : HSPA+
↓42.2 ↑5.76Mbps LTE: Advanced Pro 5G: NSA/SA WLAN: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax
Wi-Fi Direct Bluetooth: 5.2 Location: A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, QZSS Other standards: USB 3.1 Type C, NFC, 3.5 mm jack SIM card: Nano SIM, dual SIM Battery: 4,050 mAh (15.59 Wh), 15.0 W
replaceable Size (W×H×D): 79.9 × 168.8 × 9.90 mm Protection class: IP68 + MIL-STD-810H Weight: 235 g Price: from €530

Outdoor smartphone with almost no rugged design

Although the Galaxy XCover6 Pro is a rugged smartphone that is protected against dust, water and shock according to IP68 and MIL-STD-810H, it is not as martial as some other models in this product category. Although the Galaxy XCover6 Pro shows that it is not a normal smartphone, for example due to the robust plastic housing with non-slip ribbing on the frame and on the back, the measures are limited and do not lead to an overly clumsy product. The device looks more like a smartphone with a thick protective cover.

More buttons than normal smartphones

From the outside, the first thing that strikes you is that the Galaxy XCover6 Pro offers more buttons and ports than other smartphones. At the head end, for example, is the button simply called the “top button” in the Android settings, which can be conveniently linked to two functions for pressing or pressing and holding. Both actions can each be linked to an app, for example the flashlight, the camera or the Google Wallet.

Right next to this button is the smartphone's status LED, which flashes when there are notifications or battery warnings that have not yet been retrieved. The LED makes sense in that there's no always-on screen that would allow for notifications to be previewed. At the head end, users will also find the 3.5mm jack to connect wired headphones and headsets if they don't want to rely on Bluetooth 5.2 for the connection.

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Head end with additional button, status LED and 3.5 mm jack
Mono speakers, pogo pins and USB-C
Power button with fingerprint sensor and volume buttons
The big XCover button on the left

On the left is the almost huge “XCover button” in the frame, where users can store two actions in Android that are triggered by pressing once or pressing and holding. In addition to the top button, this button can also be used as a shutter button within the camera app.

Speaking of the camera: As with other Samsung smartphones, this can be started by pressing the power button twice. Alternatively, the quick start of an app can also be stored here. Pressing and holding the power button activates the Samsung assistant Bixby by default, alternatively you can put the shutdown menu there.

In total, the device has three buttons, each of which can be assigned twice. Especially in the business environment, this extensive quick access to several functions of the smartphone without having to unlock it can be very practical and, above all, faster. The large XCover button in particular can be operated well with gloves, as a self-experiment with a thinner pair showed. It's just a pity that the two volume buttons on the left could no longer be placed there due to the XCover button. They are located very high on the right side of the case and are difficult to reach even with large hands.

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A rubber seal protects the technology from dust and water
The battery can be swapped out within a few seconds
Slots for two SIM and a microSD card
Easily swappable battery, dual SIM and microSD Extension

Pogopins for loading docks

However, the special external features do not stop there. The USB-C socket is flanked by two pogo pins, which can be used to charge the phone in a docking station. Samsung itself does not offer this accessory, but third-party providers are said to be launching products that can accommodate multiple smartphones side by side. Field staff could then, for example, grab a device in the morning and return it to the charging station in the evening.

The battery can be changed quickly

The next “surprise” of the Galaxy XCover6 Pro is on the back, which can be removed quickly to access the battery, two nano-SIM and one microSD slot. The smartphone's battery has the part number EB-BG736BBE, delivers 4,050 mAh (15.59 Wh) and costs around 35 euros as a new purchase. Even faster than charging with (only) 15 watts is changing the battery, which can be carried out in a few seconds on the Galaxy XCover6 Pro and only requires a restart.

Inexpensive storage expansion via microSD card

To pull off the back, you have to grab it with your fingernail at the top right and then pull it off with medium force. The fact that the smartphone loses its IP68 certification when opened is shown by an internal seal that protects the battery, SIM and microSD compartment. The Galaxy XCover6 Pro offers a microSD slot and two nano-SIM slots, so unlike hybrid slots, users don't have to choose one of the two extensions, but can use all three. The battery must be removed to insert the nano SIM cards. A microSD card doesn't need this step, so it can be hot-plugged in and instantly recognized by Android. Apps such as the camera then suggest saving photos and videos on the external storage medium the first time they are started. GIF files and serial recordings are always stored on the internal memory.

Memory selection for a microSD card

The Galaxy XCover6 Pro reveals most of its advantages in the chassis. What other smartphone today is still equipped with a removable battery, 3.5 mm jack, status LED and microSD expansion? However, Samsung wants to achieve more than that, as a look at the display and processor on the next page shows.

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Display, performance, software and battery life