It’s a terrible idea to use a smartphone for first-person shooting while doing action sports. Chances are, you’d wreck it before wrapping up for the day. Unless, of course, that phone is designed specifically to enable GoPro-like functions. That’s exactly the selling point behind Kyocera’s DuraForce Pro.
Like action cams, the phone is built with durability in mind. As such, it comes with a ruggedized shockproof body that should withstand falls and bumps (it’s compliant with MIL-STD-810G), all while being duly waterproof for immersion in depths of up to two meters, as well as shrugging off dust, vibration, extreme temperatures, low pressure, solar radiation, and more. The screen, of course, is similarly reinforced, ensuring it can absorb heavy impact without breaking
Aside from being as rugged as your favorite action cams, the Kyocera DuraForce Pro also shoots with the same wide field of view, capturing 135-degree videos in 1080p. A built-in image processor allows it to offer different shooting modes (slow-motion, sports, underwater, and action), with an optional case allowing you to use it with GoPro-style mounts for easily integrating with your gear. And, yes, the touchscreen interface will remain functional even when wet, all while staying responsive even when the user is wearing gloves.
Core specs include a 5-inch 1080p display, a 13 megapixel rear camera, a 5 megapixel front camera, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 SOC, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, and a 3,240mAh battery with wireless charging support. It comes with a fingerprint sensor on the power button.
The Kyocera DuraForce Pro is slated for availability in the fall.