GEAR & GADGETS
CAT S52
TO BE THE most rugged one among your group of friends, you really ought to don a pair of CAT boots, boasting that old-school allure. They’re the ideal toughie companion. Now CAT’s taken it further, by developing the perfect smartphone companion for the modern, rugged guy. Or gal, of course.
The S52 is CAT’s latest entrant into its rugged range, and, wow, is it tough as nails. The best part is that it doesn’t even need a screen protector or a cover. The sleeker design (it’s only 9.69 mm thick) and lightweight properties (210 g) give it everyday-consumer appeal. It’s the thinnest rugged phone in the brand’s line-up.
The folks at CAT have done their homework on this one, with multiple drop tests performed on concrete from up to 1.5 m to check that every corner and crevice will survive an impact. It’s impervious to dust and fully waterproof, proven after being submerged for 35 minutes in 1.5 m of water, and surviving. This gives it a sought-after IP68 rating. It cuts the mustard with the US army too, in tests that include thermal shocks,
