Rugged phones becoming more popular for people who need a device that can handle rough conditions without sacrificing modern features. And here showing Cubot KingKong X Pro, a phone that aims to be the ultimate rugged companion. With a name like “KingKong,” it’s no surprise that Cubot has designed this smartphone to survive the extremes. Built tough with IP68, IP69K, and military-grade 810H certifications, the KingKong X Pro is waterproof, dustproof, and shockproof, making it a solid pick for challenging environments.
But durability is just the beginning. The KingKong X Pro brings more to the table with some impressive tech specs: a 6.7-inch FHD+ display with a smooth 144Hz refresh rate, a 100MP main camera, and a massive 10,200mAh battery that’s built to last days on a single charge. Cubot has packed in a MediaTek Dimensity 8200 processor, ensuring that this phone can handle almost anything, from work apps to intensive gaming. In this review, we’ll dive into what makes the KingKong X Pro unique, and to see if it really lives up to its “KingKong” name.
Build and Design
The Cubot KingKong X Pro doesn’t hold back when it comes to rugged design. It’s made for rough conditions, and every part of this phone feels solid and well-protected. With IP68 and IP69K ratings, this device can withstand dust, high-pressure water, and even short drops without a scratch. Plus, its military-grade 810H certification ensures it can handle extreme environments.
The KingKong X Pro’s body is crafted with reinforced materials, and at 392 grams, it’s definitely on the heavier side, giving it a solid feel that’s built to last. The frame includes a customizable side button, a feature not often seen in standard smartphones, which you can program to quickly access apps or perform functions, making it handy for on-the-go tasks.
One unique touch is the 1.85-inch rear display. Located on the back, this mini screen lets you check notifications, control music, or even take selfies using the main camera—This screen adds an extra layer of convenience that might seem small but makes a big difference when you’re multitasking or in a hurry.
Cubot has included a few rugged-specific touches to enhance usability. For instance, the customizable side button can be set to launch apps or perform actions with a single, double, or long press, is perfect for quick access to essential apps like a flashlight, camera, or push-to-talk for instant communication.
Display Quality
The Cubot KingKong X Pro offers more than you’d expect from a rugged phone. Its 6.7-inch FHD+ LCD display comes with a 1080×2400 resolution, delivering clear, sharp visuals that look great. But what really stands out is the 144Hz refresh rate—a feature usually found in high-end devices and gaming phones. This refresh rate makes scrolling, swiping, and animations feel incredibly smooth and responsive.
Color accuracy on the KingKong X Pro’s screen is surprisingly good too. The MiraVision technology optimizes contrast, brightness, and sharpness, creating vibrant yet natural colors that can handle a range of viewing environments. It’s especially useful outdoors, where many displays struggle with brightness and glare. While the KingKong X Pro’s display won’t match the deep contrasts of an OLED screen, it performs well for an LCD, providing a clear and enjoyable experience even in bright conditions.
A rugged phone is only as good as its usability outdoors, and Cubot seems to have kept that in mind. The KingKong X Pro’s screen handles sunlight decently, though it could be brighter for direct sunlight viewing. Still, for a phone in this category, the screen quality and responsiveness are impressive. Cubot clearly didn’t cut corners here, offering a high-refresh-rate screen that adds smoothness and clarity to a phone otherwise focused on durability.
Camera Performance
The Cubot KingKong X Pro might be rugged, but it doesn’t skimp on camera quality. Equipped with a 100MP main sensor, this phone is built to capture detailed, high-quality photos that rival even some mid-range smartphones. The camera’s focus on clarity and color accuracy means that photos turn out sharp and vibrant. For a rugged phone, this is a big win, as it shows that you don’t have to sacrifice photo quality just because your phone is built for the outdoors.
One of the standout features is its performance in low-light conditions. Thanks to advanced software that reduces noise while enhancing details, the KingKong X Pro delivers brighter, clearer images in dim settings. This rugged phone excels where many other durable models fall short, making it a great choice if you want reliable camera performance, even after dark.
The selfie camera is no slouch either, with a 32MP front-facing sensor that produces clear and well-lit photos. But here’s the kicker: with the rear display, you can also take selfies using the main 100MP camera.
Video recording on the KingKong X Pro reaches up to 4K resolution at 30fps, providing smooth footage with rich colors and good exposure. However, while video quality is generally solid, the device could benefit from improved stabilization for action-packed shots.
Performance and Gaming
Now performance, the Cubot KingKong X Pro packs some serious power under the hood. It’s equipped with the MediaTek Dimensity 8200 processor, a robust octa-core chip that ensures the phone can handle both everyday tasks and more intensive apps. This processor has been paired with 12GB of RAM (expandable by another 12GB of virtual RAM), giving the KingKong X Pro an impressive 24GB of total RAM. Combined with 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage, you get fast read and write speeds, which is a huge plus when you’re launching apps or saving large files.
To give you a sense of its performance, here are some benchmark scores that highlight just how powerful this rugged phone really is:
- AnTuTu Score: Around 870,000, which puts it in the league of some high-end phones, particularly impressive for a rugged device.
- Geekbench 6: Scores of 1,293 for single-core and 3,826 for multi-core, showing that this phone can handle multitasking and more demanding applications with ease.
In real usage, these scores translate to smooth performance whether you’re scrolling through apps, editing photos, or working with large files. Switching between apps is quick, and thanks to the RAM and virtual RAM setup, even multitasking heavy apps doesn’t slow it down.
Gaming Performance
Gaming on the KingKong X Pro is surprisingly enjoyable, thanks in large part to the 144Hz refresh rate. Popular games like Genshin Impact, Call of Duty Mobile, and PUBG run smoothly, even at higher graphics settings. The high refresh rate ensures buttery-smooth visuals, especially noticeable in fast-paced games, adding a layer of responsiveness that’s rare for rugged phones.
With extended gaming sessions, you might notice the device warming up, but the heat management on the KingKong X Pro keeps it from getting too hot to handle. The phone’s bulk actually works in its favor here, helping to dissipate heat across the frame, so performance remains steady without excessive thermal throttling.
Software and Usability
The Cubot KingKong X Pro runs on Android 14, which brings a smooth and up-to-date software experience right out of the box. Unlike many rugged devices that come with bulky, custom interfaces, the KingKong X Pro offers a mostly stock Android experience, which feels clean and intuitive. Plus, Android 14 brings in plenty of the latest features, from enhanced security options to optimized performance and battery efficiency.
The phone also includes NFC support, which allows for easy mobile payments, and WiFi 6 compatibility, which ensures faster and more stable connectivity when you’re within range of a network. Combined with Bluetooth 5.0 and 5G connectivity, the KingKong X Pro is equipped with all the modern connectivity options you’d expect. Also supports dual SIM cards or a single SIM with expandable storage.
Battery and Charging
Battery life is a standout feature of the Cubot KingKong X Pro. With a massive 10,200mAh battery, this phone is built to last well beyond a single day of heavy usage. In fact, you can expect around two to three days on a full charge, even with demanding tasks like GPS navigation, video recording, and gaming.
To put it in perspective, the KingKong X Pro’s battery is nearly double the size of what you’d find in a typical smartphone. During testing with standard tasks like web browsing, streaming, and messaging, the phone easily made it through a full day with over 50% battery left. Even when pushing it with high-energy activities like 4K video recording or gaming, it comfortably lasted the entire day. In PCMark’s Battery Life test, the KingKong X Pro achieved an impressive 28 hours and 52 minutes, reinforcing its reputation as a battery powerhouse.
With a battery this large, you might expect painfully slow charging times. However, the KingKong X Pro supports 33W fast charging, which significantly reduces downtime. Though it’s not as fast as the ultra-fast charging you might find on some flagship phones, it’s still very respectable for a rugged device with such a high-capacity battery. Charging from 0 to 100% takes about 3 hours, which is reasonable given the battery size.
Final Verdict
In the end, I can tell you easily that Cubot KingKong X Pro stands out as an exceptional option if you need a durable phone without skimping on performance. Priced in the mid-range category (around $340 on most online platforms), it offers a strong combination of features—IP68 and IP69K durability ratings, a massive 10,200mAh battery, and impressive camera capabilities—all of which make it highly competitive for the price. For the right persen, it’s a well-rounded investment.
Compared to other rugged phones in this price range, the KingKong X Pro offers better battery life, a higher refresh rate screen, and a 100MP camera, which are rare features even among rugged devices. Some phones in this category may excel in either durability or battery but often lack the robust performance that the MediaTek Dimensity 8200 processor and 12GB RAM provide here. The 144Hz refresh rate is another highlight, making it appealing.
For a rugged smartphone with this level of durability, battery life, and processing power, the Cubot KingKong X Pro is definitely worth the price. You’re getting a device that performs well across all essential areas without the bulk or compromises typically associated with rugged phones. Although it lacks a dual-speaker setup or ultra-fast charging, the overall package is impressive.
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