The CAT S30 is an entry level rugged smartphone, which excels in being robust, while also having
The CAT S30 is an entry level rugged smartphone, which excels in being robust, while also having

a great specification for the price.
a great specification for the price.

Cheaper alternatives exist from other brands, but they do not always look or feel like they
Cheaper alternatives exist from other brands, but they do not always look or feel like they

could take the same number of knocks and falls that more cost effective alternatives may.
could take the same number of knocks and falls that more cost effective alternatives may.

Continue watching to find out what we thought of the S30.
Continue watching to find out what we thought of the S30.

If English is not your native language, click the captions button below to view this in
If English is not your native language, click the captions button below to view this in

your preferred language and for the full written review that accompanies this video click the
your preferred language and for the full written review that accompanies this video click the

link in the description.
link in the description.

The Key hardware specifications are shown on screen now.
The Key hardware specifications are shown on screen now.

Few phones built to resist knocks and drops in harsher environments look pretty, but the
Few phones built to resist knocks and drops in harsher environments look pretty, but the

S30 is certainly not all bad.
S30 is certainly not all bad.

It is a subtle blend of functional buttons, rubber and plastics to create a rigid and
It is a subtle blend of functional buttons, rubber and plastics to create a rigid and

reliable phone.
reliable phone.

The corners are squarer than the S40 but still have a degree of curvature to them.
The corners are squarer than the S40 but still have a degree of curvature to them.

However the sharper edges do also serve as an edge for a drop onto concrete from height
However the sharper edges do also serve as an edge for a drop onto concrete from height

and allow the handset to meet Mil Spec 810G rating.
and allow the handset to meet Mil Spec 810G rating.

3 physical buttons on the front give feedback and resistance a capacitive button on screen
3 physical buttons on the front give feedback and resistance a capacitive button on screen

cant.
cant.

Whilst ports like the headphone jack can technically be exposed and IP rated, many of the environments
Whilst ports like the headphone jack can technically be exposed and IP rated, many of the environments

in which CAT see this phone being used are more commercial and active lifestyle lead
in which CAT see this phone being used are more commercial and active lifestyle lead

than the average user who just wants a waterproof phone.
than the average user who just wants a waterproof phone.

Thus the covers not only protect against water but more damaging sand, dirt, dust and more.
Thus the covers not only protect against water but more damaging sand, dirt, dust and more.

Therefore what might seem like fiddly port covers are there in truth to ensure the phone
Therefore what might seem like fiddly port covers are there in truth to ensure the phone

remains functional for longer.
remains functional for longer.

If there were exposed the design of the phone may too look a little odd.
If there were exposed the design of the phone may too look a little odd.

Capable of taking 2 nano sized sim cards, these sit in a tray that slides in and out
Capable of taking 2 nano sized sim cards, these sit in a tray that slides in and out

of the device.
of the device.

Due to being recessed into the body it is not easy to remove and you need patience and
Due to being recessed into the body it is not easy to remove and you need patience and

a delicate touch.
a delicate touch.

There is a bright yellow programmable key.
There is a bright yellow programmable key.

This can be set to open specific apps or turn the camera flash on to act as a flash and
This can be set to open specific apps or turn the camera flash on to act as a flash and

more.
more.

Measuring 4.5” from lower right to upper left corner the display on the S30 is functional.
Measuring 4.5” from lower right to upper left corner the display on the S30 is functional.

It lacks any real punch to the colours and image due to the low 480 x 854 resolution.
It lacks any real punch to the colours and image due to the low 480 x 854 resolution.

Viewing angles are not good.
Viewing angles are not good.

You need only tilt the phone a few degrees and the colours and contrast change considerably.
You need only tilt the phone a few degrees and the colours and contrast change considerably.

For the most part of checking the internet, making calls, sending text messages and running
For the most part of checking the internet, making calls, sending text messages and running

a few apps this is all perfectly fine.
a few apps this is all perfectly fine.

The resulting benefit of this lesser screen quality is the battery performance.
The resulting benefit of this lesser screen quality is the battery performance.

Unlike some phones this S30 offers wet finger tracking, meaning you can actually use the
Unlike some phones this S30 offers wet finger tracking, meaning you can actually use the

phone when wet and you can use it with gloves on too.
phone when wet and you can use it with gloves on too.

Like other CAT phones, the S30 runs Android as the operating system and it is version
Like other CAT phones, the S30 runs Android as the operating system and it is version

5.1 is installed out of the box, so it is relatively up to date.
5.1 is installed out of the box, so it is relatively up to date.

Whilst there are a few additions from CAT they are relatively limited .
Whilst there are a few additions from CAT they are relatively limited .

Key inclusions are shown on screen now.
Key inclusions are shown on screen now.

Like most Android phones whilst you do not need a Google account to use it, to get any
Like most Android phones whilst you do not need a Google account to use it, to get any

real value from it, adding one will transform your user experience and allow you to take
real value from it, adding one will transform your user experience and allow you to take

advantage of services such as Maps, Drive, Chrome and more.
advantage of services such as Maps, Drive, Chrome and more.

However you can easily add on your social media and work email accounts too.
However you can easily add on your social media and work email accounts too.

There are lots of personalisation options.
There are lots of personalisation options.

You can personalise your homescreens, download apps, change the font size, the screen brightness,
You can personalise your homescreens, download apps, change the font size, the screen brightness,

the wallpaper,and make the device work the way that is best for you.
the wallpaper,and make the device work the way that is best for you.

You can even set different user accounts to limit access and functionality.
You can even set different user accounts to limit access and functionality.

As a Dual SIM smartphone, within the settings you can enable just one or both SIMS, you
As a Dual SIM smartphone, within the settings you can enable just one or both SIMS, you

can choose which is the preferred SIM for what task or have it ask every time
can choose which is the preferred SIM for what task or have it ask every time

All the normal and required connectivity options are present, 2G, 3G, 4G, Bluetooth, WiFi,
All the normal and required connectivity options are present, 2G, 3G, 4G, Bluetooth, WiFi,

GPS and a microSD card slot are provided.
GPS and a microSD card slot are provided.

No NFC though.
No NFC though.

As a dual SIM enabled smartphone you can have one or two SIMS in the phone at any one time.
As a dual SIM enabled smartphone you can have one or two SIMS in the phone at any one time.

Use both a personal and work SIM card in the same phone or maybe a local and international
Use both a personal and work SIM card in the same phone or maybe a local and international

SIM, the choice is yours.
SIM, the choice is yours.

Or if you need only one SIM slot, leave the other empty.
Or if you need only one SIM slot, leave the other empty.

You can also turn each SIM on and off from the settings to save battery life and manage
You can also turn each SIM on and off from the settings to save battery life and manage

your connections.
your connections.

You will not be putting the S30 in the centre of a room and starting an impromptu party
You will not be putting the S30 in the centre of a room and starting an impromptu party

but the speaker on the phone is loud enough and serves well in most scenarios.
but the speaker on the phone is loud enough and serves well in most scenarios.

The call quality is pretty standard and was loud enough and performed ok in our tests.
The call quality is pretty standard and was loud enough and performed ok in our tests.

What comes as a little bit of a surprise is how feature rich the camera is.
What comes as a little bit of a surprise is how feature rich the camera is.

There is more than I expected.
There is more than I expected.

Image capturing modes are shown on screen now.
Image capturing modes are shown on screen now.

There are too a series of filters for creative effect.
There are too a series of filters for creative effect.

Within the settings you can change the flash mode, storage location, picture size and quality.
Within the settings you can change the flash mode, storage location, picture size and quality.

Set a countdown timer, GPS location, face detection, ISO, Exposure, Focus Mode,and Redeye
Set a countdown timer, GPS location, face detection, ISO, Exposure, Focus Mode,and Redeye

Reduction.
Reduction.

Switch to video recording and the options are reduced a bit but still a fair number
Switch to video recording and the options are reduced a bit but still a fair number

of options.
of options.

Recording is available at a maximum of 720p HD.
Recording is available at a maximum of 720p HD.

There is the option of up to 6x zoom on the camera using a pinch and zoom on screen gesture.
There is the option of up to 6x zoom on the camera using a pinch and zoom on screen gesture.

There is no option to set the physical keys to do this, but you can use the programmable
There is no option to set the physical keys to do this, but you can use the programmable

key to act as a camera shutter button for stills and to commence and end capture.
key to act as a camera shutter button for stills and to commence and end capture.

The S30 has a rear 5 megapixel camera and a 2 megapixel on the front.
The S30 has a rear 5 megapixel camera and a 2 megapixel on the front.

There is a flash to accompany the rear camera that helps out in low light situations.
There is a flash to accompany the rear camera that helps out in low light situations.

The resulting images are mixed.
The resulting images are mixed.

On the whole they are ok and not too bad.
On the whole they are ok and not too bad.

However some can be over exposed and unbalanced in the colours whilst others can surprise
However some can be over exposed and unbalanced in the colours whilst others can surprise

you.
you.

A 3000mAh battery is fixed internally to the S30, it cannot be removed by the user.
A 3000mAh battery is fixed internally to the S30, it cannot be removed by the user.

A decent sized battery we found with a single of dual SIM setup we were getting well into
A decent sized battery we found with a single of dual SIM setup we were getting well into

2 days usage.
2 days usage.

However the battery was affected quite a bit by the signal strength and what you were doing.
However the battery was affected quite a bit by the signal strength and what you were doing.

As is common on many phones now, the habit is to charge everyday and I would still advise
As is common on many phones now, the habit is to charge everyday and I would still advise

this to avoid being left short.
this to avoid being left short.

The included battery saver mode can assist in getting a little more power from the phone
The included battery saver mode can assist in getting a little more power from the phone

but you have to either have this switched on or off.
but you have to either have this switched on or off.

Overall the S30 is a solid phone that performs reasonably for most of the tasks you will
Overall the S30 is a solid phone that performs reasonably for most of the tasks you will

request of it.
request of it.

The dual SIM functionality is a big bonus and for those sole traders who may have a
The dual SIM functionality is a big bonus and for those sole traders who may have a

work and personal SIM , this phone offers the possibility to carry just one phone and
work and personal SIM , this phone offers the possibility to carry just one phone and

still remain functional.
still remain functional.

If you work in an office all day long and do not partake in any adventurous sports then
If you work in an office all day long and do not partake in any adventurous sports then

the S30 will not be ideally suited to you.
the S30 will not be ideally suited to you.

If you work in an office but visit sites, spend a lot of time in the outdoors or in
If you work in an office but visit sites, spend a lot of time in the outdoors or in

wet, cold or dusty environments and find your current phone takes a few tumbles then the
wet, cold or dusty environments and find your current phone takes a few tumbles then the

S30 is calling out to be used by you.
S30 is calling out to be used by you.

Functional the handset does not go overboard on the thrills but just does what it needs
Functional the handset does not go overboard on the thrills but just does what it needs

to do.
to do.

A few nice additions and a surprising camera make this a little more charming and make
A few nice additions and a surprising camera make this a little more charming and make

you forget a little about the not quite so pretty design.
you forget a little about the not quite so pretty design.

Thanks for watching.
Thanks for watching.

If you liked this video or found it useful, do hit that like button and for more mobile
If you liked this video or found it useful, do hit that like button and for more mobile

technology videos be sure to subscribe.
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