What's good
- 48MP camera
- IP68 rating
- Fingerprint-resistant screen
- Reasonably priced
What's bad
- Older CPU
- Missing dust and dirt protection for ports
Unihertz is known for making smaller phones for the smartphone market. While the Atom XL isn’t the smallest phone in their lineup, it is quite possibly the most rugged small smartphone out there. But is it worth using and does it offer enough features to justify the price?
Design
The Unihertz Atom XL is one tough little piece of equipment. It features rounded corners and a mixture of metal and rubber pieces that make exceptionally resistance to the falls, dings, and splashes of an active lifestyle or a busy job site. It’s IP68-rated for water and dust resistance and features an IR sensor, dual SIM support, a walkie talkie feature for direct phone-to-phone communication when outside of typical coverage areas.
Display
The 4-inch screen is bigger than Unihertz’s other phones but still smaller than the average smartphone. The Gorilla Glass screen has an oleophobic treatment to keep fingerprints and smudges away as well.
The size makes it less than compelling for gaming or movie watching, but reviewers found the detail plenty sharp when needed and the color balance was acceptable -- especially for the price point.
Performance
While rugged phone’s aren’t known for chart-topping performance, the Atom XL is no slouch. It’s not a gaming phone by any stretch, but reviewers found the phone will play casual games, check email, and perform common daily tasks with no complaints.
Software & Storage
The Unihertz Atom XL ships with Android 10. Reviewers found the added software and features -- including a compass and heart monitor -- useful. There’s also ample room for your apps and media with 128GB of onboard storage along with microSD support. Just keep in mind that using the microSD card will mean sacrificing the second SIM slot.
Cameras
The 48MP rear camera on the Unihertz Atom XL is one of it’s more advanced features. It also includes an 8MP selfie camera. While the phone won’t keep up with top-tier phones, reviewers found the photo results plenty competitive with similarly priced phones.
Battery Life
Between the software that keeps the background apps at a minimum, mid-tier performance, a smaller 4-inch display, and a larger 4300mAh battery, the Unihertz Atom XL should last a full day with ease.
ZDNet states, “The battery also did very well, lasting me for more than two days with regular usage and hours of screen time.”
Audio
Reviewers didn’t dig in when it came to audio quality, instead opting to check out the walkie talkie features of the phone. However, they found that feature to work great with plenty of volume and clarity. As such, one can likely assume the audio quality would match for videos and calls.
Of course, headphones are always going to outperform tiny phone speakers and with a 3.5mm headphone jack, you should be able to connect your favorite cans with no problems.
Specs at a Glance
- Aluminum chassis
- 4-inch LCD display
- P60 Octa-core 2 GHz MediaTek Helio processor
- 6GB of RAM
- Android 10
- 128GB of storage with microSD option
- 48MP front-facing lens and 8MP selfie lens.
- 4300mAh battery
- Infrared sensor
- DMR antenna
Bottom Line
The Unihertz Atom XL is an outdoor-friendly phone ideal for the adventurer. Its IP68 rating and an anti-scratch and fingerprint-resistant screen layer mean it’s ready to handle the hazards of the great outdoors. Better yet, it’s small enough to fit in your bags or pocket without weighing you down or taking up too much space.
Tech Radar says, “The Unihertz Atom XL is a very enticing proposition if you can wait for a few months; its mainstream performance shouldn’t distract from the fact that it is a well-rounded bargain for a rugged smartphone, especially with the DMR feature.”
The Verge states, “I don’t think this will or should be many people’s primary phone, but I can see it making sense as a backup or a situational device.”
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Chase Bernath, Android AuthorityThe Unihertz Atom XL is a great value rugged phone option packed full of features. As long as you don't mind the tiny 4-inch display, the phone will likely meet the needs of any demanding work and adventures you take it on, especially if you'll make use of the walkie-talkie functionality.
- Desire Athow, TechRadarThe Unihertz Atom XL is a very enticing proposition indeed. Its mainstream performance shouldn’t distract from the fact that it is a well-rounded rugged smartphone, especially with its DMR feature.
- Dean Daley, Mobile SyrupThe Unihertz Atom XL is surprisingly stellar, but a tiny device like this isn’t for most people. Even though the Atom XL can work as a primary device, most people would likely use it as a secondary handset. Those who like to go camping and hiking can also bring along the Atom XL. With the handset’s...
- Matthew Miller, ZDNetThere is not much that competes down in this $300 range and when you consider this phone is built to withstand so much I don't know why everyone wouldn't pick one up to have a solid backup phone to take with you outside. It's a perfect phone for taking fishing, hiking, or camping and I can also see...
Prices (Where to Buy)
Common Questions
We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Unihertz Atom XL user manual here.
Unihertz backs up the Atom XL with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.
If your Atom XL has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Unihertz support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Unihertz's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.
Resources
Manuals / User Guides
- Unihertz Atom XL Manual (PDF)
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