Kyocera DuraXV Extreme
$240
The Kyocera DuraXV Extreme is a rugged flip phone with military-grade durability, designed for tough environments. It offers essential calling and texting functions with a long-lasting battery.
Our take
Built tough for life's adventures.
Alright, so the Kyocera DuraXV Extreme is like that buddy who's ready for anything, but let's be real, it looks like a throwback to the early 2000s. It's a flip phone, plain and simple, which might make you wonder if it’s even worth it in this age of sleek smartphones. But here's the kicker: this thing is built like a tank. Drop it, dunk it, or take it hiking in the rain — it’s gonna survive. The ruggedness is legit, but you gotta ask yourself if that’s what you need in a phone.
Now, don’t expect a touch screen or fancy apps; this is all about calls and texts. The call quality is solid, like crystal-clear kind of solid, and it handles messages just fine. The buttons are big and tactile, which is actually pretty nice if you’re wearing gloves or just hate touchscreens. But if you’re addicted to scrolling through social media, the DuraXV Extreme might not be your jam. It’s made for folks who want to disconnect or just need a reliable second phone.
Battery life on this thing is a different story — it’s pretty impressive. You can go days without charging, which feels like a superpower when you’re used to plugging in every night. This might be one of the phone’s biggest draws, especially if you’re out and about a lot. Still, it’s a tradeoff because, hey, part of why it lasts so long is because there's not much going on under the hood to drain the battery.
In terms of features, it’s got a few basics like a flashlight and a camera that feels like it time-traveled from the past. Don’t count on it for Instagram-worthy shots, but it’ll do in a pinch for something quick and dirty. There’s also a bit of a learning curve if you’ve been using a smartphone forever — things like navigating the menu or typing out a text can feel slow and clunky. But if you’re patient, it gets the job done.
Bottom line? The DuraXV Extreme is for a specific crowd: those who need a phone that can take a beating and don’t care about all the bells and whistles. It’s a niche product for sure, but it knows what it’s about and doesn't pretend to be anything else. If you’re just after a reliable, durable device and can live without a touchscreen, it might be worth a look. Otherwise, you might find yourself missing all those smartphone conveniences you’ve gotten used to.
