Probably the most expensive kit that we all carry with us these days is our mobile phone. But mobile phones can be quite delicate creatures and can easily slip out of your hand. Some of the more expensive phones come with profiles so incredibly slim that it can sometimes look like you’re responding to a bar of soap!

Enter the hard phone. Built to last, a rugged phone is ready for every hit, bump, and bruise you throw at it. Rugged phones are a great way to enjoy the benefits of having a carefree mobile phone. From builders to members of high society, everyone likes to be assured that their phone won’t end up in the junk heap.

Rugged phones were a welcome addition to the market when they first appeared a few years ago. Traditional construction companies like JCB marketed them to both commercial professionals and people who wanted a basic phone without worry. But there was a gap in the market. These same people wanted a rugged phone, but they wanted it smart and high-end. Enter the Xperia Z.

Xperia Z

The Sony Xperia Z is an ultra-high-end rugged phone. With a list of features that includes a 1.5 GHz quad-core processor and a 13 megapixel camera, the Xperia Z is the phone to look out for in 2013. So what demanding features does the Xperia Z have? The first is a shatter proof front and back. Sony uses Dragontail glass on the front and Gorilla Glass on the back. Traditionally, phones use one or the other type of glass to improve their resistance, but Sony has opted for both in the Xperia Z to give it solid credentials in a body that is as thin as possible.

The second is the body of the phone. It is made from fiberglass polyamide, the type of material often used in the automotive industry as a substitute for metal. It’s incredibly strong yet lightweight, ideal for use on a rugged phone.

The third tricky feature of the Xperia Z is dust and waterproofing. That’s right; the Xperia Z is waterproof, with rubber caps that protect its external connectors. It has the ability to withstand submersion in up to one meter of fresh water for 30 minutes. This is really a unique feature on a phone. No more worrying about dropping your phone down the toilet or getting caught in a shower! The Xperia Z has ingress protection (IP) ratings of IP55 and IP57.

So, if you are looking for a rugged phone but with high-end features to shame, then the Sony Xperia Z might be the one for you.