iNo Mobile Solo
CNET Editors' Rating
Rugged phones are not new. They have been available for years from various handset manufacturers. There's even a company called Sonim that specializes in making rugged, waterproof phones. These mobile phones don't usually come cheap, which is what makes the iNo Mobile Solo stand out. It's not too expensive and even comes with a solar panel on the back for emergency charging.
Usually, the lack of a camera in a mobile phone would be considered a negative point, but not in this case. Those working in military bases are typically not allowed to have image-capturing devices on them, and the Solo caters perfectly for such use. This mobile phone comes with IP65 certification, which means it has been tested to be dust-tight and survived being shot at by a powerful water jet. According to the manufacturer, it is also shock-resistant, probably helped by the removable rubber jacket around the main chassis of the phone.
The top of the Solo has a pair of LEDs that act as a flashlight. This is activated by pressing and holding the Select key from the default screen. This worked well and is quite bright.
One of the phone's standout features is the inclusion of a solar panel on the back. This is meant for emergency charging, and will supposedly give you 10-15 minutes of talktime after a 1-hour charge. The LEDs on the top are supposed to light up when charging using the solar panel, but this didn't appear to work with our test unit. We are checking with the manufacturer and will report back if we manage to solve the problem. One positive thing we can say for now is that the low-resolution screen is perfectly viewable under direct sunlight.
Upside
As mentioned, the Solo is affordable at S$99. This price in Singapore doesn't require the buyer to sign a contract with the operator, though a prepaid card (usually under S$20) has to be bought with it. According to iNo Mobile, this is a unique case in Singapore and it may be sold without operator tie-ins elsewhere in Asia. The target audience for this device includes army personnel, especially those who undergo mandatory military training in Singapore.Usually, the lack of a camera in a mobile phone would be considered a negative point, but not in this case. Those working in military bases are typically not allowed to have image-capturing devices on them, and the Solo caters perfectly for such use. This mobile phone comes with IP65 certification, which means it has been tested to be dust-tight and survived being shot at by a powerful water jet. According to the manufacturer, it is also shock-resistant, probably helped by the removable rubber jacket around the main chassis of the phone.
The top of the Solo has a pair of LEDs that act as a flashlight. This is activated by pressing and holding the Select key from the default screen. This worked well and is quite bright.
One of the phone's standout features is the inclusion of a solar panel on the back. This is meant for emergency charging, and will supposedly give you 10-15 minutes of talktime after a 1-hour charge. The LEDs on the top are supposed to light up when charging using the solar panel, but this didn't appear to work with our test unit. We are checking with the manufacturer and will report back if we manage to solve the problem. One positive thing we can say for now is that the low-resolution screen is perfectly viewable under direct sunlight.
Downside
Even though it comes with an FM tuner for entertainment, this feature doesn't work if you don't plug in a wired headset. Though this is typical for most phones, iNo Mobile's previous models came with internal antennae which allowed you to do so without the headset (which acts as an external antenna), and we wished the Solo had this feature too.Outlook
The Solo is an interesting model in iNo Mobile's lineup and does appear to have the right features that will appeal to military types and those working in hostile environmental conditions. Our only reservation at this point is that we couldn't get the solar charging feature working, but we will continue to monitor the problem and report on its usefulness in an upcoming review.
About the author
Editor John Chan's love for gadgets can be traced back to the days when he disassembled his toys and couldn't put them back together again. He practices great restraint in not opening up every review product that comes through the CNET Asia Labs, and before that, in his previous job at HardwareZone. He has reviewed items big and small, from mobile phones to projectors and feels everyone should carry a multitool at all times in case of MacGyver situations.
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