If you have $1000 to splurge on a smartphone, which one will you buy: Apple or Samsung? What if you can get a military-grade, rugged smartphone with thermal imaging that can help you see in the dark at the same price?
Recognising India’s potential as a grown-up smartphone market, US-based construction machinery manufacturing company Caterpillar Inc has for the first time launched the sturdy CAT S60 smartphone targeting both consumers and the B2B sector in the country.
Priced at $1000, CAT S60 is the first smartphone with an integrated thermal camera, allowing users to detect heat loss around windows and to see in complete darkness. Here is what works for the device.
The device does not have great looks like the Samsung Galaxy S8 or iPhone 7 Plus, but the moment you hold the S60, it feels tough and robust, with heavy-duty specifications backing it up.
The device is IP68 certified — a global standardisation which makes it dustproof and shockproof.
It is also “MIL-SPEC 810G” certified which means the device is ready to bear extreme temperature, vibration, humidity and is claimed to have been built to withstand drops from 1.8 metres.
The device is waterproof up to two metres that extends up to five metres to block more water if you flip the “Lock Down” switches on the front-facing speakers which enables the smartphone to be used as an underwater camera.
CAT S60 stands out from other smartphones for its thermal camera.
The technology is provided by US-based company FLIR that specialises in the design and production of thermal imaging cameras, components and imaging sensors.
Users need to use the FLIR app to take thermal images (which was a delight to experience).The thermal camera visualises heat that is invisible to the naked eye and highlights temperature contrasts.
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