Anyone that’s ever dropped their iPhone from a short distance only to find a huge crack in the screen knows they aren’t exactly the most durable smartphones out there. For those in need of a rugged smartphone, the Blackview BV9900 is a great choice that fits a lot of power into the palm of your hand. While it isn’t the best smartphone on the market, the Blackview BV9900 is still a fine choice for the mobile phone user in need of great-than-average durability.
Why We Like It – Blackview BV9900
Fast and durable, the Blackview BV9900 packs a lot of punch in its half-pound body. This phone is waterproof, dustproof, and drop-proof, making it the ultimate phone for the outdoors. Add to this the four stellar cameras, including a phenomenal 16MP front camera, and you can understand why this phone is a popular choice for the everyday adventurer.
- High-speed flash memory from the Mediatek Helio P90 octa-core processor
- 48MP rear camera and 16MP front camera for great photos
- Dual sim card slots for expanded memory
- Difficult to use on some service providers
- So-so battery life
Overall Performance
Overall, the performance of the Blackview BV9900 is quite good; that is if you can get it to work on your cellular network. Several users in their reviews claim that it was nearly impossible to use the Blackview BV9900 on major wireless providers like AT&T and Verizon. Those that didn’t experience this issue, however, find the phone to perform extremely well. One major highlight of this rugged phone is the speed of the Mediatek Helio P90 octa-core processor, whose high-speed flash memory prevented most lag and delays. The Blackview BV9900 also has 256GB onboard storage, double that of the more expensive Blackview BV9900 Pro. The BV9900 is equipped with four separate cameras, including a stellar 16MP ultra wide front camera and a 48MP rear camera. And since the update to Android OS 10, the camera system is reportedly running better than ever. One other feature worth noting is the integrated FM radio, which functions without a wi-fi connection.
Battery Life
On their website, Blackview claims that the 4380mAh battery inactually side the Blackview BV9900 can last more than one day on a single charge. Surprisingly, this is a smaller battery than that on the previous model, the BV9800. Several reviewers found the battery life on this phone to be a major letdown considering how much Blackview emphasizes its size. Other reviewers, however, had no problems with battery life, so it’s unclear whether some of the phones weren’t functioning properly or if the poor battery life is a result of user error. You can also check out the Cat S41 that comes with a 5000mAh battery. Charging through the USB type C port is super fast, while the wireless charging feature is much slower while still being a nice addition.
Display
Just because this rugged phone is built for durability doesn’t mean it doesn’t also have an astounding display. The FHD waterdrop display is clear and vibrant on the extra-large screen, which pairs fantastically with the various cameras on this phone. In comparison to two other great rugged smartphones, the Ulefone Armor 7 and the Doogee S95 Pro, this display has a higher resolution on a slightly smaller screen, meaning this mobile phone display has greater pixel density than the competition.
Durability
This just wouldn’t be a good rugged phone if it wasn’t durable, and thankfully, the Blackview BV9900 is built to last. According to Blackview, this phone should be able to withstand water, dust, drops, and even extremely low temperatures. The screen is covered with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 to resist everyday scratches, scuffs, and drops. User reviews confirm this is a highly-durable phone that can withstand the elements with ease. While perhaps not as durable as the Unihertz Atom, the BV9900 is a viable option for anyone wanting a super-tough phone.
Value
The Blackview BV9900 is priced similarly to its competition, although it is about $100 more expensive than the Ulefone Armor 7. One element that really adds to this phone’s value is its integration of dual sim cards, making it possible to expand the phone’s memory by up to 2TB. The ability to save content to an external sim card is extra nice here, considering the plethora of fantastic camera options at the ready. What might detract from this phone’s value, however, is its shaky connectivity to mobile networks: potential buyers should be extra sure their carrier supports this phone.
Blackview BV9900 Wrap Up
The Blackview BV9900 is a solid rugged smartphone that’s fast and durable. Each of the four cameras can produce beautiful photos in a wide range of situations, and the full HD screen is bright, vibrant, and clear. Unfortunately for some users, the battery life is a bit lacking; though not necessarily bad, it seems minimal when compared to the huge battery size. The only major issue reviewers faced came with dealing with their service provider, so buyers should be certain this phone is supported before dropping $500. Overall, the Blackview BV9900 is an excellent choice in the field of rugged smartphones.
