Mobile phone caterpillar cat b15. Caterpillar CAT B15: model review, customer and expert reviews


Not long ago we looked at a push-button rugged smartphone from Caterpillar. But there are also more advanced solutions on the Android platform. Today we have tests Caterpillar Cat B15Q, a smartphone that continues the development of the B15 model. In general, the concept and design of the case remained unchanged, the filling was improved and a flashlight was added.

In particular, the Cat B15Q received an updated quad-core Mediatek processor, doubled the RAM, and also installed an operating system Google Android 4.4. But whether everything is so good, we’ll see during testing.

Video review of Caterpillar Cat B15Q

Availability of Caterpillar Cat B15Q

At the time of testing, the average cost of the TurboPad 911, according to the Yandex.Market service, was 4,990 rubles.

Equipment

The smartphone comes in a compact package with a traditional Caterpillar design with a combination of yellow and black colors.

The package contents are modest for a rugged smartphone; the buyer receives: a USB cable, a network adapter and documentation stylized as a smartphone.

Appearance

The design of the case stands out pleasantly against the background of solutions from competitors. The use of aluminum has added its own twist to appearance smartphone Caterpillar Cat B15Q.

A distinctive feature of this solution is that it complies with the IP67 standard, it is protected from dust and is not afraid of immersion in water to a depth of up to a meter for 30 minutes. Same as previously tested push-button smartphone, it is 810G Military Certified (drop and operate in a wide range of temperatures). In fact, you shouldn’t purposefully test the strength of your smartphone; all this protection is rather insurance against accidental contact with water or falling to the ground, this is not a panacea, cases with broken screens the predecessor, judging by the reviews, have a place to be.

The case dimensions are 69.5 x 125 x 14.95 mm, with a weight of 170 grams. Surprisingly, given its size, it fits very easily in the hand. I would even like it to be heavier, especially if this additional heaviness was a consequence of the capacious battery, which, by the way, this model also does not shine with, like its predecessor.

The body is made of a combination of rubberized plastic and brushed aluminum inserts. The overall style is complemented by the mounting bolts on these plates. The front panel is protected by Gorilla Glass; this glass has a protruding frame on the side. At the top there is the CAT logo, next to it is a protected speaker, a camera lens, as well as proximity and light sensors.

The buttons are arranged as follows: on top is the power button, on the right is the volume rocker and additional button. The latter allows you to activate the flashlight with a long press or double-click to activate the camera application. All buttons are colored yellow.

There are two connectors, and both are protected by rubber plugs. Top center 3.5 mm jack, left micro USB.

At the top of the back cover there is a peephole for the main camera with a chrome trim, a noise-canceling microphone, a flashlight and a speaker grille.

In the central part is the CAT logo made of aluminum. The cover is removable, but the fastening mechanism with bolts has been replaced with a plastic retainer. It’s hard to say whether this is good or bad, but during initial use the flexibility of the lid inspires confidence; time will tell how things will turn out.

Hidden under the lid removable battery, micro SD slot and two SIM card slots.

There are no complaints about the build quality, everything is done perfectly.

Screen

An IPS matrix with a diagonal of 4 inches and a resolution of 800x480 pixels, density - 233 ppi, is used. The Caterpillar Cat B15Q screen has good viewing angles, but there is color distortion when tilted vertically. The color balance is shifted towards cool tones. The maximum brightness level is at a medium level.

There is glare on the screen, but the image remains legible.

Filling

The heart of the Caterpillar Cat B15Q was MediaTek processor MT6582M. This quad-core chip operates at 1.3 GHz. Mali-400 MP2 is responsible for graphics.

1 GB on board random access memory and 4 GB for data storage. There is not enough space for applications; the problem can be partially solved using a memory card. If everything is still more or less clear with the software, then the user is unlikely to be able to install powerful games without complex tricks.

Antutu

3D Antutu

Connection

The smartphone supports dual SIM cards in 3G mode; priorities can be configured independently. No problems with signal reception were detected. Wi-Fi 802.11n and Bluetooth 4.0 are also supported.

To launch and cold start GPS takes an average of 2 minutes.

Battery

Autonomy is far from being the strength of this smartphone. For such a thick case, the manufacturer offers a 2000 mAh battery. Full charge enough to watch two movies maximum resolution. With average use, the charge lasts for the entire working day. Before you go into the forest overnight, think about the issue of charging; a Powerbank will not be superfluous for the Caterpillar Cat B15Q.

Camera

A miracle did not happen; manufacturers still equip rugged smartphones with mediocre cameras. Although, it would seem, this is where photo opportunities can be useful, especially for lovers of extreme recreation. Problems occur in poor lighting.

The 5 MP main camera module can only work adequately in good lighting. The advantages include the ability to launch from mechanical button, will be useful for shooting in the rain or underwater.

Software

The Google Android 4.4.2 operating system is installed without interference from the manufacturer. Several installed additional programs, which are basically shops (you need to buy a gas generator or an excavator, easy).

The interface works smoothly, without lags or freezes.

Summary of Caterpillar Cat B15Q

The changes in the Caterpillar Cat B15Q came in handy, and the difference in cost averages 1,000 rubles. The buyer receives an updated SoC, doubled RAM, Android platform 4.4 and a flashlight. But not all of the predecessor’s problems have been cured; the smartphone still cannot boast of a capacious battery, a large amount of internal memory and quality camera. During the tests, the smartphone was immersed in water and mud, all these hardships did not negatively affect its functionality.

Caterpillar is primarily associated with the construction business: excavators, tractors and heavy trucks. Probably, the company decided that for full set lacks its own line of secure smartphones.

Today's model is B15Q. Overall it's evolution. previous model B15. The case remained almost the same; a flashlight was added to the smartphone as requested. But there are more serious changes inside the device...

Packaging and equipment

The box in which the smartphone is delivered is yellow and black.

The interior is divided into several sections with accessories and the device itself. The set of accessories is small: a USB cable for connecting to a computer, a charger and documentation.

Design

The smartphone meets the IP67 standard, which means it is protected from dust and immersion in water up to a meter deep for 30 minutes. It is also certified to the military standard 810G - which means protection against falls from heights, vibrations and a wide range of operating temperatures. According to the manufacturer, the smartphone can withstand the drop test from a height of 1.8 m without consequences.

The design is quite aggressive, and the body has decent volumes of 69.5 x 125 x 14.95 mm, and this is considering the rather modest display diagonal. Surprisingly, the weight is quite light - 170 grams; Apparently, there are no metal parts in the design, or practically none.

Most of the body is made of elastic plastic, and the side parts are made of aluminum. Each side has three bolts. Most of the front panel is covered by protective glass, framed by a wide frame that protrudes slightly above the surface.

At the top, in the center, there is a small slot for the earpiece, to the left of it is the CAT logo, to the right are slightly noticeable light and proximity sensors, as well as the front camera lens.

Below the screen is a row of three touch keys - Recent Apps, Home and Back. Below them on the right is a small microphone opening. The device does not have a notification LED.

All device keys - yellow color, for visibility. The power key is located on the top right, and the 3.5 mm jack is located in the center under the plug.

The volume rocker and the camera/flashlight key are located on the right side.

On back side, also covered with a plug, there is a micro-USB connector.

The main camera lens is located in the upper left corner, above it is a noise-canceling microphone, and to the right of it is a flash diode.

Screen

The screen is an IPS matrix with a diagonal of 4 inches, and has a WVGA resolution of 800x480, with a density of 233 ppi. The sensor is capacitive, multi-touch, supports up to 10 simultaneous touches. The screen is equipped with a light sensor and automatic backlight adjustment. The manufacturer declares the use of glass as protection - Gorilla Glass II.

In general, the B15Q is far from one of the highest quality displays, if you count standard smartphones. But as a protected person, it is, of course, good. Its capabilities are enough to work in any conditions.

Interface

The smartphone runs on Android 4.4.2 OS without any significant changes. It is surprising that there is no way to restart the smartphone through the power menu.

The device in operation

The device is equipped with a quad-core MediaTek MT6582M processor with a clock frequency of 1.3 GHz, 1 GB of RAM and 4 GB of internal memory. Less than 2 GB will be available to the user.

Camera

The smartphone is equipped with two cameras: a front 0.3 MP and a main 5 MP. The main one has autofocus and LED flash.

The front camera is suitable for video communication, it’s better not to rely on anything else.

The main camera also does not have the capabilities, but it copes with its direct responsibilities well.

The maximum resolution for video recording is 1280x720.

In general, the camera here is a technical tool.

Wireless interfaces

The device has support for two SIM cards. Each of them can be configured individually. The device has Wi-Fi with support for 802.11n and Bluetooth 4.0. There are no complaints.

Autonomous operation

The device has a removable battery with a capacity of 2,000 mAh. Additional applications and there are no energy saving functions on the smartphone.

In 720p video playback mode with maximum brightness and medium volume, the smartphone will work for about 5.5 hours.

Results

This is a typical SUV model. Manufacturers do not try to install high-quality displays and modern camera modules in such devices. Obviously, what is more important to the user of this product is not fantastic performance, but simplicity and reliability of operation. Our smartphone can easily splash in the mud, sink into the sand and experience other delights of hard work - and still remain fully functional.

As for the cost, apparently the name of the company makes up a significant part of it - 14,990 rubles.

Specifications Caterpillar Cat B15Q:

screen: TFT IPS, 4’’, 800x480, capacitive, multi-touch;

processor: quad-core MediaTek MT6582M, 1.3 GHz;

graphics accelerator: Mali-400 MP2;

operating system: Android 4.4.2;

RAM: 1 GB;

built-in memory: 4 GB;

memory card support: micro SD up to 32 GB;

connection: 2G: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz || 3G: WCDMA 850/900/2100 MHz;

Internet: GPRS/EDGE class 12 || HSPA+ 21 Mbps / HSUPA 5.76 Mbps;

SIM: two standard SIM cards, Dual SIM Dual standby;

wireless interfaces: Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n (point Wi-Fi access); Bluetooth 4.0;

navigation: GPS, Assisted GPS|| GLONASS;

cameras: main - 5 MP, front - 0.3 MP, LED flash;

sensors: light sensor, gyroscope, proximity sensor;

battery: 2,000 mAh, removable;

dimensions: 69.5 x 125 x 14.95 mm;

weight: 170 grams.

Video review of the Caterpillar Cat B15Q smartphone

  • Class: IP67 rugged smartphone
  • Form factor: monoblock
  • Case materials: plastic, rubber and glass
  • Operating system: Google Android 4.4
  • Network: GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850/900/1800/1900 MHz), UMTS (850/900/2100 MHz)
  • Processor: 4 cores, MediaTek MT6582
  • RAM: 1 GB
  • Data storage memory: 4 GB
  • Interfaces: Wi-Fi (b/g/n), Bluetooth 4.0, microUSB connector (USB 2.0) for charging/synchronization, 3.5 mm for headset
  • Screen: capacitive, TFT-LCD 4"" with a resolution of 480x800 pixels
  • Camera: 5 MP with autofocus + 0.3 MP, flash
  • Navigation: GPS
  • Additionally: accelerometer, proximity and lighting sensors, FM radio
  • Battery: removable, capacity 2000 mAh
  • Dimensions: 125x69.5x14.95 mm
  • Weight: 170 g
  • PRICE: 15,000 rubles (Q4 2014)

Contents of delivery

Introduction

The CAT smartphone from the world-famous American corporation Caterpillar is an upgrade of the previous generation of the dust and waterproof CAT B15 device. The new B15Q received a new chipset, new version operating system Google Android, more RAM and other little things.

In general, the device turned out to be extremely budget-friendly in terms of technical characteristics: the simplest quad-core processor from MediaTek, the simplest IPS display low resolution, weak battery, etc. However, the cost is by no means budgetary - about 15,000 rubles. It remains to be seen how good the protection of this model is.

Design, dimensions, control elements

As befits such gadgets, the CAT B15Q has impressive dimensions - 125x70x15 mm, however, we have seen larger ones, for example, teXet X-Driver - 139x73x18 mm. The B15Q is protected from water and dust according to the IP67 standard - complete protection from dust and short-term immersion in water to a depth of one meter. In addition, the CAT has passed Military Standard 810G testing for vibration, moisture, shock, temperature, and so on.



I conducted drop tests as follows:

  1. Dropped a smartphone from a height of 1.8 meters onto a floor covered with linoleum
  2. Dropped a smartphone from a height of 1.5 meters onto a tiled floor
  3. Immersed in water to a depth of 30 cm

All these procedures were carried out several times. The following conclusions were drawn. In both the first and second cases, the device was dropped 10 times. When dropped from a height of 1.8, the cover flew off and the battery fell out 7 times. When dropped from a height of 1.5 meters onto the tile, the lid flew off and the battery fell out 4 times. The CAT mostly fell on the corners, so they were a bit cramped. Several blows fell on the metal edges, which left dark gray jagged edges.






Immersed in water 5 times. The first time for a couple of minutes, the second time for 30 minutes, the third and subsequent times for a minute. The device behaved perfectly, but the touch screen did not respond, that is, use it in water touch screen useless. After removing it from the water and removing the back panel, I noticed that the water did not get on the vital “organs” of the smartphone, but the area not protected by the rubber gasket was wet.

For the most part, the CAT B15Q performed quite well in all tests. The only thing I didn't like was the way it closes back cover: it seemed to me that it is fixed with plastic holders extremely unreliably (during the “drop tests” one such loop broke).

The color of the device is black, the shape is rectangular with beveled corners. Anodized aluminum is used on the sides, the rest of the body is durable rubberized plastic with a soft-touch coating. The back panel has an embossed finish and a recessed brushed metal “CAT” lettering in the center.



The smartphone fits more or less well in the hand, however, the thickness of 15 mm still affects it.



On the front side, in the top center, there is a speech speaker. It has medium volume and intelligibility due to IP67 protection. They can hear you well, but a little deaf.


On the right is the front camera, light and proximity sensors. Below the screen - touch buttons"Back", "Home" and "Menu". Marked on the body with white translucent paint. There is a backlight, it is dim, but the symbols are visible during the day, and at night the backlight does not blind the eyes.


There is a microphone under the Back button. On top, under the rubber plug, is a 3.5 mm audio output. You can connect any headphones since the connector is shallow. On the right is the yellow power button. It presses surprisingly easily, the stroke is average. Usually in protected devices they are hard and inconvenient to use. This type is volume control and flashlight activation. They are located on the right. On the left under the rubber plug is microUSB. This is where you will have to “use” a proprietary cable, since only it reaches the connector recessed into the case. This is inconvenient, but what can you do - there is a certain price to pay for protection from dust and moisture.





On the back of the device there is a camera eye framed by a metal ring, a single-section LED flash, and a speaker. At the very bottom there is a latch on which the lid closes. Maybe the sample was unsuccessful, maybe the CAT B15Q devices are all like that, in general, the slider doesn’t go all the way to the left, that is, as I understand it, it doesn’t close the lid. Therefore, the socket can be removed quite easily; you just need to lightly pull the recess on the bottom end.





SIM cards of the miniSIM standard are installed in special slides on the left, under them there is a card slot micro memory SD.

To summarize this section, it is worth saying the following: the CAT B15Q is not well protected because it weakness– the rear panel, which can cause problems if it is not fully pressed with the plastic latch. In addition, I think that the fastening loops should have been made of metal, and the base for the back cover should have been made from it.

Display

The screen diagonal of the CAT B15Q is 4 inches, the physical size is 51x86 mm. The frames on the right and left are 8 mm, on the top – 17, and on the bottom – 23 mm. The screen is protected by durable Corning Gorilla Glass. The official website does not say which generation of glass is used. In any case, it protects more from scratches and abrasions than from strong impacts. During use, not a single scratch appeared on the display.

There is no oleophobic coating: fingerprints abundantly cover the entire surface of the screen and can be wiped off with great difficulty with a microfiber cloth. If there is an anti-reflective layer, it is weak.

The screen resolution is low – 480x800 pixels. The matrix is ​​not completed according to IPS technology, so viewing angles are small. When tilted away from you, the brightness and contrast decrease, towards you - the colors are inverted, to the right and left - the colors acquire a yellowish tint.

Maximum white brightness is 418 cd/m2, maximum black brightness is 0.9 cd/m2, contrast is 460:1. The color gamut slightly exceeds sRGB in the red and green areas.


Black color

White color



Battery

It uses a lithium-ion (Li-Ion) battery with a capacity of 2000 mAh, 3.7 V, 7.4 Wh. The manufacturer gives approximate operating time: in standby mode – up to 21 days, in talk mode – up to 16 hours.

In video playback mode (MP4, 640x480 pixels) at maximum brightness and volume in the headphones, the battery ran out after about 5 hours. If you use 3G, make about 10-15 calls lasting 1-2 minutes, “take pictures” for 20 minutes, then the battery will run out in 9 hours.

Charging will take approximately 4 hours from USB and 2 hours from a standard AC adapter.

Communication capabilities

The phone works in cellular networks 2G (GSM/GPRS/EDGE, 850/900/1800/1900 MHz) and 3G (850/900/2100 MHz – SIM1 only). In stock Bluetooth version 2.1 (EDR) for file and voice transmission. Wireless available Wi-Fi connection IEEE 802.11 b/g/n. The device, of course, can be used as an access point ( Wi-Fi Hotspot) or modem. In the settings, this item is listed as “Modem mode”. There is Wi-Fi Direct.

There is GPS. It works more or less normally, at least I didn't have any problems.

Memory and memory card

This model has 1 GB of RAM. Of this amount of RAM, on average, just under 600 MB is free.

Built-in memory 4 GB, approximately 2 GB available for data storage. There is a slot for a microSDHC memory card up to 32 GB.

Cameras

The CAT B15Q smartphone has two camera modules: a 5 MP main one with autofocus, and a 0.3 MP front camera. The aperture of the first is F2.4, the second is F2.8.

Oddly enough, the 5 MP module produces quite “credit” images: clean, without obvious noise, excellent detail, white balance is always correct. Focus is slow and sometimes makes mistakes. There is no tap exhibit.

The front camera is weak. There's nothing to talk about.

The device records video in FullHD resolution at 30 frames per second. However, the quality leaves much to be desired; 5 megapixels is not enough to unlock the potential of FHD resolution. The sound is clear but quiet, stereo.

Video file characteristics

  • File Format: 3GP
  • Video codec: AVC, 17 Mbit/s
  • Resolution: 1920 x 1080, 30 fps
  • Audio codec: AAC,128 Kbps
  • Channels: 2 channels, 48 ​​kHz

Sample photos

Example photo with front camera:

Performance and Software Platform

Somehow it turned out that all the latest smartphones that I tested were equipped with a MediaTek MT6582 chipset (4 cores, Mali-400 graphics). Such a chip is usually equipped budget devices all companies. To avoid repeating yourself, you can read and watch the review of LG Fino and Bello, for example. The CAT B15Q smartphone behaves stably, does not freeze or slow down.

The world-famous manufacturer of heavy construction equipment presented its new invention - the waterproof and Caterpillar CAT B15. This American company is mainly engaged in the production of electronics, clothing, vehicles and engines for construction. Her inventions are not afraid of dirt, water and other physical influences.

The smartphone developed by the company’s specialists also fits the described characteristics; it can withstand a fall from a two-meter height onto a concrete surface, operates at very high and low ambient temperatures, and functions even after being in water for half an hour. This device was created specifically for representatives of the mining industry and construction workers, because they constantly have to be in extreme conditions. The smartphone (user reviews confirm this) is really not afraid of dust and dirt getting on it; you can safely pick it up with wet hands and operate it without any hindrance. Of course, from such a device you should not expect outstanding characteristics or bright features embodied in it. design ideas, but for work it will become simply irreplaceable.

Tests

This development from Caterpillar is a phone that has been tested more than once at American and domestic exhibitions of mobile devices. Experts showed visitors the extraordinary capabilities of this device: they mixed it with concrete in a concrete mixer, immersed it in a container of water, threw it on hard objects, and then simply wiped it with a cloth, turned it on, and viewers could see that the phone was still functioning well. Thus, we can say that the Caterpillar CAT B15 passed the crash test perfectly. The smartphone is very brutal in appearance, suitable for real men involved in active sports and extreme sports. The mobile phone has special protective functions and is far from fragile.

B15: Competitor overview

Almost all shockproof and dustproof mobile devices are supplied to the domestic market by Sony, but its inventions cannot be called completely protected. Such devices do not have special security locks or valves on the back surface. Accordingly, we cannot be completely confident in the performance of smartphones after heavy falls, when dropped into water or in very dusty rooms. This applies not only to work in extreme conditions, but also to use in everyday life. For example, if you fall into a puddle, the back cover can easily fly off, the entire inside of the phone will get wet, and the device will stop functioning. Such shockproof and waterproof devices are only suitable for careful use.

The presented Caterpillar CAT B15 smartphone has completely different characteristics, because its manufacturers are well aware of hard work in extreme conditions and tried to develop a device for use precisely in such circumstances. The company has long begun to produce items that help in construction. Everyone knows the wear-free boots of this brand, which are loved by workers from different parts of the world. Recently, the Caterpillar CAT B15 smartphone has also become in demand, reviews of which from owners are mostly positive. Experts share the optimism of users.

Caterpillar CAT B15: Performance Reviews

Naturally, the smartphone cannot boast of any outstanding characteristics, and no one expected them from this device, because its main purpose is reliable protection from moisture, dust and damage when dropped. The communicator runs on the usual MediaTek platform, has very modest functional properties and a low screen resolution.

Supply

The Caterpillar CAT B15 smartphone goes on sale in a small rectangular box with the company logo depicted on it. The packaging is very pleasant to hold in your hands; it is made of high-quality high-density cardboard. On the box itself there is, in addition to the company logo, an image of a smartphone and several laconic inscriptions. Looking at such packaging, you can immediately understand that the manufacturers are serious people who are accustomed to doing everything efficiently, accurately and strictly.

Opening the box, we can see a small arsenal of equipment, consisting of charger, stereo headset, connecting cable, operating instructions and documents for the smartphone. Especially worth noting interesting design instructions, because it is made in the shape of the phone itself, with the corners cut off. The kit also contains special metal screws and rubberized covers for greater ease of use and attaching them to the body of the mobile device. If the rubber lining wears out during operation, you can replace it with a new one yourself, using spare parts included with the device for this purpose. It is clear that the manufacturer made sure that the mobile phone can withstand harsh operating conditions and does not fail at a crucial moment.

Confession

The mobile device has undergone many tests, according to the results of which it was awarded an IP67 certificate, guaranteeing full protection from getting moisture and dust inside. The phone can remain under water for a long time or withstand low-pressure water jets acting on it from all sides.

The rubberized casing of the Caterpillar CAT B15 mobile device allows you to reliably protect your smartphone from damage when falling from a great height; it has increased impact resistance. All of the above has been confirmed in practice. The manufacturer officially states that the product, when tested, withstood a fall from a two-meter height. The company also guarantees that in such a situation the phone will not lose its functionality. The instructions indicate that the manufacturer is responsible for the strength of the mobile device in the event of accidental impacts or falls. However, the warranty does not apply to conditions where the phone is deliberately used harshly.

Smartphone screen covered protective glass, it can be operated comfortably even with wet fingers. This property in conditions of rain, snowfall or working with water it becomes very relevant. You can not only pick up your mobile device with wet hands, you can even take photos with it underwater. Of course, the quality of the images leaves much to be desired, but this was to be expected, because the flash does not function in such conditions.

General view

Externally, the Caterpillar CAT B15 smartphone looks quite rough; it is angular, thick and heavy in weight. The dimensions of the communicator are justified, because the manufacturers tried to reliably hide the fragile filling of the device and placed thick rubberized plastic between the electronics and the body. Caterpillar calls the body phone Cat B15 aluminum body, but it is impossible to say for sure whether there is actually a metal frame inside, or whether protective linings made of this material are simply placed on the filling of the device. In any case, when you pick up a smartphone, you can feel the power, reliability emanating from it and appreciate the build quality.

The thickness of the mobile phone is 15 mm. Compared to conventional communicators, this is quite a lot, but to find fault with this parameter we cannot, because it is necessary for reliable protection from damage. The entire body consists of rubberized plastic and metal side inserts, there is no shiny or glossy surface. Due to the slight roughness of the device, it is very comfortable to hold in your hands. The mobile phone does not show fingerprints because it is matte.

Additional protection

The back of the smartphone has a removable panel that is locked with a locking lock, which prevents it from opening if dropped or due to other physical and mechanical impacts on the device. This part allows travelers, rescue workers, hunters and fishermen, athletes and other people for whom the reliability of their equipment is especially important to use a smartphone. Under the cover there are slots for two SIM cards, additionally protected from water and dirt. Near battery memory card is placed. Before removable media impossible to get to without removing the battery, as it securely props them up.

Display and frame

The mobile phone screen is scratch-resistant because it is covered with Corning glass. There are thick metal and plastic frames near the display. At the bottom there are touch keys that are illuminated in light yellow. It is impossible to independently adjust the duration of the backlight; it is set automatically. The camera window is hidden under glass, and control sensors are also located there. The lower touch buttons and the screen respond well to touch; no slowdowns or erroneous pressing of adjacent buttons were noted. On the sides of the device there is a connector for audio output, a power button, volume control keys, camera, microphone and microUSB output. All function buttons hidden under rubber plugs and secured with metal screws for reliability. If the protective material wears out, you can replace it with a new one yourself or at a mobile phone repair shop.

Autonomy

The Caterpillar CAT B15 device is removable. Its volume is 2000 mAh. Play video at medium brightness level at high resolution possible within 7-7.5 hours. And you can read books in electronic format continuously for much longer. You will have 14 hours at your disposal. These results are quite good for a normally functioning screen with dim backlighting and low resolution, compared to other smartphones of this type.

Conclusion

The CAT B15 smartphone costs about 300 euros on the domestic market. If you want to save money, it is recommended to order a phone from abroad directly, via the Internet. Even with delivery, the smartphone will cost you much less. That's all that can be said in general terms about the Caterpillar CAT B15 communicator. Review completed.

Content:

The brand is associated not only with gadgets, but also with shoes and construction equipment. Associations with durable and reliable things certainly play into the hands of the world of smartphones. There are not very many smartphones with an increased level of protection on the market, especially when it comes to something nice. And in its class, the Caterpillar B15 has always had a harmonious appearance; for an “SUV” the smartphone has always looked very presentable. After some time, they decided to improve the model a little, maintaining the same external features, but improving its characteristics. This is how the Caterpillar B15Q, a more advanced successor to the nice model, went on sale.

Equipment:


  • smartphone

  • USB cable

  • Charger

Design

The B15Q looks exactly the same as the model without the extra letter at the end of the name. The appearance of the smartphone is recognizable, at least those who are interested in mobile devices can easily identify the manufacturer. Of course, the large silver letters CAT on the front and back are hard to miss on the black surface.



On the sides there are aluminum sides, which are screwed to the surface with three small bolts on each side. In general, at first it seems that this is part of the phone’s frame, but then you find that these are just neatly attached covers, while the base of the device is made of plastic. A durable coating is present at the top and bottom, and also protects the corners that are most likely to suffer when the device is dropped on the ground.



Above the screen there is a small slot for the earpiece, a front camera, and a proximity sensor.



Below the screen there are three touch buttons for controlling the smartphone.

There are also mechanical keys located on the side. Two of them are responsible for adjusting the volume, the third works as a shutter during shooting or helps turn on the flashlight. The power button is located on the top end. It is small, goes flush with the surface and is not particularly convenient to press on.

At the top end, under a protective cap, there is a 3.5 mm port, and microUSB is located on the left side of the phone.



At the back is the camera lens and flash. Next to them is a bell speaker. The entire back part is made of durable and moderately hard plastic, which has a honeycomb-like structure. At the bottom there is a lever that secures the removable part. It is tight, moves with considerable effort and helps to firmly secure the lid to avoid moisture.



The off-road vehicle complies with the IP67 standard; it can withstand swimming at a depth of up to a meter for 30 minutes without consequences. This model also falls under the American military standard MIL-STD-810G, which tests the device for dust penetration, shocks and falls, and different temperature conditions.



Rugged smartphones are usually quite large. To Caterpillar's credit, we can say that the model turned out to be not particularly bulky for a device of this format. 125x69.5x14.95 mm with a weight of 170 grams, this is certainly not small, but still not as much as a number of analogues, which are noticeably larger than a smartphone in size. Why is the weight so low? Apparently this is due to the fact that there is very little metal in the structure.



Screen

The display has a panel that is small by modern standards, with a diagonal of 4 inches and a resolution of 480x800 pixels. There is a sensor for automatic adjustment brightness On the street under the bright sun the image is difficult to read. The sensor detects up to 10 simultaneous touches. There is no oleophobic coating provided.





The surface is protected by glass, which covers the IPS matrix. The previous generation was criticized for its TN display, but now the situation has been corrected and the image quality has become higher. This can be clearly seen in the examples; the picture is not distorted. Although it should be mentioned that for that kind of money they usually offer at least HD resolution with a high-quality IPS matrix without an air gap. Here the image lacks richness and color saturation.



Filling

Dual-core MediaTek MT6582M processor with a frequency of 1.3 GHz, 1 GB of RAM, 4 GB of internal memory, there is a compartment for microSD. Own memory It also goes towards system needs, so in the end the user has about 1.9 GB left to store personal data. It will not be possible to copy software to a memory card, for example a large game, using standard means, so there will be problems with installing “heavy” applications.

Based on the test results, it can be seen that the benchmark indicators are typical for budget smartphone, but such devices with higher protection levels can boast only in exceptional cases. Therefore, we have to make a discount on this. The menu works quickly, the shell is well optimized, so there are no complaints about the smartphone in this regard. The game I tested, Dead Trigger 2, runs smoothly, although I have to wait a fair amount of time to load it.




Software

Android 4.4.2 is offered almost untouched. There are minor software improvements, but they did not have a significant impact on the menu design.


Communication

Having two SIM cards allows you to simultaneously use a couple of different operators or tariffs, which is convenient. The calls menu looks standard, and the same can be said about the SMS service. If desired, a card is selected for actions by default, or the number is selected manually each time you send a message.

For typing messages, Swype is offered, which is notable for its intelligent input system that makes typing long phrases easier. The phone book takes data from different sources: SIM card, social networks, Account Google.



Organizer

Some of the features that help you plan your daily routine include the following applications. Built-in mail Gmail client is present in every Android smartphone and is turned on automatically with its address indicated when the device is activated.

To work on the Internet, two browsers are useful, in addition to base application The popular Chrome also works. Both programs load pages quickly, but in terms of ease of use, the latter will be preferable.

Built-in calendar.

They will help you get directions google maps Maps, at the same time they will show data on traffic jams and will be able to calculate how long to drive or walk depending on the selected type of transport.

Camera

There is a VGA module in front, the main module shoots in 5-megapixel resolution. The video is recorded in Full HD.


The camera doesn’t shoot well; a protected smartphone is capable of shooting texts that will remain readable, but will be artistic creativity It's clearly not worth it here. The clarity of the images suffers, blurring on the left side of the frame is very noticeable. In addition, there are overexposures of frames, and the detail is not high enough. But, again, we have to make allowances for the fact that among models of this level one cannot hope for something of high quality.


Music

To connect headphones you have to remove the plug, which is not very convenient. Also, not all headphones will fit here, which will also create some discomfort. Functionality Players include an equalizer, which, in addition to ready-made settings, allows you to change parameters manually. FM radio only works when a headset is connected; it supports the function of recording programs and saving them in the smartphone’s memory. The sound from the headphones is not impressive.


Applications

Built-in file browser.

The calculator is working.

Built-in clock, timer, stopwatch, displays time in different time zones.


There is a voice recorder.

The built-in gallery is useful for viewing photos.

Despite the fact that the flash can work as a flashlight and is activated for this purpose by a button on the side, separate application There is no device in memory to run the function.

Wireless connection

The smartphone supports Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and has Bluetooth 4.0. There is a GPS receiver, determining coordinates on the street is quick and accurate, you will have to spend no more than 30 seconds on this. The SIM card compartments are located in such a way that access to them is blocked by the battery; large “standard” size cards fit into the phone. There is only one radio module in the smartphone, which eliminates the possibility of simultaneous conversations on both cards.

Working hours

The smartphone has a replaceable battery and a power supply capacity of 2000 mAh. The smartphone played video at maximum screen brightness for 5 hours and 15 minutes; in the AnTuTu operating time test it received 5272 points, lasting a little over 3 hours.


The USB port is quite recessed relative to the surface; not every cable will fit here, it’s worth keeping this in mind. The charge lasts for 1-1.5, maybe 2 days of work with a very light load. But overall the figures are very modest.

Conclusion

The ringer on the smartphone is not very loud; you may not hear the ringtone on a busy street. The speaker also does not have much volume reserve, so users who talk a lot may not like this model.

A moderately brutal smartphone should first of all please fans active image life or those who are drawn to adventure. Caterpillar Cat B15Q costs 14,990 rubles. It would be tactless to compare it with models without protection from moisture and dust, although a search for devices with similar parameters will show that analogues cost 3 times less. But an additional degree of protection is not a cheap pleasure; you have to pay for it.

I would like to note the interesting appearance of the smartphone; it is beautiful for brutal technology of this kind. Otherwise, nothing can be highlighted here. Modest multimedia capabilities, autonomy, performance - these qualities are not impressive. Simple Android smartphones with such characteristics will cost much less, but will lack protective properties. At the same time, the choice is limited; there are not many durable models offered. Among the closest analogues, we highlight, which costs noticeably less and, despite its more modest characteristics, offers a more attractive price-quality ratio.

© Alexander Pobyvanets, Test laboratory
Article publication date: October 23, 2014







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