Sonim XP1 review: Toughest of phones

14 August 2008
In the world of mobile phones it's all about diversity, and just about everyone has their favorite. We've seen enough of brand loyalty taken to extremes but it's for the first time we come across a phone that might deal with anything...

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  • w
  • wjk
  • f33
  • 19 Dec 2013

Im using my jcb for the last 2 years under extreme curcumstances. What a phone!! After 2years my speaker is in bad shape. Is it still repairable by you. I would like to use it again because its the best soldier in the world and no other phone falls in the same catogory when compared to durability. Thanks

    • h
    • hurricanecrab
    • Rfx
    • 23 Jan 2013

    I'm really interested in this phone, given that most phones only survive me for less than a year. I don't care about features much -- I want a tougher-than-me phone. Can I buy one that is unlocked, such that I can use it with the local LIME system?

      • ?
      • Anonymous
      • qT3
      • 27 Mar 2011

      The phone lasted 2 month. I had to immediately purchase a replacement. I sent Sonim an Email requesting a refund and they did not reply. Don't buy SONIM phones. The phones and customer service suck!

        • ?
        • Anonymous
        • 4I8
        • 27 Mar 2010

        Alright.
        I got this phone. I was very impressed at first, minimal things that bugged me. I'll list them for you. 1) It's not 3G. 2) It sucks taking the back off. 3) No music. 4) No camera/ receiving pictures. 5) Not full keypad(Not that bad...). So I decided to 'test' it. I threw it. It was fine. I jumped on it once. It was fine. I jumped on it a few times. The screen cracked. Let me put this in perspective. I'm 70 pounds. Although it was a small crack, it kind of irritated me. I kept testing. Run it under water. Broke. I put it in some rice... A day later it was fine. I decided not to 'test' it anymore. I was making a call and dropped it. From 4 feet 8 inches. It broke. Completely. Maybe I got a bad one, but it made me mad. I guess if you are mildly going to drop it the phone, this is the phone for you. Better yet, save $$ and get the Nokia 3720 or whatever. My overall rating:
        Design: 8 1/2 out of 10
        Features: 6 out of 10
        Overall Performance: 3 out of 10

          • A
          • Albert
          • Svf
          • 20 May 2009

          I have the phone couple days, everything is fine, but one thing didint understand, if I use ring tone & vibration mode, the phone only vibrates, if I turn off vibration the phone rings, is it possible use ringtone and vibrator mode at time?

          Regards,
          Albert

            • s
            • scotty
            • 0gg
            • 16 Jan 2009

            I just got to try in the US but for some reason the reception is crap to put it mildly is there a problem over here? also as the headquarters is over here how come you can't buy the phone here any feed back would be great as I am in construction and phones last about three months

              • ?
              • Anonymous
              • n9u
              • 17 Oct 2008

              Hello all,

              Could you advise when the new XP1 with torch, brighter screen (and compass??) will be released?

              Thanks,

              Rene

                • h
                • hoa
                • PZH
                • 14 Sep 2008

                hi guys! im in Vietnam! haven't found this tough guy here! but luckily, i will have it brought to vietnam from Sweden by a friend of mine. im gonna receive it in 24 days. it's a sonim xp1 black! just wonder if there is the external antena included (i ordered the brand new full box), anyone have bought a full box? help me out,please! and how is the signal and battery normaly? thanks!

                  • a
                  • asi
                  • 46S
                  • 04 Sep 2008

                  Bob Plaschke, CEO So, 30 Aug 2008Folks, If i read correctly, i think you're both right ... moreany idea where i can buy it?

                    • s
                    • swede-surveyour
                    • MAu
                    • 04 Sep 2008

                    It's strange that you must have the handsfree in your ear all the time. Otherwise you will not hear the when somebody calls.

                      • M
                      • Mark
                      • n56
                      • 04 Sep 2008

                      The LM801 is available which is a competitor to the XP1 via www.condurro.com

                        • c
                        • cris
                        • vj1
                        • 01 Sep 2008

                        Bob Plaschke, CEO So, 30 Aug 2008Folks, If i read correctly, i think you're both right ... moretough phone,but if you could trim down its thickness to around 10-13mm it would be better and would be a +point

                          • F
                          • Fadi H.
                          • p@I
                          • 01 Sep 2008

                          Greetings,

                          I was wondering if this mobile is available in Middle East-Jordan?! if not, will it be available anytime soon? or can I buy it online?

                          thanks

                            • ?
                            • Anonymous
                            • uED
                            • 30 Aug 2008

                            nice one. how does it survive stealing though? i guess even "no questions asked" policy will have to ask "but dude, where's the phone?"

                              • B
                              • Bob Plaschke, CEO So
                              • b9$
                              • 30 Aug 2008

                              Yours Truly, 15 Aug 2008By putting down all that criticism you are not really readi... moreFolks,

                              If i read correctly, i think you're both right

                              a. we are now bundling a IP54 headset with our XP1. We hear from folks like you that you'd like to have both in one box and we're doing that now in the netherlands, Germany and sweden.

                              b. our new phone coming soon will have a much more clear and bright screen and a torch

                              c. it is hard to make a water proof phone so we are trying to reduce the number of openings and holes, bluetooth capability does help

                              so again, your comments really help us, keep them coming

                                • ?
                                • Anonymous
                                • 3bu
                                • 28 Aug 2008

                                Anonymous, 20 Aug 2008lol chuck norris phone:):)

                                  • E
                                  • EuroCup1
                                  • Q5H
                                  • 25 Aug 2008

                                  I've tried this phone and agree with many comments on it. There are some quality issues with menu software and call quality but that should improve over time. Yes, come to think of it, the phone does look like old Siemens phone.

                                    • S
                                    • Sonim
                                    • b9$
                                    • 25 Aug 2008

                                    Thank you, Kozeyekan, for your compliments.

                                    In response to high prices...
                                    It's true, our phones are expensive.

                                    However, some people would rather pay the price for a phone that will outlast a half dozen handsets. The high price our phone not only accounts for our products' premium craftsmanship, but our unconditional 3 year guarantee. We are 100% confident in our products, and we want our users to feel the same way. We thought, why waste money on products that won't last? Why would you bring two lousy laptops on an important business trip? For one, you would have to carry extra weight and transferring data back and forth would be annoying and then they would break simultaneously and then you would be screwed.

                                    For the price of a Sonim phone, we are happy to provide costumers with at least, 3 full years of product life and satisfaction, and we encourage our costumers to put our phones to the test.

                                    In regards to the technical engineering of the phone, we are looking to provide more features with our phones in the future. We encourage people to provide feedback on our website to guide us in the future.




                                      • K
                                      • Kozeyekan
                                      • TIA
                                      • 22 Aug 2008

                                      I'm liking this phone more and more.
                                      Yes, the price tag is hefty ($549 AU here), but for that, you get 3 years of unlimited warranty. You do not need to buy another phone for 3 whole years!
                                      Smash it, break it, dunk it, crush it, no worries. Come back in to the store with the remains, and walk out with a brand spanking new one! Not a refurb, not a replacement PCB, but a whole new phone fresh outta the box.
                                      Still, GSM is right, a torch at least would be a big bonus. why not add a laser marker to the wish list too. Heck, add on a corkscrew and a can opener while we're at it.
                                      All in all though, it's a phone that handles the tough stuff, and if you do manage to bust it, you get a new one. I'm yet to see another phone that can boast a $0 replacement figure for 3 years.

                                        • ?
                                        • Anonymous
                                        • kWR
                                        • 20 Aug 2008

                                        lol chuck norris phone