While most consumers are eager to get into new versions of phones at big prices, some may prefer to buy phones with a specific purpose rather than models that do a lot of tricks. Oukitel is a niche phone brand known for its rugged smartphones, and the Oukitel WP19 is one of its newest releases.
The 2022 model made waves when it first released due to its massive battery, which isn’t found in many of the best rugged Android phones. Its 21,000mAh battery is said to keep the lights on for over a week, which seems plausible.
However, will its massive battery capacity be enough to make a tempting proposition? The phone is designed to survive a pile of jagged rocks and bathe in rain or mud, but are the rest of its features pushing the boundaries in terms of what it offers? Let’s find out.
Oukitel WP19: price and availability
The Oukitel WP19 retails for the regular price of $459 through the company’s online storefront. At the moment it is available for purchase for only $439.90.
You can also buy a unit through AliExpress, and on Amazon you can buy it for $450, which gets you 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage.
Oukitel WP19: What I like
The Oukitel WP19 is this company’s rugged phone with the largest battery to date, and I think that’s one of the most useful features of the device. I took the phone on most of my trips out of town to take pictures, used it as a way to catch up on social media and email, and watched shows and Netflix movies on it, and it gave me over a week of battery life.
That’s thanks to its gigantic 21,000mAh battery, but also partly because of a lack of 5G support and an LCD display. With a little less tinkering with the camera, I was able to easily go to almost two weeks.
To be honest, I had a hard time killing this phone. My daily tests included heavy use of social media, taking underwater photos and videos, and watching over two hours of movies. Despite all this, the device managed to last consistently for a week. Additionally, the WP19’s backup battery performance is excellent, discharging 1% approximately every four hours. Due to its large battery, you can use the phone to charge other devices, effectively turning it into a power bank.
The Oukitel WP19 does not drain easily thanks to its gigantic 21,000 mAh battery.
The Oukitel WP19 also offers some of the best ingress protection ratings of any rugged phone, with IP68, IP69K, and MIL-STD-810G. When you pair it with the sturdy construction – metal frame and rubber back – you have a phone slab that can withstand damage.
Every time I’ve taken the phone for a swim, it’s always come out unscathed thanks to its stellar water resistance. While an IP68 rating typically means a device is resistant to fresh water to a maximum depth of 1.5 meters for up to 30 minutes, the WP19 survived submersion in seawater for nearly of one hour.
The 6.78-inch LCD screen isn’t as vibrant as an OLED screen, but it’s bright enough to be seen in direct sunlight. The night vision of the phone is also remarkable, as it is uncommon in this market segment.
The WP19’s processing power gives it a slight edge over other rugged phones in this price range, but not by much. The phone comes with a MediaTek Helio G95 chipset paired with 8GB of RAM which is a real bonus. In my day-to-day testing, the device handled common tasks perfectly and gaming was surprisingly smooth, with only a few lags and stutters in graphically intensive settings.
Category | Oukitel WP19 |
---|---|
Operating system | Android 12 |
Display | 6.78 inch, IPS TFT, 1080 x 2460 resolution, 90Hz |
Processor | MediaTek Helio G95 |
Memory | 8 GB |
Storage | 256 GB |
Rear camera 1 | 64MP |
Rear camera 2 | 20MP night vision |
Rear camera 3 | 2MP macro |
Front camera | 16MP |
Security | fingerprint sensor, face unlock |
Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.1, NFC |
Ports | USB-C, 3.5mm headphone jack |
Battery | 21,000mAh |
loading | 33W |
Dimensions | 178.10 x 84.00 x 29.00mm |
lester | 570g |
Oukitel WP19: What I don’t like
As is typical of rugged phones, photography isn’t the Oukitel WP19’s forte, so don’t expect much from its range of cameras. Of course, the 64MP rear camera system gets the job done, with a decent amount of contrast and saturation. The accompanying lenses, on the other hand, produce softer images and sometimes washed out shots, especially when too much light enters the sensor.
Oukitel WP19 sample photos
The WP19 also has the typical drawbacks of a rugged phone: a bulky design and a heavy 570g weight. The Oukitel WP19 is one of the strongest rugged phones I’ve tested. It measures 178.10 x 84.00 x 29.00 mm and is difficult to use with one hand if you have small hands.
It also looks like it could serve as a brick for your home, as it is by no means a small handset.
Finally, the phone’s large footprint and huge weight make it neither comfortable to use for long periods of time nor easy to use in the pocket. While that’s normal for a device of this caliber, it’s still one of my main criteria when selecting a rugged phone.
The phone takes a long five hours to fully charge.
Although the phone has a huge battery, super-fast charging is not supported as it can only reach a speed of 33W, which is barely enough to top up the sizable battery in one go. hour approximately. I had it at just over 20% in an hour and 50% in two hours. In my experience, the WP19 fully charges from zero to 100% in over four hours.
Another issue I have with the WP19 is the disappointing mono speaker, although I agree that the single down-firing mono speaker provides a solid soundstage. However, after soaking the phone in water, the sound is muffled and getting it back to normal sound is a major headache.
There’s also no support for 5G, and you’ll be stuck on 4G networks, so that can be a major drawback if you’re looking for a device that can connect at faster network speeds.
Oukitel WP19: Competition
Alternatives with battery capacities close to 21,000mAh are hard to come by, so the Oukitel WP19 is pretty much a lone wolf on that front.
However, the Doogee V30 may prove to be a worthy contender considering its faster processor (MediaTek Dimensity 900) and smoother screen with 120Hz refresh rate. This rugged phone also starts at $360.
If you are a fan of large batteries, the Blackview BV7100 is for you. It packs a 13,000mAh battery, although it comes with a less powerful MediaTek Helio G85 chipset. The best part is that it only costs $240 right now.
Oukitel WP19: Should you buy it?
You should buy it if…
- You want a long-lasting battery that can run for a week between charges.
- You want a phone that you can take swimming without worrying.
- You like a phone that doubles as a power bank.
You shouldn’t buy it if…
- You are looking for impressive camera quality.
- You hate waiting for a phone to be fully charged.
- You are not comfortable with large nameplates.
It’s clear that a big part of the Oukitel WP19’s price went to its big battery and rugged design. However, it also means compromises have been made elsewhere. The device still performs as one would expect from a rugged phone despite its compromises.
In the meantime, if you’re looking for phones that you don’t need to plug into a power outlet for a few days, I have a feeling these flaws won’t be of much concern to you. The same goes if you just want a rugged phone that doesn’t need childcare. If that describes you, then the WP19 won’t disappoint.
The Oukitel WP19 is a truly one-of-a-kind smartphone, and those considering buying it will be well aware of its features, such as its nearly one-inch thickness and massive 21,000mAh battery at a competitive price. .