Cat S52

The Cat S52 is a robust smartphone that is still quite thin. Normally, toughphones are pretty thick, but with 9.69 millimetres, the S52 is pretty thin. It is a phone that you can be seen with, and that you can also use outside of work.

The world's thinnest rugged phone

Cat phones are made by the Bullitt Group who also make rugged phones for other companies. Think of the Motorola Defy (2021) and some Land Rover phones. In other words, a company that knows a thing or two about ruggedised phones. This Cat S52 is the first Cat phone with a somewhat normal appearance. That is, not overly heavy with thick rubber corners and a rough finish. Just a refined finish of rounded aluminium that fits normally in your pocket. And despite that, you don't sacrifice water resistance (IP69) and toughness (MIL-SPEC 810G).

Never need a case again

On the front of the S52 we find a handy 5.65 inch screen with HD+ resolution in an 18:9 ratio. Above and below the screen, you will find some space, but you can also use it to rest your thumb or glove on. The touchscreen of the S52 recognises gloves and even wet fingers. The front is protected by Gorilla Glass 6, which is protected against drops up to 1.6 metres high. The back is made of TPU; a plastic that many phone cases are also made of. It is non-slip and feels rubbery to the touch. On the back, we find a single 12MP camera. The sensor is from Sony and the lens is f/1.8 bright. Thanks to Dual Pixel technology and PDAF autofocus, the S52 focuses quickly in almost all circumstances. It is a shame that the S52 does not have a thermal camera like some other Cat models.

Main Cat S52 specifications

• Compact 5.65-inch HD display can be used with gloves
• Robust, water-resistant and dust-proof body is still thin
• 12MP Sony camera with f/1.8 lens and Phase Detection Auto Focus (PDAF)
• 8MP front selfie camera placed above the screen
• Mediatek Helio P35 Octacore at 2.3GHz and with 4GB of RAM
• 64GB storage memory is expandable with microSD memory card
• Room for 2 SIM cards thanks to Dual SIM
• 4G support for fast internet on the go
• 3100 mAh battery with 18W fast charging via USB-C

Robust is not the same as powerful

The S52 uses MediaTek's Helio P35 processor. This chipset does not put down the very best performance but will suffice for every-day use. The Cat S52 is released with Android 9 with a promised update to Android 10. You will also get up to 2 years of security updates to keep your device and your data safe. Inside and therefore not replaceable is a 3100 mAh battery. That sounds small, but considering the screen size and the not too powerful processor, it delivers a decent battery life. And thanks to 18W fast charging an empty battery is quickly topped up again. Charging is via a USB-C cable that virtually all modern smartphones are equipped with today. That saves an extra plug. You can also plug in headphones. On top is a regular 3.5mm audio jack. This is not always standard anymore either.