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Kyocera has created an interesting smartphone in the DuraForce XD. This massive handset is as tough as they come and lives up to its billing as an ultra-rugged phablet.

The XD survived plenty of abuse while I reviewed it. There's no question it can handle whatever conditions it might encounter. Wet-screen tracking and gloved-hand sensitivity help when the going gets tough (or at least cold and wet). If your needs stop at tough, then the XD could be exactly what you should buy.

There are other points to weigh. For example, the XD is a solid voice phone and delivers excellent battery life. I was impressed enough with radio performance across the board, but the size and weight of this phone are considerable. As much as I like the screen's extra features, I wish it had higher resolution and were not so yellow.

Then there's performance. The near-stock Android experience is decent, and surely some will enjoy the extra apps tossed in by Kyocera, but the Snapdragon engine strains just enough to give me pause. It felt particularly weak with the camera app; which, by the way, produces only adequate images.

I'd recommend the DuraForce XD to anyone who needs an ultra-rugged handset and values screen size over convenience.

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