Meet the world’s first rugged Android smartphone with ultra-wideband

ZDNET Key Points

• Blackview BV8900 ProThe world’s first rugged smartphone equipped with UWB, priced at $220.
• Solid, powerful, long battery life and durable over time.
• Only 4G, bulky.

I have tested a lot Android Phone recently, but there is one feature that I feel is sorely missing on these devices — UWB Support.

UWB, or ultra-wideband, is a low-power, short-range radio technology that has been around for decades (for a while it was called “pulsed radio”). UWB uses super-fast signal pulses — up to a billion pulses per second — sent over a wide swath of the radio spectrum (from 500MHz to several gigahertz).

Also: I tested Blackview’s new dual-screen phone

This capability allows UWB to not only be used for applications such as locating other UWB devices, but the technology is also resistant to interference issues common to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

Perhaps the most well-known application of UWB is AirTags, but that’s something that’s set up for iPhone users. UWB support on Android is lacking, but is slowly improving.

Also: UWB: What It Is and Why You Still Really Need an iPhone to Use It

Here I look at Blackview BV8900 ProThis is the world’s first rugged smartphone equipped with UWB.

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Blackview BV8900 Pro Specifications

• Operating system: Doke OS 3.1, based on Android 13
• Display: 6.5 inch, 1080×2408 FHD+, 405 pixels per inch, low blue light certified, Corning Gorilla Glass 7
• DAM: 8GB (+ 8GB virtual RAM)
• Internal memory: 256GB
• Processor: MediaTek Helios P90, octa-core, 2.2 GHz
• Rear camera: 64 megapixel, 8 megapixel and 2 megapixel
• Front camera: 16 megapixel
• Battery: 10000mAh, with 33W fast charging
• SIM: Dual SIM support
• Biometrics: Fingerprint and facial recognition
• Water/dust resistant: IP68, IP69K and MIL-STD-810H
• End: Black, orange and green

On the surface, the BV8900 Pro looks like many other Blackview phones I’ve tested and reviewed.

This is a rugged smartphone wrapped in black rubber, with a tempered glass display. The rubber and 10,000mAh battery add bulk to the phone, but in return, the battery provides about 13 hours of video playback and more than a month of standby.

The device is designed to take drops and abuse, and water, dirt, dust, mud, or high/low temperatures are no match for it. There’s even a strap loop built into the phone, so you don’t lose it in the woods or over the side of your boat when you’re caught in a storm.

This smartphone is a survivor.

The phone also has reverse charging, so you can use it as a power bank and power other devices.

The Helios P90 chip keeps this phone running smoothly and is powerful enough to keep things running smoothly without draining your battery. I had no issues with lag or stuttering while using this phone, there is 8GB of RAM backed up by another 8GB of virtual RAM.

Also: My search for the best cheap Android tablet is over

Rugged handhelds can overheat and throttle the processor due to being encased in rubber, but the cooling system—which includes silicon and graphite heatsinks, and a series of copper coolant pipes—keeps the chip cool even under heavy load.

On top of that, the BV8900 Pro supports UWB, which doesn’t mean much given the current state of UWB support on Android right now. But I expect that to change in the coming months as Google rolls out its rival to Apple’s Find My network and UWB location tags for Android, similar to AirTags, are released.

Plus: This Rugged Power Bank Is One of the Fastest I’ve Ever Used — and It’s Almost Perfect

To get you started, though, the BV8900 Pro comes with a UWB tracking plate that you can attach to your keys, pets, or whatever you want to keep an eye on.

ZDNET Buying Advice

The Blackview BV8900 Pro It’s currently priced at $220, making it a pretty economical way to not only get a solid smartphone with a big battery, but also one that’s future-proof thanks to the integration of UWB into the hardware.

This is a great phone and built to last.