One of the most durable Android phones I’ve tested is also one of the cheapest

ZDNET Key Points

• The Oukitel WP35 Phone Now available on Amazon for $329.
• It has impressive battery life, a case that protects the phone from the elements, and performance that far exceeds its sub-$300 price point.
• The phone is quite heavy and takes a bit of tweaking to get the traditional Android experience.

I’ve reviewed a lot of budget Android phones. Most of them fall into one of three categories:

1. Handsome but weak
2. Ugly but works well
3. Beautiful and works better than expected

I’m always surprised at how many phones fall into the third category, especially as prices drop below $300. One such phone is the Oukitel WP35 5G. True to Oukitel tradition, this is a big, solid phone with a large battery.

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Oukitel has been making these types of devices for a while now and is the clear leader in terms of the market. The WP35 isn’t as powerful as, say, Doogee V Max PlusBut it’s certainly close. At half the price of the Doogee, the Oukitel is an impressive device.

See on Amazon

Oukitel WP35 5G Specifications

• CPU: MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ 5G Chipset
• Storage: 256GB (expandable to 2TB)
• RAM: 8GB + 16GB virtual expansion
• Camera: 64MP main camera (Sony @IMX682) with 1/1.73″ sensor, 8MP night vision camera and 2MP macro camera
• Battery: 11,000 mAh for 60 days standby time, 75 hours of calling, 60 hours of music listening, 15 hours of video watching and 12 hours of gaming
• Display: 6.6″ 2.4K 1080 X 2408 resolution with 400 PPI pixel density and Corning Gorilla Glass 5
• Durability: Military-grade drop protection and IP68 & IP69K waterproof rating
• Biometrics: Fingerprint and Face Unlock
• Operating System: Android 14
• Support 2 Nano SIM
• Price: $329 on Amazon or $299 on Oukitel website

My experience

What surprised me most about the WP35 was its size. Even though the phone has an 11,000 mAh battery, it isn’t as thick as other phones with the same large battery. The WP35 is only 14.9mm thick, while similar phones (with similarly sized batteries) can be over 20mm thick.

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The next thing that caught my attention was the phone’s user interface. Oukitel has done a great job with the interface’s aesthetics, giving it an almost iPhone-like look. Pull down the notification bar and you’ll see a nice blurred background with elegant icons and notifications, and the animations are generally smooth and well-integrated, with almost no lag.

Face unlock is almost instantaneous, and the fingerprint scanner (located on the side of the device) doesn’t feel like a cheap idea like it does on similarly priced phones. In fact, everything about the WP35 feels solid.

Of course, the biggest draw of this device is the battery, and it’s truly outstanding. You won’t find a phone from any of the major players (Google, Samsung, Nothing, OnePlus, Apple, etc.) that can compete with the battery life of these Godzilla-sized phones. If you want a device with a long-lasting battery, this is the device for you (especially if you don’t want to pay the premium price).

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Functionally, I have no complaints. Apps install and open quickly, the screen is bright enough, and there are some cool features you won’t find on other devices (like an underwater mode for the camera that lets you tap the screen and take a photo while submerged).

If you’re looking for a phone that can take a beating, lasts days between charges, performs well, and doesn’t cost a fortune, the Oukitel WP35 is a great choice. However, it’s not without its drawbacks.

First of all, like most Oukitel phones, the UI doesn’t include an App Drawer by default, which annoys me to no end. I like minimalist home screens, but with this device, all apps install their launchers to the home screen (à la iOS), which means a minimalist UI is impossible.

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Luckily, that’s just the default configuration. If you open Home Settings (long press on the home screen and tap the Settings icon), then tap Launcher Style, you can enable App Drawer. Once App Drawer is enabled, you can configure Android to not install new apps to the home screen, and you’re good to go.

Another downside is the sound. It’s pretty quiet. Even at max volume, YouTube videos aren’t loud enough to enjoy. Of course, to fix that, plug in a pair of headphones and you’ll be fine.

ZDNET Buying Advice

The Oukitel WP35 Phone It’s a great buy for anyone who doesn’t mind carrying their phone in their pocket to test the durability and integrity of their belt. The WP35 weighs almost as much as my Pixel 7 Pro and Pixel 8 Pro combined (455 grams), so yes, it’s heavy, but that’s because of the protective frame and battery. With such a well-built case, it’s worth every gram.