Not everyone will exploit the Cat S61's considerable talents, but those that do will likely find it invaluable.

Rugged and water resistant; Thermal imaging camera; Long battery life; Useful measurement tools; Air quality sensor

Very expensive; Heavy and chunky; Sluggish at times

I've had this phone for 5 days and I liked it. Unfortunately, it wouldn't turn on anymore after those 5 days. The manufacturer has reinstalled the software and now it works again!

Long battery life

Nice IR cam

The Cat S60 is thick and hefty with an unapologetically industrial design. In addition to being a tough SOB that can endure 6-foot drops and the most waterproof phone made to date, it also has one thing no other phone possesses: a built-in thermal imaging camera.

The Cat S60's durable build is impressive, but its appeal is limited to those who can make good use of its built-in thermal imaging camera.

The Cat S60 features a built-in thermal imaging camera; It can consistently survive 6 foot drops onto concrete and can take a 16 foot dunking into water; It has an expandable microSD card slot and loud front-facing speakers.

It's significantly thicker and heavier than other smartphones; The thermal imaging feature while cool and fun, is mostly useless aside from some specific cases.

Last month the Cat S60 was introduced in South Africa. It's one of those handsets that is not aimed at the regular consumer, but rather to professionals in very specific fields, like construction, mining, etc.

I must admit, I am far from the target customer for the Cat S60 ($599 unlocked), a rough-and-tumble phone made for people like contractors, firefighters and military personnel. After all, I spend most of my workday sitting on an ergonomically padded chair in a climate-controlled building while...

Great battery life; Unique built-in thermal imaging feature; Attractive; durable design; Superbright screen

Mediocre performance; Lackluster low-light photos; No 802.11 ac Wi-Fi

Have had this phone for about a year. A small screen that covers the part that I talk into came off. But that really hasn't impacted its use. It is still waterproof and works fine.

The S60 really is the smartphone version of Gordon Freeman's HEV suit. It ticks every box that will suit a hard outdoor life, and doesn't seriously skimp out on hardware to make that happen.

Better thermal vision than the Predator; Properly rugged; will survive a real beating; Battery life for days

Won't win any style awards; Overkill for most people; Costs as much as a flagship phone

The CAT S60 is one of the most interesting smartphones I've tested this year. Featuring a rugged, near-indestructible chassis, the S60 is the first phone I've seen with a built-in thermal imaging sensor.

It gives you Predator vision; Rugged; close to unbreakable design; Near untouched Android OS

CPU could be faster; Regular camera is slow

I love the design of the phone. Very different and gives a very industrial look. It is a head-turner whenever I get my phone out. And yeah it is tough as a rock Great phone

Are you the type of person who is more worried about cracking your smartphone's screen than its performance? Perhaps you see the smartphone as a tool rather than a luxurious piece of kit that warrants a Rose Gold paint job?