Samsung recently unveiled its Galaxy XCover 7 smartphone in India. This phone isn’t designed to win any beauty contests; it’s built for those who need a device that can withstand the bumps and tumbles of a demanding job. If you are in the market looking for a rugged smartphone, then the XCover 7 might be your only way out. We have spent some time with the device, and here’s what we think about it.
Samsung Galaxy XCover 7
Rs 27,208
What Is Good?
- Rugged build
- IP68 water resistance
- Removable battery
- Can use phone without taking gloves off
- Loud speakers
- Decent performance
- Long software support
What Is Bad?
- 60Hz display
- No charger in the box
- Slow charging speeds
Samsung Galaxy XCover 7 Price and Availability in India
| Model | Edition | Price (Rs) |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 7 | Standard | 27,208 |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 7 | Enterprise | 27,530 |
It is available through Samsung’s online store and Samsung corporate store.
Samsung Galaxy XCover 7: Design and Build
The first thing you will notice when holding the device is that it’s built like a tank. When we got our hands on the device for the first time, we tried to remove the back panel and later realised that it was not a case but the phone itself. While it adds some heft, the textured back offers a reassuring grip, which is ideal for work environments. All the buttons are easily reachable, and the phone also sports a 3.5mm headphone jack for people who are still fans of wired earphones. You also get a customisable button on the left side of the phone, which can be mapped to shortcuts like turning on the flashlight, and more.
However, don’t expect a one-handed operation—this is a two-hander for most folks. Besides, since it’s a smartphone built to last, it boasts an IP68 rating, meaning it’ll shrug off dust and a dunk in the water, making it a perfect companion for surviving the inevitable workplace mishaps.
| Dimensions |
169 x 80.1 x 10.2 mm
|
| Weight | 240 g |
| Colours | Black |
During our tests, we dropped the Galaxy XCover 7 from waist height, and it survived unscathed. However, a drop from a greater height (approximately 5’11”) caused the back panel to detach slightly and the case to loosen a little. Thankfully, the back panel snapped back into place securely, and there was no damage to the display or functionality of the device.
Speaking of which, the back panel feels oddly thin and lightweight, raising concerns about its durability in the long term. The Galaxy XCover 7 comes with a single SIM slot accompanied by a microSD card slot, both of which are located above the battery, just like the old times.
Samsung Galaxy XCover 7 Review: Display
The XCover 7 flaunts a water drop notch and thick bezels around the panel. This might seem like “Really…?” but it’s important to remember that this device is not meant for conventional use. The 6.6-inch panel on the device is more functional than fashionable. It has 600 nits of peak brightness, which is not the highest in the town but will get the job done even in direct sunlight.
The main highlight of this display is the toggle that increases the touch sensitivity, making it usable with work gloves or while the screen is wet. However, it’s essential to keep in mind that content consumption isn’t this display’s forte. It’s a 60Hz panel, so if you are coming from a faster refresh rate phone, you might be a bit disappointed. But, as we mentioned above, this phone is not built for conventional use. The display is also layered with a coating of Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus+, so it should withstand scratches and unfortunate drops well.
| Type |
PLS LCD, 600 nits (HBM)
|
| Size | 6.6 inches |
| Resolution |
1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)
|
| Protection |
Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+
|
Samsung Galaxy XCover 7 Review: Performance and UI
The MediaTek Dimensity 6100+, backed by 6GB of RAM, tackles everyday tasks without breaking a sweat. This same processor can be found in the Redmi 13C, Reakme 11x, and more. The XCover 7 handles casual games and browsing through the phone’s UI, other apps, and social media, very easily.
Samsung is offering four years of software updates and five years of security updates for the XCover 7. It is perfect for this device, which is meant to last and will be a companion for many for several years.
Furthermore, you get a 12-month subscription to Knox Suite on the Galaxy XCover7 Enterprise Edition, which gives users tools to secure, deploy, and manage devices throughout their life cycle.
There’s also an unexpected delight—the speakers! If you blast tunes or watch videos on this phone in a relatively quiet environment, your colleagues might join you to have fun. The audio output is crisp and clear, without any distortions even at the highest levels.
| OS |
Android 14, One UI 6
|
| Chipset |
Mediatek Dimensity 6100+ (6 nm)
|
| CPU |
Octa-core (2×2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
|
| GPU |
Mali-G57 MC2
|
Samsung Galaxy XCover 7 Review: Cameras
The XCover 7 features a 50-megapixel primary camera at the back. While the image quality is decent enough, low-light performance is strictly average. However, it’s worth remembering that this camera is not meant to capture sunset images but to scan barcodes, QR codes, and documents. And for that, the camera is more than adequate. With that said, photos clicked in good lighting conditions are still satisfactory.
Similarly, the 5-megapixel front camera is not purely for capturing cool selfies. It is more for user authentication needs, and for that, it’s decent enough.
| Single |
50 MP, f/1.8, (wide)
|
| Features |
Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
|
| Video |
1080p@30fps
|
Samsung Galaxy XCover 7 Review: Battery
The XCover 7 boasts a replaceable battery—a rare sight these days—bringing back the nostalgia of the time when removable batteries were ubiquitous in the mobile industry. While the 4050mAh might appear a bit underwhelming on paper, it delivers an acceptable battery life on a single charge.
Interestingly, removing the battery doesn’t shut down the device; instead, it continues running, giving you a 10-second window to swap batteries. This is just as Samsung advertised, and it works flawlessly. The phone lasted a whopping 18 hours 45 minutes in the PCMark Battery test, further proving its reliability factor in terms of battery life.
During our test, the device went from 0 to 24% in 30 minutes. An hour of charging brought it to 50%, and reaching 75% took nearly 1.5 hours. Besides, it took almost 2 hours to reach 95%. However, a complete top-up to 100% took an additional 20 minutes.
| Type |
4050 mAh, removable
|
| Charging | 15W wired |
Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy XCover 7 prioritises toughness over aesthetics. If you see this device through the lens of a usual price-to-spec ratio, it can hardly match up to consumer phones. But this phone excels in its core mission: surviving the daily grind. If you need a reliable companion that can handle anything your job throws at it, the XCover 7 is a solid option.
The Samsung Galaxy XCover 7 is Built for Work, Not Play
It’s a perfect device for users who work in the construction or mining field. It’s also a great option if you are into hiking and would like to carry a phone that can take some beating.
