LAND ROVER

• Price £249 • Weight 225g • Likes customisable dashboard • Dislikes battery life, screen colour • Size 160x76 x11mm • Operating system Android 9/10 • Battery 3100mAh • Memory 64GB, micro-SD slot • Cameras 12 Mp f1.8 rear, 8Mp front landroverexplore.co.uk

Rather than an update to 2018’s Land Rover

Explore, this is a new phone with a different design and software. The durability aspects remain, though, and it works in temperatures between -30°C and +65°. The screen is protected by Corning Gorilla glass and can be used with gloves or wet fingers. It’s recessed to give extra protection if dropped. The battery is 3100 mAh, which Land Rover says is enough for 1.5 days with ‘medium-to-heavy’ use.

Although the Explore R is the same size as the Samsung XCover Pro the display is smaller. It also has a slight yellowish tinge. However, I soon forgot about this in use. The display is bright and easily visible in sunshine. The screen works with gloves and wet fingers.

For mapping the Explore R comes with the OS Maps app and a free 12-month premium subscription.

Like the first Explore, the Explore R has a customisable Dashboard page that can give useful information such as sunrise and sunset times, altitude and compass direction. Some of the information can only be updated with a phone signal though. Other information uses GPS.

I’ve used the Explore R for over a year in every type of weather without any extra protection and it’s always worked fine. There’s a dull finish to the sides and a rough textured back so it can safely be held in one hand.

I think the big drawback of the Explore R is the battery. It will last the 1.5 days claimed, though it’s easy to shorten that if you’re not careful. For a trip longer than a day a battery pack is essential.