Samsung's new Galaxy Xcover brings its removable battery to the U.S.
We got a taste of it on Thursday, but now it's official: Samsung's Galaxy Xcover Pro is coming to the U.S., removable battery and all.
The latest update to Samsung's almost decade-old line of more durable Galaxy smartphones seems like a big one. In addition to having a replaceable battery, the Xcover Pro also embraces the more modern Galaxy look of a button-free front display.
The $499 smartphone is IP68 water- and dust-resistant and sports a beefy enough design (MIL-STD-810), according to Samsung, that it can survive falls of up to five feet without a protective case. The highlight for most people will probably be the battery, though. It packs a 4,050 mAh power source that offers plenty of juice on its own, but you can also swap in another and extend your usage, unlike most other modern smartphones.
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On the inside, the Xcover Pro packs 4GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage, as well as a microSD slot. The 6.3-inch screen is FHD+, so it's not exactly the highest end of smartphone displays. But it's probably plenty for those who prefer the Xcover Pro's more durable design.
You also get cameras. On the back, there's a dual-lens setup sporting a standard 25MP sensor and a wide-angle 8MP sensor. There's also a front-facing 13MP camera, because is a modern phone really worth it if you can't take selfies?
Samsung has generally positioned the Xcover line as an enterprise option, and the Xcover Pro is no different. It's got a pair of built-in, programmable buttons that, thanks to a partnership with Microsoft, allow the phone to be used as a walkie talkie via Microsoft Teams.
The Xcover Pro's design and budget pricing is aimed primarily at what Samsung describes as frontline workers, but there aren't any purchase restrictions. In fact, in a CES 2020 briefing from TechCrunch, the site reports that Samsung "will also sell it to individual customers."
Samsung's press release notes that the Galaxy Xcover Pro will be available to U.S. customers in the first half of 2020. You can expect more specifics on the timing to be released at a later date, and perhaps as soon as the Feb. 11 Samsung Unpacked event.
UPDATE: Jan. 12, 2020, 1:05 p.m. EST An earlier version of this story incorrectly noted that the Galaxy Xcover Pro has already been released in the United States. That's not the case. The smartphone will be available in the first half of 2020, per Samsung.
Topics Samsung
Adam Rosenberg is a Senior Games Reporter for Mashable, where he plays all the games. Every single one. From AAA blockbusters to indie darlings to mobile favorites and browser-based oddities, he consumes as much as he can, whenever he can.Adam brings more than a decade of experience working in the space to the Mashable Games team. He previously headed up all games coverage at Digital Trends, and prior to that was a long-time, full-time freelancer, writing for a diverse lineup of outlets that includes Rolling Stone, MTV, G4, Joystiq, IGN, Official Xbox Magazine, EGM, 1UP, UGO and others.Born and raised in the beautiful suburbs of New York, Adam has spent his life in and around the city. He's a New York University graduate with a double major in Journalism and Cinema Studios. He's also a certified audio engineer. Currently, Adam resides in Crown Heights with his dog and his partner's two cats. He's a lover of fine food, adorable animals, video games, all things geeky and shiny gadgets.
