Cat S42 H+ 4G – rugged, rubberised, and tradie-proof (smartphone review)

The Cat S42 H+ is for clumsy people that drop their phones, let the dog eat it, and generally expose it to harsh conditions. And that is the sole reason to buy – tradies, firies, essential workers we are looking at you.

The key is that the Cat S42 H+ has IP68, IP69K and MIL-SPEC 810H. It is so tough that bleach, soap, and water are afraid of it (yes, you can pressure wash it). We see many cafes, takeaways and stores using these as they are unbreakable.

However, reviewing this, we found that the normal smartphone review parameters don’t really cut it. Yes, it is an Android smartphone, but its focus is on survival, with extremely loud ringtones and a glove-friendly screen. But things like speed and camera prowess are not fundamental to survival.

The primary reason to buy this is for its extreme durability

What is Cat?

The Caterpillar Orange and Black, the rugged design and of course, the CAT name is associated with Caterpillar earth moving equipment.

In fact, it (and several models) are made by Bullitt Mobile Limited (part of the Bullitt Group Est. 2009). It aims to bring brands together with technology. So, it licenses the Caterpillar name to make a range of rugged mobile phones. It has a deal with Land Rover for an Outdoor Phone. It also has arrangements with Ted Baker, Kodak, JCB, Ministry of Sound and more.

What are Cat phones?

CAT makes a range of phones that have different environmental tolerances and features

• Cat B40 – a dumbphone with maximum attitude (smartphone review)
• S42  H+ (this review) – supersedes the Cat S40
• S62 Pro – Everything, including a thermal imaging camera
• Cat Q10 5G Mobile internet hotspot
• And more new models to come

Australian review: Cat S42 H+ 4G, single SIM, microSD, 3/32GB

Website	Product page and User Manual
Price	$439
From	Harvey Norman, Good Guys, Retravision, Telstra
Warranty	2-years
Country of manufacture	China
Company	See above
More	CyberShack Cat news and reviews

Deep-Dive review format

It is now in two parts – a summary and a separate 300+ line database-driven spec, including over 70 tests to back up the findings. It also helps us compare different phones and features.

We use Fail (below expectations), Pass (meets expectations) and Exceed (surpasses expectations or is the class leader) against many of the items below. We occasionally give a Pass(able) rating that is not as good as it should be and a Pass ‘+’ rating to show it is good but does not quite make it to Exceed.

You can click on most images for an enlargement.

First impression – Pass+

We came across Cat when researching Waterproof phones – fact or fiction (smartphone guide), and it was the only brand we could find that went the extra distance to IP69K – the ability to pressure wash and use beach etc.

We also came across it at our local Café, where the owner was sick and tired of breaking phones, especially when they drop or are around fast-food kitchen conditions. She has had a Cat 42 for about 18 months, which is as good as the day she got it. She also appreciates the amazingly loud 90dB Noisy One ringtone.

I reviewed Telstra Tough Max 3 and said café owner destroyed one in about five months before buying the Cat 42.

Rugged rating – EXCEED

It also has IP68 for continuous immersion in 1.5m water for 35 minutes.

It also has the highest IP rating – IP69K with the rubber plugs in place. This means protected against close-range high pressure, high-temperature spray. Yes, you can Karcher this!

And MIL-STD-810H (above 810G) means -25°C (-13°F) to +55°C (131°F) for up to 24hrs. it is also resistant to vibration and has category four resistance to humidity and salt mist.

It is also resistant to bleach, alcohol, and various industrial chemicals.

Cat S42 H+ base specs – all fit for purpose

We want to focus on the device as a whole – not individual specs – so we will get these out of the way first. We have run the standard 70+ tests as well.

• 12nm MediaTek Helio A20 1.8Ghz quad-core
• 3GB LPDDRX4 /32GB eMMC, dedicated microSD to 128GB
• 4GX, Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, Single Sim, VoLTE, and VoWiFi
• 5.5”, 1440 x 720, 18:9 GG5 IPS LCD screen
• Wi-Fi AC, BT 5, FM Radio, GPS, NFC, micro-USB 2.0
• 4200mAh battery, micro-USB charger 5V/3A/15W, 9V/2A/18W, 12V/1.5A/18W
• Android 10 (update to 11 coming). It runs Android in 32-bit mode
• Read 13MP, Samsung S5K3L6 f/2.0 camera with LED flash
• Front 5MP GalaxyCore GC5035 with screen fill
• Programmable Key for Push to Talk via double tap or long press
• All Google apps, On Guard Solo worker protection
• Silver Ion impregnated body for germ resistance

Screen – Bright enough – Pass

The maximum brightness is 540 nits. It is daylight readable (out of direct sunlight). It has wet finger and glove mode to increase touch sensitivity and lift to wake. Haptic feedback is light but adequate.

The screen is a fingerprint magnet with Gorilla Glass 5 for added impact resistance.

CPU – Does the job – Pass

The MediaTek Helio A20 is an entry-level 12nm, 4 x 1.8Ghz SoC – fit for purpose as a phone.

Geekbench 5 single/multi-core is 131/437 – it is about 10% slower than a Qualcomm SD429.

It has 43,014 GIPS and averages 35,529 losing 28% of its performance over 15 minutes. But as a phone, it will never reach those stress levels.

Comms – PASS

Wi-Fi 5 AC 2.4 and 5GHz band reaches -27dBm/390Mbps (maximum is 433) at 2m from our Netgear RAXE500-AX11000 router. At 5m, it drops to –39/390, 10m to -45/390 and 15m to -59/270. Excellent signal strength.

NFC- it supports Google Pay.

The single GPS has SBAS to enhance accuracy. We measured it to about 1m.

LTE – PASS+

Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28 – all you need for all Australian Telcos but not a great international phone. Single sim supports VoLTE, VoWiFi, and 4GX (2CA)

Tests achieved 43/27.2Mbps/29Ms DL/UL/ping in a three-bar reception zone. This is very good and supports up to 300/1250Mbps DL/UL.

Signal strength is -77dBm/2 to 20pW – excellent, but as is typical of MediaTek, it only found other towers intermittently, which were unusable.

It is a good city/suburbs phone.

Battery – PASS+ but micro-USB is so yesterday

It has a 4200mAh battery that should go a couple of days without charge. Over seven days of typical use, I charged three times.

The Supplied micro-USB Charger 5V/3A/15W, 9V/2A/18W, 12V/1.5A/18W is unusual in that it appears QC 2.0 compatible, but the device only accepts 5V/1A/5W charging for a linear, not fast charge. It will charge from 0-100% in around 3.5 hours.

Battery discharge at idle is around 200mA, meaning around 20+ days standby.

Given the excellent video loop (18 hours and 10 minutes), PC Mark figures (16 hours and 33 minutes), and a low screen on drain, this should last 2-3 days of typical use.

Sound – Mono – Pass(able)

It has a single mono earpiece speaker and a front-firing bottom speaker. It is designed for a clearer voice with no bass, emphasised mid and treble for a clear voice. Music is not its forte.

The maximum volume is 85dB is loud, and the Noisy One ringtone is startling.

The dual mics have good sensitivity but no ANC, so I cupped the bottom mic for clarity.

Hands-free is reasonable, although I would expect a little more volume from a tradies phone.

It has the standard BT 5.0 SBC /AAC codecs and provides ample clarity and volume to BT headphones and speakers.

Build – So tough – say no more – Exceed

The rubberised back and the sides are grippy even with wet or gloved hands. The edges are reinforced, the screen is recessed to protect it from fall damage, and the screen is covered in Gorilla Glass 5.

It is 161.3 x 77.2 x 12.7mm x 220g. We have covered IP68/69K and MIL-SPEC 810H elsewhere, but add Gorilla Glass 5 (drop resistant) and rubber bumper corners (drop resistant), and it is virtually unbreakable.

Add bleach, alcohol, soap, water pressure washing, and it is a clean phone for sterile environments, important in times of Coronavirus.

Apart from the Charger and USB-A to micro-USB cable, no accessories come in the box.

It lacks fingerprint ID but does a 2D face ID.

Android – Pass(able)

Pure Android 10 with Android 11 is on its way. In fact, Cat Australia has a written policy for the S42/H+ -­ Quarterly (~90 days) SMRs for two years, then ad-hoc ESMR cover for one further year. It is not living up to that.

It has Android Auto, Google Assistant, OnGuard Solo, and Cat Toolbox, which contains a range of useful, hand-picked apps for Cat phone users. The apps are tailored both to work and recreational activities. It also has a Microsoft Office compatible mobisystems OfficeSuite (advert supported).

The Cat 42H+ has Google’s Android Enterprise (AE) feature set. Using these tools in conjunction with an enterprise mobility management solution, businesses can manage the devices used for work by their employees. Businesses can secure their valuable or sensitive data, ensure devices are set up correctly to maximise utility and enforce policies to encourage and support employee productivity.

Cat S42 H+ rear camera – PASS

I was pleasantly surprised because the Helio A20 SoC does not offer a lot of post-processing power. The 13MP rear sensor is a Samsung S5K3L6, f/2.0, 1.12um, which has improved low light sensitivity. It has both a software and hardware button for underwater photography (maximum 1.5m).

The front camera is a 5MP Galaxy Core GC5035 with f/2.0 and 1.4um pixels.

Overall, it takes decent, if little soft images and videos in day and office light.

CyberShack’s view– CAT S42 H+ is tough and fills a much-needed niche

Cat phones are for people who need a robust, waterproof, and durable smartphone with enough performance for day-to-day tasks. If you want a reasonably priced device, this is it. Although some of the other CAT models may interest you too.

As far as a phone goes – it will make and receive calls and SMS – what more do you need? And being Android, it will run all the apps, albeit slowly in some cases.

Over the review period, I kept thinking this is the perfect phone for school children – unbreakable. But alas, it does not have an expensive fruit logo on it!

I like the device. It is reassuring to know you can mistreat it, and it will still work well tomorrow.

Rating this is easy – it is a rugged phone, first and foremost, and the specs are pretty respectable.

Who is it for?

Tradies, construction workers, miners, farmers, outdoor adventure enthusiasts or anyone seeking extra protection and durability in a smartphone. The Cat 42 H+ model is receiving considerable interest for use in sterile environments.

Rating

We have to rate it as a rugged phone; frankly, it is very close to 10/10. But to be realistic, it is a relatively low-powered Android 32-bit phone with a decent screen, battery life, strong single tower reception and erratic Android updates. So, it drops a few points in performance and features that will not worry you if you want a rugged phone.

CyberShack Smartphone comparison v 1.1 (E&OE)

Cat S42 H+ 4G smartphone

Brand	Cat
Model	Cat S42 H+
Model Number
Price Base	3/32
Price base	$439
Warranty months	24
Tier	Rugged
Website	Product Page
Manual	Manual
From	Harvey Norman, Good Guys, Retravision, Telstra
Country of Manufacture	China
Company	Made by Bullitt Mobile Limited (part of the Bullitt Group Est. 2009). It aims to bring brands together with technology. So, it licenses the Caterpillar name to make a range of rugged mobile phones. It has a deal with Land Rover for an Outdoor Phone. It also has arrangements with Ted Baker, Kodak, JCB, Ministry of Sound and more.
More	CyberShack Cat news and reviews
Test date	1-9 September 2022
Ambient temp	10-20°
Release	Mid 2021
Other models not for Australia (Don’t buy)	If buying from other sources, the Australian Consumer Law warranty will not apply,

Screen

Size	5.5″
Type	IPS LCD
Flat/ Curve/ 2D/ 3D	Flat
Resolution	1440 x 720
PPI	293
Ratio	18:9
Screen to Body %	62.7%
Colours bits	8-bit, 16.7m colours
Refresh Hz/ adaptive	60Hz
Response 120Hz	N/A
Nits typical/ test	Typically, around 250 nits with Adaptive Brightness off
Nits max/ test	550 (540)
Contrast	1000:1 (1040:1)
sRGB	91%
DCI-P3	No
Rec.2020 or other	No
Delta E (<4 is excellent)	6
HDR Level	SDR
SDR Upscale	No
Blue light control	No
PWM if known	No
Daylight readable	Not in direct sunlight
Always on Display	No
Edge display	No
Accessibility	Usual Android
DRM	L3 – SD streaming only
Gaming	Not intended for gaming
Screen protection	GG5
Comment	It is the screen you need rather than a big glossy screen. It is surprisingly bright and usable.

Processor (Soc)

Brand/ Model	MediaTek Helio A20
nm	12
Cores	4 x 1.8GHz
Modem	4G LTE Cat 4/6
AI TOPS	Limited AI capability for Night mode and Face Unlock
Geekbench 5 Single-core (power/battery)	134
Geekbench 5 multi-core (power/battery)	487
GPU	MG PowerVR GE8300 550Mhz
GPU Test
Open CL	N/A
Like
Vulcan	N/A
RAM/ type	3GB LPDDR4S
Storage/ free/ type	32GB eMMC (20GB free)
micro-SD	microSD to 128GB
CPDT internal seq. Read MBps	288
CPDT internal seq. write MBps	60
CPDT microSD read/ write MBps	82/20 mountable
CPDT external (mountable?) MBps	Not tested as all our external devices are now USB-C
Throttle test
Max GIPS (power/battery)	44876
Average GIPS	42991
Minimum GIPS	31143
% Throttle	18%
CPU Temp	50°
Comment	It holds well until 14 minutes, then dips a little. As this is not intended for game use, it is acceptable.

Comms

Wi-Fi Type/ model	Wi-Fi AC Dual-band
Test 2m -dBm/ Mbps	-27/390 – a strong signal
Test 5m	-39/390
Test 10m	-45/390
Test 15m	-59/270
BT Type	5
GPS single/ dual	Single
USB type	Micro-USB 2.0
ALT DP/ DeX/ Ready For	No
NFC	Yes
Ultra-wide-band	No
Sensors
Accelerometer	Yes, combo with Gyro
Gyro	Yes, combo with Gyro
e-Compass	Yes
Barometer
Gravity
Pedometer
Ambient light
Hall sensor
Proximity	Yes
Other	FM Radio
Comment	Screen rotation is really touchy, indicating a combo sensor. I had to turn auto-rotate off.

LTE and 5G

SIM	Single sim and dedicated microSD
Active	One at a time
Ring tone single/ dual	Single sim and dedicated microSD
VoLTE	Yes, carrier dependent
Wi-Fi calling	Yes, carrier dependent
4G Bands	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28
Comment	All Australian bands
Test Boost Mobile/ Telstra
UL/ DL/ Ms	43/27.2/29ms
Tower 1 -dBm/ fW or pW	-77/2-20pW (exceptional)
Tower 2	Found but unusable signal strength
Tower 3	Found but unusable signal strength
Tower 4	No
Comment	Extremely strong single tower reception

Battery

mAh	4200
Charger/ type/ supplied	micro-USB charger 5V/3A/15W, 9V/2A/18W, 12V/1.5A/18W It tends to charge at 5V/1A/10W.
PD/ QC level	No
Qi/ wattage	N/A
Reverse Qi or cable	N/A
Test (60Hz or adaptive screen)
Charge % 30mins	12%
Charge 0-100%	Approx 3.5 hours
Charge Qi/ W	N/A
Charge 5V/ 2A	N/A
Video loop 50%/ aeroplane	18 hours 10 minutes
PC Mark 3 battery	16 hours 53 minutes
GFX Bench Manhattan battery	897.9 minutes (14.97 hours) 500 frames
GFX Bench T-Rex	800.1 minutes (13.34 hours) 1028 frames
Drain 100-0% full load screen on	7 hours
Watt full load	600mA
Watt idle Screen on	200-250mA
Estimate loss at max refresh	N/A
Estimate typical use	Given the excellent video loop, PC Mark figures, and a low screen on drain, this should last 2-3 days of typical use.
Comment	It may have an 18W capable charger, but the charge rate is between 800-1000mA.

Sound

Speakers	Mono earpiece and mono bottom firing
Tuning	No
AMP	MediaTek
Dolby Atmos decode	No
Hi-Res	No
3.5mm	No
BT Codecs	SBC, AAC
Multipoint	No
Dolby Atmos (DA)	No
EQ	No
Mics	2
Test dB – all on EQ flat DA off
Volume max	85
Media (music)	70
Ring	85
Alarm	80
Notifications
Earpiece	55
Hands-free	Decent hands-free – no better or worse than most phones
BT headphones	Lots of volume and decent L/R separation
Sound quality	Mono
Deep Bass 20-40Hz	No
Middle Bass 40-100Hz	No
High Bass 100-200Hz	No
Low Mid 200-400Hz	Building
Mid 4000-1000Hz	Building
High-Mid 1-2kHz	Flat
Low Treble 2-4kHz	Flat
Mid Treble 4-6kHz	Flat
High Treble 6-10kHz	Flat
Dog Whistle 10-20kHz	Gentle decline
Sound Signature type	Clear voice
Soundstage	Mono
Comment	Decent clear voice sound – not for music. Use a BT speaker or earphones.

Build

Size (H X W x D)	161.3 x 77.2 x 12.7mm
Weight grams	220
Front glass	GG3
Rear material	Rubber
Frame	Aluminium
IP rating	IP 68 and 69K as well as MIL-STD 810H
Colours	Black
Pen/ Stylus support	No, but wet finger and glove support
In the box
Charger	18W
USB cable	USB-A to Micro-USB
Buds	No
Bumper cover	Built-in
Comment

OS

Android	10
Security patch date	N/A
UI	No
OS upgrade policy	11 coming
Security patch policy	Infrequent
Bloatware	Pure Android with some Cat tools
Other	Supports Google Lens and all Google Apps
Comment	Cat needs to improve its Security Patch update policy
Security
Fingerprint sensor location/ type	No
Face ID	Yes

Cat S42 H+ Rear Camera

Rear Primary	Standard
MP	13MP
Sensor	Samsung S5K3L6
Focus	PDAF
f-stop	2
um	1.12
FOV° (stated/ actual)	60
Stabilisation	No
Zoom	4x
Special
Video max	1080p@30fps
Flash	Yes
Auto-HDR	Auto HDR
QR code reader	Google lens
Night mode	Yes, but limited
Front	Selfie
MP	5MP
Sensor	Galaxy Core GC5035
Focus	Fixed
f-stop
um	1.4
FOV (stated/ actual)
Stabilisation	No
Flash	Screen fill
Zoom	4X
Video max	1080p@30fps