Unihertz Tank 2 Review: The ultimate phone for the hike
The Unihertz Tank 2 lives up to its name by presenting itself as a durable, utilitarian, and multi-functional device. Building on the foundation laid by its predecessor, the Tank 1, this new iteration retains much of the original design while introducing some notable enhancements.
One improvement is the addition of two powerful 1,200 Lumen flashlights on the rear panel, offering both warm and cold camping lights. These powerful illuminators are sure to provide ample light in the darkest of environments, making it an ideal companion for outdoor enthusiasts, campers, and adventurers alike. Furthermore, the inclusion of an IR control and a projector expands the phone’s functionality, allowing users to control compatible devices remotely and even project content on a larger surface when needed.
While the Unihertz Tank 2’s 15,500mAh battery may be slightly smaller than its predecessor’s 22,000mAh battery, it still boasts an impressive capacity that ensures longevity in performance. Users can rest assured that their phone will last for extended periods, even during intensive usage or when venturing into remote areas without easy access to charging points.
Beyond being a rugged phone, the Unihertz Tank 2 proves to be a versatile tool for professionals on construction sites. The inclusion of various helpful features like the Bubble Level, height measurement, Protractor, and Plumb Blob makes it an indispensable companion for builders and workers. These specialized tools simplify tasks and aid in achieving precise measurements, enhancing productivity and accuracy on the job.
Unihertz Tank 2: Video Review
| Specs | (8849) Unihertz Tank 2 |
| Screen | 6.81 inch, IPS, 2460x1080 FHD+ |
| Processor | Helio G99 |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 |
| RAM | 12+8 GB |
| Internal memory | 256 GB |
| Memory card support | microSD up to 1 TB |
| OS | Android 13 |
| Main Camera | 108 MP |
| Front camera | 32 MP |
| Night vision camera | 64 MP |
| SIM cards | 2 Nano SIM |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.2 |
| NFC | YES |
| Battery | 15500 mAh |
| Protection | IP68, IP69K, MIL-STD-810G |
| Dimensions | 179.3 x 85.9 x 23.5 mm |
| Weight | 530 g |
Design
The Unihertz Tank 2 is an impressively huge and robust smartphone that lives up to its name with its bulky, angular design and flashy duo flashlight system. Measuring 9.4 x 6.9 x 3.3 inches (24.0 x 17.5 x 8.5cm), it’s not the most pocket-friendly device, but its rugged construction ensures durability and reliability in tough conditions.
Weighing almost 1.2 pounds (530g), the Tank 2 stands out as one of the heaviest and largest smartphones on the market, surpassing even the flagship models from AGM. Despite its substantial size, the developers have taken care to add a substantial lip around the 6.81-inch display to protect it from accidental damage. The display is not equipped with Gorilla Glass protection but features Panda MN228 Glass to prevent shattering.
The frame of the smartphone combines hard plastic at the top and bottom with a metallic plate on the sides, where all the buttons are neatly embedded. On the right side, you’ll find the Power button, which doubles as a fingerprint sensor, along with a removable slot for microSD and two SIM cards, cleverly protected by a metallic cover and a silicone ring to keep out water and dust.
The other side of the phone houses the volume keys, a programmable button, and the camping light switch, all of which have a metallic finish, adding a touch of quality to the device.
At the bottom, a silicone cover conceals the USB-C port and the 3.5mm headphone jack, providing additional protection against elements. On the top of the Tank 2, you’ll find an IR sensor and a wide area housing the projector lens, which expands the phone’s functionality.
The rear panel of the smartphone is where the uniqueness truly shines. Two colorful sections, yellow and orange, stand out, but these aren’t just design elements. They house the camping lights, with the top one emitting a cold light and the bottom one providing a warmer light. The rear speaker points outwards, ensuring loud and clear audio even in rugged environments. Additionally, the camera area features a flashlight LED, distinguishing the design from the original Tank phone. The main camera, wide-angle lens camera, night vision, and IR LEDs all contribute to the phone’s versatile imaging capabilities.
The Unihertz Tank 2 doesn’t compromise on toughness either, having successfully passed several MIL-STD-810G tests. Its IP68 and IP69K ratings further guarantee dust resistance and waterproofing, allowing the smartphone to be submerged in water without any worries. This makes it an excellent companion for adventurers, construction workers, and outdoor enthusiasts who need a device that can withstand harsh conditions.
Display
The Unihertz Tank 2 sports a substantial 6.81-inch TFT IPS display, boasting a resolution of 2460x1080p and a pixel density of 396ppi. With such impressive specifications, users can expect a sharp and detailed visual experience. The high pixel density ensures that even when examining the screen up close, there are no visible pixels, contributing to a smooth and immersive display.
Although the smartphone supposedly supports a 120Hz refresh rate, it seems there might be a software issue preventing it from reaching its full potential. When switching to 120Hz from the settings, there is no noticeable difference and the display remains locked at 60Hz. This discrepancy may be resolved with future firmware updates that address the refresh rate problem and unlock the full capabilities of the display.
As for image quality, the black levels on the Unihertz Tank 2’s display are deemed acceptable but not exceptionally deep, especially when the brightness is increased. This might slightly affect the contrast ratio, resulting in blacks that are not as rich as some high-end displays. However, for general use and daily tasks, the display should still perform adequately.
The color tone leans towards the warm side, which means whites may have a slight red hue. While this is not inherently problematic, some users might prefer a more neutral color temperature. Display preferences can vary from person to person, and some might appreciate the warm tone for its unique appeal, while others may want to calibrate it to their personal preferences.
Brightness-wise, the Unihertz Tank 2 offers an adaptive mode that works effectively to adjust brightness based on ambient lighting conditions. At its highest brightness setting, the display should be visible outdoors even in sunny conditions. However, due to the slightly reflective coating, direct sunlight or very bright environments might still pose visibility challenges. Finding some shade or adjusting the viewing angle could be necessary in such situations to ensure comfortable readability.
Unihertz Tank 2: Performance
The Unihertz Tank 2 packs quite a punch under the hood, featuring an eight-core ARMv8 processor, specifically the MediaTek Helio G99 (MT6789) chipset. This powerful SoC consists of six cores clocked at 2GHz and dual-core at 2.2GHz, ensuring efficient and smooth performance across various tasks and applications. The Mali-G57 MC2 GPU complements the processor, providing competent graphics processing capabilities.
One of the standout features of the Unihertz Tank 2 is its impressive 22GB of RAM. With 12GB of primary RAM and an additional 10GB RAM, the phone excels at multitasking and handling resource-intensive applications. Users can effortlessly switch between apps, run multiple processes simultaneously, and enjoy seamless performance during demanding tasks.
Benchmark results reveal the device’s capabilities further. In the Geekbench 6 test, the Unihertz Tank 2 showcased a Single-Core Score of 730 and a Multi-Core Score of 1971 for the CPU test. The GPU benchmark yielded a score of 1305, demonstrating its proficiency in graphics-intensive tasks.
Looking at specific gaming benchmarks, the Unihertz Tank 2 handled itself admirably. The 1080p Aztec Ruins OpenGL test displayed an average FPS of 16, while the Car Chase test achieved around 15FPS. The Manhattan and T-Rex tests produced the most favorable results, indicating that the phone can handle most mobile games at a decent frame rate.
During actual gameplay, the Unihertz Tank 2 continued to impress. Titles like Asphalt 9 ran smoothly without any noticeable stutters or freezes, providing an enjoyable gaming experience. For most users, the phone’s processing power, abundant memory, and ample storage should be more than sufficient to deliver a satisfying user experience, even with intensive applications and multitasking.
Software
The Unihertz Tank 2 runs on the latest version of Android, Android 13. While the operating system maintains a mostly stock Android experience, the phone comes pre-installed with a few useful apps that enhance its rugged and practical appeal.
Among the included apps, the Underwater Camera stands out as a unique feature, allowing users to capture photos and videos underwater. This is a valuable addition for outdoor enthusiasts who frequently engage in water-based activities and want to document their adventures without the need for additional waterproof cases.
Another handy app is ZazaRemote, which turns the Unihertz Tank 2 into a versatile IR remote control. This functionality enables users to control compatible devices remotely, such as TVs, air conditioners, and other home appliances.
One of the highlights of the smartphone is the Toolbox suite of apps, catered to the needs of construction workers and camping enthusiasts—the two main targeted audiences of the Unihertz Tank 2. This suite contains various useful software, including a height measurement app, a Plumb bob for vertical alignment, a Protractor for angle measurements, and a Pressure measurement tool.
Furthermore, the Unihertz Tank 2’s Projector has dedicated options in the Settings area and the Quick access menu, making it easy for users to configure and access projector-related settings quickly.
Camera
The Unihertz Tank 2 boasts a powerful camera setup, featuring a 108-megapixel main camera and a 16-megapixel wide-angle lens on the rear side. These high-resolution sensors promise impressive photo capabilities and the ability to capture detailed shots in various settings.
Outdoors, the camera’s autofocus performs admirably, resulting in sharp and detailed macro shots. The 108-megapixel main sensor captures an abundance of detail, creating stunning images with well-rendered subjects. The camera handles well in well-lit environments with lots of sunlight, providing vibrant colors and accurate representations of the scene.
However, in certain situations, the camera does have some limitations. When capturing shots of the sky, while it avoids overblown highlights, some detail loss in areas like trees is noticeable. Indoor photos, on the other hand, benefit from the sizable sensor, displaying clear and detailed images with minimal noise.
When recording videos, the Unihertz does not entirely match the impressive photo performance. While it’s not bad, distant objects and details may lack clarity, and the digital stabilization falls short, resulting in some shakiness. Using a gimbal can help mitigate this issue, but users should be aware of the phone’s thickness and ensure compatibility with the gimbal they choose.
The Unihertz Tank 2 goes a step further with its camera capabilities by offering a dedicated 64-megapixel night vision camera along with four IR LEDs. This system closely rivals security cameras, providing a black and white view of the surroundings at night. This feature is a notable upgrade from its predecessor, the Tank, and enhances the phone’s usability in low-light and night-time conditions.
The Unihertz Tank 2 is also equipped with a front camera featuring a 32MP sensor with a wide-angle lens. This high-resolution sensor promises sharp and detailed selfies, allowing users to capture clear and vibrant self-portraits. The wide-angle lens further enhances the front camera’s capabilities, enabling users to fit more subjects into the frame for group selfies or capturing broader scenic backgrounds.
While the camera sensors themselves are excellent, the software and optimization could have been better. The phone does capture excellent photographs, but with some attention to detail and improvements in modes and frame rates, it could have achieved even better results.
Projector
The Unihertz Tank 2’s projector utilizes laser technology, offering a maximum brightness of 40 Lumens. While this may not match the brightness levels of dedicated projectors like Epson or XGIMI, it’s important to remember that the Tank 2 is, first and foremost, a smartphone and not a high-end projector.
The projector’s resolution stands at 1280 x 720 pixels, which is reasonable for a smartphone projector. Considering its integration into a medium-priced smartphone, it is equipped to deliver a decent image quality for its intended purpose.
For camping or outdoor activities where you want to watch a movie or YouTube videos with a group of people, the Tank 2 provides a convenient solution, allowing you to share content with others without the need for additional equipment.
One limitation of the projector is the lack of manual adjustments for focus and keystones. As a result, finding the perfect projection quality may require some trial and error, as users will need to experiment with various distances from the projection surface until the video appears sharp and properly aligned.
Camping Lights
The rear panel features two distinct camping lights: the top half emits a cold white light, while the bottom half produces a warmer tone light. This dual-light setup allows users to choose the ideal lighting for their specific needs, be it creating a comfortable ambiance in the campsite or navigating through darkness with optimal visibility.
To activate the top camping light, all it takes is a press and hold of the side button (the red one). However, to fully harness the potential of the camping lights, users can explore the “Tools” menu and select the “Camping Lamp” option. Here, you gain more control over the lights’ functionalities. Users can choose to enable both the Cold and Warm lamps using the side button, as well as set a duration after which the lights will automatically turn off. This thoughtful feature ensures that the lights don’t drain the battery unnecessarily and helps conserve power during extended outdoor trips.
Two notable modes included with the camping lights are the SOS and Explosion Flash modes. These can be true lifesavers in emergency situations.
Battery Life
The Unihertz Tank 2 comes equipped with a sizable 15,500mAh battery, which, although smaller than its predecessor’s 22,000mAh battery, still promises impressive longevity. The manufacturer claims that users can expect up to 35 hours of continuous video playback and an astounding 100 hours of continuous calls on a single charge. Moreover, the phone’s standby time is estimated to reach up to a month and a half, making it an ideal choice for those seeking a device with long-lasting battery life.
To ensure convenient charging, the Tank 2 package includes a 66W PD (Power Delivery) charger. This high-power charger can efficiently recharge the smartphone in about 5 hours, which is quite commendable, considering the large battery capacity. This fast charging capability is beneficial, especially when users need to top up their phone quickly before heading out for extended outdoor adventures or lengthy travels.
While the Unihertz Tank 2’s battery performance is impressive, it’s worth noting that the phone doesn’t offer wireless charging. This omission may be justified by the phone’s extensive feature set and the need to maintain an affordable price tag.
Unihertz Tank 2: Conclusion
The Unihertz Tank 2 stands out as an innovative and creative addition to the rugged smartphone niche.
The phone’s inclusion of a functional projector, two powerful camping lights, and a suite of useful tools for construction workers showcase its dedication to offering a diverse and versatile user experience. While it may not have all the bells and whistles of a thermal camera, the Tank 2 compensates with its array of exotic features, making it a standout contender in the rugged smartphone market.
The large screen size, combined with the fairly powerful hardware for running apps and games, enhances its appeal to users seeking a rugged device that doesn’t compromise on functionality.
Ultimately, the Unihertz Tank 2 emerges as a compelling option for adventurers, outdoor enthusiasts, and construction workers alike, offering a robust and innovative smartphone experience. With its exotic features and dedication to durability, the Unihertz Tank 2 succeeds in standing out from the crowd and carving its place as an appealing and creative addition to the rugged smartphone niche.
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