Japan’s biggest mobile carrier NTT Docomo just started selling the N-03C [JP], a new cell phone that’s both shock- and waterproof. The device meets the drop-test standard “MIL-STD-810G Method 516.6-Shock” established by the U.S. Department of Defense.
In other words, it cleared 26 drops from 1.2m onto plywood with one unit. While the 3.2-inch screen is made of Gorilla glass, maker NEC Casio used stainless steel for the back of the keypad and a special screw to fix the battery door.
NEC Casio also says the N-03C can be submersed in water as deep as 1.5m for half an hour without any problems (meeting the Japanese IPX5/8 and IP5X standards).
The 158g handset also features an 8.1MP CMOS camera with Sony’s “Exmor for mobile” sensor, Bluetooth, GPS, GSM, and an OLED sub display.
NEC Casio, which offers similar (but weaker) handsets outside Japan, sells the N-03C for the equivalent of $480.