AGM Glory Pro Rugged Smartphone Review || Rugged Outdoor Phone For Camping, Disaster Relief
Channel: Dr.SkyTech
Date: 27/06/2022

The AGM Glory Pro (G1) is the most ambitious rugged smartphone that the Chinese manufacturer has developed so far and yes, it’s priced as a flagship device, but there are a few features that may justify the cost. First, there’s the rugged build which should ensure that the device does not break easily, but it also means that the smartphone is going to be thicker.

And AGM did not hold back at all, them made the AGM Glory Pro an absolute unit, encasing a huge 6200mAh battery and a large speaker on the rear side. Of course this is not enough to justify the price tag, so the second addition is the thermal camera. I have seen something similar on the CAT S62 Pro and it was a very welcomed addition for construction workers. Furthermore, the smartphone does have a top-facing powerful lantern and a couple of infrared LEDs to help deliver a good night vision. And they’ve proven to be surprisingly effective, more so than some dedicated night vision cameras that I tested over the years.

Another major selling point is the support for 5G and this is perhaps the first rugged smartphone to support wireless charging. But is it enough to persuade people from getting a flagship device with a case? CAT has managed to do it over the years, so it’s very much possible, but you do need to have good customer support and to keep the devices updated, something that is not always the case with a lot of rugged smartphones. I am curious to see if AGM is also an exception (along with other major brands) and if the Glory Pro is able to deliver a good smartphone experience, while also ensuring that the device won’t easily get damaged.

The Design and Build Quality
I think that most ‘regular’ smartphones are no longer as fragile as they once were and some relevant steps have been taken so the glass doesn’t shatter as easily as before. I actually dropped an iPhone 12 on the concrete and a slim rubber case ensured that it escaped unscathed. The thing is that most people don’t need an especially tough smartphone, but professionals have very different needs. The construction workers and people that work in other types of harsh environments do require a devices that can handle multiple tumbles to the floor, lots of dust, corrosive substances and even submersion in water. And I noticed that some manufacturers went out of their way to get their rugged smartphones closer to the regular handsets, such as CAT and Kyocera, but AGM couldn’t care less, so the Glory Pro ended up with a unique design.

Let’s leave the strange circular speaker alone for a minute and just marvel at just how big this smartphone is. Don’t get me wrong, the bezels aren’t that much larger than on a device such as the Samsung XCover 5, but, at its 6.8 x 3.3 x 0.8 inches (17.4 x 8.4 x 2.0 cm), the AGM Glory Pro is a very thick device. That’s not all, because along with the 13 ounces weight (370g) and the hard plastic case, this phone can be a veritable self-defense weapon.
AGM relies on a combination between hard rubber and polycarbonate for the rear side of the device and the frame of the AGM Glory Pro has 10% weaved-in fiberglass, which should make it tougher and, potentially better absorb shocks than metal.

The frame does go a little bit outwards around the display and then it raises by 0.012 inches to provide some protection for the screen. I understand that AGM wanted to keep the front designed as close as possible to the non-rugged smartphones, but I wouldn’t have complained if the lip was a bit higher. It should still work as intended and I also noticed that there is an already applied screen protector for scratches. On the left side of the smartphone, there’s the volume rocker and the Power/Screen Wake button, while on the other side, AGM has added a red button that can be programmed. By default, it will open the camera, but it can also be used for other functions, such as the LED torch or the Push-to-Talk option, the latter being incredibly useful for simulation walkie-talking communication. I think that an SOS function should also be added with future software updates since people that perform more intense outdoor activities (rock climbing and even trekking) and may get lost would certainly make use of such option.


At the bottom of the smartphone, there is a plastic cover that hides a 3.5mm headphone jack (which starts to be a rarity) and the USB-C charging port that is compatible with the cable provided in the package (no surprise there), but may not allow thicker connectors to go through. Since Apple, Samsung and other smartphones manufacturer have decided omitting the charger in the box will help save the environment (it won’t), AGM has added a QC3.0 charger in the package. The rear side of the AGM Glory Pro will definitely turn some heads and that’s because of the oddly shaped camera assembly and the speaker that sits in the middle. If you are familiar with the Leica phone, the AGM Glory Pro does have a similar look, although far less refined.