In this Kyocera DuraXE epic review, we dissected a durable phone designed to be used in special situations. And we’re not disappointed.
The Kyocera DuraXE Epic phone was released in April 2021. Different phones are built for different purposes. Some phones are designed for casual usage, while others are installed with military-grade features to withstand harsh conditions.
The Kyocera DuraXE Epic is well-known for its compact yet ultra-rugged design. Additionally, it boasts unique features that allow it to be waterproof, drop-proof, and more.
However, does the Kyocera DuraXE Epic live up to its expectation? With a strong build, surprisingly the phone has basic features like 2GB RAM and a small 1,770 mAh removable battery.
Be sure to do your quick research in our Kyocera DuraXE Epic review. With all this information available at your fingertips, you can make your decision easier.
Page Contents:
Key Specs
Kyocera DuraXE Epic specifications:
| Weight | 193g |
| Dimensions | 111 x 56 x 27.2mm |
| OS | Proprietary based on AOSP |
| Screen size | 2.6-inch |
| Resolution | 320 x 240 |
| CPU | 1.2GHz Quad-core, Qualcomm Snapdragon 215 |
| RAM | 2GB |
| Storage | 16GB |
| Battery | 1,770mAh, Removable |
| Rear camera | 5MP |
Design
The Kyocera DuraXE Epic is a flip phone with an ultra-rugged exterior. The device is made out of multiple materials, such as black plastic and rubber bumpers. Normally, we’d expect flip phones to be rather compact in our palms. But because of the materials chosen, the device ended up being bulkier when holding it.
When opening the device, you’ll see the phone’s display screen and well-designed keypad. What’s interesting is what’s below the keypad, which is two large speakers. It’s an interesting choice to place speakers there. But considering that this is a feature phone, the speakers’ location provides better means of communication.
Despite its simplistic flip phone form, the details that go into the design make it intricate. For starters, the corners are chamfered to provide extra protection against drops. Moving onto the sides, there are texture panels so that users have extra grip. This is helpful if you need to hold it with wet hands or gloves.
As a phone that markets itself to be military-grade tough, the phone is waterproof and drop-proof. The Military Standard 810H protection ensures that the phone can stand extreme ecosystems. For example, dust, vibration, blowing rain, solar radiation, and more. It’s waterproof up to 2m for 30 minutes, and drop-proof up to 1.5m onto concrete.
Read also: Kyocera DuraXE Epic (E4830 / E4830NC) User Manual
Display
The Kyocera DuraXE Epic has a 2.6-inch display screen to show the phone’s basic information. The display is home to the main menu that‘s incredibly customizable. You can set your most-used apps right on the home screen for ultra-quick access. We noticed that the display has large font, making it easy on the eyes despite the display’s small size.
With a 320 x 240 resolution, it’s not the grandest display screen you can find in the market. But considering this phone’s main function, watching videos is the last thing you’d want to do with this device. However, you will still be able to browse the Internet on the phone’s small screen.
Another unique feature of this device is the phone’s external display screen. The external screen can be found right under the rear camera. This screen tells us basic information such as time, date, battery information, and phone signals. It’s a simple feature, but it reduces the frequency of having to open and close the flip phone.
All in all, it’s a basic display screen that doesn’t promise the sharpest images or the most vivid colors. But because of the phone’s military-grade properties, the display screens are greatly protected from scratches or drops.
Camera
The Kyocera DuraXE Epic has a single 5MP rear camera. This is the only camera that’s available on the device. 5MP is slightly above the average for most feature phones, so we’re not surprised. On the contrary, we’re pretty impressed by its quality.
For starters, the camera comes with AF (Auto Focus). After taking some photos with it, they came out pleasantly bright. Compared to other basic phones, the photos ended up slightly sharper and didn’t have muddy tones to them. You wouldn’t use this phone to take aesthetically pleasing photos, but it’s enough to document things.
Besides capturing photos, the Kyocera DuraXE Epic can take videos as well. The phone can record in 720p, 480p, and 240p. Unfortunately, there’s no automatic playback function, but it is possible to activate it in the phone’s Gallery setting.
The camera comes with other shooting options to play around with. For dark settings, you can use the Flash to bring some light into the room. There’s also a shutter sound to indicate if a photo is taken. And of course, there’s a self-timer to help us take your photos with more precision. These are all basic functions, but they alleviate the phone user experience for this device.
Read also:
- Alcatel Axel Review: 13MP Camera with Big Battery Size
- Nokia G10 Review: Feature-Rich, Affordable Price
Storage
The Kyocera DuraXE Epic has internal memory storage of up to 16GB. Memory storage doesn’t amount to much in this era of phones. Even if the phone doesn’t accommodate huge-sized apps, it might not be enough to store all of our data.
Fortunately, you can expand the phone’s memory. To do this, you’ll need to insert a microSD card into the device. The phone accommodates up to 512GB of expandable memory storage, which is a lot.
This extra memory is incredibly useful for storing important information in the device. Please be kindly informed that the microSD card is sold separately, and doesn’t come with the device.
Performance
The Kyocera DuraXE Epic operates on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 215 processor. The chipset features a 64-bit CPU which helps to boost the phone’s performance and gives 4G support on entry-level devices. The processor also supports other features in the device, like camera quality and wireless connectivity.
Running on a Quad-core at a 1.2GHz speed, it’s an entry-level processor that’s fitting for this device. It’s enough for a smooth and supportive performance without lagging too much. With improved power consumption, it delivers stable performance without sacrificing power efficiency. The processor is the right choice for a basic phone like this.
The Kyocera DuraXE Epic comes with 2GB RAM. In a smartphone, this is considered a bare minimum. But since this is a flip phone, we’ll let it slide. As the phone’s main purpose is for voice calls, there’s no need for the device to have huge RAM.
So don’t worry about its relatively small RAM size. Sure, for a regular smartphone, 2GB is not enough to perform against competing devices. But for a flip phone like this, 2GB gives us the support needed for a stable performance. In our Kyocera DuraXE Epic review, we want to emphasize that it all boils down entirely to what the device is built to do.
The Kyocera DuraXE Epic uses a Proprietary operating system. What this means is that the operating system is directly designed by the developers themselves.
This is helpful for users who are looking for something straightforward to use. A Proprietary operating system is typically set for a simpler and smoother user experience. Users who aren’t as tech-savvy but are still looking for something advanced can look forward to using this device.
But for a feature phone, we’re surprised to know that the device accommodates group texts. You will be able to send texts in a thread, making communication incredibly easier to track with other people. However, it only allows us to reply to the group thread and does not accommodate private messaging in the thread.
Last but not least, the Kyocera DuraXE Epic has a barometer sensor installed into it. Barometers are highly important because of their GPS ability. With a barometer, the phone can deliver altitude data and more accurate navigation information. This function suits a phone like the Kyocera DuraXE Epic.
Connectivity
The Kyocera DuraXE Epic supports 4G and 3G connection. To activate the phone’s connectivity, you’ll need to insert a Nano SIM card. When activating the Wi-Fi feature, you will manage to communicate with others with an LMR network too. For Wi-Fi, it is running at a 2.4GHz & 5.0GHz speed, so users are ensured fast connection too.
Additionally, there are other features included like Bluetooth V4.2 technology and mobile hotspot feature. The mobile hotspots allow users to share a connection with up to 10 devices. There’s an additional perk this phone offers. Complete with the phone’s dual-mic noise cancellation feature, you can call your contacts even in noisy situations.
Battery
The Kyocera DuraXE Epic is powered by a 1,770mAh removable battery. At first, we thought the small battery size was a huge con. But for a phone whose main purpose is for calls, the battery size is just right. The phone can withstand up to 10 hours of talk time. If left on standby, it can last up to 16 hours.
Charging requires normal time until the battery fills up. There is no fast charger or wireless charging feature included.
Is the Kyocera DuraXE Epic a good phone?
The Kyocera DuraXE Epic is an interesting phone with unique features. Since it brands itself as an ultra-rugged, durable device, the phone is jam-packed with military-grade protection. But if we have to be honest in this Kyocera DuraXE Epic review, we feel it could do a lot better with its battery size and RAM size.
However, for a $270 price point, we believe this device is worth the investment. This may not be your ordinary device, but that’s exactly what it is. It is a flip phone that’s built as a special purpose device. It may not include the best of the best features, but it includes the most necessary specifications required to perform its main purposes.
Kyocera DuraXE Epic Pros
- Above-average camera quality
- Military-grade durability
- Two displays
- Good battery
Kyocera DuraXE Epic Cons
- Low RAM space
- Basic features
