Some phones offer action camera-like stabilisation, while others such as the Honor Robot Phone have taken things a step further with a deployable gimballed camera. RugOne, however, is taking a very different approach with the Xsnap 7 Pro, a rugged smartphone that comes with a built-in detachable action camera that can function independently.
In a way, the concept is reminiscent of the Insta360 Go series, except that the smartphone itself serves as the main body and docking station for the camera. The Xsnap 7 Pro will officially debut at IFA Berlin, following RugOne’s launch of the Xever 7 series at the same event last year.
A Detachable Action Camera
The Xsnap 7 Pro’s main attraction is its small, cube-shaped camera module, which sits within the phone’s rear panel when not in use. Weighing just 39g, the module can be detached and used on its own, with a magnetic attachment system allowing it to be mounted on the phone, a supplied magnetic pendant or compatible third-party accessories.
The camera can record video at up to 2.7K resolution and 30fps, with a 133-degree ultra-wide lens. It also features distortion correction, software stabilisation and horizon lock, while its FreeFrame mode captures the full sensor area so that footage can be cropped into either horizontal or vertical formats later.
It has 64GB of built-in storage and can record for up to 40 minutes on a full charge. The camera can also wirelessly stream a preview to the Xsnap 7 Pro through RugOne’s companion app from up to 50 metres away, allowing the phone to act as a viewfinder and controller. The camera module itself is waterproof to a depth of 5 metres without requiring an additional case.
A Rugged Phone Underneath
The Xsnap 7 Pro is still a fully fledged rugged smartphone when the camera is docked. It features a 6.67-inch 1.5K AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 1,700 nits of peak brightness, along with a 32MP front-facing camera.
At the back, there is a 50MP main camera with optical image stabilisation, accompanied by a 64MP infrared night-vision camera with dedicated IR LEDs. RugOne is positioning the latter as an option for capturing subjects in low-light environments, including wildlife.
The phone is powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 8400 chipset and comes with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage. It also packs a generous 9,300mAh battery with support for 45W wired charging, while the phone carries both IP68 and IP69K ratings for protection against dust and water. It can reportedly survive immersion in up to 2 metres of water for 30 minutes, as well as drops from up to 1.5 metres onto concrete.
Price And Availability
The RugOne Xsnap 7 Pro will make its official debut at IFA Berlin, with RugOne’s product launch event scheduled for 5 September. It will be offered in Classic Black and Sand Dune.
The Xsnap 7 Pro will then launch on Kickstarter on 7 September 2026 with an early-bird price of EUR799 (~RM3,760). RugOne says the phone will receive a global release in October for US$999 (~RM4,036) through its online store and Amazon. However, there’s no actual word on whether we’ll see it in Malaysia.
(Source: RugOne [official website] / Engadget)
