I Tested This Rugged Smartphone with a Built-in Projector—It’s Niche, But Surprisingly Good

I never thought I’d be the kind of person to get excited over a smartphone with a projector built into it. I mean, really—who needs a projector on a phone in 2025? Turns out, I did. And maybe, after reading this, you will too.

Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve had my hands on the 8849 Tank 4, a beast of a device that’s half smartphone, half survival tool, and oddly, a fully capable mini-theater. It’s the latest rugged smartphone in the Tank series, and it’s built like a tank—literally. But more than that, it’s a phone that dares to be different in an industry choked with sameness.

Let me take you through the highs and lows of living with this off-grid-ready, projector-equipped chunk of tech.

First Impressions: Is This a Phone or a Brick?

The moment I unboxed the Tank 4, I knew this wasn’t going to be a daily-driver type of phone for most people. It’s not designed for someone who just checks emails, posts selfies, and scrolls Instagram. At over 530 grams, this phone has real physical heft—more than double the weight of your typical iPhone or Galaxy.

And it’s not just heavy; it’s huge. The 6.78-inch AMOLED display dominates the front, but the phone’s overall dimensions are almost comically large. It’s not something I’d slide into the pocket of skinny jeans or carry on a jog. But that’s not the point.

You don’t buy a Jeep Wrangler to commute to the city. You buy it to go places where roads stop. The Tank 4 is that Jeep. It’s unapologetically rugged, certified with IP68 water and dust resistance, and clearly designed for people who work—or live—outside the usual comfort zones.

Why a Projector?

Let’s get this out of the way early: the built-in 720p DLP projector is the headline feature here. And yes, I was skeptical. I imagined grainy, low-brightness projections barely visible in anything brighter than a cave. But to my surprise, the experience was… good. Actually, more than good.

The projector is crisp, reasonably bright in dark conditions (around 100 lumens), and has autofocus and keystone correction that work quickly and accurately. I used it to project Netflix movies onto a tent wall while camping in Arizona. I watched a slideshow of my travel photos on my ceiling before bed. I even projected a presentation onto an office wall during a power outage—and people were seriously impressed.

It’s not going to compete with your \$800 4K home theater setup, obviously. But for a phone-sized device that fits in your pocket (well, a coat pocket), it delivers surprisingly sharp and vivid visuals, especially in complete darkness.

Battery Life That’s Just… Absurd

A major benefit of this phone—and maybe the most practical reason to own one—is its 11,600mAh battery. That’s massive. Most flagship phones are packing around 4,000–5,000mAh, which barely gets you through a day. The Tank 4 gave me four full days of use, including projection time, hotspotting, 5G use, and photography.

And when I wasn’t using it? It sat in standby mode for over two weeks before dropping below 20%. If you’re someone who goes hiking, overlanding, or works remotely in the field, this kind of battery life is game-changing.

It also supports 120W fast charging, which juices up this monster battery in under an hour and a half. Plus, you can use it for reverse charging other devices—yes, this thing doubles as a power bank.

Built for Work, Not Glamour

This isn’t the sleek aluminum-and-glass design you get from an iPhone or Galaxy S-series. The Tank 4 is all angular edges, thick bezels, and reinforced corners. I dropped it—on purpose—onto concrete. Twice. It laughed and kept going.

It comes with two programmable buttons, perfect for launching a flashlight, camera, or app of your choice with a single press. The rear of the phone houses three cameras in a row: a 50MP main shooter, a 64MP infrared night vision camera, and a 50MP telephoto lens. Not cutting-edge in the photography world, but surprisingly versatile.

There are also two massive LED panels on the back. These things are no joke—they’re bright enough to light up a campsite. I used them when fixing a flat tire at night, and they were way more effective than a flashlight app. They’re even adjustable through a companion app, acting as emergency strobes or tent lights.

Performance: Mid-Range, But Manageable

Under the hood, the Tank 4 runs a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 processor with a Mali-G615 MC2 GPU, paired with 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage, expandable via microSD. On paper, that sounds like plenty. In practice, it’s… decent.

Basic tasks—messaging, browsing, watching videos, using Google Workspace—ran without a hiccup. The Android 14 interface felt snappy, and multitasking was fluid thanks to the RAM. Where it struggled was graphic-intensive gaming and video editing apps like CapCut. Frame drops were noticeable, and export times were longer than ideal.

Some apps, especially ones needing higher-end GPUs (like 3DMark), refused to run entirely due to compatibility issues. That was disappointing. If you’re a mobile gamer or creative professional, this isn’t your dream device.

The Cameras: Surprisingly Capable Outdoors

During a trip to Colorado, I tested all three rear cameras in a variety of conditions. The 50MP Samsung main sensor performed best in daylight—sharp images, solid dynamic range, and fast shutter response. Nothing revolutionary, but very usable.

The night vision camera was cool but niche. It’s basically infrared photography. Great for scouting in pitch darkness or seeing through light fog. Not for Instagram, but useful for security or exploration.

The 50MP telephoto was decent—not iPhone Pro or Pixel-level detail, but respectable considering the rugged nature of this phone.

The 32MP front camera was fine for selfies and video calls. Nothing more, nothing less.

Durability: No Case Needed

I’ve been burned by “rugged” phones before that cracked or glitched out after a bit of water or a minor drop. Not here. The Tank 4 held up to everything I threw at it:

• Dropped onto a gravel road from waist height—no damage.
• Submerged in a cold mountain stream for 10 minutes—still working.
• Covered in dust, left in the sun, shaken in a backpack—it didn’t care.

Even the projector lens and speaker grills, which you’d expect to be fragile, held up fine. I wouldn’t recommend tossing it down a cliff, but for real-world abuse? It’s built like a cinderblock with 5G.

Real-World Use Cases

Here’s where this phone shines:

• Outdoor professionals: construction workers, field researchers, rescue teams
• Adventure travelers: off-grid campers, hikers, overlanders
• Event presenters: pop-up slideshows, sales demos, classroom content
• Emergency preparedness: when power, signal, or light is scarce
• Backup phone users: something reliable and long-lasting

It’s not for everyone, but for certain people, it’s perfect.

Where to Buy (in the U.S.)

You’re unlikely to walk into a Walmart and find the 8849 Tank 4. It’s still a niche product, mostly marketed to enthusiasts and professionals. But it is available online from a few trustworthy American retailers:

• Amazon – Probably the easiest and most reliable place to buy. Look for verified sellers and check for current deals (price fluctuates between \$420–\$470).
• B\&H Photo Video – A favorite for rugged tech and field gear. Their customer service is solid, especially for returns or support.
• Newegg – Occasionally stocks this model, often with bundles.
• AliExpress – Not U.S.-based, but still offers international shipping. Watch out for import fees and delivery time.

If you’re buying in the U.S., I recommend sticking to Amazon or B\&H to avoid complications. Always check the return policy—rugged or not, it’s still a piece of tech that might not be for everyone.

A Few Buying Tips

1. Don’t buy this for the projector alone. If projection is all you care about, you’ll get better performance from a separate portable projector.
2. Invest in a screen. Even a \$20 foldable white cloth screen will improve your experience compared to projecting onto rough walls or tent fabric.
3. Carry a USB-C-to-HDMI cable. This phone supports video-out, so you can plug into larger screens if needed.
4. Buy a holster or belt clip. This phone is too big for most pockets, and it’s way more convenient strapped to your gear.
5. Download offline content. The projection feature makes more sense when you’re off the grid—Netflix, Disney+, YouTube, etc., all allow downloads.

This is a phone for a different kind of user. It doesn’t fit into the mold of 2025’s sleek, AI-powered slabs. It’s rough, rugged, imperfect, and a little ridiculous. But it also does things no other phone in its price range can do. Projection on the go. Lighting in the field. Power for days. And it survives abuse most phones wouldn’t dream of.

I loved it not because it was perfect, but because it was unapologetically useful. It doesn’t care about trends—it just wants to get the job done. And sometimes, that’s exactly what I need.

If you’ve ever found yourself in the wilds, in the dark, in the dust, or off-grid—the 8849 Tank 4 might be the phone you didn’t know you were looking for.