RugOne Xsnap 7 Pro Launches, Puts a Detachable Action Camera on a Rugged Phone

RugOne, the outdoor arm of rugged-phone maker Ulefone, showed the Xsnap 7 Pro at IFA in Berlin on September 5 and opened Kickstarter orders two days later. Early backers can still claim a limited run at €799. Full retail follows this month at $999 in the US and €1,099.99 in Europe, in Sand Dune or Black. A small cube sits flush in a recess on the back, and that cube is meant to leave the phone when the shot needs a helmet, a handlebar, or a chest strap.

Pulling the module out of the phone requires a firm grip on the lens barrel, which is a screw-on cap that allows you to change in any scratched coverings later, despite the fact that you won’t be able to use a filtered glass with it. The camera itself weights only 39 grams. You’ve got two latches that hold it to a mount, as well as a set of magnets that will quickly attach it to metal or even RugOne’s necklace for a chest-mounted view. Hook it up to your phone and the Xsnap Go app, and it has a range of up to 50 meters, allowing you to start, stop, and change modes while the module is sitting on your helmet. When you put it back in the housing, it will begin charging and even transfer the footage.

Recording maxes out at 2.7K and 30 frames per second with a 133 degree lens on a Type 1/2.7 sensor, which is wider than most phones’ ultrawide but smaller than the iconic fisheye view from an old action camera. The SteadyX electronic stabilization will do its best to keep your frame smooth, even if you have to crop in somewhat, and the Horizon Lock will strive to maintain the horizon level even if you experience some camera wobble while rolling. The mode selection offers a variety of capabilities, including time-lapse, slow motion, pre-record, loop recording, FreeFrame video, and HDR stills. Once removed from the phone and running on power, it will last approximately 40 minutes and record clips to 64GB of internal memory – enough to hold about 8 hours of 1080p film, which is worth noting given that there is no microSD card. A high-end GoPro or a current DJI or Insta360 module will shoot in 4K and have a longer battery life. This module is designed to live in the phone until you need to mount it.


Water ratings are slightly different between the two components. The phone cover has an IP68 and IP69K classification, which translates to 2 meters for 30 minutes plus a blast of high pressure water, as well as passing the MIL-STD-810H test and being able to endure a 1.5-meter drop onto concrete. The camera, on the other hand, will withstand a 5-meter dive without a protective casing. Just keep in mind that the protections may wear off over time, and the entire guarantee is worthless if you get it wet. You have a charging dock and a protective lens cap to keep in the package in case you need to store it. Once fitted, the phone measures 172.5 by 83.4 by 19.1 millimeters and weighs 477 grams, so you won’t be slipping it into your pocket anytime soon.

According to RugOne, the phone is powered by a massive 9,300mAh battery that can purportedly refill the module up to 20 times. This is around 800 minutes of recording time on a journey without the need for a wall outlet to recharge. The phone itself can be charged at a fast 45 watts wired, 50 watts wireless, and a reasonable 10 watts in reverse. When the module needs to be replaced, any of the fixed cameras on the body remain in place, as you’ve got a 50-megapixel Samsung Isocell GN9 main sensor using a Type 1/1.57 sensor with optical stabilization and 4K video capability, a 64-megapixel infrared camera with its own IR led strips for black and white shots in complete darkness, and a 32-megapixel front camera, as well as an underwater mode.


The Dimensity 8400 from MediaTek is the brains of the outfit, teamed with a huge 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage under a 6.67-inch 1.5K AMOLED at 120Hz with a stated peak brightness of 1,700 nits, all safely wrapped up in a Gorilla Glass Victus shell. Android 16 is the starting point, with promises of updates till Android 20 and the regular Google services on the worldwide version. Shortcut keys, an in-display fingerprint scanner, an eSIM card, and a small breathing light behind the back logo complete the set. For anyone who already carries a brick phone on a trail or a job site, the Xsnap 7 Pro begs the question: can one phone do the job and leave a second camera at home, you know?