Full review of the AGM G2 Guardian rugged phone, with thermal imaging camera, night vision, 3.5W speaker and stock Android
Welcome back to Tuttotek for the complete review of the new rugged phone by AGM, the G2 Guardian. Let’s find out together why, thanks to its unique specifications and characteristics, it is much more than a simple smartphone.
Technical sheet | AGM G2 Guardian review
- Display: IPS 6.58″ FHD+ 120Hz
- SoC: Qualcomm QCM6490 6nm 2,7 Ghz 5G
- RAM: 8/12 GB LPDDR4X
- Internal memory: 256GB UFS 2.2
- Rear cameras: 108 MP, (wide), 1/54″, 20 MP night vision, PDAF 2 MP, (depth)
- Thermal imaging camera: 10 mm, 256×192, vanadium oxide uncooled focal plane arrays
- Front camera: 32 MP
- Connectivity: 5G, Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi Protocol: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax, GPS Navigation System, GLONASS, Compass
- Drums: 7,000 mAh with support for 18W wired fast charging
- Dimensions: 177.5 x 85.3 x 25.3 mm
- Weight: 405 g
- Other: programmable button, biometric reader (right side), accelerometer, proximity, 3.5mm headphone jack
- Operating system: Android 12 stock
Packaging and build quality | AGM G2 Guardian review
AGM G2 Guardian, just like the smartphone, arrives in a bulky package complete with everything you need, starting from the power supply (unfortunately only 18W) up to the extra protective film. The build quality of the device is impeccablethe typical rugged robustness is all there, with input ports (such as the USB Type C port and the 3.5 mm audio jack) sealed to guarantee certification IP68/IP69K/MIL-STD-810H.
Weight matters, even for a rugged, well 409g, making this device absolutely not suitable for everyone. During our test we got a little used to the heaviness, however it will often happen that we find it too bulky to carry around, for example in the trouser pocket. In fact, its thickness reaches i 25.3mm at the speaker’s kick-off point. On the sides, in addition to the presence of the classic power and volume balance buttons, we find a programmable button (it can for example turn on the flashlight or quickly launch the camera).
Hardware e display | Review AGM G2 Guardian
Where AGM G2 Guardian surprises is right in hardware equipment. In fact, we find an unusual processor for a smartphone, the 6nm Qualcomm QCM6490 (which would appear to be a rebranded Qualcomm Snapdragon 782G) accompanied by 8 or 12 GB of LPDDR4X type RAM and UFS 2.2fairly fast. With an AnTuTu score of approx 600.000 this smartphone configures itself as the more powerful among the rugged in circulation.
Performance is its strong point, it never misses a beat, and thanks to the 120Hz this feeling will be even more amplified. Unfortunately, however, beyond the refresh rate, it is the display that leaves something to be desired. It is a panel IPS and 6.58″ with maximum brightness of approx 500 nits, barely sufficient for outdoor viewing, especially in direct sunlight. The haptic feedback, not incisive and not very precise, is at the same level. The reception is good.
Extra features | AGM G2 Guardian review
We find it necessary to devote an extra paragraph to the unique features of this smartphone. The first of these is certainly the thermal imager, of a quality never seen before on a mobile device. With a resolution equal to 256×192 at a maximum distance of approx 1000m, this camera can be a real “killer feature” for many. The proprietary software is also full of functions and customizations, in order to adapt the camera to your needs, simultaneously measuring the lowest and highest temperature in the frame, modifying the material manually taken into object or distance.
Another of the unique features that you will only find on this smartphone is the 3.5W speaker placed on the back, able to defeat all, absolutely all, the competition for power and perhaps also for quality. Thanks to its 109dB it can easily be compared to a portable bluetooth speaker. On the top side there is then a flashlight, not an LED flash (which is present on the back for the camera anyway), but a real one 100 lumen flashlight. Finally, on the back there are two pogo PINs useful for any accessories.
Cameras | AGM G2 Guardian review
As with all ruggeds, here too it is the photographic sector that pays the price. The endowment sees a main camera Samsung da 108MPa sensor Sony da 20MP for night vision and a sensor Macro da 2MP. On the other hand, we have a front bedroom 32 MP of decent quality.
Apart from the performance (however not exceptional) of any of the rooms, the biggest flaw seemed to us to be in thelack of optical stabilization. Getting a blur-free shot will be really difficult, however, when this happens the revived image can even be pleasant (provided you have good lighting conditions). Similar speech also for videos, poorly stabilized and of the same quality, and for the camera software, far too lacking in functions.
Software and autonomy | AGM G2 Guardian review
However, we find in this paragraph one of its greatest strengths, autonomy. Thanks to the capacious 7.000 mAh e al software Android 12 stock the device can guarantee 2 days of full use, or even 3 of less intense use. The only drawback in this regard is represented by the recharge, very slow and which can take up to 2 abundant hours.
As has been said, the software is Android 12 stock, the customizations can be counted on the fingers of one hand and mainly see the addition of an app for the thermal imaging camera or an additional item in the settings for the programmable side key. The real unknown remains side updatesin fact, there is no certainty about when and for how long this device will be updated.
Conclusions and price
AGM G2 Guardian is a unique smartphone, not only for its rugged nature but for the countless features it has; functionalities which, however, are paid for, and at a high price. In fact, the device starts from €1049.00 for the 8/256GB variant on the official site. A price certainly prohibitive for many, but for those few who need a quality thermal imaging camera, lots of autonomy and good performance then there is no competition that holds, and this AGM G2 Guardian represents the only real option. Before saying goodbye, we invite you to follow the mobile section of techgameworld.com for further news and video reviews. See you soon!
Much more than a smartphone!
Plus points
- Build quality
- Unique features
- Performance
- Autonomy
- Audio
Points against
- Display
- Cameras
- High price