Kyocera Hydro Smartphone: Design, Camera, and User Experience

The Kyocera Hydro smartphone is a rugged and reliable device designed for those who need a phone that can withstand the elements. It has a compact design that's easy to hold and use with one hand.

One of the standout features of the Hydro is its camera, which is capable of taking clear and vibrant photos even in low-light conditions. The camera also has a few different modes, including a macro mode that's perfect for getting up close and personal with small objects.

The user experience of the Hydro is also noteworthy, with a user-friendly interface that's easy to navigate. The phone's software is also highly customizable, allowing users to personalize their home screen and other features to their liking.

The Kyocera Hydro is a ruggedized phone that's surprisingly svelte, weighing in at just 5.1 ounces and measuring 0.43 inches thick.

Its design is built to military specs, so you can trust it to withstand life's splashes and tumbles. The phone's thickness is comparable to the Samsung Galaxy S5 Active, another rugged device.

The Hydro features a capacitive touch screen that works even when wet, making it a great option for outdoor enthusiasts. It also has a headphone jack, which is always a plus.

Here are some key features of the Kyocera Hydro:

The Kyocera Hydro Icon's design is quite rugged and built to withstand rough handling.

The 4.5-inch IPS display is a decent screen, but it's not the highest resolution you can get, with a 960x540-pixel resolution that's an expected tradeoff for a phone at this price.

The display's viewing angles are great, and text remains crisp and clear even when the phone is held or tilted awkwardly.

Glare can be problematic in bright lighting or direct sunlight, but you usually have to work to find it by tilting the display away from your eyes.

The phone's military-standard 810G rating means it's designed to resist drops and shocks, so even the least careful phone owners can rest easy.

You'll need to remove the battery to access the microSD and SIM card tray, which is a bit inconvenient, but the phone supports up to 32GB cards.

The backplate has a rubber ring that wraps around the battery, offering a snug last line of defense against water and dust.

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The Kyocera Hydro Reach is a ruggedized phone that can withstand rough handling, but it's also water-resistant with an IPX7 rating, allowing you to snorkel in up to 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes.

This phone has a capacitive touch screen that works even when wet, making it perfect for use in humid or wet environments.

You can also customize the phone with changeable body plates, but unfortunately, this feature is not available on the Hydro Reach.

The phone's connectivity options include Wi-Fi 4 (802.11 b,g,n) and supports Wi-Fi Direct, allowing for easy connections to other devices.

The Hydro Reach also has a headphone jack (3.5mm) and supports speaker phone functionality, making it easy to take calls or listen to music.

Here's a summary of the phone's rugged features:

The camera on the Kyocera Hydro is an 8-megapixel rear shooter with an LED flash, paired with a 2-megapixel front-facing camera.

Curious to learn more? Check out: Camera Phone

It's a bit sluggish, taking around 2 seconds to startup and a few moments to focus before capturing your shot.

With enough light and a steady subject, you'll likely get a good image, but too much sunlight can lead to over-exposed shots. Fortunately, the phone offers some manual controls to help tweak the ISO or exposure settings.

Video recording is a different story, unfortunately. It can technically record 1080p video, but the result is a slow, juddering mess with unrecognizable subjects.

The camera on the Icon is a mixed bag. It's an 8-megapixel rear shooter with an LED flash, and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera.

It's not the fastest shooter around, taking about 2 seconds to startup, a few moments to focus, and then another second or two to capture your shot. This can be frustrating if you're trying to catch a quick moment.

With a fair bit of light and a steady subject, you're sure to get a fine image. Too much sunlight, however, tends to lead to over-exposed shots.

Fortunately, the phone offers a few manual controls, so you can tweak the ISO or exposure settings to try and tease out a decent image. This can be helpful if you're familiar with photography basics.

Video recording is a lost cause, unfortunately. The Icon can technically record 1080p video, but it struggles to perform, capturing a slow, juddering mess. This makes it difficult to get a clear image of moving subjects.

The camera on this device is capable of recording 4K video at 30 frames per second.

With a high-quality camera like this, you can capture stunning moments with incredible detail. The camera's advanced image stabilization system helps to reduce shaky footage and ensures that your videos look smooth and professional.

The device's processor is a quad-core model, which provides a significant boost in performance compared to dual-core processors.

This means you can enjoy seamless video playback, fast app launching, and efficient multitasking. The processor's power also enables advanced features like facial recognition and augmented reality capabilities.

Suggestion: Bring Your Own Device

The camera's 12-megapixel sensor is paired with a wide-angle lens, allowing you to capture more of your surroundings in each shot.

This is especially useful for landscape and group photos, where you want to include more people or scenery in the frame. The camera's software also includes features like HDR and portrait mode, which can enhance the quality of your photos.

The Kyocera Hydro is designed with user experience in mind, offering a range of features that enhance your interaction with the device.

The phone's water-resistant design, with a rating of IP57, gives you peace of mind when using it in wet conditions.

Its ergonomic design and lightweight construction make it easy to hold and use for extended periods, reducing fatigue and discomfort.

The Kyocera Hydro also features a 3.4-inch touchscreen display, providing a clear and crisp visual experience for browsing, gaming, and other activities.

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The Kyocera Hydro View / Hydro Shore is a ruggedized phone that can withstand water immersion for up to 30 minutes in up to 3.28 feet of water, thanks to its IPX7 rating.

This phone is designed for outdoor enthusiasts who need a device that can keep up with their active lifestyle. It features a capacitive touch screen and supports Bluetooth 4.1+LE for seamless connectivity.

One of the standout features of this phone is its water-resistance. With an IPX7 rating, you can take it snorkeling or use it in the rain without worrying about damage.

The Hydro View / Hydro Shore also has a fingerprint reader and a flashlight, making it a convenient choice for everyday use. It also has a hearing aid compatible rating of M3, T4, making it a great option for those with hearing aids.

Here are some of the connectivity options available on the Hydro View / Hydro Shore:

This phone also has a microSD card slot that supports up to 64 GB of storage, perfect for storing photos, videos, and music. With a headphone jack and stereo speakers, you can enjoy your favorite music on the go.

The Hydro View / Hydro Shore is also equipped with a barometer, which can be useful for tracking weather patterns or altitude changes.

Additional reading: Hydro Flask Water Bottles Dishwasher Safe

Some users have reported that the phone's durability is impressive, with one user mentioning that their phone took tons of abuse without a cover and still works fine.

The Kyocera Hydro Life can withstand rough handling, as evidenced by a user who dropped their phone onto concrete at 15 mph twice and still had a working screen.

A user who had the phone for 18+ months noted that it can handle being washed in the sink under running water, adding to its durability.

However, some users have been stuck with the phone's limitations, as one user mentioned that their phone lasted just over 4 years before needing to be replaced due to the lack of custom ROMs for Android 4.3.

This limitation can also affect app installation and updates, as the same user mentioned that many apps can't install or update on Android 4.3.

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The Kyocera Hydro is available for purchase today, priced at $129.99 (excluding taxes).

You can pick one up at Boost Mobile's exclusive retail stores, select independent wireless dealer locations nationwide, or online at www.boostmobile.com with free shipping.

The phone will also be available in select national retail locations later next month.

Boost Mobile is offering a no-contract $55 Android Monthly Unlimited plan with Shrinking Payments, which can get down to as low as $40 a month for unlimited nationwide talk, text, and picture messaging, Web, email, and calls to 411.

To qualify for the next savings milestone, payments don't need to be consecutive.

Here are the features of the Kyocera Hydro: