INTRODUCTION
Smartphones have become the center of our daily workflow, entertainment, and communication, but not all phones are built for the same environments. Regular consumer devices focus on sleek lines, thin bodies, and bright displays, while rugged smartphones prioritize durability, impact resistance, and long‑term reliability in harsh conditions. They’re the tools you reach for when the job site is dusty, the weather is unpredictable, or your weekend plans involve more rocks and mud than cafés and offices. Screen size plays a surprisingly big role in how these devices fit into your life. Small screens keep the phone compact, pocket‑friendly, and easy to operate with one hand, ideal for quick tasks, navigation, or situations where mobility matters. Large screens, on the other hand, offer more room for multitasking, media consumption, and detailed on‑site work like reading plans, reviewing photos, or operating specialized apps. Rugged phones often, but not always, lean toward the larger end of the spectrum, giving users a more versatile workspace even outdoors. And that brings us to FOSSiBOT's latest entry, the F116 Pro which I've been using for almost 2 months now.
FOSSiBOT (Shenzhen Qichang Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd.) created by an innovative team of engineers. FOSSiBOT focus on research and development of portable, efficient, green, clean, natural environmental protection and sustainable renewable energy. In Autumn of 2022, we released our first flagship model F2400, using the latest dual inverter technology, fashionable appearance design, the improvement of the function details, meet the demand of all of your portable solar power.
FOSSiBOT's F116 Pro is a compact rugged smartphone built around a 4.0‑inch QHD IPS-TFT Incell display (540x1172p, 120Hz, 323ppi, 500cd/m2) designed for comfortable one‑handed use, yet it packs hardware normally found in much larger devices. It runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 5G octa‑core processor paired with 12GB RAM (expandable up to 36GB - virtual) and 256GB storage (plus up to 1TB), delivering fast performance and global 5G connectivity. The camera setup includes a 48MP OIS action camera with a 152.6° ultra‑wide field of view (SONY IMX586), a 50MP main camera (SK Hynix Hi-5021Q), and a 32MP selfie camera (GalaxyCore GC32E1), giving it unusually strong imaging capabilities for a rugged device. Power comes from a 3700mAh lithium-polymer battery, tuned for reliable daily use rather than bulk endurance. The F116 Pro also features Bluetooth v5.4 and WiFi6 connectivity, dual-5G support, fingerprint censor and an RGB rear ambient light. The body is fully ruggedized with IP68, IP69K, and MIL‑STD‑810H certifications, and it features a built‑in 1/4‑inch screw mount for attaching accessories, a rare addition that makes it ideal for action capture, industrial work, or outdoor setups. It ships with Android 16, offering a modern, fast software experience, and comes in orange, gray, and green color options.
SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES
PACKAGING AND CONTENTS
FOSSiBOT ships the F116 Pro inside a small box the front of which only has their logo.
At the rear we find two stickers, one with the serial numbers, IMEI's and barcodes and one with the product's specifications.
Inside the box the F116 Pro is placed inside a formed piece of foam.
Along with the F116 Pro inside the box you'll find a charger (region specific), USB-C cable, SIM card pin, battery warning card, warranty certificate and the user manual.
THE F116 PRO
The body of the F116 Pro is made of metal, plastic and TPU (primarily), weighs around 210g and measures 114.5mm in length, 59.6mm in width and 23mm in thickness/height.
FOSSiBOT ships the F116 Pro with a pre-installed film over the 2.5D glass screen (the selfie camera shown here is the GC32E1 32MP model by GalaxyCore).
On the right side of the F116 Pro we find the volume up/down buttons, lock screen/Gemini button and the camera button.
Moving to the left side we find the dual 5G SIM and MicroSD card slot, USB-C charging/data port begin a water tight cover and a fully customizable action button (textured).
There's even a lanyard mount on the lower left corner as seen above.
The 1/4" screw mount located at the base of the F116 Pro allows it to be used as a typical action camera.
Turning the F116 Pro over we see a colored textured back.
Of course, we also find the 48MP 152.6° ultra‑wide camera (SONY IMX586), 50MP main camera (SK Hynix Hi-5021Q) and the RGB ambient ring.
Above you can see all the mounts (suction, neck, QR, bicycle/bike) available by FOSSiBOT for the F116 Pro.
OS
I was surprised to see that the F116 Pro doesn't come with that many unwanted apps (only had to remove 3).
Instead, the OS has some features I haven't seen a lot in the past (if at all) starting with memory expansion.
The 120Hz IPS screen can be also be set at auto, 60Hz and 90Hz (this isn't something new but for a rugged phone this is the 2nd time I've seen it).
Gloves mode is very useful for people who work in specific industries (even bikers and low-temperature areas).
DuraSpeed is yet another useful feature FOSSiBOT smartphones come with which however I recommend turning off if you need on-time alerts from applications like Viber or Teams.
Call recording is a feature that has gone missing lately from many smartphones (even apps have been removed from play store) so this can also come in handy.
MAIN CAMERA
Camera quality is very good during the day with "normal" stills set at 4000x2992p and 48MP stills set at 8000x6000p (the F116 Pro is so small that your fingers may get in the way, just like mine did).
Digital zoom on either mode is not great, as expected really.
Low light capabilities may not impress (50MP above, 48MP ultra-wide bellow) but they're actually quite good.
As for 4K video recording this comes with a bitrate just shy of 52.000kbps (video is also available in YouTube and TikTok).
TESTING METHODOLOGY
Since some of you requested more benchmarks, I have decided to use the following apps to review the performance of smartphones, GeekBench 6, GeekBench AI, 3D Mark, GFXBench, Passmark and AI Benchmark. All tests will be repeated a total of 6 times and the average numbers will be then recorded in the charts. Unfortunately, due to certain brand policies it seems that some of these benchmarks can't be run on every smartphone out there so whenever that's the case those results will obviously not be included in the review.
For all of you wondering just how smartphones do regarding mobile data (4G/5G and above) I will be using the SpeedTest app from the same location (roof) and with the same SIM card (Vodafone) for all models. This may not be an 100% accurate test (many variables), but it should be a good indicator of mobile data performance.
Finally, since some of you requested it, I’ll be using an 65W fast charger with the smartphones I test to see just how fast they can go to 80% and 100% (could use an even higher wattage charger but for most people 65W is the way to go).
TEST RESULTS – GEEKBENCH 6 / GEEKBENCH AI / AI BENCHMARK
TEST RESULTS – 3D MARK / SPEEDTEST / BATTERY
CONCLUSION
The F116 Pro by FOSSiBOT is a compact rugged smartphone that punches above its size. With the Dimensity 7300, 12GB RAM, 256GB storage, and 5G, it stays fast and responsive while its daytime camera performance (especially the 48MP ultra-wide one) is genuinely good for a rugged device. The 4‑inch 120Hz screen is crisp, the ear speaker delivers clear call quality, battery can easily last for 4-5 days (depends on use) and the rugged certifications make it a dependable field companion. What really elevates it, though, is how naturally it fits into an action‑camera workflow, the built‑in 1/4" mount point works seamlessly with QR mounts, suction mounts, neck mounts, and other action‑camera accessories (most of which are also available from FOSSiBOT), letting you use the phone as a stabilized POV recorder, a compact vlogging unit, or a mounted work‑site camera. Combined with the three-color options, it becomes a versatile tool that adapts to filming, documenting, and on‑site tasks. Its limitations are tied directly to its size. The screen is relatively small, making typing uncomfortable (especially if your fingers are large/thick, which eventually leads to mistakes), fonts feel cramped, and enlarging them only reduces usable space and makes the interface harder to navigate. It’s a device that excels in portability and toughness, but sacrifices typing comfort and UI readability. Where it shines most is as a secondary rugged phone. Even if you already have a main smartphone, the FOSSiBOT F116 Pro works beautifully as a dedicated action‑camera unit, a work‑site recorder, or a mount‑ready companion you can attach anywhere without worrying about damage. It’s tough, fast, and mount‑friendly, a compact device that earns its place next to your primary phone.
The FOSSiBOT F116 Pro currently retails for USD369.99 inside the USA (Amazon.com) and for 457.45Euros inside the EU (Amazon.de) and so it’s priced quite higher that what I had expected, especially on this side of the Atlantic. Cost aside however this is a compact rugged smartphone that will probably outlast regular models with ease. Yes, it may not be the fastest smartphone out there and the small screen is something that needs getting used to but overall, it delivers as advertised and that’s why it gets the Golden Award.
PROS
- Very Good Build Quality (Rugged)
- Mediatek Dimensity 7300 (Overall Performance)
- 4” IPS Incell 120Hz Screen
- IP68, IP69K, and MIL‑STD‑810H Certified
- 12GB RAM (Expandable To 36GB Virtual)
- 256GB Storage (+1TB Via MicroSD)
- 32MP Front / 50MP Primary Rear Camera / 48MP OIS 152.6°
- 3700mAh Battery
- Available OS Features
- Available Colors (Grey Black / Orange Black / Green Black)
CONS
- Night Camera Performance
- Price (For Some)
- Small Screen (For Some)
