A Nomu M8 has arrived in our editorial office. At first we thought it was a conventional smartphone. However, when we see its technical sheet, we discover a real beast that is not scared of anything. This ruggedized smartphone is constructed of metal with a body sealed to obtain IP69K certification and meets the strict requirements of the MIL-STD-810G standard. We go over all the features and price of the M8 in our review.

Design and materials: Nomu M8, review of the most elegant rugged smartphone

The rugged smartphone concept has been completely lost with the Nomu M8, at least on an aesthetic level. The brand’s new smartphone offers a design line that is practically identical to mid-range phones, while maintaining the resistance capabilities of ruggedized devices. Therefore, those users looking for a sturdy but stylish phone, the Nomu M8 can be a very interesting option.

2.5D glass back with antibacterial treatment

Featuring a unibody construction, Nomu M8 features a myriad of safety and security certifications. We start with the dust and water resistance of IP68 certification. That is, resistance to immersion in water for 30 minutes at a maximum depth of 1.5 m. But what is really surprising is the IP69K certification, which is why the brand assures that it is resistant to high pressure and steam washing.

IP69K certified

Leaving aside the water, impacts are also usually one of the reasons for breakage. But this ultra-resistant phone meets the requirements of the MIL-STD-810G standard, the toughest military test that takes devices to extreme conditions (temperatures, fog, solar radiation, etc.). Do you want more? The last of its features is the glass with an antimicrobial treatment to repel bacteria and Gorilla Glass protection.

With a thickness of 9.7 mm and a weight of 200 g

Nomu M8 technical characteristics

Performance and performance

On a technical level, Nomu M8 has a technical sheet close to the mid-range. Presiding over the list of specifications is the SoC MediaTek 6750T , an octa-core that reaches a maximum frequency of 1.5 GHz. This processor was already present in the Cubot P20 or the Vernee M7 . It does not stand out in this regard but good fluidity is ensured with the 4 GB of RAM. Regarding the internal memory, Nomu’s rugged smartphone offers a total of 64 GB, expandable with a microSD card of up to 128 GB.

As we have commented, its hardware offers a fairly solvent performance for daily tasks. We do not notice difficulties when it comes to playing videos or playing video games, always with a graphic quality according to the specifications. Although we do not suffer from lag or crashes, the loading of the apps takes the usual time in low-medium range terminals. Nomu M8 incorporates Android 7.0 clean of abusive customizations and apps of little interest.

Screen and sound

The M8 is presented to us with a 5.2-inch screen with an HD resolution (1,280 x 720 pixels). An IPS LCD panel with wide viewing angles and vivid colors characteristic of these panels, as opposed to deep blacks. It is a comfortable screen for reading with a pixel density of 282 dpi. In addition, it incorporates MiraVision technology to improve image quality, with manual adjustments.

It uses a protective glass with a 2.5D finish that reinforces the curvature of the design. This panel occupies about 67% of the front of the phone , with large frames in the upper and lower area. The touch response of the screen is effective, especially when it comes to drawing gestures on it. In short, it is not a screen that stands out but it does its job well.

5.2 inch IPS screen and HD resolution

Regarding the sound, Nomu offers a fairly simple section, something we expected with its price. Its quality is within the proposals of the mid-range, with a good result for the reproduction of contents or music from the smartphone. It uses an NXP Smart PA amplifier for this . It lacks a headphone jack, but we can use a USB-C adapter. Thus we also managed to activate the FM radio tuner with the headphones as an antenna.

21 MP cameras and quad LED flash

One of the main claims of the Nomu M8 is its two cameras. According to the manufacturer, the smartphone mounts a 21 MP main sensor with f / 2 aperture and a 21 MP front sensor . Apparently there is no doubt about the figure according to the data collected by Aida64. Phase Detection Focusing improves focusing on subjects for faster shooting. Although it includes an HDR mode, in most situations it has raised the exposure level too much, so it needs to be improved in future updates.

 

Automatic capture

Nomu’s ruggedized smartphone achieves FHD video resolution for the main sensor and HD for the secondary sensor. The sensors feature digital video stabilization. Another highlight is the quad LED flash on the back, used when taking pictures or videos in low light conditions. In addition, the front camera also has its corresponding LED flash.

 

Automatic capture

Connectivity and autonomy: Nomu M8, review of the most elegant rugged smartphone

First of all, this smartphone offers the versatility of a tray for two 4G Nano SIM cards or a Nano SIM accompanied by a microSD. We continue with WiFi 802.11 ac Dual Band connectivity to make the most of the bandwidth of our connection. To link other devices with the smartphone we can use the Bluetooth 4.2 connection , also compatible with Bluetooth Audio. The USB-C port shows that Nomu has put the batteries in this regard, being compatible with OTG. And as a finishing touch, the brand includes an NFC chip, a good point in its favor.

Nomu M8 connectivity

We finish our review with its 2,950 mAh battery. Its capacity is the same used in other company phones such as the Nomu M6 or Nomu S30 Mini. Due to its technical characteristics, autonomy gains, reaching 5.5 hours of screen and more than one day of use. Although its back is made of glass, the brand has not incorporated a wireless charging system. Therefore, we have to settle for its fast charging charger (12V / 1.25A).