Kyocera Hydro WAVE water resistant Android phone hits T

The Kyocera Hydro Wave is bound for T-Mobile and Metro PCS as a durable device that can handle a bit more damage than your typical handset.

The Kyocera Hydro WAVE is available from T-Mobile beginning Wednesday and will launch on MetroPCS beginning on July 27.

Judging on the spec sheet, the Kyocera Hydro Wave is a basic entry-level device.

“It’s an incredibly affordable phone in the 5-inch category at $149 at T-Mobile and $39 -after rebates and promos – at MetroPCS”, the Kyocera spokesman said. “Hydro WAVE protects against those, while providing a worry-free experience for users”. The phone can spend up to 30 minutes in a meter of water (3.28 feet) and is also resistant to shock and dust.

Powered by the current Android version, 5.1 Lollipop, the Hydro Wave’s hardware is humble, like the 1.2GHz quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage.

But what really sets this phone apart from its competition is its rugged functionality.

You won’t get flagship specifications with the Kyocera Hydro Wave, but the tradeoff is IPX5 and IPX7 certification and a touchscreen that works when wet. Hydro WAVE’s high-speed 4G LTE network technology is complemented by Wi-Fi calling for even more reliable and flexible connectivity. It also has a “Core Home” user interface, which is an option for those who prefer the simplified UI of feature phones.

On the back, the handset comes with a 5-megapixel photo snapper with autofocus, LED flash and video recording, while in the front there’s a secondary 2-megapixel camera. Hydro WAVE has a long-lasting 2300mAh Lithium ion (Li-ion) non-removable battery and includes Kyocera’s Eco Mode and MaxiMZR applications for enhanced power management.