A smartphone designed for water... and salt
From its very first outings at sea, the Crosscall X5 has demonstrated excellent resistance to the elements. Exposed to sea spray, salt water, repeated splashing and even accidental immersion, it never showed the slightest sign of weakness. In particular, the device has spent several hours aboard a paddle, attached to a leash or forgotten in a soggy bag, without suffering the slightest infiltration.
Even more spectacular: a complete immersion in a dock at a depth of 5 meters. Dropped from a dock, the phone remained underwater for a good hour before being fished out... and continued to work without a hitch.
A reliable ally on the job site
At a shipyard, the Crosscall X5 was confronted with a different kind of violence: repeated exposure to antifouling, acetone, sanding dust and paint splashes. Although dirty and battered, its casing proved remarkably resistant, as did its reinforced screen, which remained perfectly legible.
Performance under water and in the sun
Practical, the screen remains perfectly legible in bright sunlight, and can be used with wet or gloved fingers â?" a real plus for navigation or on-deck mechanics. During snorkeling and apnoea sessions, the underwater photo function proved effective, even if it doesn't replace a dedicated camera.
Some long-term black spots
After several months of intensive use, however, there are a few drawbacks:
GPS now takes a long time to locate, sometimes several minutes, which can be a handicap for coastal navigation applications.
The phone no longer connects to Android Auto, without the cause being identified as a software or hardware problem that has not yet been resolved.
And last but not least, those protective corners that peel off slightly, without affecting the waterproofing but betraying a certain premature wear.
Conclusion: a true maritime adventurer, almost flawless
In short, the Crosscall X5 more than lives up to its promises. It stands up where most smartphones fail: to salt water, shocks, solvents, and the vagaries of an active nautical life. If a few wear and tear and connectivity defects appear over time, they remain marginal in relation to its longevity and resilience.
For all those who live on or around water, it's a reliable and robust tool, capable of withstanding far more than the average. A marine smartphone, in short.
Although no longer of the latest generation, the CrossCall Core-X5 is still available at the 2025 catalog price of ?380 incl. VAT.
