Over the last decade, feature phones have gone from mainstream to niche, with more and more users opting to buy smartphones for their greater capabilities. The Kyocera DuraXE ($269.99) is one of the few devices that straddles the fence, in that it's a feature phone that runs Android 5.1 Lollipop, an operating system that primarily powers smartphones. It offers more in the way of connectivity than your average clamshell, with dual-band Wi-Fi and 4G LTE on AT&T's network. If you're looking for a rugged flip phone with good connectivity and long battery life, the DuraXE is solid option. But it won't give you the complete Android experience of a full-on smartphone like the Kyocera DuraForce, the Caterpillar Cat S40, or the Sonim XP7.

Design and Features

The DuraXE is meant to withstand a lot of abuse, so it's no surprise that it's bulkier than the clamshells of yesteryear. At 4.21 by 2.22 by 0.99 inches (HWD) and 6 ounces, the XE is lighter, but considerably thicker than the slab-style DuraForce (5.39 by 2.78 by 0.55 inches, 7.06 ounces). And both of those devices are a whole lot sleeker than the brick-like Sonim XP6 (5.39 by 2.54 by 0.81 inches, 9.52 ounces).