This tank of a phone has a built-in projector, but that’s why you shouldn’t care

ZDNET Highlights

• The 8849 Tank 4 Pro is available now for $759.
• It’s a big, sturdy handset with a massive battery and a bright 6.73-inch display.
• Its mid-range CPU is compensated by plenty of RAM.

Follow ZDNET: Add us as a favorite source On Google.

Even before the release of the iPhone, it was clear that the smartphone would become a convergence device that would take over the functions of many other devices, from portable MP3 players to in-car satnavs.

But I never thought I’d see a smartphone packing a projector. Yes, a projector, tall with an astonishing array of other cool features. The only drawback – this thing is a tank!

Also: I traveled with a power bank that doubles as a hotspot for a week – here’s my buying advice

Unihertz 8849 Tank 4 Pro The world’s first rugged smartphone with a 720p DLP (Digital Light Processing) projector is a massive smartphone – measuring 174.9 x 87 x 22.5 mm and weighing 530 grams (that’s over a pound). It is built for durability with a high level of shock proofing, and is water and dust resistant as per IP68 and IP69 standards.

On the front is a massive 6.73-inch 3K/1440 x 3200 resolution 20:9 aspect ratio AMOLED 120Hz display that offers silky smooth graphics and is capable of handling bright sunlight thanks to its 1,800 nits of brightness.

Inside is a 3.35GHz octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 8300 chip and a Mali-G615 MP6 GPU that runs the Android 14 out of the box (mine upgraded to Android 15 without any issues) operating system, a task it does with ease.

There’s also an astonishing range of cameras. It sports a 50-megapixel main rear camera, a 50-megapixel telephoto camera, a 64-megapixel night vision camera for low-light vision, and a 32-megapixel front-facing camera for selfies and video calls.

When it comes to RAM and storage, there are two options – a modest 16GB RAM with 512GB storage (plus 16GB memory extension), and an all-out 18GB RAM with 1TB storage (plus an additional 18GB memory extension).

Note that the model I have for testing and review is the 18GB version.

Also: I found a discreet gadget to track my expensive jackets, and I can’t travel without it

On the back of the Tank 4 Pro is a massive 1,200 lumen LED COB camping light that’s extremely bright (not to mention warm), and capable of illuminating a large area.

The battery is appropriately large for such a large smartphone. There is 11,600mAh inside which is enough to say that it has all day battery life. I ran some benchmark tests and spent a whole day web browsing on a single full charge.

Generally, the downside of a larger battery is that it takes a longer time to charge. Not with Tank 4 Pro. It can charge up to 120W, and I found that the supplied charger and cable could charge this battery from full to full in about an hour.

Also: Using This Easy Laser Tape Measure for Just a Few Minutes I Got Hooked – Here’s How

It also has a 100 lumen, 1280 x 720 pixel projector with built-in laser autofocus and automatic trapezoidal distortion correction that allows you to turn the screen into a bigger screen. This is great for people who want to save a movie to a blank wall, or put their ideas on the screen in a meeting.

The projector works well, and the autofocus is definitely an improvement compared to other smartphone projectors I’ve seen, but one downside is that 100 lumens isn’t enough to win the projector over against bright sunlight.

Ultimately, the Tank 4 Pro is solid when it comes to specs. While the processor is absolutely mid-range, the 36GB of combined physical and virtual RAM does a lot of the heavy lifting to keep this device running. It’s not going to give you any bragging rights when it comes to benchmarks, but it’s enough to keep it running smoothly.

Oh, and it also features a 3.5mm headphone jack for those who still use old-school headphones.

ZDNET’s shopping advice

Unihertz 8849 Tank 4 Pro This is not a phone for everyone. It’s a huge, sturdy handset that comes equipped with night vision, a large camping light and a projector – a pretty typical wish list item when it comes to what people want.

However, I’ve heard from enough people to know that there is a market for this type of handset. It’s a popular choice for people who go camping and RVing, and I’ve heard from many outdoor engineers who find the projector to be a useful tool.

Also: drawer full of USB cables? This gadget helped me find gadgets that work

Tank 4 Pro is not cheap 18GB RAM/1TB ROM version is $770When 16GB RAM/512GB ROM version is $690That said, there’s a lot of tech packed into this one-pound smartphone.