AGM Glory G1S review – Versatile rugged smartphone with 5G

The AGM Glory G1S is unusual, even for a rugged phone. First of all, it is unusually heavy: at 315 grams, it weighs almost 60 grams more than the similarly sized Nokia XR20 . And with 1.

84 centimeters in height, the device is not really slim either, with the camera module, in particular, jutting far out of the casing. Nevertheless, AGM has managed to keep the device from being too top-heavy and it fits well in the hand thanks to the rubberized surface and rounded corners. Lush bumpers at the corners make a drop less of a problem, and the protruding edge around the screen also contributes to that.

A grommet for a wrist strap on the lower right corner is also present. The manufacturer states that the phone can withstand drops from 1. 5 meters onto concrete and thanks to IP69K it should even withstand high-pressure water jets, is dust-proof, and can withstand up to 30 minutes in 1.

50 meters of water depth. The equipment is also unusual: 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of mass storage are not special at first, but the extras that the AGM Glory G1S comes with make it practical for everyday work. First of all, there is a laser pointer that can be used to play catch with pets in addition to presentations.

Unfortunately, it can’t be used to measure distances. There is also a thermographic camera that can take thermal images with a resolution of 256 x 192 pixels and even allows videos with up to and 25 fps. It is easy to work with, the operation is foolproof and our test image of a kettle shows that the temperatures are recorded quite accurately.

Furthermore, AGM installs a night vision camera with a matching infrared diode, which we will take a closer look at in the camera section. The USB-C and 3. 5 mm audio ports are located behind a rubber cover on the bottom edge.

They are embedded so deeply in the casing that not all plugs fit, so special USB-C cable with a longer plug and narrow sheath is needed. The microSD reader works with typical write and read rates, but you have to give up a SIM slot to use it. 5G is on board, just as many 4G frequencies, so that the phone can usually be used for mobile Internet abroad without problems.

Reception proved to be a bit weaker from time to time in our sample tests, especially indoors, but it never completely drops out. NFC is on board, so you can also use mobile payment services. The WLAN module supports WiFi 5, and other outdoor phones do not offer more here.

However, the AGM Glory G1S only shows very low data rates in the receive test, which cannot be improved even after many iterations with the reference router Asus ROG Rapture AXE11000. The data rates are on a higher level in the transmit test. AGM installs pure Android 11.

This Android version is already 2 years old and seems a bit antiquated now that Android 13 is already in the starting blocks. Also questionable, especially for sensitive corporate customers: the security patches date back to January 2022 at the time of testing and are thus hopelessly outdated. Thus, you should not expect regular updates.

At least the manufacturer hardly installs its own apps and especially no third-party advertising apps. There is a user-assignable button on the casing’s left, but the possible options are very limited, as our screenshot shows. The fingerprint sensor is located below the camera module on the back.

Both left- and right-handed users can reach it easily, but might have to reach around a bit. It unlocks the smartphone reliably after a short charging pause. Face recognition for unlocking is also possible, but only software-based and thus not as secure.

A glove mode for a more sensitive touchscreen is also available. The main camera has a resolution of 48 megapixels and is based on a Sony IMX582 sensor. HDR pictures are not very good, bright areas are partly overlit.

However, the detail reproduction is decent. Large areas quickly look blotchy. However, the camera has difficulties, especially in low light, where strong artifacts are created and there is no drawing in dark areas anyway.

However, the AGM Glory G1S has a special camera on board for such situations: a rear-view camera with an infrared diode that can take 20-megapixel pictures, but of course only in black and white. In return, the camera can also see in complete darkness. The subject is well visible and also reasonably sharp in our test shots.

As an additional feature, the camera can even record videos at 25 fps. There is no wide-angle camera, but only a 2-megapixel macro lens for extreme close-ups. The main camera records videos at a maximum of 1080p and 60 fps.

Autofocus and automatic exposure work quite reliably and without delays. The picture quality is also decent with good exposure. AGM uses an IPS panel with an expanded Full HD resolution for the display.

Unfortunately, the brightness is not convincing in our test with the spectrophotometer and is at a maximum of 390 cd/m², which is more reminiscent of a display from 5 years ago than a current smartphone panel. This is especially critical for a work device like the AMG Glory G1S if the phone is frequently used outdoors and in other bright environments. The color reproduction is quite inaccurate and shows a clear blue cast.

At least we did not measure any PWM on the screen. The SoC is the Snapdragon 480 5G from Qualcomm is used. Nokia also uses it for its rugged phone XR20 .

Thus, the AGM smartphone achieves sufficient power to maneuver smoothly through apps in simple tasks. However, you should not have too many apps running in the background, because otherwise, the performance will quickly drop to its knees. Thus, the performance reserves are rather low.

The temperature increase of the casing can be quite noticeable. It is even quite high at room temperature with up to 46. 7 °C.

Although the phone should not have any problems in continuous operation, it could look different in very hot environments. The mono speaker is located at the back of the phone and is integrated into the bulky camera module. It can get quite loud but is then unpleasantly treble-heavy.

A 3. 5 mm audio port is available, but it is sunk deep into the casing, so you should check whether the jack plug fits. Sound can also be transmitted to headphones and external speakers via Bluetooth.

The modern aptX codecs are also supported here. The large battery leads to good endurance in the AGM Glory G1S: the phone lasted for almost 16 hours in our WLAN test and should thus also survive 2 workdays with moderate use. The relatively low charging power of 18 watts together with the amply dimensioned 5,500 mAh battery means that it sometimes takes 3 hours until the phone is full again, depending on the charge status.

Alternatively, the device can be charged via the charging station, which is connected via Pogo PINs on the back. However, the charging power is then only 10 watts and it takes even longer until the battery is full again. Wireless charging is not supported in this model, even though the manufacturer’s website contains contradictory information.

The AMG Glory G1S is not a cell phone for everyone because of its weight, the clunky camera module, and the rather high price for the offered performance. It is a special tool that can be extremely useful in some situations: for example, the thermal imaging camera works reliably without needing an accessory. And a night vision camera is hardly available in any other smartphone.

The casing looks sturdy and is shock-, water- and dust-proof, making it well-suited for harsher environments. However, the manufacturer could have installed a brighter screen, since it is sometimes difficult to read the display outdoors. AGM should also make an effort with the software, especially with more up-to-date security patches.

The battery runtimes are on a good level, so the phone does not have to be plugged in all the time. If it does, however, the charging power is quite low and thus the charging process takes its time. The AGM Glory G1S is a smartphone with special cameras for heat and night vision, which convinces with its stable casing.

However, one should know some weak points before buying it. If you appreciate the smartphone’s special cameras, you will hardly find a real competitor: the Cat S62 Pro (for 599 Euros at amazon. de ) does bring a thermal imaging camera, but it cannot see in the dark.

If you want a brighter screen in your outdoor phone and can do without the special capabilities, you’ll get a better price with the Nokia XR20 a much slimmer and lighter rugged phone. The AGM Glory G1S can be ordered directly from the manufacturer at the time of testing for 779 Euros https://de. agmmobile.

com/products/de-agm-glory-g1s directly from the manufacturer. You can use various coupons here to get a discount. Interestingly, it is immediately much cheaper at amazon.

de at 720 Euros, which is also sold by the manufacturer. You also get the charging station for free. .