World's toughest phone

 The JCB Toughphone Sitemaster is being claimed as the toughest phone in the world. But is it? 

Apparently, it can survive underwater for eight hours; can endure heat of 75 degree Celsius and below freezing temperatures of - 30 degree Celsius; and is able to withstand extreme vibration and compression. 

Although it's primary target audience is people who work outdoors - on building sites or farms, that's not to say it doesn't have any mod-cons. It plays music and videos, offers Bluetooth connectivity to other phones and computers and has an FM radio, reports the Daily Mail. 

Here are the various tests it was put to: 

1. Swimming pool claim: Even inside water, the sound quality is pretty good. The line is slightly muffled, but it's easily good enough to have a long conversation. 

2. Steam room claim: After ten minutes in the steam room the phone - though still a bit steamy inside - works fine. 

3. Hot sauna claim: the sound quality is a little muffled - the phone is clearly not entirely watertight - but still, one can make himself heard perfectly well. 

4. Steam roller claim: After being placed under the wheel of a 1.6-tonne Saab and driving over it back and forth five times, the screen remains crack-less only with a tiny scratch on the back. 

5. The big drop claim: the phone is flung from a first-floor window on to the patio, 12ft below and twice the height claimed by JCB. It bounces and is fine. 

6. In the freezer claim: It goes into the freezer, with the frozen peas and ice cream for two hours. It's fully functional after it's taken out. 

7. The hot spin claim: The Toughphone has survived torture with water, heat, dirt and soap. But sadly, it fails the washing machine test.

SWIMMING POOLCLAIM: It’s water-resistant

It is tested in local swimming pool. A couple of lengths in, a call is made while standing at the shallow end. The sound quality is pretty good. The line is slightly muffled, but it’s easily good enough to have a long conversation. A fellow swimmer walks past in his Speedos and sees me. His face is a mixture of bafflement and irritation.

STEAM ROOMCLAIM: It can withstand 48 hours at 70C and 90 per cent-relative humidity

Time to relax in the steam room. Speedo Man is already there and looks bemused as the phone out for another call. After ten minutes of exit. The phone — though still a bit steamy inside — is fine.

HOT SAUNACLAIM: It can survive temperatures up to 75C

Surely no mobile can survive the heat of a sauna? When a call is made, the sound quality is a little muffled — the phone is clearly not entirely watertight.

 SHAMPOO AND SHOWERCLAIM: Can be sprayed with salt water continuously for 24 hours

Soap, shampoo, hot water. Phone still fine.

STEAM ROLLERCLAIM: Can withstand a tonne of pressure

It is placed under the wheel of 1.6-tonne Saab. The engine is started and then over it, back and forth, five times. The screen hasn’t cracked and there is not even a dent — just a tiny scratch on the back.

THE BIG DROPCLAIM: Will survive being dropped 6ft on all of its six surfaces or all four corners

The phone is thrown from a first-floor window on to the ground, 12ft below and twice the height claimed by JCB. It bounces and is fine.

BURIED IN SANDCLAIM: Dust-resistant, and the non-porous casing withstands micro-particles

The JCB phone is burried deep in the sand for about ten minutes before roughly digging it up with a plastic trowel. Not a scratch — but the picture on the screen is looking funny, as if the edges have stopped working. It is suspected it’s delayed water damage. Still, a call is made and the sound is perfectly clear.

IN THE FREEZERCLAIM: Works after experiencing temperatures of -30C

It goes into the freezer, with the frozen peas and ice cream for two hours. When it is out, it’s fully functional — although it’s not much fun ­having to hold a block of ice next to your ear.

The Toughphone has survived torture with water, heat, dirt and soap. But what about meeting all of these foes at the same time? Into the washing machine at 40C it goes, with my gym kit, a few towels and sheets, some Fairy non-bio detergent and ­fabric softener