Doogee is a Chinese phone brand known for producing affordable and rugged smartphones. Their devices also boast high-capacity batteries, waterproofing, and shock resistance. As such, Doogee phones are popular in industrial environments and outdoor work.
Since the release of its flagship V10, the brand has been aggressive in releasing the latest iterations. The Doogee V20, announced in late 2021, built on the success of its predecessor. However, it also came with hardware upgrades that gives the phone more practical use. With the release of the Doogee V30, is the V20 still worth getting? Below, we compare the rugged phones to see which is better.
Doogee V30 vs V20 Comparison Chart
Design
The Doogee V30 is a larger and thicker rugged phone than the V20.
With the Doogee V20 and V30, Doogee eschews the sleek forms that have defined today’s smartphones. Instead, the brand opts for thick, rugged, and protective designs. Unlike its earlier models, however, Doogee’s V20 and V30 aren’t overly encased. If you want a rugged phone that doesn’t look like one, both fit the bill.
The V20, for instance, opts for a military-grade carbon fiber build that’s tactile and lightweight. In contrast, the V30 features wood grain and eco-friendly leather as its casing. Both are shock and water-resistant. However, the V30 can shrug off drops up to six feet, while the V20 can handle drops up to five feet. As expected, Doogee’s flagship phones are also dust-resistant.
Handling and holding the V30 can be a new experience. It’s 18.3 mm thick, considerably higher than the V20, which measures 14mm. By comparison, the iPhone 14 Pro Max and Samsung S22 Ultra are 7.9mm and 8.9mm thick, respectively. Still, the textured leather exterior of the V30 makes it grippy, minimizing the need for an additional casing. But if you want a lighter phone, the V20 is a better option.
As for the display, the V30 has a larger FHD+ screen than the V20 but delivers a narrower aspect ratio. Both are protected with Corning Gorilla Glass, too. Doogee says the flagship devices can display up to 16.7 million colors. The V20’s advantage is that it also features a 1.05-inch rear display next to its cameras. But while it’s a cool addition, the panel’s size limits its practical uses.
Camera
Doogee’s V30 phone features an upgraded camera system from the V20, one that now supports 4K video recording.
The Doogee V30 has four cameras like its predecessor. You get a triple-camera array on the back and a selfie camera on the front. However, Doogee’s new flagship phone offers an upgraded 108MP primary camera from the V20’s 64MP lens. The new lens on the V30 also uses sensors by Samsung.
Another change with the V30 is that it now enjoys a 16MP wide-angle sensor. Compared with the 8MP on the Doogee V20, the V30 delivers better closeup and macro results. As for the night vision camera, the specs are the same. Both phones use a 20MP lens running on a SONY sensor. Performance-wise, you can still capture monochrome pictures in pitch black.
Now, the 64MP primary camera of the Doogee V20 is not low-res by any means. Unfortunately, the high resolution of the lens isn’t fully leveraged. The V20 only offers 2K at 30fps video recording with no frame rate options.
In contrast, the Doogee V30 records up to 3840 x 2160p, the dominant 4K resolution, although limited to 30fps. The phone’s screen cannot display 4K without scaling, too. But it’s nice to know you can grab 4K videos anytime.
Given the V30 and V20’s mid-range pricing, the cameras are far from substandard. Yes, they don’t compare with the iPhone, Galaxy, or Pixel phones. Nonetheless, for a rugged phone, you’re getting your money’s worth with Doogee’s flagships.
Performance
The Doogee V30 edges the V20 when it comes to hardware and performance. Moreover, the latest iteration supports physical SIMs and eSIMs.
High-end smartphones typically use custom chipsets to one-up their rivals. In the case of the V30 and V20, Doogee has settled for MediaTek’s Dimensity smartphone chips. Since these are mid-range SOCs, there should be no expectations for a performance similar to the Snapdragon silicone. Nonetheless, Doogee’s rugged phones impress with their capabilities.
In both models, multiple app usage and graphics rendering are well-supported. User experience with the V30 and V20 is smooth and responsive, too. Both connect to WiFi and Bluetooth and work with four core satellite navigation systems. 5G support is also available,
The Doogee V30 has 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. You get a similar configuration with the Doogee V20. However, the V30 uses an LPDDR4X memory type. With this design, the phone’s 8GB RAM is expandable to 15GB by sacrificing some storage. That’s nearly double the allocation on the V20.
Lastly, the Doogee V30 supports physical SIMs and eSIMs. The latter is rapidly being adopted thanks to the convenience the service offers. If you’re one to travel a lot, the pre-installed eSIM store on the V30 means you can purchase a mobile number and data plan for the country you’re in. Gone are the days you have to buy a physical SIM to access local services.
Battery Life
The Doogee V30 offers a considerable upgrade in battery life and charging speeds over than Doogee V20.
Designed for use in tough environments, the Doogee V20 boasts a 6,000 mAH battery. It’s an impressive component considering the iPhone 14 Pro Max only has 4,323 mAh inside. With its large capacity, the V20 enjoys a battery life of 2 to 3 days. On standby, the phone can last for 18 days without a charge. The V20 also supports 15W wireless charging and 33W wired charging.
With the Doogee V30, you’re getting a substantial increase. The phone is equipped with a 10,800 mAH battery, offering 3 to 5 days of use. In standby mode, the V30 can last 30 days between charges. Used purely for calling, the phone can last 47 hours. Given the large battery capacity, Doogee also upgraded charging speeds. The V30 now comes with a 66W fast charger, two times faster than the V20.
The only downside is that wireless charging is still limited to 15W for the V30 and V20. If there’s any consolation, at least the phones include cables and charging bricks in the box.
Verdict
The Doogee V30 is a considerable upgrade over the Doogee V20, making it a more compelling purchase.
If you’re in the market for an affordable rugged smartphone, Doogee is a go-to brand. But like other smartphone manufacturers, the company’s catalog is expanding fast. Between the Doogee V20 and the Doogee V30, however, the latter is a better device. Newer iterations of flagship devices are often mere refinements of their predecessors.
In the case of the V30, however, you’re getting a considerably upgraded model in hardware and software. The V20 is still a solid mid-range phone to get. Nonetheless, the V30’s improved cameras, more power-efficient performance, and support for eSIM give it a clear advantage.
FAQs
The Doogee V30 is available in Classic Black and Dawn Orange.
Doogee shares that the V20 phone can handle depths up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes.
Yes. The Doogee V30 supports contactless payment, specifically Google Pay.
The Doogee V20 comes with a USB Type-C port.