The CAT S62 Pro is a mid-range smartphone that especially stands out with its thermal camera. This allows you to measure the temperature of objects and people like a thermometer from a distance. In this CAT S62 Pro review we test this function and all other properties.
CAT S62 Pro
Price € 649,-Colour Black
OS Android 10
Screen 5.7" LCD (2160 x 1080, 60hz)
Processor 2GHz octa-core (Snapdragon 660)
RAM 6GB
Storage 128GB
Battery 4,000mAh
Camera 12 megapixel (rear), 8 megapixel (front)
Connectivity 4G, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi, GPS, NFC
Format 15.9 x 7.7 x 1.2 cm
Weight 248 grams
Other Waterproof and dustproof, drop resistant, suitable for very high and low temperatures
Website www.catphones.com/nl 7.5 Score 75
- Pros
- Virtually indestructible
- Thermal camera can be useful
- Three years of security updates
- Long battery life
- Negatives
- Old, slower processor
- Only one guaranteed Android update
CAT sells the S62 Pro for 649 euros in the Netherlands. This makes the device considerably more expensive than the CAT S42 Pro (249 euros), which has no thermal camera and offers less good hardware. There are also similarities: both devices have a housing that can withstand water, dust and a fall, among other things. They also both run on Android 10 and they get an update to Android 11, which has been out since September.
The thermal camera
The thermal camera is on the back and uses a Lepton 3.5 sensor from the company FLIR. The sensor has a resolution of 160 by 120 pixels. That is more than the thermal camera of the CAT S61, which came out in 2018 and uses a resolution of 80 by 60 pixels. A higher resolution leads to a better measurement. In the special camera app on the S62 Pro you can see the heat differences by default, where blue / purple means cold and yellow indicates heat. If you tap on a displayed object, animal or human, you will see the temperature. For example, I aimed the camera at my plate of pasta, which was 42.8 degrees according to the S62 Pro. The light yellow spot on the screenshot below is, according to the camera, the hottest point of my monitor, and is 40.2 degrees.
You can also point the thermal camera at someone's forehead to measure their temperature. That was funny last year, but because of the corona virus, your temperature can mean that you are not allowed to enter a shop, office building or plane. Accurate measurement is therefore important, and I don't think the CAT S62 Pro is suitable for that. The manufacturer says that the thermal camera has a deviation of 5 degrees Celsius, but can measure temperature differences well. The latter can be useful, but a few degrees deviation can mean that you are estimating someone's temperature too high or too low. That should not happen and that is why a professional thermometer is a better choice.
For business purposes, for example in construction, a reasonably precise thermal camera can be useful. In this case, the CAT S62 Pro can replace a separate thermometer and can store measurements with images and send them faster via apps.
Sturdy design
Like other CAT smartphones, the S62 Pro has a sturdy housing. The device is water- and dust-proof, can withstand a fall 180 centimeters high on a hard surface and can be cleaned with hot water and soap or alcohol. The housing can also withstand extreme temperatures. In short; it is difficult to demolish this smartphone. That will appeal to people with rougher professions or hobbies. The robust housing is also reflected in the weight, because with 248 grams, the S62 Pro is tens of grams heavier than an average smartphone. In addition, the device is thick (12 millimeters). The S62 Pro fits easily in a wider pocket and is easy to use with one hand. The back offers enough grip, the buttons are large and offer clear feedback and there is a fingerprint scanner to unlock the device.
The 5.7 inch screen has an LCD panel and full HD resolution and looks great. The image is sharp and also easy to read in bright (sun) light. The display uses a layer of Gorilla Glass 6 for protection against drop and impact damage. It is nice that you can operate the screen with gloves on.
Specifications: one better than the other
The specifications of the CAT S62 Pro differ from a regular smartphone that costs 649 euros. Such a model offers excellent hardware, but lacks the thermal camera and robust design. Because CAT considers these functions important, the hardware has been cut back. For example, the used Snapdragon 660 processor is already three years old and certainly not the fastest anymore. That's a serious downside. The S62 Pro runs popular apps and games fine, but does not perform better in this area than a device of 250 euros. The amount of working and storage memory is better with 6 GB and 128 GB, with extras such as a micro-SD card slot. The smartphone is not suitable for 5G internet. Considering the target group, this is not insurmountable, but it is a point of attention. The 12 megapixel camera on the back takes nice photos, but is significantly less good than that of other smartphones in this price segment. The same goes for the 8 megapixel selfie camera.
Battery life and charging
The 4000 mAh battery in the smartphone lasts at least a long day. With lighter use, I didn't have to look for a charger until halfway through day two. Charging is fast via USB-C. Unfortunately, you cannot remove the battery or charge it wirelessly. This has to do with the sturdy design.
Software
CAT supplies the S62 Pro with Android 10 and installs a handful of commercial apps with it. You can – luckily – remove them if you don't need them. The software continues to work properly and it is nice that CAT rolls out a security update every three months for three years. However, it could have been even better, because Google makes an update available every month – also to CAT. The manufacturer promises in terms of version updates only an update to Android 11, which has just been released. That promise does not make the smartphone very future-proof. Competing devices receive two or three years of version updates. So there is still room for improvement in terms of software support.
Conclusion: buy CAT S62 Pro?
The CAT S62 Pro stands out from the competition with its thermal camera. It works well as far as I've been able to test, and is useful for specific business purposes. As an average consumer, you don't have to buy the device because of its thermal camera. The nearly indestructible design is a big plus and most hardware is fine. However, the old, slower processor is a downer and given the price, I would have expected a better update policy as well.
All in all, I think 649 euros is a lot of money for this type of device. All the more so because I recently tested the CAT S42, which costs 249 euros. It is true that this smartphone has less powerful hardware; it is just as sturdy and gets two years of updates. So a better deal, although the S62 Pro is unique in its kind and therefore interesting for a targeted target group.
