Samsung XCover Pro US Release Confirmed, Removable-Battery Phone Priced At $499

KEY POINTS

Samsung is bringing the Galaxy XCover Pro to the U.S. within the first half of 2020
The device has a removable battery, among other interesting features
The Galaxy XCover Pro is aimed at industrial applications and is designed for businesses

Samsung has announced that it is bringing its latest rugged handset, the Galaxy XCover Pro, to the U.S. within the first half of 2020. The handset is aimed for use at industrial applications and features a huge battery that can be replaced at any time the need arises.

The Korean tech giant said it is working with Microsoft and Verizon to bring the handset to the U.S. market. The device is designed to “enable frontline workers to accelerate the adoption of mobile-first vertical solutions for enterprise and SMB customers.”

The device does have a few interesting features for that purpose, The Verge reported:

First, the XCover Pro has a large 4,050 mAh battery. This battery is removable, which means users can simply replace it whenever they need to. The handset also offers support for 15W fast charging, which means charging a battery from zero to 100% won't take a lot of time.
Second, the device features two programmable buttons that can be used for various functions including push-to-talk (PTT). Emma Williams, Corporate Vice President of Modern Workplace Verticals at Microsoft, said the XCover Pro's PTT function works with Microsoft's Teams Walkit Talkie feature to bring the “power of instant communication” to the workplace.
Third, the XCover Pro can be used as a POS device, thanks to its EMV Level 1 certification and built-in POS software. Business customers might be able to make transactions by tapping their NFC-equipped credit cards or devices on it. Furthermore, the XCover Pro has been approved by Visa for its Tap to Phone payments program.

Aside from these, the XCover Pro also boasts of decent features and specs par for the course with any midrange device:

It is powered by a 2GHz octa-core Exynos processor, which is backed by 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. This is expandable up to 512GB using a microSD card.
It has a 6.3-inch display that has 2,220 x 1,080 resolution. This display, Samsung said, can be used even when the user is wearing gloves.
It has dual-camera setup at the back composed of a 25MP main shooter and an 8MP lens. It also has a 13MP camera in front.
The XCover Pro is IP68 rated for dust and water resistance. It is also MIL-STD 810G certified for use in harsh conditions.

Samsung will release the XCover Pro in the U.S. sometime within the first half of the year. It will be sold for $499.