The toughest phone I've tested packs a ridiculously long battery (and it's $180 off)

ZDNET's key takeaways

The Doogee Fire 6 Max is on sale at Amazon for $479.Its massive battery allows over 100 days of standby, allowing the smartphone to act as a power bank, while sporting both thermal and night vision cameras.The display is vivid, but can be rather washed out in sunlight.

Doogee are giving ZDNET readers a massive 30% discount on the Fire 6 Max -- just enter code OWRMNPAP at checkout and get $180 off the regular price of $599. 

Smartphones, in general, share a similar aesthetic: delicate slabs of glass designed for easy portability. However, some manufacturers are willing to break the mold and create something truly distinctive. 

Also: The best power banks you can buy

This is precisely what Doogee has achieved with the new Fire 6 Max. This smartphone is packed with features, including a thermal camera and a substantial battery more akin to those found in power banks, all housed in a rugged, water- and dust-resistant package rated IP68/IP69K and MIL-STD-810H. 

The first things that stands out about the Fire 6 Max is its size. This device is imposing, easily the thickness of three iPhone 16 Pro Max handsets stacked together. Weighting an impressive 1.17 pounds and measuring 7.07 x 3.25 x 1.00 inches -- yes, it's an inch thick -- this phone is sure to make a statement. 

The shell is constructed from impact- and wear-resistant TPU, aerospace-grade titanium alloy, and features a Corning glass cover on the display. On the back there is some faux leather that looks a bit odd on such a huge smartphone, but does make it a lot easier to hold.

The display itself is a 6.72-inch, 1,080 x 2,400 pixels (392 pixels per inch) IPS LCD screen that operates at 120Hz. It offers a bright and vivid viewing experience, making it ideal for a workhorse like the Fire 6 Max. Paired with 1.5W stereo speakers, it provides an excellent platform for media consumption. The only complaint I have about the display is that it can be somewhat washed out in sunlight. 

At the top of the device, you'll find a flashlight that is far from ordinary. It features dual LEDs capable of emitting up to 120 lumens, making it a powerful floodlight. This flashlight is perfect for illuminating your path, inspecting the engine bay of a car for unexpected repairs, or navigating a cave you might find yourself exploring.

The Fire 6 Max boasts an impressive array of cameras, including a 50-megapixel main camera, an 8-megapixel ultrawide camera, a 20-megapixel night vision/infrared camera, a high-resolution thermal camera, and a 16-megapixel front-facing camera. The main camera is equipped with Morpho EIS (electronic image stabilization) to eliminate blurry photos.

On the back, there is also a light that "breathes" to indicate battery charge -- the faster and more urgently it breathes, the lower the charge. This light can also be customized for incoming calls or messages, music, or simply to create a light show.

The SIM card tray supports dual SIM cards or a combination of a SIM card and a microSD/TF card for expanded storage. In terms of security, the device features both a fingerprint sensor and facial recognition, minimizing the time spent entering your passcode.

Also: The best portable power stations you can buy

Inside the Fire 6 Max is a MediaTek Dimensity 7050 chipset, which includes two Arm Cortex-A78 processors running at up to 2.6GHz for performance, alongside six Cortex-A55 cores operating at 2GHz for efficiency, and an Arm Mali-G68 MC4 GPU. The device is equipped with 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM (with an additional 12GB of dynamic expansion) and 256GB of storage, all running on Android 14.

Now, let's discuss the battery. This smartphone features a massive 20,800 mAh battery, a capacity more commonly found in power banks than in smartphones. For comparison, the iPhone 16 Pro Max has a 4,685 mAh battery. This oversized cell allows the Fire 6 Max to achieve an astonishing 3,100 hours of standby time -- that's a remarkable 129 days! You can also enjoy approximately 30 hours of video playback and 20 hours of web browsing.

To charge such a large battery, the Fire 6 Max supports 33W fast charging. Additionally, if someone else runs out of power, it can transform into a power bank with 10W reverse charging support. 

So, what's it like to use?

Let's address the elephant in the room: yes, the Fire 6 Max is quite substantial. I won't pretend that its brick-like size and weight miraculously become unnoticeable in your hand or pocket over time—they don't. This is a robust device that can withstand significant wear and tear.

The more I used this smartphone, the more I began to view it as a power bank with a smartphone attached. It's an unconventional perspective, but it works.

From a power and performance standpoint, the Fire 6 Max is more than enough. The user interface is smooth and fluid, and apps run seamlessly. The cameras meet expectations for this price tier of smartphone -- sufficient for social media or documenting work projects. Photos are clear and vivid across a broad range of conditions, and users have access to various tools for enhancing and editing images.

The thermal camera and night vision capabilities are also noteworthy. While these features are not entirely new to the smartphone market, it is refreshing to see a device that incorporates both. I find thermal cameras particularly useful for various applications, including diagnosing electrical and HVAC issues, identifying heat loss points in windows and doors, and detecting damaged cables.

ZDNET's buying advice

Overall, the Doogee Fire 6 Max is an impressive smartphone. From its commanding size to the advanced technology packed into its design, it offers a compelling package. If you need a phone that can withstand the elements, provide night vision and infrared capabilities, serve as a power bank, emit a powerful beam of light, and deliver extended battery life, this $420 device (remember that OWRMNPAP code at checkout to get the 30% off) may be the perfect choice for you.